Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Cowboys and Indians,

I've got a 480 JetGlo. Haven't looked this up and not sure of the year... Jackplate Number is: MH 3653. I'm thinking '73. In any event, mine has the clear plexi/painted truss rod cover (which is cool) and all original except for a Pickguardian pickguard replacement and some screws. Beautiful guitar but it's got some nicks on the edges and pretty significant belt worming on the back. In short, it was a gigging guitar. Also, I've never gotten used to the flat fretboard.

Questions... Do I refinish it to perfect and keep it on display in my office? Or, keep it original? Or simply sell it to someone who will play it? I'm reluctant to sell but I'm not sure my broken in JetGlo is among those rising in value.

Feedback appreciated...

Thanks in advance,

JKC

PS Sorry I didn't make NAMM. Who got the Bloomin' Onion at Outback? I always go for the Ned Kelly myself... And a biggie beer, of course.

Hi Jim I would keep the guitar first and foremost.Then if you want to spend £s refinishing it cool! Then start playing it more its amazing when you spend £s on guitars that how you fall in love again with them. I had a Tele that lay under my bed for 3 years on getting played then i got it serviced and ive fallen in love with it again.Keep the guitar,Do it up and then play it again! Heres my tele that i love"again"

And I think we passed the Bloomin' Onion around the whole table.......

Sorry i meant to type Not getting played
Actually Jim theres not that many registered also

Jim, keep the guitar.... The 480's and 481's are waaaaay cool! When my husband bought me a jetglo 481 a few years back, it was all chewed up and the paint was bubbling and peeling at the edges, and the hardware was corroded--I think the previous owner had stored it in a wet basement. I sent it to Paul W. for a full restoration and refin, and now it is an awesome rocker of a guitar!

August '73, Jim.

If you don't like the radius, i'd sell it or trade it for something else. That's one of the real hallmarks of the 480.

Thanks for the feedback. I think I will keep it for now. It is certainly not depreciating... Maybe I need to dust it off and play it to see if I get used the fretboard... I'm telling you though, that lack of radius feels weird! To me at least.

Melissa and/or Paul, nice job! Do you guys have other PICs of her 481? Thanks in advance.

JKC

Oh, I've probably got a few that are pretty easy for me to find.... Unfortunately they are all sized to old Forum specs, so they don't show a lot of detail....

This outdoor one gives a better idea of what the color looks like--it's pretty hard to capture with a digital camera.

OK... So a BlueBurst. Sweet looking.

JKC

Nice 481 Mellisa

jwilli wrote:And I think we passed the Bloomin' Onion around the whole table.......

Two or three times, as I recall!