An issue with Rickenbacker

[truand85]

being a platform and having a 230 exemption as a utility means that you do not editorialize.. the phone company does not turn your phone off because someone didn't like what you said.
And,
The Taliban still has a youtube page.... drops mic...

Yeah, don't ever pick it back up.

 

[willsellout]

View attachment 4530056 Here is a bad glue joint that made it thru QC at ric and at wildwood. Once i contacted wildwood they were on it, but was sad it ever was sent this way, it was a 4003ac, 2400 dollar bass....

Last I checked, a couple years ago, cost on these was like 1300.00. I love my Ric but they aren’t a 2400.00 bass. The only thing that keeps the prices high is how hard they are to come by. I don’t mind the change personally with the fretboards. The fewer steps Ric has to take in making a bass the fewer quality control issues they will have. Sucks you got blocked but it’s easy enough to create a new account with a random email address if you wanted to.

 

[bon viesta]

Last I checked, a couple years ago, cost on these was like 1300.00. I love my Ric but they aren’t a 2400.00 bass. The only thing that keeps the prices high is how hard they are to come by. I don’t mind the change personally with the fretboards. The fewer steps Ric has to take in making a bass the fewer quality control issues they will have. Sucks you got blocked but it’s easy enough to create a new account with a random email address if you wanted to.

i keep hearing stories about people buying new ric basses at GC or wherever else for like 1500 bucks and then calling everyone else suckers for buying them for the usual list price. HOW?!?! maybe that’s why gc isn’t allowed to distribute rickenbacker anymore!!! they’re slinging em out like candy!! the used rickenbacker basses are usually more costly than buying new from a dealer, and ~2000 seems to have been the regular the past few years.

 

[farace]

i keep hearing stories about people buying new ric basses at GC or wherever else for like 1500 bucks and then calling everyone else suckers for buying them for the usual list price. HOW?!?! maybe that’s why gc isn’t allowed to distribute rickenbacker anymore!!! they’re slinging em out like candy!! the used rickenbacker basses are usually more costly than buying new from a dealer, and ~2000 seems to have been the regular the past few years.

IIRC, the problem with GC was that they were not paying for what they ordered, and that Ric was not the only supplier that cut them off. Plus they had a habit of charging separately for the case, which is included in the price.

 

[GodsLove66]

IIRC, the problem with GC was that they were not paying for what they ordered, and that Ric was not the only supplier that cut them off. Plus they had a habit of charging separately for the case, which is included in the price.

They HAD to charge for the cases from my understanding. The case was LITERALLY a dollar on my receipt.

 

[willsellout]

i keep hearing stories about people buying new ric basses at GC or wherever else for like 1500 bucks and then calling everyone else suckers for buying them for the usual list price. HOW?!?! maybe that’s why gc isn’t allowed to distribute rickenbacker anymore!!! they’re slinging em out like candy!! the used rickenbacker basses are usually more costly than buying new from a dealer, and ~2000 seems to have been the regular the past few years.

I have a great guy I deal with at Sweetwater. I got mine for a reasonable price. Then again I’m low maintenance. I don’t return stuff and give my business to him if at all possible. So he makes it back in the end. But if you get one for 15-1800 I think you got a good deal. Even with that though I had to make the Ric my own by spending a couple hundred to get it where it should be in the first place. It’s not perfect but what relationship is?

 

[Tim Schnautz]

I am blessed never to talk to any of them (Ric people)
Who cares?
They have product with $500 value, artificially selling for 4 times and more of the real value.

500.00 value. anymore, that's how i feel about Fender USA

 

[Gunga Din]

View attachment 4530056 Here is a bad glue joint that made it thru QC at ric and at wildwood. Once i contacted wildwood they were on it, but was sad it ever was sent this way, it was a 4003ac, 2400 dollar bass....

I'm more concerned about that gouge under the nut. Unless it's a shadow, but I'm not so sure.

 

[Gunga Din]

