Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I adore the look of a 381, but love my 3 pick up Ricks
like a 340, 370 etc.
So has a "391" ever been made ? And if, why not?
It would be beyond stunning

Aside from this,
https://web.archive.org/web/20040205033 ... 39112.html
no I don't think so.

There are some weird model designations though when they were experimenting in the 60's... I think that acoustic Collin recently unearthed was a 382 maybe??? Nope - 385S.

I think there was a JH prototype in the 70's or 80's that was a 390 or 490.

jdogric12 wrote:...they were experimenting in the 60's....

Well that's a given.

There is a person in Florida, "Doc" Marino, who customizes 660's and 381's by adding a third pickup. He occasionally lists items on eBay, and he has a store on Reverb.com, Trademark Classics:

https://reverb.com/shop/trademark-classics
His guitars are one-off custom pieces, not RIC factory-issued models. If you like 3-pickup models, though, you should take a look; his prices don't seem out of line for the work that he puts in - he is asking $3,895 for the 381 shown.

Does he set up the middle pickup with the 5th knob as a volume control, or connected with the neck pickup?

jdogric12 wrote:Aside from this,
https://web.archive.org/web/20040205033 ... 39112.html
no I don't think so.

There are some weird model designations though when they were experimenting in the 60's... I think that acoustic Collin recently unearthed was a 382 maybe??? Nope - 385S.

I think there was a JH prototype in the 70's or 80's that was a 390 or 490.

that's what I'm talking about! not sure about the switches though, is that the only one? was it customised after leaving the factory?

clementc3 wrote:There is a person in Florida, "Doc" Marino, who customizes 660's and 381's by adding a third pickup. He occasionally lists items on eBay, and he has a store on Reverb.com, Trademark Classics:

https://reverb.com/shop/trademark-classics

Trademark Classics custom 3-pickup Rickenbacker 381.jpg

His guitars are one-off custom pieces, not RIC factory-issued models. If you like 3-pickup models, though, you should take a look; his prices don't seem out of line for the work that he puts in - he is asking $3,895 for the 381 shown.

thanks, that's not a bad price at all.

$3895 for a 381/12 with a cut in the pickguard and a 3rd pickup added (an irreversible post-factory mod, mind you) is insane. I'm sure it's nice work, but you can buy the donor guitar for $2500 pretty easily. And all this work, while it's likely very nice work, devalues the guitar to most potential buyers. Customized gear almost always takes a ding in value! It's, like, a rule, or something.


More info on the gold one right from RRF:
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=6050

In the UK a 381 v69 is £5,700,($7,500), a regular one is £3,700 ($4,900)

used? hen's teeth

kt66 wrote:In the UK a 381 v69 is £5,700,($7,500), a regular one is £3,700 ($4,900)

used? hen's teeth

You need a friend in the US who can ship one to you! I know the VAT & shipping will be a lot though.

What do you mean a "regular one?" All 381's, aside from the few actually from '68-70, are V69's.

Here is a mint '07 12er in FG that went for $2500:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rickenbacker-3 ... Sw0bxZsuCk
Still puts you way under your $4900.