I've had my two little Ric 325's for years now. In the past months I've decided that I need to own a full scale Ric since I haven't ever owned a full scale 6 string Ric. I had a 610/12 years ago, but I never took a shine to it.
I thought and thought, and after searching the 'net for a nicely figured, honey amber colored MapleGlo 381v69, and finding a buyer (a fellow BGC'er) for my beloved 325c58, I pulled the trigger on this 1988 model 381v69. It came from Cream City Music up in Milwaukee and arrived today. I got a good price for this 26 year old instrument and the c58 nearly covered the entire cost of it. I looked around at a lot of the brand new MapleGlo 381's, but the wood they are using these days is very, very pale and not as highly figured as they used to use. If I was going to get the 'Cadillac' of Rickenbackers, it had to be just exactly what I was wanting, looks wise. Well, this is it and more. I don't think this thing has ever been played in all it's 26 years! There's not a blemish on it, or fret wear or dings or anything! It must have been an investment instrument. Well, I plan to play it.
I haven't had much of a chance to plug it in and play it yet, but the neck feels fantastic. The weight is akin to a Les Paul, but is balanced beautifully.
Honestly, I don't feel like I'm worthy of this guitar, but I'm sure I can figure out a way to earn owning it. Here's some pics, I'm putting my unboxing video on YouTube tomorrow if you're interested in watching me act like a kid on Christmas morning.
If you had told me back in 1988, the year I graduated high school and began my lifelong journey into Beatle and guitar nuttiness, that I would one day own a guitar like this I would have thought you were crazy.
