Rickenbacker 480XC 90th Anniversary Tobaccoglo 2022

Rickenbacker 480XC 90th Anniversary Tobaccoglo

The Rickenbacker 480XC 90th Anniversary Tobaccoglo revives one of the company’s least conventional six-string designs. Created to mark Rickenbacker’s 90th anniversary, it takes the sharply pointed outline of the 1970s Model 480 and gives it neck-through construction, hotter pickups and some particularly elaborate anniversary appointments. The Rickenbacker 480XC 90TH Anniversary 2022 LTD Edition is a standout release for collectors and players alike.

The original Model 480 was produced from 1973 until 1984, with a body shape derived from Rickenbacker’s 4000-series basses. The 480XC retains that unmistakable outline but replaces the original bolt-on neck arrangement with a two-piece maple neck running through the body.

Brand-new 2022 anniversary stock

This guitar is brand-new shop stock

The original protective film and anniversary decals are shown in the photographs. It is supplied with its silver Rickenbacker vintage-reissue hard case, Rosetti certificate and the original case contents pictured.

Properly different, even by Rickenbacker standards

The 480XC combines several details that did not appear together on the original model:

• Neck-through maple construction with flamed maple body wings
• Bound Macassar ebony fingerboard with crushed-pearl triangle inlays
• Checkerboard body binding and black appointments
• Twin 12K Hot Toaster pickups
• Push-pull Rickenbacker vintage tone circuit
• Black Schaller bridge and Schaller M6 Mini tuners

Tobaccoglo runs from an amber centre into a dark outer edge across the body, neck and cresting-wave headstock. The checkerboard binding traces the angular body shape, while the black pickguard, bridge, tuners and pickup surrounds keep the whole thing from becoming too polite.

Hot Toasters and the vintage tone circuit

The two 12K Hot Toaster pickups retain the clarity and upper-frequency definition associated with Rickenbacker, but add more output and midrange weight than a traditional lower-wound Toaster.

A three-way toggle selects the bridge pickup, both pickups or the neck pickup. Each pickup has its own volume and tone control.

Pulling the treble tone control engages Rickenbacker’s vintage tone circuit. This introduces a high-pass capacitor into the bridge pickup circuit, reducing low frequencies and producing a leaner, sharper response. With the control pushed in, the bridge pickup retains its fuller and more balanced voice.

The Schaller hardtail bridge is a practical departure from the covered bridge fitted to the original 480, offering individual adjustment and a solid connection to the neck-through maple structure.

The Rickenbacker 480XC 90th Anniversary Tobaccoglo is both a serious playing instrument and a distinctive piece of Rickenbacker history. It is scarce, unusual and completely recognisable without requiring any nonsense about mythical holy grails.

Specifications

Brand: Rickenbacker
Model: 480XC
Series: 90th Anniversary Limited Edition
Condition: Brand new
Year: 2022
Production date: Week 34 of 2022
Serial number: 2234771
Finish: Tobaccoglo
Country of manufacture: USA
Body type: Solidbody
Construction: Neck-through
Body wings: Flamed maple
Neck wood: Two-piece maple
Headstock wings: Walnut
Scale length: 24¾ inches
Fingerboard: Bound Macassar ebony
Number of frets: 21
Fingerboard inlays: Crushed-pearl triangles
Nut width: 1.63 inches
Body binding: Checkerboard
Bridge pickup: Rickenbacker 12K Hot Toaster
Neck pickup: Rickenbacker 12K Hot Toaster
Pickup selector: Three-way toggle
Controls: Two volume and two tone controls
Additional switching: Push-pull vintage tone circuit
Output: Mono
Bridge: Black Schaller 3D-style hardtail
Tuners: Black Schaller M6 Mini
Hardware: Black
Pickguard: Black
Weight: 3.2kg
Case: Rickenbacker silver vintage-reissue hard case
Included paperwork: Original Rosetti certificate and supplied case contents