Music

Rickenbacker's were the guitar of choice for many rockstars in the 1960s, including John Kay of Steppenwolf. Kay wields a black (Jetglo) 381 model on stage and Rickenbacker faithfully recreated his companion in a limited capacity. The chords and licks to "Born to Be Wild" are right at home on this guitar. This example remains in its original condition and displays lacquer checking and as well as some chipping of the finish. This guitar is setup with low action and plays great!OHSC included.

The Rickenbacker 381V69 is a semi-hollowbody guitar known for its distinctive vintage style and sound. It features a double-cutaway body construction made of maple, with a set neck joint also crafted from maple. The fingerboard is made of rosewood and includes 21 frets marked with triangle inlays. This model is equipped with two single-coil pickups, with controls for volume and tone, as well as a 3-way pickup selector. It has a 24-3/4" scale length and a nut width of 1.63". The hardware is chrome, and it includes a pickguard and vintage-style tuners. Unique to this model are its vintage Single Coil Toaster Top™ pickups, offering both mono and stereo output options, and an "R" tailpiece. The Rickenbacker 381 model underwent significant developments over the years. Initially introduced in the late 1950s, it was briefly discontinued in the early 1960s before making a comeback later in the decade, notably being favored by John Kay of Steppenwolf. This model stands out for its thick body design, part of the Thick Body Series developed by German guitar-maker Roger Rossmeisl. The series, models 380 to 394, featured deeper bodies than standard Rickenbacker electrics and included both electric and acoustic guitars. The 381 model, in particular, was known for its carved arched tops and backs, offering a unique aesthetic and sound. The 1970 version of the 381 included new Hi-Gain single-coil pickups, contributing to its rich tone. The guitar's control set includes two volume controls, two tone dials, a mix knob, and a 3-way toggle switch. Finished in Rickenbacker's popular fireglo color, the 381 from this era is considered a classic, capturing the early Beatles-style tones especially when paired with a Vox AC30 Top Boost amplifier.