Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

John: I agree about the unique headstock for a Rickenbacker guitar. I probably have a photo of it somewhere.

Peter: you really love this model, no?
Hope I dind't upset you with my short 'review'

Wim: Yes it is a great player and a piece of Rickenbacker history. Not everyone's cup of tea to be sure, but it lights my fire.

Don't mind me Peter, lots of stuff isn't my cup of tea, Stratocasters for instance.

Peter, I must admit that yours is a beautiful example. BG is the only colour that almost rivals FG IMO. Although it is difficult to tell from photos, your 480 seems to be EXACTLY the same colour as my 2003 350V63 & yet they are nearly 30 years apart.

I'd like to add my praise about the 480. I've got a `75 Jetglo and I couldn't imagine playing another guitar. However, I really don't know much about the history of the 480 series. Somebody want to enlighten me?

Lyle: Welcome to The Rickenbacker Forum. This history is far too brief, so I will let others chime in where I fall short.

The model 480 was manufactured for approximately one decade from roughly 1973 to 1983. Actually the 483 wasn't introduced until around 1980. The 481 came with humbuckers that had a phase reversal switch and had triangle fret markers and deluxe binding. As you know, these models are one of a limited number of Rickenbacker guitars with a bolt on neck. Other family members include the Model 483, with three pickups and the slanted fret model 481 which also have slanted bridge and pickups. The 480, 481 and 483 models all have a scale length of 25 inches.

I suspect that there are some customized 480,481,483 models but I have never seen any. The body shape of the 480 is almost identical to that of the 4001 and 4003 for that matter, with the exception that the upper horn is smaller and the instrument is about an eight of an inch shorter. You will also notice that the dot fret markers are smaller than those of the 330 or 340 models.

My research, albeit very limited, has revealed that some bridge high gain pickups were very thin sounding in comparison to the neck pickup. I would be interested in others with early models or any models for that matter posting the KOhm rating for the neck and bridge pickups.

While I believe that they were produced in all finishes, I have only seen jetglo, fireglo, burgundyglo, mapleglo and white finishes.

I really love the flatter fretboard and the way the neck angles off of the body which makes playing it most comfortable.

Sincere apologies, Lyle. I read your post but failed to pick up your details. Welcome to the forum from us Aussies! Congrats on owning a 480 - methinks they are a real rarity over here......

Time to add one to your stable Howard.

Agreed, Peter, but where the heck would I find one?

You have started the process with this post Howard. The word is out. Forum members Howard needs a Model 480.

I also wanted to comment on the slightly longer scale length of the 480 at 25 inches. Whatever loss one might expect to get with a bolt-on neck is more than made up for with the increased string tension. It is still an easy player and string bender.

To me the tonality of the 480 is has a clear cutting quality with a twangier and purer sound than my 350. There are. of course, other factors responsible for the differences in tonality, however, the somewhat longer scale length of the 480 over the 330 or 360 to my way of thinking provides a slightly more cutting sound that jangles well.

Thanks for the welcomes. The 480 is definitely twangier than other Rics. As far as the bridge pickup having a stronger signal than the neck, I'd have to agree. In fact, on my 480 the bridge pickup makes it sound more like a bass. I actually prefer to have the selecter in the middle position to use both pickups, but with a bit of the bass turned down. It's a great playing and sounding guitar though.

The hi-gains on my '81 480 are fairly well balanced volume-wise. I seem to remember that the bass HG on my '73 480 was significantly stronger than the bridge though. Maybe it's a time period thing. The '73 had screw tops, the '81 button tops.

Totally agree on the "twang" factor. ;0

John: Whether by accident or design, there does seem to be a number of 480s from the mid 1970s with a thinner high gain at the bridge and a hotter high gain at the neck.

I have replaced the bridge with a 13 KOhm high gain and the sound of my 480 is jangley, twangy and has plenty of sustain.

The button tops on my '81 4080 are strong neck & weaker bridge (cap bypassed). It's essentially a 480 & I usually just use both pups. It jangles nicely & has TONS of sustain. I restrung it with some D'Addario 10's I had as spares & the neck is now completely flat & buzzes (only noticeable when playing unplugged).
What gauge of string do you fellows use? I'm going to order some RIC strings after XMas.