Overview: The 90th Anniversary Models

On January 19th, 2021 Ben Hall posted the following teaser on Instagram:

Unlike the 75th Anniverary Models that John Hall and factory accounts teased online for almost two months, we got the details the very next day.

Not merely a special finish like the 75th Anniversary models, there would be two brand new models inspired by the company’s back catalog: the 480XC and the 4005XC. As had been done with the Color of the Year guitars, orders would be accepted through the end of 2021.

Offered in Jetglo and a striking new “Tobaccoglo” finish, the 480XC evoked its 1970s era namesake while making a significant improvement over the original design. Neck-through construction versus the original’s bolt-on neck eliminated the awkward geometry that had the top-mounted bridge pickup too close to the strings and the pickguard mounted neck pickup too far away.

The black hardware/black trim 480XC featured checkered bound flamed maple body wings, a two piece 21-fret maple neck with a cresting wave headstock and walnut wings, and an unfinished bound macassar ebony fretboard with crushed pearl triangle inlays.

Pickups were a throwback to the 1980s-1990s era “hot toasters,” wound to 12K and housed inside a matte black Higain case inset slightly into the body. Tuners were black Schaller M6 minis, and the bridge was a top mounted black Schaller 3D-style unit.

One especially unique feature was the inclusion of the push/pull “vintage tone circuit” switch that had heretofore only appeared on basses. Wiring was mono only

A black back painted plexi truss rod cover finished the look. MSRP was an eye-popping $4,799.

The other special model was a completely new animal: the 4005XC. Nothing like the original 1960s-era 4005, the 4005XC was essentially a 360/12C63 body with a bass neck grafted onto it. To keep it from being awkwardly long, the scale length was reduced to 30”. Like the 480XC two color options were available: Jetglo and Amber Fireglo. Unlike the earlier “Color of the Year” Amber Fireglo, the amber tint was applied in the base coat instead of the clear coat, meaning that the binding and inlays remained bright.

Appointments of the 4005XC were more or less identical to the “donor” 360/12C63—with a few excecptions—and adapted for a bass. The exceptions included crushed pearl inlays like on the 480XC, checkered binding, and a bound soundhole. Adaptations included a “four hole” trapeze tailpiece and a four saddle adjustable bridge similar to the one used on the original 4005.

Everything else—electronics, pickguard, knobs, plexi truss rod cover—came off the 360/12C63. Unlike other basses, because the 360/12C63 came standard with the “vintage tone circuit”, the 4005XC did not feature the push/pull switch to engage. MSRP was a whopping $5,149.

Initial response was…mixed. The 4005XC was fairly well received—it looked the part, it was something new…it looked like a solid winner. The 480XC…less so. The 480—while a fairly solid seller in its day—was not exactly collectible or even well regarded by Rickenbacker loyalists. And those prices…

That said, the first production runs were already in process and hit stores about a month after the announcement, and launch demand was high enough that most dealers had fairly significant waiting lists—double digits for many larger dealers—right off the bat on both models. Consequently, for the first few months both models were sold before they ever even hit the shelves. Which led to dealers placing more, larger resupply orders. Street price for those in the know was about $3,500 on the 480XC and $4,000 on the 4005XC (but not everyone was in the know!) and during those first few months people were flipping them for MSRP or higher to those who couldn’t wait.

And then as the orders on the waiting lists got filled…it slowed down. These were guitars that really only appealed to hardcore Rickenbacker diehards—especially the 4005XC—and after all of those people had one…there wasn’t much market left. Especially at those prices.

And even the diehards weren’t crazy about them. The 480XC was criticized for being “stiff” to play, and the 4005XC’s ergonomics were panned. Leaving the bridge in the same position as on the 350/12C63 left a huge amount of space behind it and an awkward playing position for most bassists. They could have moved the bridge back and maintained standard scale, but that would have taken the guitar down to about 17 frets.

But dealers had reordered a bunch based on that original perceived demand, and they had stopped moving. Some dealers inquired about cancelling orders. Street price dropped another $500, and inventory grew. The last production batch rolled off the line in October, 2022. As of this writing (March, 2025), there are still brand new unsold examples of both on the shelves in the double digits.

What’s the long term outlook of these guitars? While it’s early to say, I think there will be a place for the 4005XC among Rickenbacker fans in the long term. Like we said at the start, it looks the part, and there’s nothing else like it out there. The 480XC I’m less optimistic about. But only time will tell.