Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I've got to submit an appraisal to the Court for my guitar... The nut has been replaced, but the frets were not. There's some belt rash on the back and a small notch out of the wood above the key for the G string that a string-winder inflicted on it. I've got no one around here to go to - the local pawn shop laughingly said they didn't think it was worth more than $200 because the serial number is on a 'removable' plate on the back.

Any ideas? Suggestions or just "informed appraisals"?

Thanks in advance (love this forum <3 )

I have no idea of its value myself but you can get a rough idea of what similar guitars have sold for from the database in the Rickenbacker Register:

Click on "Rickenbacker Register" in the upper right corner of the webpage.
Hover your pointer over Register Menu so that the drop down menu appears, then click on Advanced Search.
I selected 481 in the "Model" box and "Slant Fret" in the "Special" box
Click Submit and you get a list of 481 Slant Fret guitars in the Register.
Click on any of the listed items for details and you will get price statistics at the bottom.
You will also get a link to a price history chart.

You can also look on reverb.com https://reverb.com/marketplace?query=rickenbacker+481
or gbase.com http://www.gbase.com/gear?q=rickenbacker+481

There are no comparable slant fret 481's listed at the moment, however, just one with "pre-production pickups".

Perhaps others with a better idea of current value will chime in. Good luck!

Chris Clayton from http://www.pickofthericks.com had one of those in store a few years ago. He will be glad to help you out.

THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT SUGGESTIONS!

From the RRF register and based upon a sample of 20 481 guitars. Clement suggested this already I know but I just doing the work for you.


Min Avg Median Max
$1345 $2097 $2000 $3495


This 1974 BG 481 sold for $2995

http://www.rickresource.com/register/vi ... lebrity%3D

But I would not say that was typical - closer to $2K is more likely.

But definitely worth more then $200. The Truss Rod Cover alone is worth at least $150

More images would help.

What are the letters and numbers in the SN? that will date it precisely.

Love the TR Series RIC amp in the background of your picture! lol

Good luck with the sale.

The pawn shop was trying to rip you off. I expect nothing different from my home state of Floriduh!

Sweet guitar you got there!

Those rare pickups are worth $200. a piece. I'd say $2000. is fair. I had one just like this that I bought in the early '00s for $600.

jwilli wrote:Those rare pickups are worth $200. a piece. I'd say $2000. is fair. I had one just like this that I bought in the early '00s for $600.

Nah, those pickups are under $150/ea. on eBay

There have been a couple sets up at $300 a pair for many months without takers. Last ones I saw actually sell went for $125/ea. a few weeks ago.

collin wrote:

jwilli wrote:Those rare pickups are worth $200. a piece. I'd say $2000. is fair. I had one just like this that I bought in the early '00s for $600.

Nah, those pickups are under $150/ea. on eBay

There have been a couple sets up at $300 a pair for many months without takers. Last ones I saw actually sell went for $125/ea. a few weeks ago.

Whoops!

Let me correct myself. I read "481" pickups and thought "480 pickups" meaning the same type of transitional hi gains found on 331 models.

Yeah, 481 pickups are rare and pricey!

collin wrote:
Let me correct myself. I read "481" pickups and thought "480 pickups" meaning the same type of transitional hi gains found on 331 models.

Yeah, 481 pickups are rare and pricey!

Ha! I've been out of the loop for a bit but damn, lol! I sold one to Melissa B. back in '06 for $200. They were basically never seen for sale. Its all good!

CapeCanaveralGal wrote:- the local pawn shop laughingly said they didn't think it was worth more than $200 because the serial number is on a 'removable' plate on the back.

The serial no. for the 481 model is usually stamped on the single-output jackplate and not on the plate holding the neck to the body.

Can you provide pics of the jackplate and neckplate?