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Rickenbacker Rant

#61
Can't you just order a switch from Ric (or get one sent for free it sounds like) and have it installed locally if you aren't up to the installation yourself. Honestly I know this is inconvenient and it shouldn't have happened, but it is really pretty minor.
 
#62
tbz said:
It's too bad Rickenbacker doesn't address what appears to be a systemic and consistent QC issue with their gear.

Part of me wants a 4003 but these threads make me reluctant to try to acquire one. New price seems high considering the potential hassle, and used seems to be a gamble since there are so many QC problems.

Not trying to bash, but there are a LOT of threads like this. A single employee dedicated to social media could assuage a lot of concerns just by posting here.
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+1 I keep wanting to pull the trigger but man....
 
#66
254 stringer said:
I have seen that dude post a few times. Always has something negative to say never an explanation. So he probably doesn't know what he is talking about anyway. Unlike bongolation love him or hate him he will always tell you why he likes or doesn't like pieces of gear.
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ok sorry for my rant let me explain in 1979 i sent a 1973 rick 4001 w/ toastter pickups and checkerboard binding back to Rick to repair a crack in the neck ,instead of repairing it they sent me a new bass with pure white binding , screw pickups and a pencil of a neck back without any explanation when I contacted them they tried to tell me this was my bass that they had repaired it !!!!....fast forward to 1988 i find my old Rick 4005 which was stolen from me in NYC in 1979 in a music store in Berkely Calif with a massive crack in the headstock .... I call Rick customer service up and speak with Jeff who tells me " well I don't know if we can repair that , were really busy here you've got to understand your only one customer" !?!!?!?! I found that incredulous and told him I would never own another Rick product again , I have seen 3 new ricks in music stores in SF NY and Ct in the last 5 years that had to get sent back to rick one, a guitar had the frets installed off mark and could never intonate ,2 had electronics problems new out of the box ,,, since John Hall left the company to his son QC became hit or miss and customer serv9ice with them is an abomination ...........hence my Junkenbacker rant ..... any other negative rants you want explained just ask
 
#68
So some guy just posted a new 4003 in the Rickenbacker forum and here is what the casting on the bridge looks like incase you guys dont watch that thread, I would send it back because its likely to just flake over time and get worse looking.

267930_53a7a90ff6c4add38775e965b1e46ed9.jpg
 
#69
Rics look really cool. After buying one and dealing with bridge saddle problems and other issues, I decided that looks were the only thing I liked about Rics. Personally, I'd rather put that much money toward a number of other brands such as a US Lakland where I know the QC, attention to detail, and customer service will be unequivocally top-notch.
 
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#71
Back when I received (after waiting 3 years) my 4001C64LH with faulty tuners (3 of the 4 were bent), the factory wanted me to send back the bass so they could replace the tuners.

Yes: send (at my expense) the bass from Canada to the US to replace tuners. I declined.
 
#72
I bought a new Mapleglo RIC last year and it had super high action. After adjusting the truss rods (that is a friggin treat), I found that the neck was buggered and couldn't be fixed.

I took it back to Long & McQuade and got my $$$ back. I was told later that RIC refused to take it back from L&M so they had to spend a fortune to have it fixed.

I have a couple of other RIC horror stories/bad experiences, but no point beating a dead horse. Every RIC bass/guitar they make is sold almost immediately and there is a waiting list in many cases. Why be nice to customers or have good QC if your product continues to fly off the shelves?:rollno:
 
#73
Just to emphasize: The nut driver must be of the thin-walled variety. And I agree, Ric should be including one with new basses.

I normally have to touch up the nut on all my new basses, from the lowest to the highest price point and everything in between.

The 4003 bridges are notoriously tricky to work with, very different from most other manufacturers. This is no secret. But once dialed in, it's well worth the effort.

Not a fanboi, I am fully aware of Rics' flaws and choose to play them anyway. This would be a good rule of thumb with any bass manufacturer, and like all basses, they're not for everyone.
 
#74
Any product made by man can have flaws. All basses are comprised of lots of different parts and sometimes those parts don't want to be combined together.

Making instruments is part art, part science. You should only buy instruments that you've played and examined carefully (sorry catalog and website guys).

Nonetheless, I think Rickenbacker is as good - or as bad - as many other instrument builders. My experience with their instruments has been entirely satisfactory and I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one.
 
#75
I've always wanted a Ric but its even harder to buy one in the UK.

As I'm a very very fussy customer (and for the prices I pay, they should be almost perfect) I've only found a few Fenders which I've kept (2008 onwards series) that I'm happy with. I'm still happy with those Fenders.

However, my main basses are Musicman, and they just (99% of the time) come setup beautifully, with excellent QC etc. I have a fair few EBMM's and another coming, and even the oldest I own, and the ones I used to own, looked great years and years down the line from new.

It's a shame Rics don't seem to hit QC like they should, as they are iconic. :(
 
#78
I bought a MID blue 4003 when MF had their blowout sale. I paid $1070 for it. I didn't get a lemon some have complained about but over the years, it has been a learning experience. I purchased a nut driver/screwdriver combo for $10 that works well to adjust the truss rod. The dual rods have been tricky. I also purchased a metal neck guide from Stew Mac so I can get the neck perfectly straight. That has been a big help!
Setting intonation is a pain no doubt but once it's set I'm usually ok with it. It has been a learning adventure.
If you buy one, take the time to learn how to maintain it. Where I live I wouldn't trust any local guitar tech to touch it. They simply have no clue. I do not know of any other RIC user in my area and they're used to working on Fenders or Ibanez basses.
Joey's Rickenbacker page is a great resource to learn how to take care of your RIC. IMO
 
#80
Gonna be sending it in next week, I tried to move the switch today and it barely moves. Have to use way more force than necessary, feels like its catching on something on the inside. I plug it in and put it in the neck position and all I really get is crackling and popping. :( For those of you wondering yes I have tried using some deoxit on the switch. I've never heard of a switchcraft switch failing before.
 

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