381v69 experiences?

beefandbones · Post by **beefandbones** » Sun Jan 16, 2005 10:52 am

I've never had the chance to play a 381, but I've drooled over them for years. Paul's in-the-mail MB 381 has gotten me thinking about finally putting down the money for one!

I'm familiar with sonic differences between toasters and hi-gains, and the differences between 330s and 360s and all that, but I have some questions about how 381's sound.

How much does the extra-thick body affect the tone versus, say, a slimmer 330 with higains or a 360v64 with toasters? Also, I tend to use the neck pickup a lot. How would you characterize the sound of the neck pickup with the 21-fret neck and the deeper body? Any trouble getting used to the bigger body?

381 owners seem pretty quiet in comparison with the 330 and 360 owners around here! (Maybe there are just fewer of them...)

Any comments, experiences, or stories are welcome! Thanks!

loverickbass · Post by **loverickbass** » Sun Jan 16, 2005 3:51 pm

I had a 381v69 in fireglo and sold it. I couldn't get used to the bigger body. Other than that it was a fine guitar. It had a little more bass than your 330 and 360 to my ears. Still very Ricky sounding.

Cole

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 2:59 pm

This whole "bigger body" thing is very interesting. It's obvious, looking at the 381, that it pays a very direct homage to the roots of one of Rickenbacker's lines of DNA. To my eye, it looks almost antique in its proportion and details and that's its charm...

I've NEVER seen one in the wood (so to speak), although I've looked and looked for a local dealer with one in stock. I've seen hundreds of 360s over the years. Of course the 325 is an icon, like the 600s, and the Rick 4001 bass is immediately recognizable, as are its successors.

I am amazed at how tiny my 660-12s body is, yet it has a very wide (for a Rick) neck. Next to a Les Paul (for instance) it looks quite dainty. Then we have the 381, which I'm assuming has a lower bout somewhere in the 16"-17" range, with the classic Rick narrow neck. I'm comfortable with big or small, thick or thin, and I have a feeling that the 381 will become a favorite.

Should make for an intriguing contrast with the 660.

bill_yantz · Post by **bill_yantz** » Tue Jan 18, 2005 3:51 am

Paul, did you get the 381 yet? I looked at yours on the Wildwood site and its is absolutely stunning. Please write-up a detailed review. I enjoy all your posts, thanks.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Tue Jan 18, 2005 6:18 am

Thanks, Bill, it arrives tomorrow afternoon. I just checked UPS and found out it was in Billings, MT en route. Knowing that Steve waited a day to ship it because of severe cold in CO, I was sort of concerned. But--surprise! it's actually warmer in Billings than in SF today!

It'll have about 8-10 hours in SF before I receive it, so maybe I won't have to wait a day before playing it, but if it feels cold inside the box when I open it, I won't open the case until Thursday.

Went through the same drill with my 660-12, when it arrived from Wisconsin. Except it took TWO days to acclimate.

Steve at Wildwood said that the 381 has NEVER been displayed or played, except by their tech who set it up for me, unlike the 660-12, which apparently had received quite a bit of handling in-store at Dave's.

melibreits · Post by **melibreits** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 11:27 am

I have a 381 in quilt-mapleglo, and it is probably the most eye-catching guitar in my Ric collection.... I don't play it out very often, as its thicker body makes it quite a bit heavier than my other Rics.... But it has a really huge, fat sound with a bit more resonance than a 330 or 360.... to my ears it has some full-bodied Gibson or Gretsch-type tones. It's not quite as jangly at the bridge pickup as a 330 or 360, but it is still unmistakably Rickish in sound. The neck pickup delivers some really dark, rich tones.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 12:16 pm

Welcome back, Melissa! I've seen you hold your own on the alt. guitar. rickenbacker site and it must be a breath of cool, clean air to be here. I do agree that a choice maple 381 has to be one of THE modern classics.

Ethan, my own MB 318 arrived on Wednesday and I've been a bit busy putting bread on the table to write up my impressions, but, triggered by Melissa's post, I'll give you a sample now for a few words...

I also took a few pics with both the 660-12 and the 381V59 side by side as well as some detail pics, and I'll post them later. I'll put some larger stuff on photobucket this weekend and post a link here.

Got to work on Wednesday and outside my office door was a LARGE box from Wildwood. I took awhile to get some morning business done and then got out the boxcutter.

Vintage case was wrapped in bubble-pak; after this was peeled off and temperature checked, I laid the case flat and opened it.

Those of you who think me a bit too positive (can you spell Pollyanna?) about Rick, can skip ahead here to the next post.

The guitar is, in 25 words or less, nothing less than the most beautiful 6 string I have laid eyes and fingers upon. I've owned over 60 guitars in the last 25 or so years; I've only--up until now, kept ONE all that time. Now it's up to three and 2 of them are my two Ricks.

