Photographs of the 480 Series
- jingle_jangle
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Re: Photographs of the 480 Series
Is the message you're trying to convey that RIC makes too many 330s?
Rickenbacker could sell 8X as many guitars as they do, and that would just about fill the market demand.
So, if they made nothing but 330s and 4003s, they would do OK...
...for just a few years until the lack of variety would see their sales drop.
Right now the model range is good; nice variety. customer satisfaction, and efficiency of production are each maximized.
There's no time right now to consider reissues or any other permanent addition to the model range, and virtually zero chance that the 480/1 will ever see the light of day again in Santa Ana. More important fish to fry!
Rickenbacker could sell 8X as many guitars as they do, and that would just about fill the market demand.
So, if they made nothing but 330s and 4003s, they would do OK...
...for just a few years until the lack of variety would see their sales drop.
Right now the model range is good; nice variety. customer satisfaction, and efficiency of production are each maximized.
There's no time right now to consider reissues or any other permanent addition to the model range, and virtually zero chance that the 480/1 will ever see the light of day again in Santa Ana. More important fish to fry!
Re: Photographs of the 480 Series
Which John Hall said as much about on the official Ric forums. If there was a list of guitars waiting to be re-issued, the 480 would not be up at the top. Not that it bothers me, though. Of course, I guess it's easy for me to say that considering I own one.jingle_jangle wrote:.....and virtually zero chance that the 480/1 will ever see the light of day again in Santa Ana. More important fish to fry!
Although the 480/1 has seen a huge surge in popularity over the past few years, it's really more of a niche guitar that i'm not quite sure has reached 'collector' status. It's a quirky little instrument no doubt made as a quick way to cash in in the popular Ric bass at the time, although its still a Ric and has all the quality that goes along with the name and I wouldn't trade it for anything.
- jingle_jangle
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Re: Photographs of the 480 Series
"Quick" being a relative term here, Eric...just look at the body engineering, and especially the pickups and circuitry in the 481, and you can see substantial thought and work.
Re: Photographs of the 480 Series
That's also true, but the guitar got very little advertising and theres little mention of it on the Ric website, save for the origional catalogue photo. Just dosen't seem like a guitar that Ricenbacker backed like they did their other guitars. As I said earlier though, it's still a Ric, and has all the quality you'd expect from bearing the name.jingle_jangle wrote:"Quick" being a relative term here, Eric...just look at the body engineering, and especially the pickups and circuitry in the 481, and you can see substantial thought and work.
- jingle_jangle
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Re: Photographs of the 480 Series
Absolutely true. Definitely underpromoted and underappreciated. IMO a classic shape with good weight and balance and excellent playability. The 481 especially is an incredible solid body with powerful pickups and terrific tonal variety. Some make a big deal about the slant frets being hard to get used to, but if you didn't know they were slanted, there would be no issues, and it is much more comfortable for chording. Which makes it a bit of a conundrum--it's more a lead than a rhythm guitar in many circles, but does both equally well.
- IHeartRics
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Re: Photographs of the 480 Series
Unless of course, some skilled, knowledgeable, expert luthier was authorized and licensed by Ric as a custom shop for small run, special order reissues.jingle_jangle wrote:There's no time right now to consider reissues or any other permanent addition to the model range, and virtually zero chance that the 480/1 will ever see the light of day again in Santa Ana.
Expect nothing and you'll never be disappointed (and I mean that in an optimistic way).
http://www.reverbnation.com/thelowlies
http://www.myspace.com/thelowlies
http://www.reverbnation.com/thelowlies
http://www.myspace.com/thelowlies
- electrofaro
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Re: Photographs of the 480 Series
Wonderful idea - who did you have in mind?IHeartRics wrote:Unless of course, some skilled, knowledgeable, expert luthier was authorized and licensed by Ric as a custom shop for small run, special order reissues.jingle_jangle wrote:There's no time right now to consider reissues or any other permanent addition to the model range, and virtually zero chance that the 480/1 will ever see the light of day again in Santa Ana.
'67 Fender Coronado II CAB * '17 1963 ES-335 PB * currently rickless
Re: Photographs of the 480 Series
I think my other guitars are getting lonely...
Re: Photographs of the 480 Series
That's 'cause they know the 480 is the best looking! Keep 'em coming!
I have NO idea what to do with those skinny stringed things... I'm just a bass player...
Re: Photographs of the 480 Series
That's from a set I did for my Register entry.
http://www.rickresource.com/register/vi ... 6order%3D4
http://www.rickresource.com/register/vi ... 6order%3D4
Re: Photographs of the 480 Series
Oh well, for something different, a bad webcam picture of casual me with Ric in background.
Re: Photographs of the 480 Series
Alright so some of you have probably heard me complain about this before, but I have a big pet peeve with the neck plate on the 480. Not because I think bolt on necks are worse than set necks or any of that nonsense, but because that ugly little plate and screws tarnish what is otherwise a work of art. The body design and hardware is elegant and warm, but the metal plate is cold and lifeless.
So i've been thinking up some possible solutions and here's one I had today. The idea is some kind of carved, slightly rounded wooden "cap" that has a recessed area on one side and fits ontop of the plate. The idea isn't perfect, but it would require no permanant modifications to the guitar and would look much better than that metal plate (IMO).
Crummy image illustrating what I mean.
So i've been thinking up some possible solutions and here's one I had today. The idea is some kind of carved, slightly rounded wooden "cap" that has a recessed area on one side and fits ontop of the plate. The idea isn't perfect, but it would require no permanant modifications to the guitar and would look much better than that metal plate (IMO).
Crummy image illustrating what I mean.
- IHeartRics
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Re: Photographs of the 480 Series
Many years ago I had a Washburn A-20 where the electronics covers on the back were cut from the same wood and used instead of plastic. The grain matched up prefectly. It was very nice looking.
Expect nothing and you'll never be disappointed (and I mean that in an optimistic way).
http://www.reverbnation.com/thelowlies
http://www.myspace.com/thelowlies
http://www.reverbnation.com/thelowlies
http://www.myspace.com/thelowlies
Re: Photographs of the 480 Series
Michael Pedulla does this with the control cavity covers on his instruments.IHeartRics wrote:Many years ago I had a Washburn A-20 where the electronics covers on the back were cut from the same wood and used instead of plastic. The grain matched up prefectly. It was very nice looking.
Re: Photographs of the 480 Series
Finding a way to solve my neck plate problem is ever elusive. I guess the simple answer would be to 'get over it'
Oh well, more pics! We need some more contributers, bring on those 481's!
I was watching a YouTube cover the other day and spotted an AzureGlo 480 and a Greco 480-copy in the background. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DefmnHcxC8
Oh well, more pics! We need some more contributers, bring on those 481's!
I was watching a YouTube cover the other day and spotted an AzureGlo 480 and a Greco 480-copy in the background. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DefmnHcxC8