Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I have seen pictures of 380s with the neck joining the body at the 24th fret, as on a 650 or older 350, but also some pictures where the neck joins the body at the 22nd fret or thereabouts, as on a 360.

I have a 330 and would not call the neck full access (although all the frets can be played) and kind of wish it did have all 24 frets off the body, but my question is if that would somehow affect the balance of the body, for example if the neck starts to dive with your hands and arms off the guitar. (obviously, only someone with a 24fret neck-body joint 380 would be able answer this)

I have a pic of my '04 380L PZ which joins around 22 like you describe. I think a 24 join would definitely increase the neck dive. I am at work and cannot resize the pic. I will try to do so later.

I have a (the?) lefty 380l. It is a 24 fretter and has no neck dive, although virtually all the weight is on the horn strap button.

Very interesting, pete. What year is it?

It's a 1999.

There she blows...

Peter, while a 24 fretter does the neck not join the body around the 22 nd fret? Perhaps you could upload a slightly larger photo should you have one available.

This 380 looks like yours, albeit right handed.

Ivan: I cannot find a 380 Laguna with the neck joining at the 24th fret. Are you able to recall where you saw it?

Here's mine. It joins at the 22nd fret. My 650 joins at the 24th and does allow for greater access to that part of the neck. Of course, it's all relative.

I had found another picture of a 380L that joins the body at the 24th fret (besides the obvious one on Rickenbacker's site), I think it was on ebay (and it was a real picture, not a makeover of the one on Ricky's site) but I can't find that pic anymore. I guess they are much rarer than the ones with the normal 360 type joint though.

Thanks Ivan. I suspect that they are rare. It may be difficult to answer your intriguing question until we find someone with one. Perhaps someone from the Factory can comment.

Here is the 380L from the RIC Site. I have doubled its size to make the point at which the neck meets the body clear.

The 380 listed in the for sale section has the 24th fret neck attachment. CL link: http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/ ... 59336.html

Very interesting. I never noticed that there was this type of neck. It would be a very comfortable guitar to play. I wonder what year this stopped? Mine's a 2001.