I inspected it closely under strong light. Not a part was wrong; everything aligned right except the upper pickguard, which was a bit off in respect to the pickups. I'll fine-tune that later, as it does not affect playability. Every line, highlight, millimeter of binding was perfect including the soundhole. The shading was spot-on, and although the guitar was built 5 months before my 660-12, the colors are a spot-on match. The maple grain, though not as bold as Melissa's, still has plenty of flop and looks spectacular.

Playability: the most personal of all subjective calls. As I received the guitar, it was slightly detuned and the action was too high. Intonation except for the "G", was good, at least by ear. It took about 10 minutes to get the "G" right. About another 10 saw the bridge height come down about 3 mm average. This produced a playability on par with my favorite Gretsch, which so far has been my standard. I love the neck; the one on the 660-12 I'm still adjusting to after a month of several-times-a-day playing. The 381's feels like I grew up with it. The action is very low; string tension is just right. It helps to remember that Ricks are not at their best as thrasher guitars and depend a good deal on sensitive treatment and excellent amplification, so that best advantage can be taken of the guitar's charasteristics without banging on it too hard. Too rough a style and the strings will buzz although this doesn't too often carry through to the amplified signal. Set it low, play it reasonably, and it returns some of the slickest fingerboard responses I've ever experienced.

Appearance: To my eye, this guitar in this particular color, wants a gold pickguard setup, and possibly stove knobs. I'm going to try this and also vintage (black) knobs too. This means that the headstock logo will have to be swapped out for a gold one, through Rick factory channels I guess. A bit more permanent than I'd prefer, but you have to allow for trademark issues.

More later, and progress reports as we move ahead from honeymoon to LTR.

beefandbones · Post by **beefandbones** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 12:27 pm

SO COOL! Congratulations!

melibreits · Post by **melibreits** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 12:50 pm

Congrats, Paul.... Welcome to the exclusive 381 club! <grin>

marctrain57 · Post by **marctrain57** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 11:48 am

i have often wanted one of these. Anyone have any comments on the neck size. I assume it is the same width as a 330 or 360. But what about the depth?

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 12:00 pm

Neck width, 1 5/8" at nut. (same as all electrics save the 660). Neck depth, 7/8" at nut to slightly thicker at 17th fret.

bill_yantz · Post by **bill_yantz** » Sat Feb 12, 2005 5:41 am

Can we re-start this thread.

I would like more comments from 381 users. Melissa, that was a good description and becasue you referenced the sound to be more bigger bodied, like Gretsch, I am intrigued. I have two Gretsches that are nice, one is dual coil and the other is single coil. I am seriously considering a 381 6-string but want a heavier more Gretsch like sound, bigger bottom to handle the leads on some of the British Invasion songs we play. I have had a CW 6-string, which is a wonderful guitar, but it lacked bottom end that I get with the Gretsch. That's fine, because the Grtesch can't do what the CW can do. But, is there something in between that has Ric jangle and also depth in the lower register more like a Gretsch. That's what the CW was missing, for me (I have a CW 12-string and its magical, very different though). I wonder if the 381 might be one to do it. If there is no difference between the 381 and let's say a 360 then it probably won't fit the bill. I need feedback becasue if I do get a 381, it will be sight unseen and played. I will have to go with your comments.

Thanks everyone in advance.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Sat Feb 12, 2005 10:48 am

Between the Gretsch single coil and the 381, it is apples and oranges. If your criteria is cutting through the mix on leads, the 381 will do it!

I also have two Gretsches; one with single-coil deArmonds and one with a mini-humbucker on a neck mount (old Convertible jazz style).

Though my 381 definitely has more bottom end than a solid Rick or a 360, it's a matter of small degrees, IMO.

The Gretsch hollows are made by trad hollow body construction; the 381 is less resonant because it is made from two billets of maple with wrapped sides and inserted/glued neck. Hence less midrange "boom". I call it "fruitiness": Gretsch has it, nobody else does.

bill_yantz · Post by **bill_yantz** » Sun Feb 13, 2005 4:31 am

Paul, sounds like the 381 is somewhere in between a 360 and Gretsch hollwbody. That's good. The one thing Gretsch does not have is that crisp, smooth highend jangle. I would want the 381 to cut through, yes. To be more specific, I am hoping it would cover songs that are predominately single coil Gretsch HiLoTrons, i.e. Act Naturally, Honey Don't, ETTBMB and a slew of others. Being in a 3-piece British Invasion group means the guitar must sound distinctive to faithfully cover the song. The Grestch FilterTrons are perfect for some, The Ric 12-string for the obvious ones but the single coil sound is where I am tinkering. It will either be a Gretsch with Dynasoincs (on order) or 381. Either of which I have yet played. What keeps me coming back to 381 is the Ric jangle with more cut and especially, the bigger bottom end than the other models, i.e., 330, 360. To me I think that would be excellent but feedback from experienced 381 owners is so much appreciated and will help steer my decision. Thanks for the feedback.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Sun Feb 13, 2005 4:41 am

The DeArmond 2000s are superior to Filtertrons for the sound you want.