TYPE / MODEL IDENTIFICATION for Rick-Tone Guitar Amplifiers

Introduction

Some Rick-Tone and Rick Campbell amplifiers are easy to identify, and some aren't. Difficulties in identifying the amps are often because I didn't use a consistent marking scheme during all of the years that these amps were built.

Rick-Tone and Rick Campbell amplifiers are categorized by type numbers. Some units have both a type number and a model name. In some cases, identifying the amplifier will be easy because the amplifier's identifying information is marked on a label on the back of the chassis. However, in some cases, especially with the older units and custom-made units, there may be no helpful label on the amplifier. This web page will attempt to assist you in further identifying your amplifier.

Early Rick Campbell Amps

The very earliest amps don't have any identifying information on them at all, except my signature and (sometimes) a serial number handwritten on the inside of the chassis, usually written in black permanent marker ink. These early no-label amps can sometimes be narrowed down to a specific type number by observing what kind of tubes are in the amp, but sometimes an examination of the wiring is needed to determine the type number. See the Specs & Schematics page for tube information and schematics for each of the standard amp type numbers and model names. Please note that some amplifiers were custom-made and may not match any of the standard types shown on the schematics page.

''Pre-Rick-Tone'' Amps

At some point, I started attaching small labels to the chassis of every amp I built. Let's call these ''pre-Rick-Tone'' labels. These labels contained the phrase ''Made by Rick Campbell'' or ''Built by Rick Campbell'' or similar, and often included additional information like a serial number, power consumption specs, tube placement diagrams, etc. If the serial number has no hyphen, the amp's tube complement or wiring will probably have to be examined to determine the type/model. If the serial number is hyphenated, the amp type number is the part that comes before the hyphen. For example, if the serial number is 11-015, the amp is a type 11. Unfortunately, the adhesives on some of the labels deteriorated over time, so you may find some of these amplifiers no longer have their labels attached.

Rick-Tone Amps

Eventually I decided to put a brand name (Rick-Tone) on the amps. The labels from this era will include the phrase Rick-Tone along with the amp type number and often some other information like power consumption specs, speaker impedance, tube placement diagram, etc. If the amp has a model name, this is usually on the label also. For example, "Rick-Tone Type 11 Heartbreaker Amplifier Serial No. _______." Unfortunately, the adhesives on some of the earlier labels deteriorated over time, so you may find some of these amplifiers that no longer have their labels attached.

Experimental and Custom Amps

Experimental prototype amps and one-of-a-kind custom amps always received a signature on the inside of the chassis, but sometimes didn't have any outside label, even after the standard amps started getting labels.

Identification Help

If you have an unidentified Rick-Tone or Rick Campbell amplifier and would like additional information about it, there is a good possibility that I can identify it from a detailed description or photos. Particularly helpful are photos of the amplifier chassis (top and bottom) and the writing on any labels that might be attached to it. If you can describe where and when the amp was purchased, that may also assist in identifying it. Please send any amp identification inquiries by e-mail .

Sometimes the Amps Don't Exactly Match the Drawings

Please be aware that these amplifiers underwent many changes and improvements over the time span that they were built, and many units were custom-tailored to individual owners' tastes. That means the schematic drawings on this web site may be useful as a general guide to the workings of the amplifier, but it will be quite rare for the circuit of your individual Rick-Tone amplifier to exactly match the schematic from this web site. In some amps the differences may be as simple as a few resistor values different from the drawing, while some amps exhibit more radical departures from the drawings.

Schematics: To go to the schematics page, click here.