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So the 381v69 is discontinued
Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2024 1:43 pm
by sentionaut
So I did not see a thread on this already, I am sure many of you know but the 381v69 and 12 string variant are no longer being made with no plans to ever make them again. This is apparently due to low sales.
As n owner of one up until recently this surprised me as my 6 string from 2017 was one of the nicest guitars I've ever played.
Anyone else sad to see these go?
I recently moved from Aus to US and sold my 381v69 thinking I could easily pick one up here, but they do seem to be very hard to come by in good shape.
Re: So the 381v69 is discontinued
Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2024 6:49 am
by Ratwax
Yeah, the 381V69 (both 6 & 12), the 350V63/12 and the 620/12 are now 'Legacy' guitars on the RIC website. To my mind the 1993/12 Plus has taken over from the 381V69, and the 660/12 from the 620/12, although their price brackets were a bit different. I suppose they need to drop some things to allow them to bring back the 4005?
Hang in there on getting another 381V69, it'll turn up (probably at an inconvenient time).
Cheers,
Re: So the 381v69 is discontinued
Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2024 10:02 am
by sentionaut
the 1993/12 plus looks like a fine guitar, but there is no 6 string version is there? And its not the same as a 381 with its beautiful carved top. But I guess the market dictates demand and if nobody is ordering them...
I have seen a few older models around, the one I had was from 2017 so I'm looking for one of a similar era. It doe not look like many (any) were ever made in 2021-2023. Interestingly the older 1990s models had some different specs to what the last iteration had, improvements I would assume. There is a nice 1990s model on Reverb now but a bit of a gamble to buy an older one sight unseen.
Re: So the 381v69 is discontinued
Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2024 1:38 pm
by sentionaut
well, as luck would have it I found a 2019 381v69 today in my local guitar store and picked it up. Wont be so quick to let this one go.
Re: So the 381v69 is discontinued
Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2024 6:06 pm
by bluewhale
sentionaut wrote: Thu Apr 04, 2024 1:43 pm
...Anyone else sad to see these go?...
Me. It's the second thing I noticed, after the 4005V, when the revised RIC website came online.
I got a 1998 model like new about 20 years ago. It's a great guitar, and whoever set this one up was a master - I haven't changed a thing except to intonate it once.
Not just a change in the lineup, I think the 381V69 was Rickenbacker's top of the line. I can't imagine it coming back.
bluewhale