If Ricks Are So Coveted...Why Are They So Cheap?

[GregC]

Huh...??

You bought a Ric 25 years ago, it's appreciated 10 times what you paid for it, and you're asking why Ric's haven't grown in value??

I was wondering about that, too.


Also, there simply is not a waiting list for 4003s anymore. I think there was 2 or 3 years ago, and people have kept repeating that like a mantra ever since. They're readily available at a number of online retailers and brick-and-mortar shops.

 

[iamthebassman]

I do get tired of the "I'm gonna start a thread, with a statement that some people may find controversial, and then disappear".

 

[fenderhutz]

Unless they were fishing for a sale.

 

[Daede]

Unless they were fishing for a sale.

Well, now, that would just be a great big old violation of the non-supporting-member rules, wouldn't it?

 

[plangentmusic]

Huh...??

You bought a Ric 25 years ago, it's appreciated 10 times what you paid for it, and you're asking why Ric's haven't grown in value??

HA! True, though it's just that it was a ridiculous deal and vintage Fenders tend to be worth much more.

And AS I SAID, I ain't selling it.

 

[plangentmusic]

I do get tired of the "I'm gonna start a thread, with a statement that some people may find controversial, and then disappear".

I'm here. What's the problem?

 

[plangentmusic]

damn Bro,.. no surf music?!!!
oh well, maybe you met your sales quota for the month. holiday spending was much better this season!

ps: i'd love to hear those tunes on a Ric!!!

Tried it. Doesn't work. Then again, people seem to think it's a RIck on "Big Swell." I was going for a "Rick sound."

 

[TylerDurdenPSSC]

IMO, that kinda defeats the whole purpose of having a ric...

Exactly.

Ric's are my #1 vote for coolest style, with the worst tone. Again, my opinion. They feel really well made, but I detest their elcctronics package.

I know there's a black Laredo floating around here with DS's somewhere... that's the sexiest Ric I've ever seen.

 

[lpdeluxe]

I've been playing bass since 1981, and, in all that time, I've seen exactly ONE Ric bass (which is also how many Ric electric twelves I've owned). A friend had one before I met him, and showed me a picture of it, but that's not a very big total. I'd guess the Ric bass is a bit of a specialized beast. Or maybe it's where I live -- which is a fairly small city, but has a state U, which you'd think would promote diversity.

Whatever it is, seems like all I ever see around here are Peaveys, Ibanez, and Jazz basses. I'm a bit of an outsider, since I play a Precision. I'm not sure a Ric would be a fast mover if one showed up at the local store.

 

[Fine Cut]

cheap? i paid $160 for my 'Ray. that was on the expensive side for me. Ricks are SKY HIGH

 

[Daede]

cheap? i paid $160 for my 'Ray. that was on the expensive side for me. Ricks are SKY HIGH

If you got a 'Ray for $160, I hope you got a receipt from the crackhead who sold it to you; it is surely stolen (either that or it came unfinished with no neck, pups, bridge or electronics LOL).

 

[Ric5]

Unless they were fishing for a sale.

Nobody here would be dumb enough to pay $2500 for a $1500 bass.

 

[plangentmusic]

Nobody here would be dumb enough to pay $2500 for a $1500 bass.

For the 3rd time bro, it's not for sale. Don't worry about it.

 

[M5Yates]

Excluding limited editions, if you want an appreciating Ric, start looking at 1973 and older.
Most people can't tell the difference between a 1974 4001 and a 2004 4003.
Vintage here means checkerboard bindings, toasters, crushed pearl inlays, horse shoes, ...


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[pacojas]

Tried it. Doesn't work. Then again, people seem to think it's a RIck on "Big Swell." I was going for a "Rick sound."

once again,...great vid,...great playing!!! btw, is that you hanging ten?

 

[cassius987]

Ric's are my #1 vote for coolest style, with the worst tone. Again, my opinion. They feel really well made, but I detest their elcctronics package.

Couldn't agree with you more on the first half of that statement, and disagree with you more on the second half!

First of all there's not a lot going on with Rics that is strikingly different from Fenders or Gibsons as far as electronics so it's odd to suggest their electronics package stands out in some way. The only thing they really have that's that unique is discrete signal processing for each pickup prior to the mono jack, which is very cool. The other thing I can think of is the 0.0047 uF cap, which has not been in the harness for decades.

The pickups come in several varieties and we (Ric fans) all have our likes and dislikes in that department. I think I prefer Toasters, I had Lindy Fralin make mine an RWRP set so they function like a Jazz Bass as well. It was cheap considering how good a job he did (he also replaced the lead wires). In the case of stock Hi-Gains you can mod them to be RWRP yourself; it's a lot easier to DIY than Toasters.

 

[plangentmusic]

once again,...great vid,...great playing!!! btw, is that you hanging ten?

Ha! I've actually never surfed! Looks like a blast though. I'd love to try but I'm a sucky swimmer.

 

[Meddle]

Not cheap at all in my book, you must have far more disposable income than myself if you see $2k as cheap. Besides they are not coveted they are just popular at the moment and may not remain this way if the cyclical nature of musical trends is anything to go by.

 

[martyman5000]

They are not legendary as the old Fenders, not as widely played. And the new ones are as good or better than the old ones, from what I hear.

Uh...there are far more Fenders and actually lately I've seen quite a few bassist in bands using Rickenbackers...

 

[johnk_10]

Ric's are my #1 vote for coolest style, with the worst tone. Again, my opinion. They feel really well made, but I detest their elcctronics package.
.................

i love the tone that i've gotten out of all of my rics, vintage, late models and new, so i don't have a problem at all with their pickups or electronics package.