Rickenbacker 381/12V69 Vintage Series 12-String Electric Guitar Fireglo

The Rickenbacker 381/12V69 Vintage Series 12-String Electric Guitar is basically the same design as the 381V69 with 12 strings. Derived from a design dating back to 1957, this guitar is memorable for its hand-carved archtop and back. Employing only premium charactered maple, it has a fully bound body with checked binding and extreme double-cutaways, along with a bound crescent soundhole to complete this exquisite vintage guitar. The Model 381/12V69 includes hardshell case.

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Includes case

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SPECIFICATIONS

381/12V69 Vintage Series 12-String Electric Guitar

Neck width at 12th fret 49.2 mm (1 15/16")
Crown radius 25.4 cm (10")
Maple body and neck
Rosewood fingerboard
Weight 4.1 kg (9.0 lbs.)
Overall length 99.1cm (39")
Overall width 38.7 cm (15 1/4")
Overall depth 63.5 mm (2 1/2")
Fingerboard and body binding
Triangle fret markers
Set neck
No. of pickups 2
Type of pickups Vintage Single Coils
Stereo and mono output
Deluxe Vintage machine heads

Custom Guitar's Friend Gold Coverage

Gold Coverage goes above and beyond the manufacturer's warranty to protect your gear from unexpected breakdowns, accidental damage from handling and failures. This plan covers your product for one, two, three or up to five years from your date of purchase, costs just pennies per day and gives you a complete "no-worry" solution for protecting your investment.

Gold Coverage Includes:

Unexpected and unintentional spills, drops and cracks Normal wear and tear Power surges Dust, internal heat and humidity

Other plan features include:

For products over $200, No Lemon Policy applies. If it fails for the same defect 3 times, it is replaced on the 4th breakdown. (Does not apply to failures due to drops, spills, and cracks) For products under $200 experiencing the above failures, a Custom Guitar's Friend gift card will be issued for the full price of the product + tax. Shipping fees covered if required for repair or replacement Plans are transferable in the event merchandise is sold Plans are renewable on new gear

*Limitations and exclusions apply. See terms and conditions for program details

Term for New Gear begins on date of purchase but does not replace the store return policy or manufacturer coverage.

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I ordered this model in 2000. I was told it would take 3 months to deliver. It took 1 year, and although the guitar is very well put together, & plays exceptionally well, there is a giant worm-hole just above the low E string (the most prominent place it could be), and the front is certainly not "charactered", as advertised. The back is beautiful, which only makes the flaw more egregious. Rickenbacker refused to accept the guitar, even to see why I am unhappy with it. They offered no solution whatsoever, and lost a customer as a result. I had planned on purchasing a matching 6-string, and a 4003 bass, but I will not pay premium prices for a factory 2nd again.
Rickenbacker 381/12V69 Vintage Series 12-String Electric Guitar Fireglo
.Neck probably too narrow for big hands but superb build quality and fantastic sound.
Rickenbacker 381/12V69 Vintage Series 12-String Electric Guitar Fireglo
.I have a 2001 model in mapleglo that I got used. Not only got it significantly cheaper than the new price, the guitar was still in immaculate condition, and all the problems with the setup that many people seem to have with Rickenbacker were already taken care of. This guitar is really too fancy looking for my tastes, and the neck is really to narrow for a novice 12 string guitar player (however with practice you do get used to it). I like the guitar for getting the early Pete Townshend sound, but after playing "Can't Explain" over and over I am looking for other ways to utilize this beastly guitar. If you really want a 12 string rick, I'd say save some money and go with the more practicalt 360/12, or go with the solidbody 660/12, which has similar appointments to the 381 (12 saddle bridge, nice charectered maple) but with a wider neck, better suited for 12 string playing. IMHO, this guitar is really not practical unless you have lots of money and like to buy guitars to look at.
Rickenbacker 381/12V69 Vintage Series 12-String Electric Guitar Fireglo
.I've had this guitar for many years now, and used it for recording and shows. It sounds wonderful, and never fails to impress the audience. With the pointy cutaway design, looks like the 360's the George used to play.

But even though it does play easier than my Ric 360/12 Carl Wilson, the neck is still a bit narrow: Ric should adopt the 660/12 neck width for all their 12's. But I don't like the esthetic design of the 660 series, alas. I'm getting a PRS Hollowbody 12 in the near future for playability, output, etc. reasons.

Reliability: the output jacks have corroded enough twice now that the guitar was staticy, etc., and reaming them out with a proper tool fixed it, but none of my other guitar have this issue; they are all kept in a conditioned studio in a Access'n'Sight case. I will likely replace the jacks at some point soon.

Changing strings on any Ric 12 string is an exercise in frustration. The ball end goes underneath the big "R" on the tailpiece, then into the peg head. Without locking tuners, the octave strings are just hard to get seated properly at the peg. It's a pain, though I appreciate the compact headstock that the design permits. It should be terrific if Ric figured out a better scheme for restringing. I should change strings more often than I do, but the inconvenience deters me. I've sometimes taken it to my guitar repair tech to restring and reset intonation (also a pain ...). His charge is reasonable.

But all that said, if you want a stunning instrument that gives you that classic Rickenback 12 string chime, this is it.

PS: It sounds even better with the Roger McGuinn recommended Jangle Box Compressor.
Rickenbacker 381/12V69 Vintage Series 12-String Electric Guitar Fireglo
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Classic Ric sounds from the old style pickups. Plays much easier than my 360/12 "Carl Wilson" and the tone is better from the more massive wood (carved top on this one).
Rickenbacker 381/12V69 Vintage Series 12-String Electric Guitar Fireglo
.Based upon my experience of owning this guitar, I have the following recommendations for Rickenbacker:1-Establish a custom shop so that customers paying top dollar for a guitar built by an American factory of iconic stature aren't out in clubs showing off it's "bloopers" in public. 2-Offer a quality guarantee, and repair or replace product that is sub-standard.
Rickenbacker 381/12V69 Vintage Series 12-String Electric Guitar Fireglo
.I own several Ric's and there is not a one that is not wonderful to play or look at. Made in the U S A.
Rickenbacker 381/12V69 Vintage Series 12-String Electric Guitar Fireglo
.Best on upbeat songs with cool melodic riffs. The tone is awesome and unique. The body style is amazing. It is my favorite guitar.
Rickenbacker 381/12V69 Vintage Series 12-String Electric Guitar Fireglo
.A quality instrument, best for playing 12 string cords but can't play fast leads on it.

It has a wonderful sound . The best color is natural wood Maple glow.
Note: Most of these solid wood Ricenbauckers are very heavy. So get a thick strap for it. This is the best looking guitar you could buy.
Try to get very light (thin) strings for it for better playing.

A very inpressive looking & sounding instrument...one of my favorite guitars.
Rickenbacker 381/12V69 Vintage Series 12-String Electric Guitar Fireglo
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