Rickenbacker Identification Guide

Rickenbacker Bridges And Tailpieces

Compare trapeze, Kauffman, Accent and R tailpieces. Look at the mounting pattern and the rest of the guitar before assigning a period.

By Joe Dampt · Updated October 15, 2026

Back To The Rickenbacker Serial Lookup

Check The Serial And The Model Together

Dates below describe common production periods. Parts overlap between models, and reissues or replacements can resemble earlier hardware. Use several details before deciding that a part conflicts with the serial.

Tailpieces

Begin with the Rickenbacker serial lookup and body style, then compare the installed tailpiece with the examples below.

Bridge and R tailpiece on a 1968 Rickenbacker 4005 — Joe’s 1968 4005 has an R tailpiece. The front view shows its outline, but does not establish whether the installed casting is brass or zinc alloy.

Trapeze Tailpiece: 1958 To 1965

All Capri and F-series models from their 1958 introduction used a simple trapeze tailpiece (non-vibrato models) or vibrola (vibrato models). The early Capri T/V/R serial codes describe the tailpiece or output configuration. The R tailpiece became common during the mid-1960s. Trapeze tailpieces also appear on later vintage-style models.

Kauffman Vibrola: 1958 To ~1961

The original vibrato unit on 1958 to 1961 Capri models. Replaced by the Accent vibrato. The “V” in Capri-era serial numbers originally referred to this unit.

Accent Vibrato: ~1961 Onward

Replaced the Kauffman as Rickenbacker’s vibrato of choice on Capri and other hollowbody models. The “V” in the serial number carried over to continue indicating vibrato, now meaning the Accent.

"R" Tailpiece: October 1964 To Present

One of the most iconic pieces of hardware in guitar history, named for the stylized “R” shape (also described as a “baby dinosaur”). Introduced on the October 1964 production of New Style 360/12s, then rapidly becoming standard on all non-vibrato semi-hollow models and the 4005 bass. Compare the knobs and controls as another check on the instrument’s specification.

Brass tailpiece

October 1964 to mid-to-late 1966. Chrome-plated cast brass. String slots hand-cut with a chopsaw, so all have 12 slots regardless of string count. Mounting screws set approximately 7/8″ on-center. Back surface is rough. Inspect any casting for damage, repair or replacement.

Zamak (zinc alloy) tailpiece

Mid-to-late 1966 onward. Die-cast Zamak (zinc-aluminum-magnesium-copper alloy). String slots are part of the casting in 4-, 5-, 6-, and 12-string versions. Mounting screws ~11/16″ on-center. Some post-~1979 examples exhibit “exploding” tailpiece failures, particularly on 12-strings and powder-coated BH/BT versions.

Distinguishing brass from zinc without removal: Measure the mounting screw spacing. Brass units: approximately 7/8″ on center. Zinc units: approximately 11/16″ on center. If you can remove the tailpiece, brass backs are rough-textured; zinc backs show smooth round mold marks. All 12 slots on a brass tailpiece are hand-cut and equal; zinc tailpieces have casting-integrated slots in the correct count for the model.

Recognizing A Different Vibrato

Bigsby vibrato on a later Mapleglo Rickenbacker 325 — The Bigsby on this later 325 has a roller and a separate arm. It is a different mechanism from the Kauffman and Accent units above, and from the fixed R tailpiece.

Bridges And Replacement Evidence

The bridge carries the saddles; the tailpiece anchors the strings. Date them separately. An original-looking R tailpiece does not establish that the bridge, saddles or mounting hardware are original.

Six exposed bridge saddles above an R tailpiece on a Rickenbacker 360 — The six bridge saddles sit just below the pickup, while the R tailpiece anchors the strings farther down the body. This view lets you compare the two parts without removing them.

Compare saddle count with the model and string count. Some twelve-string guitars have six saddles, with each string pair sharing one; a twelve-saddle replacement is a separate originality question. Look for new screw holes, altered mounting footprints and a bridge that does not match the surrounding wear. The finish-originality checks explain other visible signs of work around hardware.

Older solidbody instruments may have their serial stamped on the bridge plate. If that plate has been replaced, the number may date the part rather than the guitar. Return to the serial-location photographs and compare the complete instrument.

Get Help Identifying Your Rickenbacker

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Continue with Rickenbacker body styles, binding and inlays or return to the serial lookup and dating charts.

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