Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Kevin: The Model 480 has great blues sound tone.

My 1974 Model 480 has a fantastic neck that makes it one of the nicest playing guitars I have. I had my bridge high gain rewound to 13+k by Sergio. Its feel and tone with both pickups on is very close to a Tele tone. Overdriven slightly, it has a very close P-90 tone.

The Model 480 through the clean channel of a Marshall Dual Reverb continues to amaze those who hear it, especially players who have Rickenbackers labelled as a rhythm-only instrument.

My only issue at present is that the width of the fretboard does not allow for the ease of bending that can be achieved on a Stratocaster or Telecaster. This, I consider, is my own limitation as I am becoming more proficient in this regard as I continue to practice.

I found bending on a 330/360 to be a bit more of a challenge, but I had already developed a technic of muting adjacent strings with fingers and palms, so It's all good!

Agree with all that Peter says about the 480. My '81 just screams through my cranked Deluxe Reverb RI, jangles sweetly through my Super Reverb, and never fails to impress players and non-players alike - well, I'm pretty sure it's the guitar doing the impressing LOL.

John: We are on the same page when it comes to this model. Its body is very comfortable, much lighter than a bass of course, and I really love the way the neck is canted as it comes out of the body, giving the instrument a "wrap around" feel. As you say the tone is really quite remarkable. Much brighter and more jangly than my Model 350.

Yep, my 480 fits like a glove. And, we both have Burgundyglo !!! (see other thread on BG)

This guitar cuts through a mix live and responds nicely to my pick dynamics and vol/tone control use. I had the chance to play it briefly thru a newer Vox AC30 stack? and it sounded great - nice amp, but I prefer my BF Fenders.

Gee-
When I have the blues, any Rickenbacker will do

Otherwise a 381 suits fine.

I sure would like to try that 480 of yours,Peter! But for the blues, if I compare my 330 and 360 to my 650S, I must say that the 650 beats them for the sound and for the neck action.
You should agree too after trying it in Tadoussac!!!

Although I don't have a 480, I think I know where Peter is coming from in his comments.... My 481 (on the right) has a GREAT blues tone--those old-style Ric humbuckers really snarl and growl too, with a rather LP-ish kind of sound. I LOVE this guitar, especially for blues. And the color is just right, too!

My other Ric that's great for blues is my 220 (left), which has a more Strat-like tone; it certainly doesn't look or feel like any of my other Rics!

I ain't got any humbuckers on my 350v63 but I've REALLY been playing that thing a lot with blues tunes lately, and loving every minute of it. Those toasters give me a stinging lead tone (played thru a Rickenbacker m-8, dimed) and I have just been in awe of how the 350 does sing so pretty. IMHO the 350 is a very underrated guitar.

Yeah I really like my 350V63 too. It sounds similar to a Strat I think, but a little cleaner and warmer. I'm going to try some hotter toasters on mine soon hopefully.

Here's another vote for the 650 Dakota with HBs. Mine is a blues-bending machine.

Cranked through a tweed era amp & you are in blues heaven!

+1 for the 350v63. I have toasters in mine and Pyramid flats...great, sultry, bluesy selector-switch-up tone. Vaguely Fendery but more polished & vintage-y IMHO. It's an underrated guitar. To be fair, my Strat is damn good for blues too

I think Gene's was the first 350v63 MB I ever saw & I went that way instead of a 340MB with toasters after seeing pics of it.

Another big vote for the 350V63. Great blues and surf guitar, particularly special with a nicely tweaked Vox AD120VTH modeller rig.

...Dean

slightly off topic... BUT, my Casino into my Vox AD60VT with the AC15 setting.... THE blues tone I was looking for! A Strat on crack!

You know, I've been thinking: (dangerous, very dangerous!) you can play the blues on anything. I've heard blues fiddlers, blues mandolinists, and yes, even blues played on the banjo. I can't wait to get my 360 12 string. I bet that might turn out to be an effective blues guitar. Who knows what you could get out of it by experimenting with amp settings, and tone/volume settings on the guitar itself? Worth a try.

JimK