Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Greetings.

I have spotted a burgundy 481 for sale on eBay in the UK, starting bid £500.

At first glance it looks good, share teeth inlays, binding around the body etc....however, theres no phase reversal switch and it has hi gain pickups?

I know 408's had hi-gains.

I am somewhat perplexed...any ideas?

Sorry I'm struggling uploading an image, but its there on eBay...

Koots wrote:Greetings.

I have spotted a burgundy 481 for sale on eBay in the UK, starting bid £500.

At first glance it looks good, share teeth inlays, binding around the body etc....however, theres no phase reversal switch and it has hi gain pickups?

I know 408's had hi-gains.

I am somewhat perplexed...any ideas?

Sorry I'm struggling uploading an image, but its there on eBay...

It could have been modded at some point. Here is a 408.

Whoa, weird one for sure...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rickenbacker- ... Swl9BWLTvK

I'm guessing its just a 481 with a new pickguard and hi-gains in place of the humbuckers.

I have a non-slant 481 with P-90s in it while I patiently wait for a set of 481 pickups to appear (at a reasonable price, no less). I considered putting hi-gains in, but already had a 620, so opted for something a little different-er. (It came to me with a Super Distortion in the bridge and some other DiMarzio HB in the neck - I didn't want it quite that different.)

Haven't found a lot of info, but I get the impression a number of 481s have outlived their original 481 pickups.

For the files:

Thats the one in the picture for sure...

Thanks for the responses.

In summary then it looks like its a 480 pick guard (thus covering the phaser switch hole) to accommodate the hi-gains.

I'm still hunting for the elusive 483.....

Koots wrote:
In summary then it looks like its a 480 pick guard (thus covering the phaser switch hole) to accommodate the hi-gains.

It looks like a 481 pickguard with no phase toggle switch and smaller pickup cutouts (to accommodate the hi-gains). A 480 guard doesn't extend back enough to include the bridge pickup.




There was actually an alleged 483 listing on eBay earlier this month. $3323.

Interesting mod, but the unique pickups and the phase switch are part of what make the 481 worth having imo. Otherwise it's just a 480 with weird frets.

Grey wrote:Interesting mod, but the unique pickups and the phase switch are part of what make the 481 worth having imo. Otherwise it's just a 480 with weird frets.

...and binding, and triangle inlays (though not full-width).