IntrepidCellist said:
Oh, I'm not out of arguments, just time and patience. If you actually go back and read what I wrote, you'll see that you're virtually parroting my points in an effort to debate me.
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Why Rickenbackers are so expensive?
- Thread starter supremo
- Start date
Oh, I'm not out of arguments, just time and patience. If you actually go back and read what I wrote, you'll see that you're virtually parroting my points in an effort to debate me.
And so...? Are you a dealer?
People who complain about the wait seem to not understand that you can search for them on the Internet. Find one that's in stock somewhere and buy it. Voila. It's at your door. Any individual who wants to purchase a Rickenbacker can find them online pretty easily, new or used.
You want a special order fretless lefty? You want to order a particular model through your special store that doesn't have one on order already? Well, yeah, then there's a wait - but you've chosen that reality for yourself by going that route. That's not Rickenbacker's fault.
Oh, I'm not out of arguments, just time and patience. If you actually go back and read what I wrote, you'll see that you're virtually parroting my points in an effort to debate me.
Don't worry guy, he did the same thing to me. I think dense and obtuse are two good words that come to mind.
The only thing for certain is he will die some day. Whether or not the business stays in family hands before or after his death is known only to the Halls.
beefandbones said:
I was responding to the comment that the wait was a myth. Nothing more. I even quoted the post to which I was replying.
Almost all products, including musical products, have a tier of prices.
The wholesale price, which is the price a retailer pays for the product.
The Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP), which is an artificially high price that is nothing more than it's name, the price suggested by the manufacturer which means nothing.
The Minimum Advertised Price (MAP). This is a price that manufactures insist retails not advertise below. This is the price you usually see advertised. This is why retailers can say they'll match any advertised price. They know no-one can advertise below the MAP. It's just a advertising scam, a corporate manipulation game that all manufacturers and retailers play, you just don't know it. If you buy something at GC and don't negotiate for a price lower than the Musican's Friend price, you're a sucker to the game, paying more than you have to.
All Rickenbacker does is make the MSRP and the MAP the same price. This is why you have to call MF (or anyone else) for a price, they want to sell for less than MSRP but are restricted from advertising that price. If anything, Ric's price advertising policy is less manipulative than others, not more. They refuse to play this deceptive game that everyone else plays. When you call for a quote, you won't get some made up MAP price designed to prevent retailers from having to price competitively.
The wholesale price, which is the price a retailer pays for the product.
The Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP), which is an artificially high price that is nothing more than it's name, the price suggested by the manufacturer which means nothing.
The Minimum Advertised Price (MAP). This is a price that manufactures insist retails not advertise below. This is the price you usually see advertised. This is why retailers can say they'll match any advertised price. They know no-one can advertise below the MAP. It's just a advertising scam, a corporate manipulation game that all manufacturers and retailers play, you just don't know it. If you buy something at GC and don't negotiate for a price lower than the Musican's Friend price, you're a sucker to the game, paying more than you have to.
All Rickenbacker does is make the MSRP and the MAP the same price. This is why you have to call MF (or anyone else) for a price, they want to sell for less than MSRP but are restricted from advertising that price. If anything, Ric's price advertising policy is less manipulative than others, not more. They refuse to play this deceptive game that everyone else plays. When you call for a quote, you won't get some made up MAP price designed to prevent retailers from having to price competitively.
- Mar 8, 2011
- 12,232
- 51,187
- Disclosures
- Authorized greenboy designs builder/Owner of BNA Audio
They are what they are...love em or hate em...personally, don't like the look, feel or really the sound quite as much as some of my (much cheaper) basses. Had two at different times and really wanted them to work...now if they EVER reissue the 4005 I'll be changing my story 
Oh, I'm not out of arguments, just time and patience. If you actually go back and read what I wrote, you'll see that you're virtually parroting my points in an effort to debate me.
Oh no, you caught me! I didn't read the entire thread! I guess jumping in to address a point I found relevant automatically earns a condescending remark about my intelligence.
If we agree that Rickenbacker is making a legitimate business choice (and one similar to those made by many other small-shop luthierie companies) I don't understand where the disagreement comes from.
