Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

They are flamed, checker-bound, sculpted works of art, there's no question about it.
They're also pretty rare in the entertainment world; other than John Kay, I can't name an artist who uses one.
Are they more of a collector's guitar because of the cost involved, or are they indeed players' guitars?

Opinions, please!

Gosh, I had such an amazing 381. It was a late 1987, one of the first reissues. Mapleglo, very ambered, with tons of birdseye. It had 7.4k scatterwounds. It was without question one of the best Rickenbackers I have ever played and certainly one of the best 2 or 3 I've owned. I sold it in a fit of GAS - "had" to have a White Falcon - and I think about it all the time. I got it for a STEAL too.

Would love to buy it back if I knew where it was. I sold it to Witty in early '08.

A friend I used to work with at the music store shocked me one day when he told me he had one. He said he'd bought it a long time ago and it mostly sits in the case. This guy is a great player but he keeps everything mondo pristine - he has most of the original shipping cartons his guitars came in, dating back 20 years in some cases.

Anyway, he brings it in one day and it is a super early 381v69, an '87, in better-then-showroom condition, with all paperwork and original receipt from when he bought it at Sam Ash 48th Street in July 1987. Probably one of the first 5 or 10 of these made. Ridiculously thin neck. A shade if Fireglo I had never seen before and haven't seen since. I have a photo of this somewhere, I'll see if I can find it. Wouldn't sell it to me.

So to sum up: yes, love 'em. Definitely players AND lookers.

my kind of thread!

can't play for squat, but when i saw a pic of a 381, i had to have one, and so i do:


less comfortable to play than a 360, but with more bass resonance.

eljayski

Larry and John, those are awesome looking 381's!

I have a 381 JK, the John Kay model, and I do gig with it. I know the electronics make it different than a standard 381, so it might not apply exactly to what you are asking here, but I love it.

sloop_john_b wrote:I sold it in a fit of GAS

That seems to be a chronic condition with you, JB.

Well........I just missed a STEAL on the 'bay...... a mint condition FG just sold for $2,551.01. I sniped it with 30 seconds to go, was winning, and then I got sniped with about 8 seconds to go.

Hope it was someone here!

egosheep wrote:

sloop_john_b wrote:I sold it in a fit of GAS

That seems to be a chronic condition with you, JB.

"I'm tryin' Ringo. I'm tryin reeeeeal hard."

They're players' guitars! I bought mine b/c I saw John Kay play one in a "Closet classic" MTV Steppenwolf video when I was a kid. The first time I went to RIC, there was one on the wall in a case without any strings. When RIC reintroduced the model, I ordered a 12 string.
six years ago I bought the 381/6 to match the 12; I saw the guitar on EBay and since it had an Accent already mounted on the guitar, it was perfect for me. The "R" TP came with the guitar, in the case. I'd prefer a different finish, but oh well. I'm saving up to have the pair refinished in Trans red-something bolder that still shows off the grain.
I play the 12 string regularly. The six string was my main guitar for awhile, until I got "Big Red." The guitars are not heavy or bulky to me. The cases are a bit bulky to transport however; it would be nice to have a space-saving, form fit HSC.

Can't wait to get mine back from Paul W. Hopefully in late November. Fully customized.

I sure have enjoyed mine. I bought it off eBay for a steal IMO. The guy had never sold or bought anything on eBay.

http://www.rickresource.com/register/us ... 2101/4.jpg

jwilli wrote:Can't wait to get mine back from Paul W. Hopefully in late November. Fully customized.

O-o-o-o-h that sounds awesome ! Any pictures of the customization in progress ?

I've got a 90's model FG that has never gone back in the case; chips, nicks and belt buckle scratches (front & back). It just sits around the house on a stand or sofa just waiting to be picked up and played with. I've always have intended to replace it with a cleaner copy, but I can't give up the birds eye's on those 90's models. Can I get a Witness? Oh, for the good ol' days. Is this an appropriate time to look forward to good wood? Cheers.

If you don't like that aged Birdseye maple, something's wrong with you. Spectacular!