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Why Rickenbackers are so expensive?

#241
phillybass101 said:
they need to offer their signature sound at an affordable price and get their heads out of the sand.
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They don't "need" to do anything. Do you have a reason why they should other than "Cause I want them to"?

And your thread title is incorrect because you're asking why they don't offer an entry level, over seas made model that's price falls into what you think is "affordable" rather than a complaint about their current instruments.
 
#242
Immigrant said:
I think Ric bashers are frustrated because they either can't afford one or maybe had a bad experience with one. .... Get over it.
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I agree with that completely. It's always reverse snobbery in these threads. If Ric had a budget line they'd be all over it like a rash. They don't cheapen themselves and they have run their business in a safe and secure way. Who can blame them? Full order books rule the day when it comes to a thriving business.
 
#244
Correct me if I'm wrong, but they did offer a budget line: the 2000 series back in the 1990s, and the 3000 series from the 1970s to 1980s.
Even earlier there were several model of budget guitars, some models dating from the 1950s and 1960s.

Lack of buyer's interest has since ended those models.
RIC has no interest in producing instruments that aren't keeping up their end in sales, and has discontinued many models, colours, and options that haven't been popular enough.

Why are fEARFUL cabs so expensive?

There are times in life when you just have to pay the price for things you want or do without.
It doesn't really matter if someone thinks it's fair, 'cause nobody's going to change things for us.

I'd really love to own a 1966 Jaguar XKE or a 1971 Dodge Charger.
Guess what, it ain't gonna happen unless I make it a priority to save for one, and I can't see that happening short of winning the lottery, so I guess I have to get over it.
 
#247
To all of you RIC lovers and defenders out there. Correct me if I am wrong. Wasn't the orginal thread a question about why are they are Sooooo Expensive? I'm done with this. The reason why they are so expensive is because they have a loyal following who will come to their defense even if thought to be attacked and will pay whatever price they set. People are responding with personal reasons abut their love for RICS and all other kinds of things. This is about the price price. God forbid I should say RICS are passe' and just a niche bass. I happen to like RICs and yes they are overpriced. End of story, I'm otta here. Some angry people in the world today.
 
#248
Link Removed

phillybass101 said:
To all of you RIC lovers and defenders out there. Correct me if I am wrong. Wasn't the orginal thread a question about why are they are Sooooo Expensive? I'm done with this. The reason why they are so expensive is because they have a loyal following who will come to their defense even if thought to be attacked and will pay whatever price they set. People are responding with personal reasons abut their love for RICS and all other kinds of things. This is about the price price. God forbid I should say RICS are passe' and just a niche bass. I happen to like RICs and yes they are overpriced. End of story, I'm otta here. Some angry people in the world today.
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#249
phillybass101 said:
To all of you RIC lovers and defenders out there. Correct me if I am wrong. Wasn't the orginal thread a question about why are they are Sooooo Expensive? I'm done with this. The reason why they are so expensive is because they have a loyal following who will come to their defense even if thought to be attacked and will pay whatever price they set. People are responding with personal reasons abut their love for RICS and all other kinds of things. This is about the price price. God forbid I should say RICS are passe' and just a niche bass. I happen to like RICs and yes they are overpriced. End of story, I'm otta here. Some angry people in the world today.
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For the record I don't own a RIC, nor do I want one.

But you having an "opinion" that something is over priced isn't the same as an undeniable fact. And if you only want to talk to people with the same opinions as you I might suggest staying off the internet. Its a dangerous place for people who don't understand that people have different opinions.
 
#250
willsellout said:
I've played a few 70's Ric's and I'd take a brand new Ric over them every time. Of course I'd take a brand new Fender over any vintage Fender you could put in my hands.

My favorite era for Ric is the 90's though. I'd love the opportunity to play a 5'er though.
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What is this thing with Ric basses from the 90's? I have read this on different forums & they say the same thing. I'm lucky that my 4003 is from October 1992
 
#251
rics arent that expensive compared to other american made major brands. the used prices are way up there though. anyway, the reason rics cost what they do is a)manufactured shortage b)fanboi zealotry. as far as fit and finish they are about as hit or miss as any of the other major brands.

and before you ask, yes i owned one for 10 years. it was a nice bass. it was not 1600$ nice.
 
