Rickenbacker Lap Steel Serial Numbers

The following information is courtesy carl dixon as posted on the steel guitar forum.

Rickenbacker lap steel serial numbers. Dating rickenbacker lap steels. There are various nicks and marks about the body. Used 1951 rickenbacker model b 8 string lap steel guitar serial number 2089171. Rickenbacker serial numbers have been issued in a number of formats.

There is some bakelite repair on the back of the headstock at the 1st tuning gear. This lap steel is in very good condition. I hope this adds to the knowledge and theories surrounding the murky world of pre war serial numbers. With the first instruments it is virtually impossible to find the exact year of construction by using the serial number.

Generally with this system the first digits before the letter indicate the model series such as 6 for 600 model guitar. Old adolf rickenbacker was so happy that on that very day all guitars had the patent number clearly. As with many other guitar brands the dating method of rickenbacker are much more common nowadays. Starting in 1954 rickenbacker introduced a series of serial number formats that can reveal the approximate year of production of a specific instrument.

Dating rickenbacker guitars by reference of serial numbers. Please be aware that some instruments manufactured in the late 50s cannot be interpreted by this decoder. To the right and below you will find some images that will hopefully help you to locate the complete serial number on your instrument. 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.

1954 1960 serial numbers. Pickup effective august 10 1937. Serial number as you can see is b 8.