*Official* MF MID Rickenbacker Sale thread

[2nd Wind]

Just a general principle that since its a new bass, I'd rather not have to work on it... just replace it with another new bass that has no problems. I'd be worried about getting it fixed right out of the gate, and seeing problems down the road anyway.

If the local guy can fix it, then all good, I'll be in my joy and playing on it for the rest of the night. If not, I'd rather ship it to MF to get replaced than ship it to Ric to get worked on and maybe fixed.

Sounds perfectly reasonable. Good plan.

 

[Mr wiggl3s]

RIC has a 2 year backup. They are not making basses on spec and randomly shipping them. They cannot catch up with the orders that come in now....

All these basses were sold to MF. They had the 2 year backup. Rick sells to the dealer, then they're out of the picture.

 

[bthrem]

I will be writing a overall story on these "adventure" as soon as i get my next one.

My lemon was delivered yesterday , I boxed and returned it the same day.

I just talked to MF its going to be there friday , they said they would overnight me a new rickenbacker and it will be here thursday before the old one get back.

Not costing me a dime, I seriously hope the next one is right and its not 3rd times the charm.

Hummm, maybe I hold off on bailing on the deal completely until I see what the replacements look like. It's nice to have another 30+ days to think it over.

 

[paganjack]

Well I caved and removed the bridge pickup cover. It was worth it! I can finally get at the sweet spot for fingerstyle. I like the look of the cover, but I'm primarily a fingerstyle player so it had to go... :/ Also changed strings (I like the feel of Elixirs, so sue me) and tried out the mute. Not that I'm going to use the mute all the time, but it's a neat little feature.

I also really like the neck, it plays really well, although it's definitely substantially thicker (at the nut) than my P or my Warwick even.

 

[NukeBass]

I just pulled mine out of the box. I didn't wait long enough so I put it away pretty quickly. On first glance, everything looks fine. I really like the inlays on the fretboard, too. The body binding is more off white than the pickguard, but it matches the binding on my 75th anniversary model, so I don't think there is anything off there. I'll look at it again tomorrow and actually play it to see how it sounds. So far so good.

 

[2nd Wind]

Got mine today. Factory sealed in the box. Made in August 2010 with yellowish binding.

The case is badly cracked around one foot and has rub marks on the top and bottom from being shipped in the box with no padding.
One truss rod cover mounting hole is misaliged/drilled 1/2 inside the cavity.
I think the glue for the nut came out of one side in a glob and some is on the neck with a possible paint touch up by a total hack job.
There are 4 dark spots on the first position fretboard inlay.

MF confirmed still in stock and offered to ship me out a replacement bass packed in a larger box with packing and rush shipping for no charge. They sent a return label by email and will ship the new bass to me before they get the damaged one.

Shame on RIC!
Good for MF!

Now THESE are QC issues.

 

[GregC]

RIC has a 2 year backup. They are not making basses on spec and randomly shipping them. They cannot catch up with the orders that come in now....

That's not true. Just as an example: There are 2 Ric dealers that I know of in the Chicago area--one has one 4003 in each color, the other has 2 or 3 of the four colors plus several C64s.

Also, based on what I've seen in this thread, roughly three dozen people ordered midnight blue Rics from MF and they still have roughly 10 left.

 

[guy n. cognito]

Is anybody a member on the Rickenbacker forums? I would love to hear an official explanation of this whole deal... like I said, I'm holding judgement until its all said and done, because if I get a money sweet Ric for $1150 I'm happy. But would be very curious to know the circumstance of these basses and how they made it out of the Ric factory and into the MF warehouse, as the noted flaws seem to be related to both Ric and MF alike.

You can view their forum even if you aren't a member. Here's a summary from Mr. Hall:

• TB isn't a RIC friendly site
• He believes we represent a minority of bass players and that MF has sold ten times as many basses to non members....and the vast majority of those are happy.
• He states that many of the damaged instruments appear to be MF returns.....
• He seems to place some blame on MF for lack of inspection and proper packing.

http://www.rickenbacker.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=14521&start=20

 

[rizzo9247]

Day 2.

Mine is going back. In the end its a 1k+ bass with flaws (mine was a small paint chip, more swirling in the finish than I can live with, cracking truss cover). I don't mind the binding issues most of us have, lets hope #2 is better or i'll just call it and not go for a third.

 

[2nd Wind]

This doesn't make any sense. I've been pricing used Rics for some time. Given the going prices for Rics on my local Craigslist and eBay, should I choose to sell it, I am confident I could get at least what I paid for it, unpopular color and all.

