What happened to Rickenbacker?

[bobyoung53]

Guessing that might be Peter Boer (aka Rickenbackerfarm/Peterbuilt Basses) in Holland who had many used Rics and was also a dealer for new ones as well. Sadly, he died last year - nice guy and much too young In Memoriam - Peter Boer - deBassist.nl

There is a really clean '93 Fireglo 4003 at Vintage Guitar Oldenberg. It's not cheap but I've had good experiences with them and found them to be reasonable and fair. Just seems heavy to me at 4.5 kg but I'm not a Ric guy so maybe that's ok... The owner is a bass player (and speaks excellent English).
4003 [Item #5302] [Build 1993] | A-1257

That's not a bad price for Europe and early 90's have great necks and pickups.

 

[Dynacord]

That's not a bad price for Europe and early 90's have great necks and pickups.

And it could be tried before buying - or returned if shipped without hassle - and should have good resale value.

 

[bobyoung53]

I’ve had two
Both were impeccable instruments.

guess I got really lucky…

I bought a 2021 4003s, I got lucky too.

 

[bobyoung53]

What are these things at these ridic prices??
View attachment 5109929

I like it, early 70's 4001 with "custom" appointments .

 

[IanStephenson]

Rickenbacker has decided, long ago, to not chase the demand they might have, but to stick at a certain production level, and raise prices to what the market will bear. The gives the company a very stable income, and the workers have very secure jobs. If your goal is to make the most money possible, they are leaving some on the table, but if you have a passion for your product, and care about your workforce, it's a very smart strategy. It means their customers have to wait, though.

SmartDoll (a Japanse doll company... don't ask how I know...) have an expect policy of discouraging customers! They believe in their product and they know people want them. I believe they treat their customers very well but they are happy doing what they're doing, and won't chase a bigger market or deal with customer demands for cheaper, or increased volume of products for the very reasons you mention.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[Williethump]

View attachment 5110028

Thanks a lot, now you've given me PTSD from having to use DOS in a previous lifetime.

 

[themickster]

Got a link for that?

No. I saw it more than a year ago.

 

[80jazz]

I like it, early 70's 4001 with "custom" appointments .

There's a '74 4001 on the 'Verb right now claiming to be all original with a Bartolini neck pickup.
That seller isn't asking the price above though...

 

[Wood and Wire]

Wildwood Guitars always seems to have some in stock
You searched for Rickenbacker - Wildwood Guitars

It's worth mentioning (although I've never bought from them, and things may have changed in recent years) that as far as I recall, the price you see listed on their site is usually inflated to remain in accordance with the manufacturers stipulations (they don't want to fall afoul, and loose their dealer status).

I seem to remember that you have to phone them up, and they'll give you a much lower price.

 

[Wood and Wire]

Wildwood in Arcata, CA?

I think it's in Colorado - but I'm not 100% sure (I'm in the UK, so if I'm ordering from the USA it doesn't make much difference where it's coming from).

 

[Gaolee]

What are these things at these ridic prices??
View attachment 5109929

A bad idea, mostly.

 

[Dynacord]

Wildwood in Arcata, CA?

I think it's in Colorado - but I'm not 100% sure (I'm in the UK, so if I'm ordering from the USA it doesn't make much difference where it's coming from).

Wildwood Guitars is in Colorado Electric Guitars, Acoustic Guitars, Amps, Accessories & more | Wildwood Guitars

Wildwood Music is in Arcata. I've been in that store many times and usually not much in the way of basses. While they have some other stuff, mainly acoustic and strings oriented (acoustic guitars, banjos, mandolins, violins, cellos, etc)

 

[Gluvhand]

What are these things at these ridic prices??
View attachment 5109929

With the iron cross, it's a Lemmy tribute of sorts. Along the top there would be a "Born to lose, out to lunch" print.

 

[Dr. Gonzo82]

I bought my Rick from here:

But that was a long time ago, now post Brexit it would be a different story.

By the way, I ordered it without ever trying a Rick before, still have it and haven’t bought another bass since.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

I'm mystified by why the used market for Rics seems to be pricier than new (if you can find a new one), maybe it's literally lack of new ones on the market driving up used? IMO the current production 4003 are the best they have ever made, better proportions visually, better electronics, better bridge, better trussrod. They seem to have solved the peeling finish issues. The stock hard case is a POS, and the warranty sucks, but it is what it is. Nothing else really sounds like a Ric.

 

[Snarf]

You’re right - Rickenbacker has succeeded in spite of themselves.

Their website is a joke and they hardly ever do anything new and certainly nothing innovative.

That web site is not a joke. It's vintage.

 

[Eldon Tyrell]

I bought my Rick from here:
View attachment 5110213
But that was a long time ago, now post Brexit it would be a different story.

By the way, I ordered it without ever trying a Rick before, still have it and haven’t bought another bass since.

Well, for me the date on the label reads as July 25th 1957, which is indeed "a long time ago" (in a galaxy far, far away)

 

[Koshchei]

Rickenbacker has decided, long ago, to not chase the demand they might have, but to stick at a certain production level, and raise prices to what the market will bear. The gives the company a very stable income, and the workers have very secure jobs. If your goal is to make the most money possible, they are leaving some on the table, but if you have a passion for your product, and care about your workforce, it's a very smart strategy. It means their customers have to wait, though.

They have fixed markups on everything, which keeps their prices a bit lower than US Fenders on their regular production models, but yes, they aren't at all interested in increasing their production.

Limited run instruments, like the 4005XC cost a lot more because of the amount of labour that goes into oddball features, like the crushed pearl inlays. Apparently, they were a nightmare to prepare and then radius.

Rickenbacker is a weird company - but it works for them because they sell everything that comes off their floor two years before it's made.

 

[Gizmot]

That web site is not a joke. It's vintage.

Sorry - I think it’s a joke. What it communicates is that Rickenbacker doesn’t want to invest to create a good image of the brand and its products. By the way, “vintage” and “website” don’t go together. If they want to evoke the 50s and 60s (since that is when their products were introduced), that’s fine, but they should make the products look good and show all the finishes available.

 

[sleddogn]

Would be nice if....warranty was real world, website helpful, feet on cases didn't go turtle, acted like they cared...make all the limited colors, non limited LOL