1970 381 at Elderly

Transition years of Rickenbacker Guitars from 1973-1983 inclusive

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paul_yan
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Post by paul_yan »

Thanks for the pics and description, John!Image
Very cool.
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jingle_jangle
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Post by jingle_jangle »

I've never seen a 381 of this vintage, so I'm flying blind here.

It's odd--the MG pic that Paul posted seems to have button Allen head screws as pole pieces. Paul, is this your guitar and could you clarify?

The first shot of John's looks the same, but the closeup shows no markings whatsoever.

Is this just a trick of shadowing and poor resolution, guys?

If there's no head or recess on top of these screws, there must be one on the bottom...anybody ever look?
“I say in speeches that a plausible mission of artists is to make people appreciate being alive at least a little bit. I am then asked if I know of any artists who pulled that off. I reply, 'The Beatles did.”
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ken_j
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Post by ken_j »

Quote: "It doesn't seem odd to me that it sold. It was pretty."
What I thought was odd is that you can get to the web page from the hyperlink but not through their web site. If it sold I would think the page would be gone.
"The best things in life aren't things."
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jsm610
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Post by jsm610 »

oh, I see. I too think that is odd...

Image
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jsm610
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Post by jsm610 »

"Is this just a trick of shadowing and poor resolution, guys? "

I think the trick is that the black paint wears off the top of the flat threaded poles. When you photo it, it looks like slots. And you expect button-tops because that is what most all higains look like. On my picture, the flash is introducing shadows that aren't helping...

If the 381 has button top, then they are not the original pickups. It doesn't look like button top to me, but it is hard to tell.
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ken_j
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Post by ken_j »

If you down load the pic and then blow it up larger it looks like it has phillips screw pole pieces. Most evident on the sixth string.

Image
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jingle_jangle
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Post by jingle_jangle »

Don't look like Phillips, except for #6, which looks like it was replaced, and #1, possibly. But the others look like Allen head set screws.

Is there a face on mars?Image
“I say in speeches that a plausible mission of artists is to make people appreciate being alive at least a little bit. I am then asked if I know of any artists who pulled that off. I reply, 'The Beatles did.”
― Kurt Vonnegut
kalimusic
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Post by kalimusic »

Elderly sez: No Longer Available
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jwilli
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Post by jwilli »

That guitar was a deal for somebody.
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jsm610
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Post by jsm610 »

Yes, great deal. I wonder who?

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jwilli
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Post by jwilli »

Did you buy it?
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jsm610
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Post by jsm610 »

Indeed.
rickcrazy
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Post by rickcrazy »

Those polepieces are not adjustable. Actually, those are quite simply the bottom portions of screws inserted from the bottom of the pickup bobbin.
A Rickenbacker bass is much like the Jaguar E car - perennially ultra-fashionable.
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jwilli
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Post by jwilli »

Jsm610 strikes again! Good job.
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jingle_jangle
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Post by jingle_jangle »

Sergio, I had posted a similar observation (more a speculation) that these were the bottoms of screws inserted from the pickup bottom. Then my computer froze...

But why not adjustable?
“I say in speeches that a plausible mission of artists is to make people appreciate being alive at least a little bit. I am then asked if I know of any artists who pulled that off. I reply, 'The Beatles did.”
― Kurt Vonnegut
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