I do, however, fail to see how I'm parroting your arguments, or earning the moniker of "dense" or "obtuse." I mentioned that I bought a used Ric because I wanted to provide context for my statements. I don't see how that changes my primary point or copies what you have said in any way.
guy n. cognito said:
There is a dealer in Norway which have Rickenbackers, waiting time 1-3 weeks, can't be that bad!
Truth is that I am glad Rickenbacker have stayed small and not diluted their product with offshore clones and zealously protected their designs . They fall in the same price range of other USA made quality instruments , and are not overpriced . The instruments made today are among the best .
I don't understand the haters that pop up in these threads . It's just a small company that makes musical instruments , they have been around for a long time and there is still a good demand for their product .
I do wish they would make the S series available again . And maybe bring back more limited finishes , and perhaps unveil that new bridge they talked about several years back .
I don't understand the haters that pop up in these threads . It's just a small company that makes musical instruments , they have been around for a long time and there is still a good demand for their product .
I do wish they would make the S series available again . And maybe bring back more limited finishes , and perhaps unveil that new bridge they talked about several years back .
He didn't pay for it. It was a hand-me-down from his dad.
I honestly don't care how long you've been playing, as it has nothing to do with the topic. To me, the idea of the binding being a problem is bizarre. I can't imagine putting enough pressure on my forearm on the body for that to be a problem. I'm just curious as to how it can possibly happen. Sorry if I offended you.
+1
I like that the company stays in California, where it's been for a long time even though the environmental laws are quite restrictive and very much more expensive than many offshore countries.
There's something to be said for looking out for one's employees rather than just relocating offshore to save money.
It would be nice if more companies felt they should do the same.
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I don't get this 'they cost too much' thing.
They cost what they cost, you can get deals occasionally, but basically you're looking at $1600 from many dealers.
A cheaper version would be a lower grade version.
Is that what someone really wants?
If you want the look, find a copy for cheap (if you can).
If you want the sound, it can be done cheaper and on any body style you like, it's mostly single coil pickups and where they're placed.
Ric5 has done just that with a couple of SG body basses, Fenderbird style basses, etc.
The Rick sound is there.
If you want the look and the sound, then you have to buy the genuine article, and they're around $1600.
That's just the way it is.
Saying that you don't want to pay more than X amount of money for it is like saying you want to buy an Aston Martin for $10,000 so you can drive around in a tux and look like James Bond.
Not gonna happen.
When I see somebody playing a Rick (or any other obviously higher priced instrument) it says to me: 'that guy (or gal) has saved his/her pennies for a while to get that bass'.
There's no short cut, and moreover, I don't think there should be.
I bought my first new Rick bass in 2010 after many years of waiting, planning, saving, etc.
There is loads of gear I'd love to have that I can't afford.
If I want it, then I have to save my gig money, tax money, etc. until I have enough.
That's exactly what I've been doing since the start of the year.
It's good to have a goal.
However, expanding isn't always wise in the long-term. Sure demand is high right now, but what if they expanded and then it dropped? It wouldn't be a good situation.
While expansion is in the short term probably more profitable because they'd have more units to sell, in the long term, staying at the size they are now is in some ways safer.
That's hysterical -- they pretty much exposed the entire rock audience to that sound on both guitar and bass. McCartney's lefty Ric was custom made for him and basically a gift, and it is HUGE and all over Sgt. Pepper, which is of course one of the most influential recordings made in the first generation of rock.
Edited to add: of course, I must weigh in with my Ric history: bought from the delightfully-named Wedgle's Music and Loan in Denver, CO, circa 1987 as a graduation present. I can't remember how the heck I figured out the year, because I knew it before I had access to the Internet, so someone (like, a live person) must have told me. It's a 1973 as evidenced by the MA prefix of the serial number. Crenellated binding, little tiny pewter Grover tuning heads (fell apart, replaced with Schallers in 1991 or so). The foam mute was collapsed and useless (and has no knobs) before I ever got hold of it, and I have to drop a little piece of pencil lead or sometimes plastic into the nut slots because otherwise the string rides too close to the board. I should replace the nut someday. Also, I've noticed my neck pickup is almost SITTING THE **** ON TOP of the neck, which makes it extremely boomy. It has a very slim neck (unlike many 1980's-era 4003s) and plays like a dream.
I get twitchy taking it out, and pretty much I only play it at my "home" bar, the Bluegrass Brewing Co in Louisville. Anywhere else, I take a different bass.
