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Masses Produced Rickenbackers?

cmlax21

cmlax21

Jul 11, 2009
473
2
Steel City of Champions, PA
#1
This has probably been discussed but who else thinks that it MIGHT be cool if Rickenbacker turned into a Fender type company and still have their hand made ones like they do now but that would be "custom shop" and still be exactly the same and the same price. Then they could have factory made ones in USA Japan (maybe) and Mexico and keep those prices in line with Fenders so there could be a blue collar/working mans Rickenbacker. Or at least only have factory made ones in USA so they could still say they are the only company that only makes guitars in USA. I know they wouldn't be as good as the "custom shop" ones but I think it would turn out good for both sides, regular people can say they own a Rick and Rickenbacker would probably sell way more AND they can stop worrying about RickenFackers and stuff because people won't need to do that when they could just buy a MIM Rick :)
 
#5
To the OP: Rickenbacker has made it clear this is not part of their model. This has been discussed here before and I can promise you're going to see a lot of people who approve of this decision and a few who'll throw a dig to those that might make the suggestion. At the end of the day, however, Rickenbacker has made it clear that they don't want to expand (or dilute, depending on your viewpint) the brand.

If you're looking for a cheaper one, used prices have been coming down and snagging on in the $1000 range is easy enouogh. I passed on a $600 4003 from the 1980's a month or two ago. Wait around, they show up.

Mike
 
#7
Say what you want about JH, but I for one am down with his business model. Considering the market for Rics, why would he change a thing? I don't think making more money is the motivating factor in how he runs the company. Seems like Ben is on the same page too, so hopefully Rickenbacker will be creating the basses we crave for years and years to come.
 
#8
Playing a Rickenbacker comes with a certain level of prestige in owning a fairly rare, American instrument. Once you take away that level of rarity by mass producing it, it becomes a common instrument.

Think of it as a luxury car. Remember the Jaguar X-type? The everyman's Jaguar? Pretty much watered down the Jaguar name. And so far the Rickenbacker name still has plenty of meaning to it. The name is synonymous with quality.

Rickenbacker is in an amazing spot. Everyone wants them but they're just out of reach, meaning low production numbers, high quality, and a fairly large profit margin. Any businessman would be crazy to water this down by offering a mass produced model.
 
#9
tplyons said:
Playing a Rickenbacker comes with a certain level of prestige in owning a fairly rare, American instrument. Once you take away that level of rarity by mass producing it, it becomes a common instrument.

Think of it as a luxury car. Remember the Jaguar X-type? The everyman's Jaguar? Pretty much watered down the Jaguar name. And so far the Rickenbacker name still has plenty of meaning to it. The name is synonymous with quality.

Rickenbacker is in an amazing spot. Everyone wants them but they're just out of reach, meaning low production numbers, high quality, and a fairly large profit margin. Any businessman would be crazy to water this down by offering a mass produced model.
Click to expand...
I can undestand the "prestige" angle. I had one and people's comments certainly gave me that impression at the time. When Rickenbacker made a name for themselves, there wasn't much quality competition. Now, however, the market is flush with instruments of similar quality, although without the history (but how much is that "worth"?).

I could be entirely wrong (and I hoping not to rub anyone the wrong way with this) but I think a part of the reason the price was raised was to place themselves on a higher level than the aforementioned competition and to maintain the exclusivity you mention.

Off the subject, I think what watered down the Jaguar name was their inability to stay running.;) The X-type probably kept them afloat as a company. It was a high-profit margin vehicle based on an already successful and somewhat reliable platform.

Mike
 
#11
mike_v_s said:
I could be entirely wrong (and I hoping not to rub anyone the wrong way with this) but I think a part of the reason the price was raised was to place themselves on a higher level than the aforementioned competition and to maintain the exclusivity you mention.
Click to expand...

Actually, the reasons given (by Mr. Hall himself no less) were to reduce the amount of orders, plain and simple, to help reduce the production backlog, and also because it had been a while since the last price hike and costs do keep rising, not to mention shipping, insurance, property taxes, etc.

He said that he expected fewer orders to be placed, thus easing the backlog burden a little in conjunction with increased production, expanded use of CNC machines for basic shaping operations, reduction of options and models available, and several advances in speeding up finishing (which is actually the biggest bottleneck in the process).

Apparently, it hasn't had much impact on the backlog at all, but I'm sure there is no reason to reduce the prices now, since people still keep ordering at a rate faster than they can be produced anyway.
It just makes more money for the company. That doesn't bother me too much, it's a little more job security for the employees, and hopefully a little more pay and benefits as well.

The last 2 years saw the biggest price increase in the company's history, something like a $600 increase for a bog standard 4003.
Yeah, it's a bit much, but what are ya gonna do?
If you want a brand new one (as I do) either pay up or go without.

Used is still a much cheaper route to take, there are deals to be found.
I could have saved $500 by buying a barely used bass, but I'd still be jonesing for what I bought, so it wouldn't have really saved me any money, just added another bass to the stable (not to mention the wife wouldn't like that course of action much).
 
#12
I wouldn't care either way if Rick went the lower end mass produced route to add a lower cost bass into their line or not. A 4003 is a 4003 and that is what I will buy. And I will buy the American made as well.

And many feel that way as well. Like I said it is their production model and John Hall's company. He can do what he likes. The only way anything they (rick) did that would put me off is to stop making the 4003's the way they do now or to cheapen the production into mass produced.

As long as they don't mess with what isn't broken I'm cool with it.
 
#16
cmlax21 said:
I know it'll never happen but this was just a What If? type of thing.
Click to expand...

Not likely, but what if?

Well, for starters, Ric would include some visually obvious clue that would forever brand the offshore model (maybe a scarlet "R" or something), just to make sure any bass historian/parts expert could tell from the tenth row that it isn't one of the USA-built basses. Then the TB community of USA Ric owners would separate themselves into a "MIA Ric" club to continuously reinforce the subtle message that Those "Rics" Built By Asians Aren't Like The Rics We Own.

Then you'd have a bunch of the offshore Ric owners starting threads about how to upgrade/how they upgraded their bass with (insert component here _______ ), followed by troll posts in those threads from USA Ric owners saying essentially "you can't upgrade to rolled fingerboard edges, and you can't mask the deficiencies of Asian firewood".

Did I leave anything out?

Basically, you can afford a bass that earns respect on teh Interwebz or you cannot. If you cannot, your only other recourse is to be a better player than those who judge headstocks. Go practice.
 
#17
Despite been a student with bugger all money to his name, constantly on the lookout for a fake rick, id hate to see RIC cheapen their product by making a lower grade product.

One day I will be able to afford a Rickenbacker, but untill then id rather play a 'fake' one, rather than play a Rickenbacker Solocited cheapie.
 
#20
The story goes that Rickenbacker in the middle of a global finance crisis had I believe their best year ever, last financial year...

I would love to see some sort of "S" model retained in the lineup (thats with dot markers and no binding) but that is not going to help their backlog at all...

Rickenbacker are in a very good position and make very few (if any) financial blunders. As companys go, fair play to them!

If you are looking for a cheaper newish Rickenbacker check out a recent 4004. They don't have binding etc and have a sound of their own...

emac.
 

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