Photographs of the 480 Series

[egosheep]

I believe it's totally kosher to restore/modify a Ric in the way you see fit. Not cheap, though.

I think that using the word "cheap" and the word "Rickenbacker" in the same paragraph is a contradiction. They're built to highest standards using best-quality parts and materials by staff who really care. Modifications should follow the same game plan, IMO.

I totally agree, Paul. Cheap was not the right word. You can't make a $1,000 omelette without breaking a few ostrich eggs!

A neckthrough 480 would just be crazy.... wow.

[Grey]

A neckthrough 480 would just be crazy.... wow.

How about Rick-o-Sound too?

[egosheep]

A neckthrough 480 would just be crazy.... wow.

How about Rick-o-Sound too?

And a horseshoe! Did you see the photoshop I did?

30 inch scale, same length neck. I can dream, can't I?

[Grey]

Thinking about the "what-ifs" got me working on this today in-between some other projects...

Just roughing out the profile for the time being and consulting some photo-refrence for the shape.

[IHeartRics]

I'd be curious about how well a 480 modified into a set-neck would work. I read a post sometime ago from a guy who worked at Rickenbacker, in which he said that they actually glued many 480/481 necks in place, but the plate was needed to provide support because of how thin the body is. When I was talking to Paul about replacing the neck plate with ferrules, he also said that the body didn't have enough meat to support the neck and that the plate was integral.

Agreed. It seems some of the 480's that pop up for sale have a crack in the body at the neck joint.

As for a neck-through 480, I'm on the fence. I think the bolt-on adds a lot of character to its tone. It would be interesting to hear one that has been modded as such.

[electrofaro]

my 480 plays like butter

Nice 480, Kris... what's the code? Reminds me of my former 480...

it's OA 251
dates back to January 1975
odd thing is it has a TRC of a 4001

Ah, mine was a February 1975!

Maybe the TRC was broken/lost/stolen/whatever and an owner got a replacement online?

Nice one, don't do like me and sell it (although I still think it's too heavy)

[bieke]

Nice 480, Kris... what's the code? Reminds me of my former 480...

it's OA 251
dates back to January 1975
odd thing is it has a TRC of a 4001

Ah, mine was a February 1975!

Maybe the TRC was broken/lost/stolen/whatever and an owner got a replacement online?

Nice one, don't do like me and sell it (although I still think it's too heavy)

well, so far I don't regret trading my early nineties mint 330 for this crusty 480
gave it the car polish treatment to get the glossy Jetglo effect back again
and the previous owner had it refretted, turned out OK

[Grey]

Was walking past my livingroom this morning and noticed a cool setup for a shot.

[cjj]

Nice!

Of course, I think any time there's a 480 in view, it's a cool setup for a shot...

[jps]

Nice, now let's see that with a slant fret model.

[Ilikewater]

Just wanted to add to the beauty with my own 481

[Ilikewater]

there are some slant frets for you, Jeff.

[doctorwho]

Hmmm ... another thread I've missed!

481 Walnut

480 MG front

480 MG back

(There's a somewhat funny story related to the last two pictures. Note the gold 'drop cloth' with the black Perkin-Elmer name on it. I got that when one of the places I was working at was cleaning out a lab ... it wasn't clear why we even had this cloth, but rather than trash it I took it home thinking that I could use it for a drop clith for painting, if needed. I was using it as a dust cover for an amp when I was taking pictures of my gear, so that's why it's in these shots (as well as others). Now, the other day I was watching some forensics/crime program, and they showed a picture of a gun recovered in connection to a crime ... and the gun was photographed lying on an identical gold/black Perkin-Elmer cloth as the background. It cracked me up! O.K., so it's funny only to me! )

[Grey]

Both of those 481's look fantastic.

[jps]

Hey Jimmy, you should crop in to the R tailpiece in that first photo and use it as your avatar! Nice photos, guys.