Can anyone explain vintage rick copies going for over $800?

[InternetAlias]

I am flabbergasted, wherever I look, people are certainly trying to sell them for $800+, not sure what price they actually end up going for. I recently found a local ad in Serbia where the guy is trying to sell it for $1000. No name copy, neck through, from the 70s. Doesn't even seem to have the original pickups.

Am I missing something here or are those people collectively insane? You can get an actual used rick for a bit more than what they ask for used copies...

A disclaimer: I am not interested in purchasing a rick (much less a copy). I am just finding this extremely odd.

 

[kodiakblair]

Am I missing something here or are those people collectively insane?

No different than folks asking £800 for early 80's Squiers.

 

[InternetAlias]

No different than folks asking £800 for early 80's Squiers.

Except I haven't seen that thus far, I suppose that's the same brand of madness

 

[kodiakblair]

Except I haven't seen that thus far, I suppose that's the same brand of madness

1984 SQUIER by FENDER JAZZ BASS - JV SERIES JAPAN

1982 Fender Squier JV Series Precision Bass | eBay

1982 SQUIER by FENDER PRECISION JV SERIES BASS NECK - WIDE PROFILE | eBay

1983 Fender Japan Squier Precision Bass | eBay

Take your pick,there's plenty out there

 

[FRoss6788]

Most likely because they are fairly rare and some of them are actually very well constructed instruments.

 

[Alex J]

No different than folks asking £800 for early 80's Squiers.

Early 80s Squiers are often awesome, though.

This is about the guitars, but an interesting read.

 

[Playbyear]

The Fernandes Ficks look good, and I'm not surprised if they sell for that. Their Burny LP's fetch a good price too.

Even on the China direct sites, Ficks are the most expensive fakes, often 2X more.

 

[kodiakblair]

Early 80s Squiers are often awesome, though.

This is about the guitars, but an interesting read.

Compared to the US Fenders of the time,you bet they were awesome

 

[Playbyear]

None of these photos are mine.
I do have a MIJ Fernandes Jazz bass. If the Fernandes Ficks are the same quality as my Jazz, the Ficks would be very good.

 

[Lobster11]

I'm not sure that just because something is old it should be referred to as "vintage." Junk from yesteryear is just old junk. Junk doesn't become more valuable just because it's old.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Some of the Japanese "lawsuit " Ric copies (like the Fernandes above) were easily as good (and sometimes better) built than genuine Rics. With virtually any Ric, of any vintage, being worth at keast $1000+, $800 starts to look reasonable. The prices have really taken off for these, used to be possible to get them in the $400 range. Ric waged a very effective campaign to have any ads for them pulled off Ebay, though they do pop up on Reverb. They seem to have largely given up trying to police the Chinese Chickenbackers, but they are crap compared to the Japanese copies.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

I do find it amusing that the price for 70's CBS Fenders has crept up now that they are "vintage". I was there , and we thought they were crap back in the Day. Never underestimate the power of time + hype to add value to old crappy basses.

 

[devnulljp]

Some of the 70s MIJ basses are very very good -- Ibanez and as noted Fernandez did wonderful Fakenbackers. I'd rather have one of those (the through neck Ibanez) than a Rick actually.
Buyer beware, there are a lot of crap copies too.

 

[micguy]

I do find it amusing that the price for 70's CBS Fenders has crept up now that they are "vintage".

One of the very earliest vintage guitar shops was in the town I went to college in (in the 70's). A very large part of how they got started was people looking for Pre-CBS Fenders, because, as you say, the new stuff that was being made at that time didn't measure up. Fender's lack of quality at that point launched a market that, to this day, still exists, though it's twisted a bit.

Today, with CNC manufacturing on the new stuff, and with the quality that Fender put out in the 70's, the justification for 70's Fender prices has to be nostalgia. Which, apparently, there is plenty of.

 

[Pings Bass]

Most likely because they are fairly rare and some of them are actually very well constructed instruments.

Quite possibly better quality than a real Ric.

 

[FRoss6788]

Quite possibly better quality than a real Ric.

Didn't want to say that for fear of retribution.

 

[FRoss6788]

Quite possibly better quality than a real Ric.

...but it is very true.

 

[Hounddog409]

Most likely because they are fairly rare and some of them are actually very well constructed instruments.

That may be, but still not worth more than new price.

 

[FRoss6788]

That may be, but still not worth more than new price.

More than new price of what?
Where are you finding new Rics for $800?

They, like anything else, are worth what someone is willing to pay for them.

 

[Pauly 4001]

That may be, but still not worth more than new price.

Unless of course we're talking about a Shaftesbury in a whimsical non authentic model like this with stunning custom mods like the sawed off headstock so it would fit in a guitar case: