Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I am considering a new Rick and want some advice. I have a 330 which plays great. I am considering either a 381v69 or 360 6 string. Anyone have both and can compare. I plat mostly classic 60's rock and blues. Is the 360 going to sound too much like the 330. Would the 381 give a different, fuller sound due to the larger body. Any thoughts anyone?

Why not take it up with a family member, perhaps John or Ben, for example!

HaHa If only they were long lost cousins I would just drop in and try a few but local guitar stores here have fewchoices

Welcome, Marc.

I don't own either so I won't comment but I'm sure there are sufficient resident experts to assist.

C'mon Paul - thought you'd have expounded the virtues of the 381V69 by now!!

To me they sound the same. The 360 is good if you like the inlays and the rounded look. The 381, with the carve, ends up being a 'wide' guitar, certainly not as thin as a 330. The 330 you have, so you know it...

If I were you, and wanted something different, I would focus on pickups. If you have hi-gains, get one with toasters... That difference you will hear.

That was going through my mind after my post, John.

I've got toasters all round on my 330 and 660/12 so I'm going for hi-gains when I get my 360/6 (just to be different, you see........)

Paul responds:

I do not own a 360, although the temptation is there.

I don't want to break JM's baloon, but the 360 has high gains and 24 frets; the 381 has toasters and 21 frets. You can special order either pickup setup with either guitar, though.

If there's a difference in the sound (there is), it's due mostly to the pickups. I feel that the 381 is a more versatile guitar, but it does feel bigger and more "precious" than a 360.

Although it's a "semi-solid" (hollow) body, the wood is thick!

Top and bottom are around 6 mm. Lots of wood around the sides, and the German carving has a square cross-section relief on the back. The set neck has lots of thick wood around it inside the body. Construction is ingenious. Detail is amazing. Finish is flawless. Sound is very flexible. I can play surf licks, Muddy Waters Tele stuff, or mellow extended jazz cords and it works on all of 'em.

But I don't own a 360 and have only played 'em a bit. Soon I'll do a comparison.

Don't try to break my balloon!

My 381 has hi-gains, and my 360 has 21 frets, as does my 330.

When I read 'new' I thought of it as 'new to me'. Paul's answer is better as I think he is talking about 'new' as in 2005...

You're right, John...I am talking about "newer" 381s,360s, and 330s.

What years are yours?

'70, '69, & '70

Marc,

I noticed in your profile that you're in Washington DC. You can try Chuck Levin's, but they don't have many Ricks in stock, or you can head over to Classic Axe in Manassas, VA. Give Russ (the owner) a call at 703-330-7966 and he can tell you what he has in stock at the present time. I know for a fact that he has a few 360's and at least 3 381's in stock, but I'm pretty sure that all the 381's are 12 strings, though. Good luck with your search.

You have a six string Marc. Time for a 12 Rickenbacker string. My recommendation would be a 21 fret model with toasters.

I'd go along with Paul about the 381 being more versatile. the extra wood gives it more sustain and a fuller sound. I tend to use mine for more rocky-lead-solo stuff and the 360 (V64 and therefore same shape as 330) for well...the rest.

Seeing as the 24/21 fret thing has been raised......I'm hoping to get a 360-12 in a couple of months but I just can't tear myself away from 21 frets. The set up just seems to sit better than the 24. To me it feels like there's a strange gap on the body where the pick up was supposed to be. Is it easy to find 360s with 21 frets?

360/12's w/ 21 frets are not hard to find. They just cost more.

Damn...

Are we talking CW signitare model??