Why Rickenbackers are so expensive?

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

Link Removed

Since many people have thought that Rickenbackers are made in the UK because of The Beatles, I would have put "Rickenbacker" instead of "Fender".

 

[phillybass101]

Like everything else here in America now. Greed and inflation plain and simple. Everyplace along the supply chain people are jacking their prices and jacking each other and blaming things on the economy and elevating prices. If the world wasn't so damn greedy and not always trying to jack each other to maintian a 'certain' profit margin prices could remain affordable and sustainable. Greed kiiled previous dynastys before. The same goes for every other expensive custom or production bass out there. Somebody, somewhere along the chain started yanking the chain, and others followed suit. I think it's a disgrace that we're buying 2-6K (priced) basses made out of $500 worth of parts. Even the prices of parts are jacked. How is a bass custom when everyone is using the same 'standard' in electronics and parts. Go to any custom luthier website and you'll see the same cookie cutter parts in all of their basses. whats special or custom is that 'this jacking has been made especially for you' LOL!!!!! I too am subject to it and guilty of it, especially when I get greedy and just have to have it.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

Ric is one of the smarmiest companies to talk to in person. I've tried to get parts for discontinued models to have them laugh at me........

Yah, I called Ford to get some parts for my '73 Torino, same thing.

 

[smcd]

Like everything else here in America now. Greed and inflation plain and simple. Everyplace along the supply chain people are jacking their prices and jacking each other and blaming things on the economy and elevating prices. If the world wasn't so damn greedy and not always trying to jack each other to maintian a 'certain' profit margin prices could remain affordable and sustainable. Greed kiiled previous dynastys before. The same goes for every other expensive custom or production bass out there. Somebody, somewhere along the chain started yanking the chain, and others followed suit. I think it's a disgrace that we're buying 2-6K (priced) basses made out of $500 worth of parts. Even the prices of parts are jacked. How is a bass custom when everyone is using the same 'standard' in electronics and parts. Go to any custom luthier website and you'll see the same cookie cutter parts in all of their basses. whats special or custom is that 'this jacking has been made especially for you' LOL!!!!! I too am subject to it and guilty of it, especially when I get greedy and just have to have it.

Greed??? What "greed"?? Companies charge money for products because they have to pay wages and benefits for the people who work for them. Do you have any idea what the overhead is at a company like Rickenbacker? Any idea what they pay in taxes?? Obviously not. The real disgrace is that there are people who don't understand what it costs to run a business, yet are quick to label a business "greedy".

 

[Coolhandjjl]

Since many people have thought that Rickenbackers are made in the UK because of The Beatles..........

Most non-musicians actually do think that. In 1973, I saw my first Ric in a pic of Roger Glover in their Made in Japan album jacket, and I thought the same. Didn't know they were a US company until I decided to take music lessons 35 years later and began to look for my first Ricken-bocker.

It's like the old adage: You can't be an expert in your own backyard. I believe John Hall stated that over 40% of their instruments are shipped overseas.

 

[smcd]

Yah, I called Ford to get some parts for my '73 Torino, same thing.

Ha! I called Maytag to get parts for my 1948 washing machine and they hung up on me! I'll never buy Maytag again!

 

[preside]

If that marketing strategy was better, then why wouldn't everyone do it? Why doesn't Apple just halve their production and charge twice as much?

I thought thats what Apple was doing, at least all thier stuff costs twice as much.

 

[Immigrant]

Rics are expensive for the common bass player, common meaning what some people call middle-to-lower socio-economic class. Some people say Rics aren't expensive.

Some people can afford a new car. Some people can't afford new tires. For some people, a MIM Fender is out of reach price wise.

Don't get me wrong, I love Rics. I just don't have one anymore because I don't like the way they play in comparison to other basses, so I choose not to own one. If I had more disposable cash I'd probably get another, but since I need to live within my means, if I spend a lot on a bass it has to agree with me completely.

One bad thing about high prices is that it keeps some really good players from ever being able to get one.

 

[phillybass101]

Greed??? What "greed"?? Companies charge money for products because they have to pay wages and benefits for the people who work for them. Do you have any idea what the overhead is at a company like Rickenbacker? Any idea what they pay in taxes?? Obviously not. The real disgrace is that there are people who don't understand what it costs to run a business, yet are quick to label a business "greedy".

Do you? I think you are no more educated than I am and I have a Masters Degree and have taken economics classes at the college level. . This is my opinion not yours and goes beyond simple labor costs, manufacturing costs, taxes etc. . It's about how much can I possibly charge to maintain and grow my profit margin and that my customers will pay. The reason things are so expensive and Rics and Made in the US Fendars are so expensive is greed plain and simple. The manufacturers are greedy and jack their prices to accomodate your greed. If you are willing to pay over 1k up to 2k for a RIC don't blame me for my opinion. You sound like a typical consumer brainwashed by western economic theory. This model is crumbling because of greed. Capitalism works and I beleive in it. But the cost of a product is determined in the end by the profit desired while the cost of labor and manufacturing etc factor in. The rise in cost of course is passed onto the consumer while maintaining the same if not increased profit margin. The supply demand thing, and labor costs and how they factor into the cost of a product I understand. Some one person or a group of people decide how much they want to make after expenses and that my friend is the final thing in the cost of a product along with of course how much people as yourself are willing to spend. Don't belive the hype so much and stop taking this so personal. I didn't attack you at all, and I also ended with I'm greedy too at the end on my statement. Chiil out dude. In the end the purpose of a buisness is to make money. People interested in that busniness at the top are concerned about one thing, am I making money and how can I make more. They hire other folks with less drive and vision to count ducks (labor, manufacturing, taxes etc) You ever heard the statement about C students hiring (A & B students). You are focusing on costs that factor into manintaining the business. I'm referring to the final cost. There is how much does it cost to make it, how much do I want to make, and what do I have to do to sustain and grow a profit margin. My dream bass is a Custom, USA made Brubaker Custom KXB-5. My config specs out around 5k. And guess what, within the next two years I'll have one. Is it overpriced, why sure, am I getting jacked, yes to a certain degree, am I willing to pay for it yes I am. Why, greed and want plain and simple and I'm willing to pay for it for what ever reason I use to justify it. Why is it greed? I already have 7 basses and can only play one at a time. Am I supporting the US economy and buying American and all that stuff YES.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

