Rickenbacker 90th Anniversary 480XC

The Rickenbacker 90th Anniversary 480XC is the epitome of everything that makes a vintage Rickenbacker the definitive electric guitar. For starters, the Hot Toaster pickups on this axe produce a lot of tone. Whether you want Mike Campbell-style jangle, Townshend-worthy power chords, or Paul Weller-style discord, the 480XC delivers.

The 480XC’s solid maple body has a striking, eye-catching appearance while encouraging smooth playability and simple upper fret access. You’ll also like the smooth feel of the 10-inch-radius Macassar ebony fingerboard on this electric guitar, as well as the enhanced resonance and sustain of its neck-through construction.

The Rickenbacker 90th Anniversary 480XC comes standard with a slew of high-end amenities, such as eye-catching checkerboard binding, crushed pearl triangle fretboard inlays, a Bakelite nut, and battle-tested Schaller gear. The Rickenbacker 90th Anniversary 480XC is a must-have for Rickenbacker fans.

All-maple construction provides a bright foundation

Except for the fingerboard on the 90th Anniversary 480XC, everything is manufactured of high-quality maple. The richness of maple contributes to Rickenbacker’s characteristic sustain and top-end jangle and shimmer. Maple is also incredibly sturdy, which helps to keep the neck’s structural integrity.

Aside from being the ideal launch for accelerated riffage, the Macassar ebony fingerboard on this solidbody electric guitar offers more sustain and attack to every note you play. The 480XC has a luxurious appearance thanks to crushed pearl triangular inlays.

Hot Toaster: the return of Rickenbacker’s 12k pickup

Rickenbackers were available with what are now known as “12k Toaster” pickups in the 1980s and 1990s. Many guitar enthusiasts prefer these pickups for their distinct jangle and extra-warm midrange, especially when contrasted to lower-output variants.

The Hot Toaster single-coil pickups on the 480XC represent a return to this sought sound. These alnico-loaded puppies are wound hot at 12k — hotter even than the company’s Hi-gain variants. They still sound like Toasters — bright, clear, and forceful — but they’re a little louder and warmer.

We’ve put the 480XC through its paces here at Sweetwater. With equal ease, this solidbody electric guitar produces jangly pop textures, classic rock crunch, mod revival tones, and feedback-laden heavy rock. Rickenbacker’s 90th Anniversary 480XC combines nine decades of legendary Rick tones into a single, vibe-infused instrument.

Brimming with high-end appointments

The Rickenbacker 90th Anniversary 480XC is a first-rate electric solidbody. Its sturdy maple body has a typical Rickenbacker hue and a gleaming gloss finish. Checkerboard binding and eye-catching crushed pearl triangle fingerboard inlays give the 480XC a significant dose of vintage flair. A Schaller bridge and tuning equipment provide near-perfect dependability. A elegantly sculpted Bakelite nut is also included.

Rickenbacker 90th Anniversary 480XC Features:

• Limited-edition solidbody electric guitar celebrates Rickenbacker’s 90th anniversary
• Solid maple body yields classic Rickenbacker sustain and top-end jangle and shimmer
• Hot Toaster pickups offer a bright, clear, aggressive sound with lots of output
• Maple set neck has a good chunky feel for chording
• Easy-playing 10-inch-radius Macassar ebony fingerboard
• Gracefully molded Bakelite nut
• Eye-snatching checkerboard binding and crushed pearl triangle fretboard inlays
• Battle-tested Schaller hardware

Rickenbacker 90th Anniversary 480XC Specs

Brand	Rickenbacker
Model	90th Anniversary 480XC
Finish	Jetglo Tobaccoglo
Year	2021
Made In	United States
Categories	Solid Body Electric Guitars
Body Material	Maple
Body Shape	Double Cutaway
Body Type	Solid Body
Color Family	BlackBrownSunburst
Finish Features	Matching Headstock
Finish Style	Gloss
Fretboard Material	Rosewood
Neck Construction	Bolt-On
Neck Material	Maple
Number of Frets	24
Number of Strings	6-String
Offset Body	No
Pickup Configuration	SS
Right / Left Handed	Right Handed