What's the deal with Rics?

[unclejane]

No, I'm done. That was nearly eighteen months ago, after neurosurgery, which was just a grandstand play because I was a musician. I'm too old to regenerate nerves. It's only the pinky and I have all the strength and mobility, but it feels weird and like it's been stepped on after a few minutes of playing. I can record, but gigging's out of the question.

Do you have full use of the other 3 fingers? I'm missing a piece of my fretting pinky and originally learned to play without it (in the belief that it was too short to be useable).

I found I could do basically anything I wanted with just the 3 fingers and appropriate shifting. It'd be an adjustment, but hell I did it that way for many years and it worked out fine...

LS

 

[Mastermold]

No, I'm done. That was nearly eighteen months ago, after neurosurgery, which was just a grandstand play because I was a musician. I'm too old to regenerate nerves. It's only the pinky and I have all the strength and mobility, but it feels weird and like it's been stepped on after a few minutes of playing. I can record, but gigging's out of the question.

Sorry B.

 

[Korladis]

No, I'm done. That was nearly eighteen months ago, after neurosurgery, which was just a grandstand play because I was a musician. I'm too old to regenerate nerves. It's only the pinky and I have all the strength and mobility, but it feels weird and like it's been stepped on after a few minutes of playing. I can record, but gigging's out of the question.

Learn to play with the opposite handed-ness? (If you're a righty, learn to play lefty, and vice versa?)

I know, a ridiculously difficult thing to do.

 

[Bongolation]

buying a Rickenbacker is really just a pointless indulgence of my curiosity anyway. I just want a price I can get out of ahead on if I dump it.

The trick is to get one that can reasonably be passed off as "rare" and wait a bit before flipping it. Something like an old "color of the year" model. Buy used, sell used.

The trick is just to get a really long deal on the front end with a new one.

A guy here on TB got a really good new 2012 4003 Mapleglo for ~$1080, delivered, a few months back by doing some creative discount application from MF and says that you can get them for $1300 any day from certain dealers.

With a price like that on the front end, you can't lose. He got the 4003 just to flip at that price, but it turned out to be such a good example, he's keeping it.

I recently reconnected with a very old local friend who's an extremely busy pro in several paying bands. He also decided he needs a Rickenbacker again after being without one for a long time, so maybe I can work a twofer somewhere for us.

 

[Lalo]

I love the way the body looks and feels, its a very unique instrument and of course its a big deal because of Sir Paul McCartney which because of him pretty much everyone noticed such bass.

 

[troy mcclure]

Seems to me you either love them or hate them.. I had one for less than 2 months...I am a Fender guy. My nect felt like a baseball bat, but everyone who has one tells you the neck is slim..so it must be the neck radius I couldn't get use to.

 

[Fishheadjoe]

The trick is just to get a really long deal on the front end with a new one.

A guy here on TB got a really good new 2012 4003 Mapleglo for ~$1080, delivered, a few months back by doing some creative discount application from MF and says that you can get them for $1300 any day from certain dealers.

With a price like that on the front end, you can't lose. He got the 4003 just to flip at that price, but it turned out to be such a good example, he's keeping it.

I recently reconnected with a very old local friend who's an extremely busy pro in several paying bands. He also decided he needs a Rickenbacker again after being without one for a long time, so maybe I can work a twofer somewhere for us.

Interesting as locally here in Toronto, there is a guy who "brings in" new Ric's, both basses and guitars and sells them on Craiglist at a premium. That "premium" is in the range of $2,400.00 CAD. Locally we simply cannot get our hands on a RIC to try, as the authorized dealer almost never has any stock. Should you wish to purchase a new RIC from that dealer, price point is roughly $2,200.00 CAD before 13% sales tax. I spoke to folks at the authorized retailer regarding RIC's and was told that most that do arrive in the store are sold off to staff, well before they hit the sales floor.
So there is a vacum of available RIC's in the Greater Toronto Area, that represents roughly a population of 5-6 million people!
I have to assume that the fellow bringing in these RICS is doing reasonably well as his ads don't stay active on Craig's List for much more than a week. He advertises them as being factory fresh with the box and case only having been opened to confirm that the guitars are fine... and to take some pics for his ad.
I bought my 4003 during the Midnight Blue sale a while back. Based opn the price I paid Music 123, I could easily flip the bass for a $600.00 profit. I bet it would sell in days/hours!
I've been chewing on doing so as I really don't play the bass, but every time I take it out of it's case, I simply can't pull the trigger. I really wish it was more of a player to me, but in reality, it's much more of a looker.
Fishheadjoe

 

[Bongolation]

Yeah, this doesn't surprise me.

The primary reason I never messed with Rickenbacker is that (like Mesa's) their distribution model offends me so deeply.