Opinions on 381/12 V69

steverok · Post by **steverok** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 8:48 am

What a boring-looking guitar. It may as well be a stick of balsa wood with magic marker drawings on it.

Just kidding ! It's fabulous, of course.

winston · Post by **winston** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 9:13 am

Kevin,

You have way too many beautiful guitars. LOL. Where on earth do you find beautiful specimens like this?

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 9:15 am

Congratulations, Melibee!! I've enjoyed every one of 'em

melibreits · Post by **melibreits** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 10:31 am

I see you've just passed 4200 yourself, Aitch.... So congratulations back at you, and likewise!

sowhat · Post by **sowhat** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 10:33 am

Here's my 1900th... just to say: this guitar is gorgeous, Kevin!

winston · Post by **winston** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 10:34 am

Congrats on yet another milestone Melissa.

Like Aitch, I have enjoyed all that I have read. Your guitars are beautiful too BTW.

krick · Post by **krick** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 10:50 am

Thanks everyone! My Fireglo 381/12V69 is from November 1987. The Rickenbacker Book says that RIC started making these reissue 381 12 string mopdels in 1988 so I guess it is an early one!

I have been very fortunate to acquire some nice Rickenbackers. I don't seem to have difficulty finding them, just paying for them. The 381 was found through a local classified ad in the newspaper.

winston · Post by **winston** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 10:55 am

"I have been very fortunate to acquire some nice Rickenbackers."

Now that is an understatement.

Your photography skills are to be admired as well Kevin.

melibreits · Post by **melibreits** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 10:56 am

Congrats to you too, Sheena!

Kevin, you found the 381 through a local ad???? Did you get a good deal on it? ....Of course one that pretty is a steal at any price!

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 11:10 am

Yeah.... congrats, Sheena.

Hmmmmmm.... maybe we should start calling this place 'Smiley Central'!

It's funny, you know - I've been extremely lucky with my 'finds', too.... right place, right time, happened to have credit available or sufficient funds.

Sometimes if you look too hard you never find it....

krick · Post by **krick** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 11:18 am

Thanks Brian.

Melissa, I would be embarrassed to say what I paid for the 381/12V69. Let's just say it was a good deal and the seller was satisfied with the price too. It was $200 more than he had paid for it several years before. The original receipt from Dave's Guitars was still in the case. I believe he just kept the guitar under his bed.

Howard, That's the key! Being able to "jump" on something when you find it. Nice Ricks don't last long with people like us looking.

doctorwho · Post by **doctorwho** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 11:31 pm

A number of years ago, I missed out getting a 381v69 FG (I think it was a sixer) for $850 by about a week.

skeeterbuck · Post by **skeeterbuck** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 5:15 am

There're some beautiful guitars for sure. Did any of you pay a premium price for the figured wood?
I know that Ric specs this guitar out with figured wood, but the dealers that I have contacted in reference to these guitars offer seem to offer less of a discount on the ones that have rather nicely figured wood. Mapleglo and Montezuma Brown costing more that Fireglo and Jetglo. I am aware that MB is a discontinued color and would maybe expect to pay a little more for it. ($100.00)
Ordering one new will be a cheaper option even though I would be looking at 12-18 month wait.

webhead · Post by **webhead** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 7:45 am

I was checking out the Rickenbacker Page, he has a 381v69 in Baby Blue. Not my favorite color, but looks kinda wierd.

skeeterbuck · Post by **skeeterbuck** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 8:16 am

I agree Don,
The Blue Boy looks really out of place on the 381...but then I'm sure ten years from now it will be the "rare" model/color combination.