381 questions

[jps]

Does that 381V69/12 have scatterwound or the hotter toasters?

[jdogric12]

no matter what pickups you have in there providing they are stock toasters,

[stringman]

Jason because some people may mod the picups even though they look like stock toasters.

[paologregorio]

I have a 381/6 and a 381/12. I don't think there's that much difference between the O.S./WB 360s and the 381/6. It's slightly "darker" as Paul W. has put it, but it still sounds like a thinline Rick, just slightly more bottom maybe, not by much though. I haven't had to adjust knobs all that much, if at all, going between guitars. The difference in weight between the two models is maybe a pound, perhaps less with the latest non-birdseye maple models, as they're very light and resonant dut to the maple's being from the Pacific Northwest rather then mideastern Canada. It's not an uncomfortable difference, or one that I even really notice, but mind you this is coming from someone who doesn't get what people are talking about when they say an AC30 or Twin Reverb is a "heavy amp".

I can't speak for the difference between the 381/12 and a 360 OS or WB 12, because the only 360 OS style 12 I've played live has been Steve "Buddy Dog" Forsgren's 360/12 C63, which is an OS replica, but it's a very particular replica.

One thing I will say about the 381/12 is that I recently removed the neck 12K toaster and replaced it with a Scatterwound toaster because I thought the neck p/up was too bassy at 12K, but the sound out of the 7.4K Scatterwound neck toaster, is similarly bassy; the different resisitance/ohms of the Scatterwound p/up didn't appear to affect the tone coming out of the neck p/up much, so the body dimensions and pickup position are quite determinative to the sound one hears coming from the guitar, in my experience.

Blazes, Jake! Your comment enticed me into removin my 381/6 from its case to test the accuracy of my current assessment with past reflections of the instrument. I don't play the six string because it's MG; I play the 12 string b/c it's my only curren Rick 12 sring option. Eventually they're both going to end up trans red, trans green, or trans blue ala the 4004 models, most likely trans red; you guys know me-I like the wild finishes.

[stringman]

Paul sounds like your assessment was very similar to mine, as you replaced the stock 12k bass toaster with a 7k toaster. What I would try without spending extra money, unless you have a 3.5k toaster , is remove some windings from the 7k toaster bring it down to 3.5k as in the 360 12 c 63. Then because the pickup is not as hot, you can make up the difference with the balance control. I know that's how my 360 12 c 63 is. The bass pickup has really beautiful tone and i'm sure you know that because you played the 360 12 c 63 before. And sound is always a personal issue but I think we are of the same opinion here.

[Dave12]

I think the 381/12V69 is a very flexible guitar, and I love the toasters. I can get all the Ric sounds if I finagle with the controls. I also think the right amp helps, as with all electrics. Mine's a Traynor YCS-50, very flexible and nice tube sound. But besides all that, it's a "work of wood art," just beautiful and rich to hold and play. It is one of the best-balanced (weight) guitars I've played. Like everyone I think will agree, you just have to find one and play it.

[stringman]

+ 1 on that one david. But we are comparing the bass output of 2 guitars with the same toasters 12k. The 381 12 v 69 is more bassy then the 360 12 v 64 with the same output toasters 12k, out of the same amp deluxe reverb. If you read the post by Paul A he also has a lot of double bound ricks, He said it's still very bassy even though he swapped out his bass pickup with a 7.4k. I'm not taking anything away from the beauty of the 381V69 just saying when compared to a 360 12 v64 with the same output pickups it's more bassy because of the thickness of the body.

[paologregorio]

Paul sounds like your assessment was very similar to mine, as you replaced the stock 12k bass toaster with a 7k toaster. What I would try without spending extra money, unless you have a 3.5k toaster , is remove some windings from the 7k toaster bring it down to 3.5k as in the 360 12 c 63. Then because the pickup is not as hot, you can make up the difference with the balance control. I know that's how my 360 12 c 63 is. The bass pickup has really beautiful tone and i'm sure you know that because you played the 360 12 c 63 before. And sound is always a personal issue but I think we are of the same opinion here.

On a six string the neck position sound would be great from either pickup, but on the 12, though I like some of the bass in the nexk position, it's too much; I want the neck position p/up on a 12 to be more bassy than the bridge, but still have more of that 12 sring b-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-i-i-i-i-n-n-n-g that mnakes a Rick 12 sound so cool, so ideally it would be a bit brighter.

If I unwound the 7.4K p/up down to 3.5, it would be brighter sounding, but the ouptut level would still be higher than the 360/12 C 63 because the neck toaster would be a long pole toaster, compared to the short pole that the C63 has. The longer pole toaster-stronger magnets=more output. Unwinding is an option worth considering, I'm sure.

[jch]

What would be the best Toaster for say, the 59/61 era?

And tellus this,do ya get the rubber grommets when ya buy new Toasters?

[jps]

What would be the best Toaster for say, the 59/61 era?

And tellus this,do ya get the rubber grommets when ya buy new Toasters?

Scatterwound; yes, you get grommets.

[jch]

Thanks Jeffrey!

Is it possible to buy the grommets separately?
I've seen some for sale on Ebay but not sure if they're the same ,they look the same.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... :MEWAX:VRI

[jps]

Thanks Jeffrey!

Is it possible to buy the grommets separately?

You mean these black bagels?

[jch]

Ah yes,the pickup grommets ,thanks again!

I never thought to look there!
I gotta stay off the drink during the week!

[apossibleworld]

OK y'all, new 381 question time. All of the literature says that the 381 was originally designed in the late 50s and then discontinued until 1969 or so. Do any of these these early ones actually exist? What's the deal with them?

[360dave]

James Burton appeared with Rick Nelson on the Ozzie and Harriet show in the late 50's with a 381.
There are some promo photographs that were handed out by RIC back then.....that's where I got a copy.
In the photo Burton is holding the 381 which plainly shows that the center pup was removed and the mounting holes filled.
Many years later.....this same 381....different picture....was in the RIC gallery on the company website....I just looked, it isn't there anymore.

Hopefully, this instrument still exists but likely only Mr. Hall would know of it's disposition.

Back in the day......I saw Burton with this 381 on TV and I just had to have one.
I ordered and recieved a 360MG in early 60'. This 360 (s/n 2T052) has been discussed on this website as well as pictures posted.
It seems to be a unique instrument as well.
I didnt know at the time that what I saw on TV was a 381....In fact I didn't know of the 381 at all...that's why I was sold the 360MG.
I still have it and the HSC that it came in.


Best

Dave