Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Kids,

I just put my old 480 back together and ran through some stuff last night. Really great sound. I'm a 360 fan, but the Hi-Gains with the solid body sounded great though a Mesa Heartbreaker with some distortion.

I recall someone on hear wanting a Rick but wanting one with a little more edge to it... IMHO, the 480 certainly fits the bill...

They ain't the prettiest Rick out there... But the still got that cool vibe going. Anyone else out there enjoying these or have they gone the way of the DoDo Bird in favor of the 600 series? (If so, please post your experiences, I'd like to hear them).

JKC

What stuff did you run through?

I'll have to get my Mapleglo 480 out and check it out with my Vox AD120.

I played Ric basses since I was 18, but in my younger days played Telecastor gtrs. I decided to buy a Ric gtr & bought a 480....it put me off Ric gtrs for years. I thought it was a dreadful gtr compared to a Tele. Thin, not only in body, but also sound, with a neck so thin that it was as good as a whammy bar. Thankfully, before it was to late, I found the 300 series & have since ditched my Tele, with Rics being the only gtrs I now play. I know this will infuriate 480 fans, but you did ask for experiences.

Tony,

That's fine. Thanks for your perspective. I've played Stratos and Telecasters for awhile and prefer the Strato. I actually get some meaty sound out of it... Albeit, probably not as big as a Tele and I probably like my sound a little thinner than you. I like the 360 and I love my 360VP. What 300 are you playing?

Like I said, the 480 is kinda ugly (and this will infuriate the 4001 players out there). Mine is even uglier right now because some jerky put Gibson "keystone" tuners on it and I haven't changed them back yet. But... That being said, I really kinda dig it.

Gary,

Grab a beer, sit down and do it. I'll bet you will be as surprised as I was.

Kenny,

Basically, I ran though the house with scissors, screaming like a maniac. Seriously, Cheap Trick, Tom Petty, Cracker, Foo Fighters, my own stuff, your own much better stuff... To name a few. (Missed your call the other day, I'll give you a ring next week).

JKC

"Thin" is a pretty good description, although mine was modded before I got it, so it has a modern high gain in the bridge (a JG '73). I haven't used it much at all except for tooling around on. I'm sure it will find a use, but I haven't discovered it yet. I'm primarily a Strat or Les Paul guy.

Jim, to answer your question, I have one 360vp & two 360s with hi gains. I love the vp because it's burgundy, but will never be my main gtr 'cause it's not beefy enough (even though my 350 is). It's a good studio gtr though, giving me a different sound. My other two 360s are a '99 fireglo and a '03 jetglo. The fireglo is a real classic in the sound department, with my jetglo being darker, but they are the guitars that I use every single day. I'd like to use the 350 more, 'cause it does sound superb, but the 360s are oh so comfy & just seem to 'do it' for me.
I play rock, so you are right, I do like a beefy sound & my hi gain 360s provide it (& my 450/12).

Sorry...this post hasn't got much to do with a 480...but I was asked!

Mine has the original Hi-Gains. I didn't know there was a difference in Hi-Gains. Is there? Mine is a '73. Are those Hi-Gains different than the ones that came on my '90 360?

Thanks

JKC

Actually what I meant to say was that mine has a modern humbucker in it. Should not be posting before coffee...

Jimbo - I thiiink the early '70s HiGains are not wound so tight, and the late '70s HiGains are REALLY hot, while the contemporary ones are a happy medium. Of course, they all look a bit different. I have no idea what the early early early ones sound like (like you'd see on a 331 or 381 from the '60s).

As an aside, they'll never sound like toasters, as the physical makeup is different. "Hot" toasters are close but still different.

I like 'em all. Each one is good for different applications, and they all sound like Rics at the end of the day.

I will say this - the '73 480 I had (which I used for most of the leads on Kenny Howes' Second Album* had the stock pickups and was really great, biting but not saturating.

That's one that got away - I paid $80 for it. The finish was cooked, so I stripped it natural, and experimented with a variety of half-*** paint jobs on it, including a muck-up** of the MMT bass. It had a very flat fingerboard and while it didn't have a conventional Ric feel to it, still played like The Truth.

I also had a '79 480 that sucked.


* There's a plug for ya!

** As opposed to a mock-up.

Hey, I've got a question for 480 experts (I'm thinking of you, Kenny). A guy is selling a 480 with a small white switch just forward of the standard 3-position pickup selector. It seems I've seen one of these on a 481, maybe? Is it stock? What does it do? And what is a 480 in reasonably good shape worth these days?

Seth: That is, almost certainly, an after-market switch that I am betting turns the .0047 Capacitor from the Treble volume to the toggle switch on or off. While these capacitors were wired in the 1970s circuit they really produce a treble tonality that is capable of "breaking glass" and eardrums, at least in my view.

As Kenny says, some of these are great players. I was able to find one recently in New Brunswick which plays beautifully after adjustments to the nut, trussrods and bridge. The fretboard is a joy to play and the binding is a plus as well.

I include a photo below.

Nice burgundyglo you got there!

Did you find it in Saint John?

I don't really see any Rickenbacker's in Moncton...

Yes it is from Saint John. There is also a Jetglo 360/12V64 in the Port City - $1499. Canadian, last time I heard.