NBD Rickenbacker AGAIN horrendous frets

[Gilmourisgod]

Wildwood Guitars probably has the best rep for Ric sales, as they actually open the case, inspect, and return any dogs back to, Ric, but you wait longer and pay more for that QC.. Sweetwater supposedly does this too, though I'm sceptical. Based on what I've seen hanging on their walls, GC does no pre- inspection at all, it's just out of the case and up on the wall, no setup unless you commit to buy. For a pre-sold Ric, it probably never even got opened, so that's all on Ric.

 

[Froski]

Wow, that's such a gorgeous bass too. At their prices, you'd think they'd be assembled by unicorns and all be perfect

 

[JRA]

 

[Gervais Cote]

Have a look in the case, there might be a left hand glove that looks like this :

 

[Bass Viking]

This is what happens when a company has no direct competition. The only way to get a Rickenbacker style bass is to buy from Rickenbacker. Sorry to hear about your bad luck OP. This is lame and inexcusable!

 

[Jaycat]

I don't know where you live, but if you're that intent on a Ric, it might be worth a field trip to a reputable shop where you can play them in person. Plane fare well spent, in the long run.

 

[chris_b]

I'm not a Rickenbacker fan, and even less so after looking at those fret photos. I wouldn't accept that workmanship on a $200 bass. For the price they charge for a new bass, that workmanship is disgraceful.

 

[rushgenesis2112]

Add it to a list of reasons not to buy Ric, at least not now or not without playing first. What an insult to the customer indicative of a company-wide lack of respect for the product and its costs. It’s just a shame that none of the big American companies seem to bother with consistent QC.

 

[rojo412]

This is lame and inexcusable!

I believe that is their new slogan

 

[FRoss6788]

I wouldn't go that far based on just the two basses from OP. Fender still wears that crown.

BBBut Fender......Ya, sure bud.

Never had a Fender with frets that look like that, ever.

...and you better hope your Rick finish doesn't go south because that's only good for one year from manufacture date. Lame

 

[Relsom]

I had 2 of there from 2018 that had really sharp fret ends ...to the point of being dangerous. The one I bought new from Wildwood, I dressed the ends...no fret lift is present, and I still own it. The other one was taken in trade, and I flipped it without doing a thing. I ordered a 2024 from Wildwood and the fretwork is great, no dressing needed. Seems it's always the SW. Never had an issue with any of the clear coated darkwood fingerboarded S models I've had.

 

[burgerdj]

That’s B-stock at best. Clearly a breakdown at multiple quality control points. Sorry - that’s gotta be frustrating

 

[BassicJazzy]

To those who are blaming GC for this, don't. That is 100% the Rick factory just putting out a crap product. Worse fretwork I have ever seen. My 4001 that I bought in '72 and played as my sole bass for 12 years was perfect. Obviously something is wrong at that factory, to get two basses like that in a row.

 

[rogerbmiller]

I think the elephant in the room here is Rickenbacker.

Definitely take this back to GC. And definitely have them contact Rick. And definitely have them inspect whatever goes out to you next.

This is truly unacceptable and my suggestion would be to get a full refund if the third one is like this and find another bass. Or at least buy a used and preferably much older Rick that isn't plagued with such issues.

 

[Camaro69]

Not defending GC, but what are they supposed to do, pull every Ric and spend hours fixing it?
Some point Ric needs to do QC
It’s an abomination the prices they ask

 

[Abzan_Titan]

Two bad luck cycles in a row, that's really unusual.

I have no idea if the problem is with the walnut models, my 2025 4003s Mapleglo is perfect !

Since I'm so thrilled with mine, I was even considering getting a walnut model myself...but now........hmmm ???

 

[Gervais Cote]

Not defending GC, but what are they supposed to do, pull every Ric and spend hours fixing it?
Some point Ric needs to do QC
It’s an abomination the prices they ask

IMHO, any store should have a look at the basses before hanging them on the wall. If they have such quality issues, they should not put them for sale and return them to the manufacturer, no matter the brand.

Too bad the manufacturer didn’t do a final inspection before shipping the product though.

If I was to make my own bass necks, I would cut the frets 1/32" shorter than the width of the neck and install them with a self centering jig to avoid sharp edges a drying piece of wood can create.

 

[ahbradot]

I just drove over to GC and returned/exchanged the bass for another new one that they ordered.
My local Guitar Center is working with me to make everything right.
GC has 4 more Rickenbacker basses at their warehouse in Kansas City.
They're instructing a Kansas City Gear Advisor open up all 4 of the Rickenbacker factory sealed boxes to check and make sure that it's satisfactory before they ship to my home here in Florida.
In the meantime, I also contacted a Sweetwater sales engineer and he will honor the exact same Guitar Center discounted matched price if I choose to purchase from Sweetwater.
But the Sweetwater Rickenbacker 4003SW will be back ordered to September.

 

[Wyrdlow]

...and you better hope your Rick finish doesn't go south because that's only good for one year from manufacture date.

That was another thing that put me off... until they brought out the oil finished walnut models!

 

[bobyoung53]

I've bought several new Rics in my life, last one was a 4003S in 2021 and have never seen anything like that, I would think GC slammed it around before anything else.