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480/481 Headstocks
Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2007 8:23 pm
by gellkeller
Does anyone know if there was ever a change in the general look of a 480/481 headstock.
I have recently acquired a 480 and the head stock looks very different to my 481. My 480 is a 1973 model and my 481 is a 1974 model.
Just curious.
Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 6:21 am
by melibreits
Can you post a picture of the two headstocks side by side? I'm curious....
Here's my 481's headstock--it's a 1975, refinned last spring by Paul W.
Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 7:25 am
by dswp
For a sample, here is a 4080 and a 480 headstock. I have never noticed a difference in the three types (480,481,4080).
Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 8:44 am
by jcreasy
For what it's worth, the one on my 480 looks just like that.
Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 9:16 am
by tennis_nick
huh, looking at the 3, they all have different TRC shapes
Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 9:24 am
by jingle_jangle
..due to need for clearance around the ferrules. Melissa's is a slant-fret, which uses a trimmed standard TRC. This positions the point closer to the center of the headstock//The FG one seems to have had its point trimmed to clear ferrules, too.
Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 9:51 am
by dswp
HHHHHM
I do not think that the TRC for my White 4080 is original. Here is a black plexi for the same year with a shorter TRC. Who knows.
Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 1:09 pm
by gellkeller
Thanks everyone.
I was really suspicious that the 480 I purchased was a copy. It has ALL the Rick bits you'd expect (TRC, R tailpiece, jack plate, pickups etc)
The tuners on it are Schaller Vintage. Are these original Rickenbacker issue?
The thing about it is that the neck is really thin. A lot thinner than my 481. I took off the pickguard and the way the neck is fixed looks very similar to my 481. The internal routing is a bit different but I suspect that is to accommodate the Rickenbacker humbucker.
I checked the pots and they say they come from Mexico. Is that also expected?
I'll post some pics tonight when I get home.
Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 3:06 pm
by dswp
"I checked the pots and they say they come from Mexico. Is that also expected?"
Yes..
Also Brett, if it has two truss rods, chances are that it is a real Ric.
Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 3:15 pm
by gellkeller
Yeah, definitely two truss rods.
It's just that these things are SOOOO rare in Australia. I usually like to suss things out before I make a purchase. I gotta do something about these impulse purchases!
Once again, the assistance from this forum is very much appreciated. The collective knowledge, experience and skills demonstrated by this site sure puts a Rickenbacker noob like myself at ease when my over-suspicious brain kicks in.
Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 5:58 pm
by jumpindave
I think it's pretty cool that these headstocks are miniature Cresting Waves.
Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 7:32 pm
by melibreits
It's because these guitars look like miniature basses:
Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2007 12:53 am
by gellkeller
Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2007 1:26 am
by admin
Thanks for this analysis Brett.
Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2007 8:37 am
by jwilli
Maybe Dale could shed some light on the subject....
