• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Ric copy

#43
>the Ric copyrights (or whatever they have) have no effect beyond US borders

so, if it is perfectly legal out of the US, then it deserves respect exactly as Sadowsky, Lull etc. and the word "stealing" should be took back: I know Frudua and he's a real gentleman and one that "does" a lot of wonderful innovative and fresh things and he certainly does not deserve being treated as a crook or something. (My humble opinion, obviously).

In any case I heard that they do have a distributor in US, unless I understood this wrong; there was something on Bass Gear Magazine. Maybe they will not import the Ric (you can order one by e-bay anyway), but all the rest of both catalogs Tuscany and Exlusive should be there available already...
 
#47
Avezzano said:
>the Ric copyrights (or whatever they have) have no effect beyond US borders

so, if it is perfectly legal out of the US, then it deserves respect exactly as Sadowsky, Lull etc. and the word "stealing" should be took back: I know Frudua and he's a real gentleman and one that "does" a lot of wonderful innovative and fresh things and he certainly does not deserve being treated as a crook or something. (My humble opinion, obviously).

In any case I heard that they do have a distributor in US, unless I understood this wrong; there was something on Bass Gear Magazine. Maybe they will not import the Ric (you can order one by e-bay anyway), but all the rest of both catalogs Tuscany and Exlusive should be there available already...
Click to expand...

If it is legal abroad I can guarentee they won't be allowed to import them. Same goes for ebay. If it is available for sale to a US citizen it will be shut down by Rickenbacker.
 
#50
I look at it this way. Most other major US factories are producing multiple (high-priced, mid and/or low priced) versions of their instruments for buyers from almost any price range to be able to buy one of their instruments. Sure the options and build quality vary a bit (although this is getting much better like with the "Vintage Modified" series and "Sterling" series basses as examples.

But the point here is that the other guys are allowing consumers to get in at almost any price point. This is great for us consumers. By Ric not doing this, they are not listening to their consumers and as far as I am concerned won't get my business on a new one.

So if they don't want to allow consumers of other price points to get in, then I'm all for other companies doing it for them (since they won't). Get with the program Rickenbacker! This is what consumers want. You are being too snobbish. You can still make you high-end and high-priced instruments. But make something for the masses that don't have the bucks. Find a quality import builder and get them to make a killer clone with your name on it for the sub-$1000 price point.

Fender, Musicman and others show that this model works and works well.
 
#51
TheShinning.jpg


Shhh. You wanna get sued?
 
#56
The Schecter Stargazer guitar, shaped like a Rickenbacker bass and slightly modified to be modernized/avoid having the Hot Topic clothes sued off their asses, looks fantastic. The Stargazer bass, shaped like a Rickenbacker bass and thusly altered, looks disgusting.
 
#57
Quadzilla said:
I look at it this way. Most other major US factories are producing multiple (high-priced, mid and/or low priced) versions of their instruments for buyers from almost any price range to be able to buy one of their instruments. Sure the options and build quality vary a bit (although this is getting much better like with the "Vintage Modified" series and "Sterling" series basses as examples.

But the point here is that the other guys are allowing consumers to get in at almost any price point. This is great for us consumers. By Ric not doing this, they are not listening to their consumers and as far as I am concerned won't get my business on a new one.

So if they don't want to allow consumers of other price points to get in, then I'm all for other companies doing it for them (since they won't). Get with the program Rickenbacker! This is what consumers want. You are being too snobbish. You can still make you high-end and high-priced instruments. But make something for the masses that don't have the bucks. Find a quality import builder and get them to make a killer clone with your name on it for the sub-$1000 price point.

Fender, Musicman and others show that this model works and works well.
Click to expand...

Why do all manufacturers NEED to meet every price point? Sadowsky doesn't. (And Metros are still expensive and don't count.) Most Lakland Skylines are over $1000. I am sure there are other companies that don't as well.

Everyone wants great quality for cheap. In fact it will keep going on. Lakland introduces Skyline and those still aren't cheap enough.

MIM Fenders are priced high so Fender makes Squier but people complain that Squier is too expensive and thus SX slips in.

Bottom line is that Ric's business plan that has worked for them for years is a high end niche company. It is their right to sell that way and your right to buy something else if you don't like it.
 
#58
Johnny Alien said:
Why do all manufacturers NEED to meet every price point? Sadowsky doesn't. (And Metros are still expensive and don't count.) Most Lakland Skylines are over $1000. I am sure there are other companies that don't as well.

Everyone wants great quality for cheap. In fact it will keep going on. Lakland introduces Skyline and those still aren't cheap enough.

MIM Fenders are priced high so Fender makes Squier but people complain that Squier is too expensive and thus SX slips in.

Bottom line is that Ric's business plan that has worked for them for years is a high end niche company. It is their right to sell that way and your right to buy something else if you don't like it.
Click to expand...

And I have bought something else, a damn good clone at a fraction of the cost. I guess it boils down to that we agree to disagree on this one. I just like having the Ric "police" trying to shut down us from buying 30+ yr old copies. And if they won't build a lower priced version, then I'm cool with others doing it. Shame on them for not offering one. Give the consumers what they want!
 
#59
Quadzilla said:
And I have bought something else, a damn good clone at a fraction of the cost. I guess it boils down to that we agree to disagree on this one. I just like having the Ric "police" trying to shut down us from buying 30+ yr old copies. And if they won't build a lower priced version, then I'm cool with others doing it. Shame on them for not offering one. Give the consumers what they want!
Click to expand...

I certainly don't disagree with wanting a more affordable Ric. I think I said this earlier but personally I think their US line is a bit overpriced and could come down some. If they came down a bit then I think I would care a bit less about an budget option.

I understand and (and can respect a bit) a company that wants to maintain it's US only manufacturing. Very few companies this day stick to their guns in regard to being US made only.

I love Apple computers and I wish they had a cheaper line of computers or that you could get OS X on other systems than their own but unfortunatly that is how they run their business and Ric is the same way. They are within their legal rights to protect what it theirs to protect.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back