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Rickenbacker..... i just don't understand the hype.

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#61
As explained in this article, Australians pay more for pretty much everything.


10 EXAMPLES OF THE AUSTRALIA TAX

Sony HT-XT1 Sound Bar:
US: $US250 ($308)
Australia: $449
Difference: 31%
Apple iTunes Uptown Funk single:
US: $US1.29 ($1.56)
Australia: $2.19
Difference: 27%
Polaroid Socialmatic digital camera:
US: $US299 ($363)
Australia: $499
Difference: 26%
Microsoft Visual Studio Ultimate with MSDN
US: $US13,299 ($16,201)
Australia: $21,202
Difference: 22%
Dell Alienware 13 laptop:
US: $1000 ($1216)
Australia: $1599
Difference: 22%
Razer Blade 128GB gaming laptop:
US: $US2100 ($2553)
Australia: $3300
Difference: 21%
Adobe Creative Suite 6 Master Collection:
US: $US2599 ($3159)
Australia: $3949
Difference: 18%
HP Omen laptop:
US: $US1600 ($1980)
Australia: $2399
Difference: $17%
Samsung Gear S
US: $US300 ($365)
Australia: $449
Difference: 17%
Parrot Bebop Drone with Skycontroller:
US: $US900 ($1413)
Australia: $1300
Difference: $14%


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#63
Jeff Scott said:
Blame that on the cost of doing business with a distributor from OZ who likes to make a very healthy profit. Add in shipping, taxes, insurance, and other costs related to importing a fine musical instrument from the Land of the Great (USA ;)) and, of course, your bottom line is going to go way up compared to other countries where distribution/import costs are far more reasonable than they are in OZ.
Click to expand...

You are very correct however Mr Wobble nails it. The Australia tax is a real thing. Some of it is due to shipping such a distance, a lot of it due to insurance as our society is more litigation happy than just about anywhere in the world now, however some of it can only be explained away by the fact that even companies outside Australia are happy to rip us off as badly as Australian companies. My example about Adobe software isn't an isolated issue. There is no shipping or packaging for download software however in many cases it is exorbitantly higher in price over here.
 
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#64
I loved my 4001 back in the 80's when I owned it. It was a 79 and played like no other bass that I have had since. I was below novice when it came to setups so I was lucky that it was set up very good. It was used and had some road scars but overall I thought the finish was in really good shape. The pick ups did have less output then my Am STD P bass but it more than likely needed a run through a good tech shop. And I never got the chance to try the Rick O Sound which I have heard and like *A LOT. I regretfully sold it while raising my family and would love another one day. I have heard the horror stories about Ricks but IME I have nothing but great memories. I agree they are way too pricey but ITS A RICK. IMO they are the best looking bass of all time to boot. Each to their own though

I hope you find the bass that inspires you
 
#65
I feel like it's fair to say that a Ric has a tone all its own, but it's not the sound that justifies the hype.
Nothing really tries to be a Ric. Nothing even tries to look like a Ric. If I want a P-bass I can get my hands on one at any price point between $100 and $10,000 across more companies than I've presently heard of. If I want a Ric, I have my pick of a few models at whatever price Ric is asking for them.

Nobody else is really making the product they're offering, so they can charge what they want, and the resulting scarcity of Rics makes them feel special.

It's basically the Häagen-Dazs of basses.
 
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#66
Ricks have great paint jobs

flat black.jpg
 
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#76
I played a 4003 Rick about a month ago for the first time. I did wonder what all the hype was about so I thought I'd give it a whirl. I played it for about a half an hour, and I thought it was nice. It was larger than I imagined and heavier. The sound reminded me alot of my beloved '73 P bass. I was a tad intimidated with the controls and don't think I explored them fully. I expected something sounding different, though I guess the player was the same… :p I'd love to have one in the family one day.
 
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