Rickenbacker Stickers - Who and why?

[Thornton Davis]

So I notice that a lot of Ric owners choose to keep the Proudly Made In The USA sticker and the Push/Pull for Vintage Tone sticker on their new basses. I don't notice any RIC guitar players doing this. So I'm wondering why anyone would want to keep a sticker on their instrument rather than remove it. Personally, I remove them as soon as I get the bass home.

Now having said that I decided to relocate the Proudly Made In The USA sticker from my 4001S from the pickguard to the back of the headstock just so that it's still on the bass in case I decide to sell it in the future and the new owner wants to have the sticker.

Here's the before.

Here's the after.

So what do you do with the RIC stickers on your new 4003 Series basses, keep them or remove them and if you keep them on the bass, why?

Show them if you've still got them.

TD

 

[aquateen]

remove

 

[FunkHead]

That sticker will leave a permanent Oval on the back of your headstock. I left mine on but it's only going to damage the Pickguard. I don't really know why I can't bring myself to remove them.

 

[nixdad]

Remove it. It's a sticker - nothing more.

 

[Rickenbottom]

I removed mine and stuck it onto the little RIC manual..

 

[mapleglo]

I removed mine immediately. I don't remember where I put them, or even if I kept them.

 

[GIBrat51]

You REMOVED the sticker?!?!? Expect a visit from the Sticker Preservation Agent real soon..

 

[mapleglo]

Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! Do not incur the wrath of the Irken elite!

 

[Jeff Scott]

Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! Do not incur the wrath of the Irken elite!

Dos all Irkens wear dresses, or just the elite ones?

 

[Jeff Scott]

On most of the new Ricks (guitars and basses) I have bought I placed the sticker onto my part of the warranty card; on the Snowglo 4004L I put the PMITUSA sticker on the underside of the control cavity cover.

 

[John Swartz]

Removed my sticker - stuck it on the case...

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Kind of like leaving the plastic cover on a lampshade, IMO. I think it's become a "badge of authenticity" of sorts on e-bay, as if a Ric sticker couldn't be counterfeited. People seem to forget that stickers are just slow drying glue on paper. Left on long enough, it leaves a permanent mark, or has to be removed with goo-gone. My son put a sticker on a french-polished shellac finish end table, took the finish right off in the perfect shape of the Spongebob sticker. Ouch! Only on Rics too, never seem to see this quirk on Fender basses.

 

[ggoat!!!]

 

[lowendblues]

I stick mine under the TRC. You cant play the sticker.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

That's a great idea, sticker under the TRC or backside of PG, out of sight, but saved for resale.

 

[ggoat!!!]

 

[Baird6869]

I always thought that was weird as well.

Unless it is a brand new RIC that might be returned, I have no idea why anyone would keep the sticker on.

 

[west al]

I removed mine and stuck it onto the little RIC manual..

That's what I did with mine also.

 

[Tim1]

That's what I did with mine also.

Same here. But I have often asked myself the same question as the OP. No point in leaving it on for authenticity as it can be faked even more easily than a truss rod cover.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

It is a known fact that people who leave the stickers on also wear the white patent leather shoe and belt combo known as "The Full Cleveland". I firmly believe these people are "Up To Something", and it can't be good.