Rickenbacker Pricing - Justified, Or Plain Obscene?

[lpdeluxe]

It's interesting to see people here actually admitting gear can be overpriced. That usually isn't the case, in my experience.

Here's a thought experiment: open up a bass factory. Do it in California, which has expensive rules concerning your employees worker's compensation, the use of pollutants in your finishing process, and high taxes. Buy quality, stable, well-dried wood. Hire experienced instrumental engineers to design your basses (and, like Ric, they are not allowed to copy anyone else, so you'll have to pay them premium salaries). Hire enough dedicated people who live in the expensive suburbs of Southern California, and pay them enough so that they don't leave at the first opportunity, or steal from from you, or do other antisocial things to make ends meet.

Now sell your products for a low price.

Oooops, we can't do that last, can we? Not without cutting corners somewhere -- and, every time we cut corners, somebody will spread the word on forums like this.

What the hell -- let's sell the things for what they cost, with a reasonable profit so we'll be around to honor the warranties and to sell more.

Now we're right where Ric is, selling products for the cost of production plus enough to stay in business.

Or would you rather whine?

 

[michael_atw]

One of the two local music stores in my small hometown on occasion carries a Ric guitar...but I walked in to the place for the first time in 6 months or so last week and they had 3 Ric guitars and two Ric basses...including a Midnight Blue (I think that's what its called) and a 4004? green beast. I was talking to the guy and I guess they've had the blue one for a few months. They have the license and the owner apparently GASes to inventory a few. I checked the price on the blue and it was $1500!!!! I couldn't believe it. That's cheaper than ebay. Guy said it was a 2009 too. I'm pretty sure if they can get me a BlueBoy I'll buy it from them.

 

[apple pie]

Here's a thought experiment: open up a bass factory. Do it in California, which has expensive rules concerning your employees worker's compensation, the use of pollutants in your finishing process, and high taxes. Buy quality, stable, well-dried wood. Hire experienced instrumental engineers to design your basses (and, like Ric, they are not allowed to copy anyone else, so you'll have to pay them premium salaries). Hire enough dedicated people who live in the expensive suburbs of Southern California, and pay them enough so that they don't leave at the first opportunity, or steal from from you, or do other antisocial things to make ends meet.

Now sell your products for a low price.

Oooops, we can't do that last, can we? Not without cutting corners somewhere -- and, every time we cut corners, somebody will spread the word on forums like this.

What the hell -- let's sell the things for what they cost, with a reasonable profit so we'll be around to honor the warranties and to sell more.

Now we're right where Ric is, selling products for the cost of production plus enough to stay in business.

Or would you rather whine?

I think you're looking into it a little too much. It really just comes down to the tone and quality and its relationship to the price. IMO, Rics just aren't that awesome for that kind of money. I'd rather have a Wal or something else. But again, that's just me.

 

[michael_atw]

Here's a thought experiment: open up a bass factory. Do it in California, which has expensive rules concerning your employees worker's compensation, the use of pollutants in your finishing process, and high taxes. Buy quality, stable, well-dried wood. Hire experienced instrumental engineers to design your basses (and, like Ric, they are not allowed to copy anyone else, so you'll have to pay them premium salaries). Hire enough dedicated people who live in the expensive suburbs of Southern California, and pay them enough so that they don't leave at the first opportunity, or steal from from you, or do other antisocial things to make ends meet.

Now sell your products for a low price.

Oooops, we can't do that last, can we? Not without cutting corners somewhere -- and, every time we cut corners, somebody will spread the word on forums like this.

What the hell -- let's sell the things for what they cost, with a reasonable profit so we'll be around to honor the warranties and to sell more.

Now we're right where Ric is, selling products for the cost of production plus enough to stay in business.

Or would you rather whine?

+999999999 Love it. Not that people are necessarily doing it in here, but I keep seeing how so many people want everything for nothing. That's why all our stuff gets made in China. Even now with guitars its gonna be SX. Chinese laborers toiling over Fender blueprints, copying just enough so they don't get sued to death. Wait until they liberate themselves and their 10 cent/hr. wages go up to close to what the US pays. We're screwed.

It reminds me of those US Fidelis auto insurance commercials, when Rusty Wallace says in reference to the ridiculous overinflated prices they present for auto costs: "and lower them down to size...the size you want them to be!" and all of the costs go to zero. Yeah...right, my car gets fixed for free!! YEEHEE!!!

 

[Jimmy Bones]

I waited a long time and threw down the bucks , for me it was worth it .

'08 4004cii BBR

That's a Rick I would totally get caught dead rocking. It's perfect.

