Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Different.......

I'm shocked. 381s rule all. And that's not my opinion - it's a fact.

Really ? I'm not too hot on them, call me simple-minded, I guess. I'll take a 360JG over a character-mapled weirdo 381, or whatever, any day. And that's a fact ...

By "weirdo 381" you must mean to refer to the Elvis bauble in Kevin's link.

I got out mine for the first time in a couple of weeks last night and spent some time with it. Superb. Not me, the guitar.

I'm somewhat on the nay side of a 381. I don't like the pickguard shape and I am not too keen on the carved body. I do like the binding however.

Paul posted pictures of his a while ago and I must say IMO it is the best one I have seen yet.

I could probably be persuaded to like them if I had one like Pauls.

Paul, when I said "weirdo", I meant the 381, in general, but the one in the link takes it to the next level. That strange body shape, and checkered binding make it look uncomfortable to play. I, however, am the simplest of simpletons when it comes to guitars. My 330MG w/o any "flame" is just right, my Tele is chrome red w/ a white pick guard, my 360JG is the most awe-inspiring thing I have seen. My reaction was only triggered by the claim that the "381, in fact, rules all". To each his own, we all love Ric's, that is obvious. In fact, if I ever got to try a 381 in person, I might change my mind.

The 381 is a stunning guitar -but it's not for me. It's the Avalon or Crown Victoria of the Ric line. Actually I should make that the Bentley of the Ric line . I admire the craftmanship and find myself marveling at them, but it will likely never be a Ric I own.

The guy I've ordered most of my Rics from has long tried to convince me to buy a 381 (clearly it's THE Rickenbacker for him).

381MG/VB and a Vero amp for my drawing room? Well I could be convinced if I had a wealthy benefactor...

nOel

So....whose guitar WAS that in Kevin's post, anyway? It did appear to have Peter's name attached to it somehow, though maybe it was just one of his photos?

Just curious!

Steve - I was only being facetious! I understand that "rules all" is very subjective, I was just a bit taken aback as I've honestly never heard anyone say that they didn't like the 381 before.

For the record, they are very comfortable to play, if a little heavier than the 330. and when the light catches that carving....

I like 330s but love 381s.

In order for a product to be a work of "Industrial Art" (my own private terminology, BTW), it must be first of all, pleasing to the eye without the faculty of reasoning coming into play. This is most obvious in first impressions, if you are quick enough to capture them before the brain kicks in.

Once the brain does kick in (and for some of us this is every alternate Wednesday), the product's visual aspects can be seen on several levels--the overall shape, mass, and color are perceived first. Next, there are things like how features are arranged (pickup placement and perhaps the curve of a pickguard?). Finally, there's the level of details which hold and intrigue the eye, which have to be present in just enough quantity, location, and contrast, to work with the whole composition.

When I saw my first 381 (in FG), I had a Sylvester the Cat epiphany. My eyes bugged out of my head and my tongue hit the floor. First (emotional) impression--eminently positive. The brain kicked in, noting the features mentioned above.

The icing on the cake was the "German" carve, and the way it caught the light, and the checkered binding.

IMO and using my own rather jaundiced eye, the 330 scores highly on the first two aspects, but to me looks as if there's something missing in the detail category. The 360 looks fine in profile, but the softness of the top edges looks arbitrary and equivocational (wishy-washy?), and it's missing the detail involvement, too.

This is the reason that I prefer bound guitars (including the OS 360) over slabs that are unbound.

And this also assumes that the object performs as well as it promises. The 381 is a clear winner in all categories to me.

Peter is strangely silent on that Elvis 381E.

I noticed, Paul! Maybe he doesn't want to talk about it.... Some secret Rickenlove affair with an outrageously garish guitar that nobody knows about....

BTW--"Sylvester the Cat epiphany"--that's hilarious!

Oh, you've had one too, then?

Paul, I'm not one to "kiss and tell!"

...Or did you mean "Sylvester the Cat epiphany?" I think I just did, over your Bug!