Confused about the so-called "Rickenbacker back-log" Could someone please explain?

axc1080 · #1 05-22-2011, 08:49 PM

I have made the decision to purchase a Rickenbacker 4003 and I shall have the complete funds within the month. But now I hear of this back-log thing where you have to wait a year or more to get your bass form the day you order it. I'm just seeking some general knowledge. Is there any way to bypass this wait? Does it apply to any store you purchase it form? (Sam Ash, MF, etc.)

Thanks for your time

**jmattbassplaya** · #2 05-22-2011, 08:51 PM

You could always buy used and save a couple hundred while you're at it.

Personatech · #3 05-22-2011, 08:57 PM

You can sometimes find one or two hanging on the wall at the local Sam Ash and I think the ones listed online at the big box places are in-stock. The finishes are limited on these - usually jetglo, fireglo, midnight blue and natural. Any other finish you'll most probably have to order and it's these that take so long to come in.

waleross · #4 05-22-2011, 09:45 PM

I bought mine (4003 Jetglo) from the Bass Empourium and it was the last one in stock . I don't like having outstanding backorders for anything and I ended up canceling something from Samash and bought the Ric. Sounds like the demand is going up and that they are sold as fast as they are stocked. You might try getting a nice condition used one and save a little . Good luck

jordan1971 · #5 05-23-2011, 08:11 AM

I just purchased a rickenbacker 4003 from wildwood guitars. They currently have five 4003's in stock.

I ordered mine on tuesday of last week and was playing it by Friday!

They also have the best prices on rickenbackers and I did a lot of checking.

Drunk Heffalump · #6 05-23-2011, 08:27 AM

Try this link

Recent Shipments

When I got mine I went into the store and told them they had them in stock, after a quick computer check they did, and they were quite surprised too, after the usual 3 year waiting thing they always tell you. Colour I wanted and all. They were just in the warehouse.
However as a point of order, do not hesitate if they tell you yes. Get on your pony and ride ride ride, because they will NOT stay in the store outside of 1/2 day at best..........

Ric5 · #7 05-23-2011, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by axc1080

I have made the decision to purchase a Rickenbacker 4003 and I shall have the complete funds within the month. But now I hear of this back-log thing where you have to wait a year or more to get your bass form the day you order it. I'm just seeking some general knowledge. Is there any way to bypass this wait? Does it apply to any store you purchase it form? (Sam Ash, MF, etc.)

Thanks for your time

Rickenbacker changed their business model. They used to produce a lot of instruments and then sell them to dealers, and the dealers would sell them to retail customers. The new model is Rickenbacker does not produce an instrument until a dealer orders one. It then take 1 to 2 years for the dealer to recieve that bass. Most dealers will buy a certain amount of Rics per year so they will usually have some in stock. You can go into a store like that and buy one the same day. But if the dealer has none in stock and you want one they order it and then it will take a year.

DasBassDude · #8 05-25-2011, 08:35 AM

This was the case a few years ago apparently, but now it seems that a lot of stores have them in stock. Wildwood Guitars, Chicago Music Exchange, Lightning Joe's, and even Musician's Friend seem to have plenty of inventory. I was pleasantly surprised when I did a Google "shopping" search and found these readily available...

catyak · #9 05-27-2011, 11:20 AM

I went to the Rickenbacker site. They show recent shipments to dealers. I saw that Wildwood had some. The Wildwood web site didn't show any, so I contacted them to confirm. They had more than a half-dozen in stock. All common colors (jet, maple, fire). Drove out there to try one out. Drove back the next day to buy one. No waiting, no fuss. And a free tee-shirt.

hrodbert696 · #10 05-27-2011, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Personatech

You can sometimes find one or two hanging on the wall at the local Sam Ash and I think the ones listed online at the big box places are in-stock. The finishes are limited on these - usually jetglo, fireglo, midnight blue and natural. Any other finish you'll most probably have to order and it's these that take so long to come in.

I've only ever heard of these four finishes -- does this mean that you can custom-order your own color and finish? I didn't know that. How much extra would it cost?

srxplayer · #11 05-28-2011, 09:25 AM

Its just demand for the product and Rickenbacker won't speed up the assembly process. I don't know if they do this on purpose to keep up demand. & exclusivity of their products so they can keep pricing up. It probably is.

Either way Wildwood Guitars always seem to have a few in stock.

Floyd Eye · #12 05-28-2011, 09:26 AM

Pick of the Rics and North Coast Music both seem to always have them.

Ric5 · #13 05-28-2011, 09:33 AM

It is more than just supply and demand. Like I said in the earlier post They used to build a bunch and they sell them to dealers. Now if a dealer wants to have stock in his store then he has to plan ahead and order several now to have stock in his store in 2012. The bottom line is about the same number of Rickenbackers are produced but the street price is more. Also Rickenbacker is now more profitable because they make more per unit and the dealer charges more because he is putting more money up front before he sells the instrument. It kind of sucks for the consumer because there are fewer places that have Rics in stock and the prices of new and used are higher now.

FretlessMainly · #14 05-28-2011, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hrodbert696

I've only ever heard of these four finishes -- does this mean that you can custom-order your own color and finish? I didn't know that. How much extra would it cost?

No. Also, the post you quoted was inaccurate. Available finishes are: Jetglo, Mapleglo, Fireglo, Midnight Blue and Autumn Fireglo (not positive that this is still available, but the site indicates that it is): Options & Colors.

The "wait" isn't for custom finishes other than these, it's for these finishes. But, as others have posted, many dealers anticipate demand, and place orders far enough in advance to maintain some stock.

uethanian · #15 05-28-2011, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by srxplayer

Its just demand for the product and Rickenbacker won't speed up the assembly process. I don't know if they do this on purpose to keep up demand. & exclusivity of their products so they can keep pricing up. It probably is.

This. I understand the reasons for doing so, but IMO it's a bit dishonest as a business practice (de beers, anyone?). There's nothing about the instrument itself that makes it so much more time consuming to produce than others. Not saying they aren't nice instruments, but I'd recommend going the used route and not buying in to this system they've set up.

Ric5 · #16 05-29-2011, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FretlessMainly

No. Also, the post you quoted was inaccurate. Available finishes are: Jetglo, Mapleglo, Fireglo, Midnight Blue and Autumn Fireglo (not positive that this is still available, but the site indicates that it is): Options & Colors.

The "wait" isn't for custom finishes other than these, it's for these finishes. But, as others have posted, many dealers anticipate demand, and place orders far enough in advance to maintain some stock.

For a 4003 all you get for colors are Jetglo, mapleglo, midnight blue, and fireglo. They used to lots of other colors but in the last 20 years the options, colors, and models offered have continued to decrease. Fewer options equals more profit.

hrodbert696 · #17 05-29-2011, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FretlessMainly

No. Also, the post you quoted was inaccurate. Available finishes are: Jetglo, Mapleglo, Fireglo, Midnight Blue and Autumn Fireglo (not positive that this is still available, but the site indicates that it is): Options & Colors.

The "wait" isn't for custom finishes other than these, it's for these finishes. But, as others have posted, many dealers anticipate demand, and place orders far enough in advance to maintain some stock.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ric5

For a 4003 all you get for colors are Jetglo, mapleglo, midnight blue, and fireglo. They used to lots of other colors but in the last 20 years the options, colors, and models offered have continued to decrease. Fewer options equals more profit.

Ok, thanks, thought I was going crazy there. In my fantasy world, a translucent green 4003 would be awesome. Maybe I'll win the lottery sometime and do a refin. I can always dream, right??