Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Anybody ever see a 318v69 with three pickups?

In my Rickenbacker book by Richard R. Smith it shows one of the Beach Boys playing an original late 60's 3-pickup 381. I don't think they've been reissued but there must be a few originals.

That's Jeffrey Foskett's special 381/12. He was at the RIC 75th. Anniv. hotel "get together" so I asked him about that guitar and he said that Roger McGuinn gave it to him. In the "Foreword" section at the front of that book, there is a small photo of R.M. holding the same guitar. There was also a gold pickguard set made for that guitar which Mr. Foskett listed on eBay a few years ago. I was the winner and after a few emails, I bought a some other Rickenbacker items from him, including the matching gold TRC that is now on my Fireglo 381/12V69.

There have been a few other 3 pickup 381 models around. Here are links to a couple.

http://www.rickbeat.com/modelslibrary/3 ... 693-pu.htm

http://www.rickresource.com/stt-researc ... r39112.jpg

Wouldn't it technically be called a 391?

I may recall that Rickenbacker offered the 382 as 2 PU w/vibrato, 383 as 3 PU, and the 384 as 3 PU w/vibrato.
There was also supposedly a 380 which was acoustic....
These were all described as have deep body w/ cutaways or some such nonsense....as is the 381.
The 385 was the departure by being a dreadnaught....

http://www.rickenbacker.com/images/catalogs/cf68-6.jpg

390 apparently designated the Jazzbo (pre-700 series). Imagine ordering a 380 - an acoustic 381! Very cool...maybe with 2 soundholes?

Somewhere out there is my old '89 381 with three PUs, gold guards/trc and
a Bigsby.....

I'm not sure if a 380 ever escaped Santa Ana...

Yeah, I doubt it...

chefothefuture wrote:I'm not sure if a 380 ever escaped Santa Ana...

Was even one 380 ever made? Prototype, or something?

Hasn't there ever been a 381V69 6 and 12 SPC with three pickups? Or am I talking nonsense?

blueflamerick wrote:Wouldn't it technically be called a 391?

Actually, there are at least four 'extra pickup' numbering systems that could be used:

1. Add 10 to the original model number. For a change from two-pick-ups to three pick-ups. Examples: 310/320; 330/340; 360/370 (ignoring models with vibratos)
(note that those are semi-hollow body models)

2. Add 30 to the original model number. For a change from one pick-up to two pick-ups. Example: 420/450
(note that those are solid body models)

3. Add 3 to the original model number. For a change from two pick-ups to three pick-ups. Example: 480/483
(note that those are solid body models)

4. Add 1 to the original model number. For a change from one pick-up to two pick-ups (Example: 4000/4001; note that those are solid body bass models), or for a change from two pick-ups to three pick-ups (Example: 1997/1998; note that those are semi-hollow body models)


I have tended to refer to my 620 that has an extra pick-up as a "623" instead of a "620 SPC" ...

There are some three pickup versions out there. I saw a photo of a FG, 3 pickup 381, or what ever model it's called when it has 3 p/ups, in Dale Fortune's shop for repair of a snapped off neck.

RutleDirk wrote:

chefothefuture wrote:I'm not sure if a 380 ever escaped Santa Ana...

Was even one 380 ever made? Prototype, or something?

Ricky Nelson had a 380 acoustic. He's pictured with it here.

http://www.rickenbacker.com/news_item.a ... 0&news=old

Scastles wrote:Ricky Nelson had a 380 acoustic. He's pictured with it here.

http://www.rickenbacker.com/news_item.a ... 0&news=old

I kind of expected the 380 acoustic to be somewhat like the 381, is there no raised part, like Sam Cooke's 390?

Must have changed.