One bad thing about high prices is that it keeps some really good players from ever being able to get one.

I am a commercial photographer by profession, and it's the doctors who always had the best Hasselblad kits, Nikons, etc.

 

[guy n. cognito]

Holy crap.

 

[smcd]

Do you? I think you are no more educated than I am and I have a Masters Degree and have taken economics classes at the college level. . This is my opinion not yours and goes beyond simple labor costs, manufacturing costs, taxes etc. . It's about how much can I possibly charge to maintain and grow my profit margin and that my customers will pay. The reason things are so expensive and Rics and Made in the US Fendars are so expensive is greed plain and simple. The manufacturers are greedy and jack their prices to accomodate your greed. If you are willing to pay over 1k up to 2k for a RIC don't blame me for my opinion. You sound like a typical consumer brainwashed by western economic theory. This model is crumbling because of greed. Capitalism works and I beleive in it. But the cost of a product is determined in the end by the profit desired while the cost of labor and manufacturing etc factor in. The rise in cost of course is passed onto the consumer while maintaining the same if not increased profit margin. The supply demand thing, and labor costs and how they factor into the cost of a product I understand. Some one person or a group of people decide how much they want to make after expenses and that my friend is the final thing in the cost of a product along with of course how much people as yourself are willing to spend. Don't belive the hype so much and stop taking this so personal. I didn't attack you at all, and I also ended with I'm greedy too at the end on my statement. Chiil out dude. In the end the purpose of a buisness is to make money. People interested in that busniness at the top are concerned about one thing, am I making money and how can I make more. They hire other folks with less drive and vision to count ducks (labor, manufacturing, taxes etc) You ever heard the statement about C students hiring (A & B students). You are focusing on costs that factor into manintaining the business. I'm referring to the final cost. There is how much does it cost to make it, how much do I want to make, and what do I have to do to sustain and grow a profit margin. My dream bass is a Custom, USA made Brubaker Custom KXB-5. My config specs out around 5k. And guess what, within the next two years I'll have one. Is it overpriced, why sure, am I getting jacked, yes to a certain degree, am I willing to pay for it yes I am. Why, greed and want plain and simple and I'm willing to pay for it for what ever reason I use to justify it. Why is it greed? I already have 7 basses and can only play one at a time. Am I supporting the US economy and buying American and all that stuff YES.

What's your Master's in? Obviously not Business Administration.

I run a small business. The raw material costs for one of the standard parts I make is $6. I end up charging $140 for that part. I always thought labor, health care insurance, federal state and local taxes, utilities, and workmans comp/liability insurance costs were the reason. Now I know it's greed. Thanks Mr. Masters Degree!

I think I'm going to go to Wendy's for lunch and pick up a couple of those 99¢ sammiches those greedy rats sell. There's only 31¢ worth of ingredients in there. Greedy scoundrels! Why aren't they selling me that sammich for 32¢!!??

 

[A-Step-Towards]

This thread sucks.

 

[woodyng]

Oh,yeahhhh,it does indeed.

 

[Duke21]

....

 

[Calaverasgrande]

I LOVE the look of Ricks, and LOVE the sound of Ricks, but I do not love the build quality.

A major manufacturer like they are should have been able to get the dead spots out of the neck, and fix the damn bridge so that it doesn't lift up by this time in their history.

They are only as expensive as they are because of the Beatles. In fact, the Beatles pretty much saved that company, though from my point of view, they are digging themselves a pretty big hole right now. People want it, but can't get it. One day people will notice how Fender and others are building AWESOME guitars, charging less, and you can get them right now.

I can't speak to the bridge or deadspot issues, I've only bortrtowed, never owned a Ric.
However there are dozens of other artists reknowned for playing Ric basses over Paul Mcartney. He is kind of more known for the Hofner right?
I mean of course Chris Squire, Lemmy Kilmister, Peter Hook, Al Cisneros, Geddy Lee etc. I was actually surprised to find out they were an American company because so many Brits in prog, punk and new wave bands played 4001's!

 

[smcd]

Peter Hook played a Ric copy, not a real Ric.

 

[electracoyote]

Greed??? What "greed"?? Companies charge money for products because they have to pay wages and benefits for the people who work for them. Do you have any idea what the overhead is at a company like Rickenbacker? Any idea what they pay in taxes?? Obviously not. The real disgrace is that there are people who don't understand what it costs to run a business, yet are quick to label a business "greedy".

+1

Profound.

It's an infection spreading wildly out of control.

 

[gidbass]

Pretty typical Ric thread IMO...

 

[audiomitch]

Pretty typical Ric thread IMO...

Unfortunately very true. These Ric bashing threads tend to go on forever. But don't worry, if you get tired of this one another one will pop up next week. Same cast of characters, same script, same myths, same old same old...