Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

John, now that you have mentioned the 360CWs, I understand where you're coming from.

I think David hit the nail on the head. The wait too long and the money too great.
I would have passed on this one had I seen it first.

John, it seems that you were expecting much more radical character and figuring in wood of this guitar. From what I see in the pictures, it looks like a really nice guitar. The intensity of figured wood varies quite a bit in the 4004Cii basses also, but I've never seen one that I would say was a disappointment in it's look.
David, there is no claim for any RIC model to have bookmatched wood, though I have seen a few RIC instruments that looked like they were.
If I had the chance to get any 381, I wouldn't pass on it. I wish it was available in a bass guitar version.

rickenbrother wrote: David, there is no claim for any RIC model to have bookmatched wood, though I have seen a few RIC instruments that looked like they were.

I wasn't sure, which is why I asked..... I can't deny that it's a beautifully crafted guitar, but from the photo of the back I could see why John was disappointed. There's a big bland patch in the lower bout that just (to my eyes) jars. If it was JetGlo, obviously, I wouldn't care - because it shows, I would.

rickenbrother wrote:
If I had the chance to get any 381, I wouldn't pass on it. I wish it was available in a bass guitar version.

AMEN to that Joey! LOL, but seriously, that would make a KILLER BASS!

Joey- You're right about expecting more. That only came from having had ones with better figure.
Like I said, the lesson for me here is to never buy one of these sight unseen again.
The bald spot is pretty annoying....
I don't think that it's too much to get some consistancy. When they were doing these in birdseye they were
more consistant (within nature's guidelines...) from guitar to guitar...
Not to knock Rick as they do make a great guitar, but if other companies can do it....

chefothefuture wrote: The bald spot is pretty annoying....

Well, at least it's relatively small...

is it just me or some other people here like them plain or birdseye better than flame?

Dusan, to me it's a gorgeous guitar whether the wood is plain, or has birds-eye or a flamed pattern in the wood. It striking as well in Jetglo. The 381 John Kay is one of my favorite Rick guitars.

absolutely i love jetglo guitars and jk was great edition.

I see the point, that the back does not look perfect. The question is I guess also one of price: if it was $1000 or something there would be no complaint. And I suppose they are not really that consistent: some of them have a bird's eye top and flamed back, some are flamed on both sides, etc.

Strangely enough the Jetglo finish is not cheaper, as with some manufacturers who actually charge less for solid finishes.

That's one way of looking at it...solids are a bear to paint. Maybe, on the other hand, RIC should charge more for bursts.

$1000 for a made in USA handbuilt, hand-finished, set neck guitar of incomparable quality, is a pipe dream. Ricks would be a bargain at $5K street price.

The business model in the "nostalgia" segment of the guitar market, is to issue very pricey replicas (usually beat-up "relics") of well-known instruments that would be junk if not for a tenuous "celebrity" connection. I say, "tenuous" because aside from being visual replicas for the undiscriminating eye, there is no real connection with the artists they evoke. Without that "connection", they would be considered junk.

Rick shoulders on with their original business model, which is a vintage holdover itself: determine the cost of an item, add a reasonable markup, and set prices based on that.

Oh, and give jobs to local residents and not outsource.

That guitar is BEAUTIFUL!

Sorry to hear you were'nt knocked out by it. Personally I feel like I've cheated on my 1997SPC/VB just by looking at it.

If you can't grow to love it, well, as Paul hinted, there are many here who would dip into their kid's college funds to own your blueburst.

I think it was a combined matter of time and cost.
There is no denying that it is a very well made instrument,
and with all of its features it is priced very well.
I guess one can forget that although Rick is a low production company
compared to the others, it is not really a "boutique" manufacturer.
Also- given some of examples of 381s from the late 90s to a few years
ago, the figure has taken a drop...
As for curly or birdseye, I love a good birdseye. I had one of the first 381 reissues
in 1987(came with a numbered COA) and it had wonderful birdseye. Even the neck.

The wait was silly for a production instrument though and I think that's what helped the
expectation grow.

The smell of the fresh CV is nice though.....

jingle_jangle wrote:That's one way of looking at it...solids are a bear to paint. Maybe, on the other hand, RIC should charge more for bursts.

$1000 for a made in USA handbuilt, hand-finished, set neck guitar of incomparable quality, is a pipe dream. Ricks would be a bargain at $5K street price.

The business model in the "nostalgia" segment of the guitar market, is to issue very pricey replicas (usually beat-up "relics") of well-known instruments that would be junk if not for a tenuous "celebrity" connection. I say, "tenuous" because aside from being visual replicas for the undiscriminating eye, there is no real connection with the artists they evoke. Without that "connection", they would be considered junk.

Rick shoulders on with their original business model, which is a vintage holdover itself: determine the cost of an item, add a reasonable markup, and set prices based on that.

Oh, and give jobs to local residents and not outsource.

oh well i had such nice post and lost it now...