Rickenbacker Lap Steel Serial Numbers

Generally with this system the first digits before the letter indicate the model series such as 6 for 600 model guitar.

Rickenbacker lap steel serial numbers.

This lap steel is in very good condition. I did nothing to disabuse a retailer of the tag s proclamation that this is a 1950s rickenbacker bakelite but we know better don t we. Rickenbacker did not keep serial to date records until after the second world war. There are various nicks and marks about the body.

Serial number as you can see is b 8. With the first instruments it is virtually impossible to find the exact year of construction by using the serial number. There is some bakelite repair on the back of the headstock at the 1st tuning gear. In the periods before 1998 it was made a lot more difficult.

Used 1951 rickenbacker model b 8 string lap steel guitar serial number 2089171. Dating rickenbacker guitars by reference of serial numbers. To the right and below you will find some images that will hopefully help you to locate the complete serial number on your instrument. Dating rickenbacker lap steels.

Rickenbacker serial numbers have been issued in a number of formats. Old adolf rickenbacker was so happy that on that very day all guitars had the patent number clearly. Starting in 1954 rickenbacker introduced a series of serial number formats that can reveal the approximate year of production of a specific instrument. 1954 1960 serial numbers.

Pickup effective august 10 1937. As with many other guitar brands the dating method of rickenbacker are much more common nowadays. Please be aware that some instruments manufactured in the late 50s cannot be interpreted by this decoder.