Rick resale is usually at or more than what you paid. Especially to Europe. I would expect those who chose to sell after the honeymoon is over will see a profit.

 

[2nd Wind]

I'd be embarrased to even try to sell the one I got.

Yours had real RIC QC issues and sending it back was the right move. You would have had to sell for a real loss if you tried to move it.

 

[2nd Wind]

Nice. Can anyone tell me why the Ric does not have binding all the way around the body. At the rear, by the bridge, there is a 3inch gap. I know this is designed this way but is there a reason?

The thru-neck is not bound. The wings get binding before they are glued to the neck. This is also a way to spot a lot of fakers, as they have binding all the way around.

 

[2nd Wind]

The only issue I could find was that the "elephant ear" on the E string tuner is not crimped on to the shaft as tightly as the others. I can't see it or hear it but I can feel a slight movement when tuning. Blame Schaller or Ric, your call.

Me, Im loving my first new, blue Ric bass.

+1 vote for "very satisfied"

Glad you love it. As for the loose ear, call RIC customer service and they might just ship you a new tuner.

 

[Quickie]

The thru-neck is not bound. The wings get binding before they are glued to the neck. This is also a way to spot a lot of fakers, as they have binding all the way around.

Thanks 2nd.

 

[A-Step-Towards]

Here we go , i bet I am missing people who bought one or returned one , if so add to the list and repost it.

1. BrentSimons
2. SubSectorSucker
3. James_E
4. Martinmcfly-Returned
5. Tumeni Notes
6. Crankee Yankee
7. Medford Bassman
8. WalWarrior
9. SOB
10. Toastfuzz-Returned
11. A-Step-Towards-Returned
12. kevinmoore73-Returned
13. GeezerDeacon69
14. PMagers
15. smaynor
16. rizzo9247-Returned
17. ctbass
18. paganjack
19. cr250_977
20. silverburst
21. Spectrum
22. OnlyJerry
23. whoapower
24. CBRXJ
25. Aceonbass
26. Fair Warning
27. deeptubes
28. Bitterdale
29. MtJam
30. diptixon
31. gumbystuff-Returned
32. Toshibajoe
33. Bthrem
34. BookMDanelectro
35. Bitterdale
36. Premierbass
37. JoshuaTSP
38. BIGEJ2-Returned
39. Seans
40. Nuke bass

 

[2nd Wind]

All these basses were sold to MF. They had the 2 year backup. Rick sells to the dealer, then they're out of the picture.

Yes.
John Hall has stated the dealer is RIC"s customer and the final purchaser is the customer of the dealer. But RIC will deal with Customer Support issues.

 

[2nd Wind]

I just pulled mine out of the box. I didn't wait long enough so I put it away pretty quickly. On first glance, everything looks fine. I really like the inlays on the fretboard, too. The body binding is more off white than the pickguard, but it matches the binding on my 75th anniversary model, so I don't think there is anything off there. I'll look at it again tomorrow and actually play it to see how it sounds. So far so good.

The long wait recommended is only for when it is winter out and the instrument comes to you cold. If you don't let it acclimate you take a real chance on the finish checking. In the summer it would be fine to open immediately,

 

[Quickie]

Wow. Sixth day for this thread and going towards 600 posts.

 

[2nd Wind]

That's not true. Just as an example: There are 2 Ric dealers that I know of in the Chicago area--one has one 4003 in each color, the other has 2 or 3 of the four colors plus several C64s.

Also, based on what I've seen in this thread, roughly three dozen people ordered midnight blue Rics from MF and they still have roughly 10 left.

I'm not following your post. Just because dealers have all the colors doesn't mean RIC ships whatever it wants to. The dealers place orders for the models/colors they want and RIC ships when they fill that order. Presently it takes about 2 years. MF at some time places huge orders and now has decided to move that inventory. They and GC are consolidating operations and moving corporate offices and they no doubt in that consolidation don't want to have a lot of stock.

 

[martinmcfly]

It would be nice to update the list of buyers I know not every one is on it and then mark returned next to buyers who returned there bass.

I might be sorry, but what's the worst it will cost me. Another trip to UPS? The only thing wrong with mine was the neck was too fat for my liking and after reading all the nitemare stories I decided to try to have mine returned to me, BUT with a 10% credit (even though many of you got the 'July11Sale' (10% off $1299) discount all I could orignially fanangle out of them was a $20 Store credit. Well, I decided RICs are known for their unique sound too, so I tried to get mine back returned to me. They said they couldn't do it because a return had to be sold as used so they're sendind me a new one for $1199 (which will cover the taxes I originally paid. I'm praying I get as good of one as my oiginal .