#252
phillybass101 said:
To all of you RIC lovers and defenders out there. Correct me if I am wrong. Wasn't the orginal thread a question about why are they are Sooooo Expensive? I'm done with this. The reason why they are so expensive is because they have a loyal following who will come to their defense even if thought to be attacked and will pay whatever price they set. People are responding with personal reasons abut their love for RICS and all other kinds of things. This is about the price price. God forbid I should say RICS are passe' and just a niche bass. I happen to like RICs and yes they are overpriced. End of story, I'm otta here. Some angry people in the world today.
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The first and last ric I bought was 35 years ago (and yes I still have her) so I'm not really all that up on prices but aren't new Rics roughly comparable pricewise to new Fenders?
 
#253
As said before, it would be nice if Ric had a budget line, like I said with the Squier, inexpensive $300 quality instruments, or maybe even like a Sterling $700 line, body and neck overseas but with Ric USA parts. There is a market for that. But there is nothing wrong with them not having a budget line. The high end Rics still continue to sell, even at the prices they ask. Is the $1500 worth it? Yeah, definitely. But some people can't afford or don't want to pay that much. They also don't want or like the 2000 or 3000 series. So that limits their options further. All that's left is copies and pawnshop/ CL/EBay deals. For a small amount of time in the late 80s I think, Ric had a few non traditional finishes, like orange or white with black trim. Those can be found pretty cheap, I remember one as low as $500. Unusual finish, but the Ric vibe is still genuinely there.
 
#255
because they're rickenbacker and someone has gotta pay for all the lawsuits.

honestly i love rickys. however ive been told the build quality can be kinda ropey, in the uk they're running about £1600 new. the used/vintage price is in the toilet however. i seen a 71 being sold through a shop for £1200 because they couldent shift it at any other price. you sometimes see them on classified sites for £850-1000 because they're so hard to shift used.
 
#256
2meterbassman said:
because the upper body binding is cutting in your forearm
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FYI, There is no problem with the binding cutting into your forearm if you use the correct RIC playing position:

LemmyShooting.jpg


;)
 
#257
phillybass101 said:
To all of you RIC lovers and defenders out there. Correct me if I am wrong. Wasn't the orginal thread a question about why are they are Sooooo Expensive? I'm done with this. The reason why they are so expensive is because they have a loyal following who will come to their defense even if thought to be attacked and will pay whatever price they set. People are responding with personal reasons abut their love for RICS and all other kinds of things. This is about the price price. God forbid I should say RICS are passe' and just a niche bass. I happen to like RICs and yes they are overpriced. End of story, I'm otta here. Some angry people in the world today.
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Thing with Squiers, Ray32, Epiphone, etc. etc. is that they still aren't the real thing. They are, essentially, cheap knockoffs. At least when you see a Ric, you can assume its the real deal. Having a cheap line that looks the exact same as your flagship line kinda lessens the appeal of the expensive flagship model, in my opinion.

That being said, my favorite American brand is Carvin. They just seem to be a bit more, I dont know, progressive in their engineering and business practices. Not knocking Ric, I'd still like to own one some day, but at this point I wouldn't buy one without A.) playing it first and B.) it being at least 10 years old, since I hear people complain about problems that develop over time that you wouldn't see on a different bass. Nearly any other bass manufacturer I will buy sight unseen unplayed, but I have a bad taste in my mouth from a personal experience with Ric QC.
 
#259
kcole4001 said:
Correct me if I'm wrong, but they did offer a budget line: the 2000 series back in the 1990s, and the 3000 series from the 1970s to 1980s.
Even earlier there were several model of budget guitars, some models dating from the 1950s and 1960s.
Click to expand...
. You are quite right about that. What I was saying earlier was that the 3 or 4 guitar models and the 4000 series are what people want as a budget model. That would be awful. Here's a cheapo 4003? I think not!
 
#260
12stringbassist said:
. You are quite right about that. What I was saying earlier was that the 3 or 4 guitar models and the 4000 series are what people want as a budget model. That would be awful. Here's a cheapo 4003? I think not!
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I totally agree with you.

One could make a budget version of any of the major models, but not without compromising the factors that make them what they are.
That really defeats the purpose of owning one.

As I said before, if a person wants the look, buy a copy if you can.
If they want the sound, build your own with the right pickups and placement.
If they want both the look and the sound, buy a 4003.

There really is no other way.
And again, $1600 US is not overpriced, a $600 USA made premium bass is an unreasonable expectation with today's prices.
Blame the economy, not the guitar companies!

If that opinion makes me one of the 'angry' Rick defenders, then so be it.

Some people will never 'get it' I guess.
Dammit, I want a $1000 Ritter and a $400 fEARFUL cab and an American made Ampeg head for under $600!
Yeah, right!
:rolleyes:
 

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