 

[Benjamin Strange]

Maybe if every single one of them didn't need MAJOR fretwork straight out of the box, their pricing might be a little justified. As it is, Rickenbacker (along with Gibson) is one of those companies who's quality is seriously suspect at my shop. It's rare that we see a good one these days. I'm sure they have the capability of making a good instrument, but that ain't happening of late.

 

[Bongolation]

Here's a thought experiment: open up a bass factory. Do it in California, which has expensive rules concerning your employees worker's compensation, the use of pollutants in your finishing process, and high taxes. Buy quality, stable, well-dried wood. Hire experienced instrumental engineers to design your basses (and, like Ric, they are not allowed to copy anyone else, so you'll have to pay them premium salaries). Hire enough dedicated people who live in the expensive suburbs of Southern California, and pay them enough so that they don't leave at the first opportunity, or steal from from you, or do other antisocial things to make ends meet.

Now sell your products for a low price.

Oooops, we can't do that last, can we? Not without cutting corners somewhere -- and, every time we cut corners, somebody will spread the word on forums like this.

What the hell -- let's sell the things for what they cost, with a reasonable profit so we'll be around to honor the warranties and to sell more.

Now we're right where Ric is, selling products for the cost of production plus enough to stay in business.

Or would you rather whine?

See? This what I was talking about.

 

[lousybassplayer]

Here's a thought experiment: open up a bass factory. Do it in California, which has expensive rules concerning your employees worker's compensation, the use of pollutants in your finishing process, and high taxes. Buy quality, stable, well-dried wood. Hire experienced instrumental engineers to design your basses (and, like Ric, they are not allowed to copy anyone else, so you'll have to pay them premium salaries). Hire enough dedicated people who live in the expensive suburbs of Southern California, and pay them enough so that they don't leave at the first opportunity, or steal from from you, or do other antisocial things to make ends meet.

Now sell your products for a low price.

Oooops, we can't do that last, can we? Not without cutting corners somewhere -- and, every time we cut corners, somebody will spread the word on forums like this.

What the hell -- let's sell the things for what they cost, with a reasonable profit so we'll be around to honor the warranties and to sell more.

Now we're right where Ric is, selling products for the cost of production plus enough to stay in business.

Or would you rather whine?

Damn you, you evil capitalist! If only the Government would step in and set reasonable prices for these things.

 

[Rob Martinez]

I think you're looking into it a little too much. It really just comes down to the tone and quality and its relationship to the price. IMO, Rics just aren't that awesome for that kind of money. I'd rather have a Wal or something else. But again, that's just me.

Yes, but the point is, there are plenty of people who disagree with you. I would never buy a Wal bass, but have three Ricks. Ricks are awesome enough, to me and many others, to pay that kind of money. Some folks may say, "I would never pay that kind of money for a Modulus." but there are plenty of folks who will.

 

[lpdeluxe]

I think you're looking into it a little too much. It really just comes down to the tone and quality and its relationship to the price. IMO, Rics just aren't that awesome for that kind of money. I'd rather have a Wal or something else. But again, that's just me.

I'm not a Ric player -- I had one of their guitars for a long stretch (gift from my wife) and it never worked for me. But that's not the subject of the OP, which is that a bass player wants a specific bass, a Ric, and doesn't want to pay the going price for it.

I wouldn't pay for one, but it's not because I think they are overpriced: I prefer my Fender Precision. Let Ric charge what they will.

 

[apple pie]

Well I don't see how that's irrelevant to the subject. I think they are overpriced, and that's what the post is about.

 

[Gibenbackerbass]

Well I don't see how that's irrelevant to the subject. I think they are overpriced, and that's what the post is about.

Yes, but people like to wonder off topic. Helps to confuse things a little.

What's interesting is the price variance from dealer to dealer. I've seen brand new 4001 C64 basses range from $2599 to $3,899. It's not totally Rickenbacker's fault. There are some dealers that are just plain greedy. They are out to make a buck times manytimes over.

If you want to do something about it, shop around and don't buy from the dealer that has the produt marked up to the moon!!! All you're doing is rewarding bad behaviour.

Shame on you!!!

 

[apple pie]

Yeah shopping around is always good, although I would only ever want a Ric to pull out for the Rush covers! To me, they're kind of like Ray Bans. They're okay but why people spend that much money is beyond me. Once again, this is all just my opinion. Nothing is too "overpriced" if you REALLY want that Ric sound I guess--I know I would spend a lot of money getting the tone that I have my eye(ear) set on.