Another big issue with the guitars is that they have been inflated to a cult like status by a certain group within the Rickenbacker community. I refer to them as "The John Hall Fanboy Brigade" aka The Sticker Boys". They are a nasty bunch, especially the younger members (under 40) of this elite, social media strike force. when it comes to anything negative its all hands on deck, they only accept total devotion and praise for all things Rickenbacker. Ever tried posting a Greco copy on eBay, (dont you dare use the R word) it came down within 2 hours? that was the JHFBB at work. Even if you have owned Rickenbackers for 40 years and know how quirky and junky they can be but you put up with the pot metal tailpiece lifting or the Rick-O-Sound turning to Crackle-No-Sound you wont get a pass saying anything negative, its no joking around. If you mention anything derogatory on these fan site pages, prepare to be attacked and bludgeoned, repeatedly and more than likely banned from the page.
Of course Im joking but its not too far off.
For some its like owning a exotic European sports car (more like a 1974 MGB in the late 1980s), or being in an elite club where there is none of those nasty "foreign" versions like Fender (Squire) or Gibson (Epiphone) has and you buy them as investments, like stock and bonds or bitcoin if you are under 25 lol and you do everything in your power to keep the prices going up, up, up! Oh sweet Rickenbacker investment bring me an early retirement!
One member started a post titled "ISO a FireGlo 4003s will pay $1500. He was attacked several times and had a half a dozen laughing emojis. Because everyone knows you are only suppose to sell or buy a used Rickenbacker for $100-200 less than list lol. It took about 20 mins and someone posted they had one they would sell. People were ringing their hands and jumping up and down, mad as hell that they paid $1900 for their used bass and that he got his so cheap. One guy called him a douche bag lol.
In fact the seller even said in the ad $1500 OR BEST OFFER! the guy could have gotten it for $1400 if it wasnt posted on his post and people like me who were looking for one in that price ranged also hadnt see it. :O

Here's the type of people who buy Rickenbackers for wall hangers now (see shirts?)
.View attachment 4530464

Heres who use to play them lol.
View attachment 4530470

They're known collectively as 'The Rickenwaffen'.

 

[Gunga Din]

i keep hearing stories about people buying new ric basses at GC or wherever else for like 1500 bucks and then calling everyone else suckers for buying them for the usual list price. HOW?!?! maybe that’s why gc isn’t allowed to distribute rickenbacker anymore!!! they’re slinging em out like candy!! the used rickenbacker basses are usually more costly than buying new from a dealer, and ~2000 seems to have been the regular the past few years.

Here's a screenshot of UK Gumtree listings for used Ricks. Now, convert those Sterling prices to Dollars, etc.

 

[WillyW]

Playing my 95 tonight, I probably voided the warranty by now.

 

[Tim Schnautz]

Playing my 95 tonight, I probably voided the warranty by now.

View attachment 4531179

I always wanted a 5r...

 

[Gunga Din]

Playing my 95 tonight, I probably voided the warranty by now.

View attachment 4531179

Those saddles......is that a conversion??

 

[Koshchei]

I am blessed never to talk to any of them (Ric people)
Who cares?
They have product with $500 value, artificially selling for 4 times and more of the real value.
I have my Purple heart medal for Social Media deletes and blocks.
I am equal opportunity offender, when it comes of dealing with others. But, I never went to "their" forum. What for? I am boycotting them for more than 40+ years.
I am enjoying confirmation I was right then, and I am right - now. Just forget about them. Not worth troubles.

How do you come to that valuation?

 

[trickyric]

How do you come to that valuation?

I always believed something is worth what someone is willing to pay for it.. right now that has a 4003 hovering between 2000 and 2400

 

[JRA]

They have product with $500 value, artificially selling for 4 times and more of the real value.

anymore, that's how i feel about Fender USA

both companies depend on the fantasies of those who purchase their products. if you had to take a competency test to buy a ric or a fender:
- you'd get a better ax
- you'd get better QC/CS
- or they'd be cheaper

there's nothing magical about either one. but cultists gonna be cultists....

 

[J_Bass]

if you had to take a competency test to buy

You would buy a Yamaha, haha!

 

[Geri O]

both companies depend on the fantasies of those who purchase their products. if you had to take a competency test to buy a ric or a fender:
- you'd get a better ax
- you'd get better QC/CS
- or they'd be cheaper

there's nothing magical about either one. but cultists gonna be cultists....

Not a fair assessment at all.

If you don’t like the companies, that’s one thing and a tangible way to demonstrate that dislike is by not spending money on their products.

But it’s unreasonable to go making opinionated statements based on nothing but your opinion about the owners and other folks that do like the products and will spend money on them.

I could say the same thing about G&L owners based on the way you formulated that statement. I’ve never played a G&L I cared for, but those owners are free to buy and support the instruments they prefer.

Perfectly fine with me.

 

[WillyW]

Those saddles......is that a conversion??

Yeah need saddle blanks to clean it up, it was cobbled from spare parts.

 

[JRA]

Not a fair assessment at all.

it’s unreasonable

i'm sure that some opinions don't seem fair. i'm not sure how i'd tailor an opinion to suit everyone.....

it’s unreasonable to go making opinionated statements based on nothing but your opinion

I could say the same thing about G&L owners based on the way you formulated that statement.

you're right of course --- be my guest...except G&L owners are playing better axes regardless of their fantasies!

edit: sometimes i aim for "pithy" --- i see where this particular post sounds 'pissy', too. but i'll let it stand: it can serve as my protest against overpriced EBs in general, and some tacit support for all of the 'victims'/purchasers who are consistently told to "send 'er back" when an inconsequential imperfection is discovered on their new 2K+ axes...