Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Anyone catch the David Letterman show Wednesday night ? Roger McGuinn sat in with the Paul Shaffer band and was using a Lightshow in the glimpse that I caught. Any more details anybody can share ?

I believe the 480 was made from '73 through '84. I had a '73 (stolen) and now have a burgandy '82.
Good luck on your restoration - let us know what you think of the guitar after you get to know it.

Congrats, Peter. Glad it worked out well for you. Rock on.

Thanks for the mini "factory tour" Mark. When I said by hand, I guess I really meant was there any "human touch" involved. I know too well in my work (local Bell telephone company) the before break/lunch/quitting time issues.

WOW ! Neck better than twice the ohmmage as the bridge (i.e. if ohm readings are relative as opposed to the old watts = loudness rule) - no wonder you have such an unbalanced output. I've never tried to get readings on my 480, it's fairly balanced as is (although I did adjust the pickups' heights at...

Hello Peter. I had a '73 480 (which was stolen in '81) that performed pretty much like yours. I replaced it with a '81 480 and noticed there was a difference in the pups, button tops as opposed to the "poles" on the '73. Don't know if this makes any difference. Anyway, my '81 480 is pretty...

My '81 480 has developed some "noise" when I use the pickup toggle switch (and I use it a lot). Any ideas or solutions would be greatly appreciated.

Guy in Staten Island, NY who may be able to help:

drfrets@aol.com

I've never personally used him but he has been recommended to me on more than one occasion.

Can anybody provide info on the different PU's ? Specs that would highlight the differences, perhaps ? And compared to the new humbuckers on the 600 series guitars ? I'm not sure what specs would do that, but if maybe Mark the MD or John Hall could comment I and others could possibly be enlightened.

Peter: don't lament the 480. I've owned a '73 and a '81. I've never regretted not getting a Les Paul back in '73 or '81 and certainly don't today (and my back thanks me daily!) Now, a lightshow 480 with a real hot super high gain pup at the bridge (like mine has now) would be awesome !!!

Peter; try Rudy's at 723 7 Av 4th floor (48th & 49th St) tel# 212 391-1699. They just did a fret dressing/set up for me on my 480 and I was very happy with the work that the tech Vinny did.

There is also another guy in Brooklyn, Bob Jones at 718 965-6786(drfrets@aol.com).

Mark, thanks again for your expert advice. I created the template for Chip and it will soon be on its way. I was a little leery of removing all the pots and p/u selector, but once I looked it over it was not difficult at all - and now I have a template of my pickguard for the future - just in case.

Hello again Mark. Could you tell me what I would need to do to trace a pickguard template of my 480 for another Rick forum 480 owner who wants to restore his to original ? (see thread in Rickenbackers for Sale - 450 or 610 needed). I just had mine fret dressed and set-up and do not want to affect th...

Mark: Thanks for the clarifications. I thought the fretboard was Brazilian rosewood because I seem to remember the salesperson where I ordered it told me that. Mike: Thanks for the name and number. I'll check him out next time I have the frets dressed as I plan on following Mark's advice to have it ...

Thanks for the info, Mark. Is "crowned and polished" the same as "dressing" ? I got a quote of $175- for this (including a setup) here in NYC. BTW, a couple of shops I called wouldn't even consider working on a Rickenbacker ! They won't be getting any of my money for anything. As...