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Why Rickenbackers are so expensive?

#144
guy n. cognito said:
Just because you misunderstand the comment doesn't make it untrue. And, in this case, the "propaganda" has a great source:


Invalid Link Removed

This is just one of many examples of where Hall quotes their backlog. And this article was linked in in this thread, for those paying attention.

RIC does not sell direct. They only sell to retailers. Therefore, RIC can be backordered for years even if basses may be available to the end consumer.
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Honestly, I fail to see your point. What the hell do I (the consumer) care about a "supposed" backlog when I can find one ready for immediate shipment?

I fully understand that they DO NOT sell to anyone but retailers AND the retailers HAVE the basses - where is the backlog!?!?!

This is getting as ridiculous as a circular firing squad.....:D
 
#145
2nd Wind said:
That is absurd. They can't make them fast enough and WILL NOT compromise quality, nor go off-shore.
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Dude ... they LIKE the backlog ... they like that business model. Every bass has a deposit put down before they build it and when they finish it is instantly sold. Talk about cash flow! They get paid (partially) now for work they will do in 2014.


I got an email from Rickenbacker and they gave me more correct info ...


(we do not take deposits for goods,
except that in the past we did for left-handed instruments only.

This has NEVER been our practice. We don't get paid in most cases until 30
days after we've made the shipment. There are a handful of COD dealers
(although we no longer will open stores on those terms) but as a practical
matter it's often 10 days before we see the check from the carrier for
those.

There is no benefit to us in any shape or form from the backlog that we
have- in fact it's lost revenue, money left on the table. If we could
reasonably produce more, we would, because there's no question the market
for our product is much larger than we're able to satisfy.

I guess you could argue that there is some cushion from the changes in the
economy by having a backlog but I'd be much happier if our delivery was in
the 30 day range; maybe we'll get there before I retire.)

I still have to think that the backlog is a better way for them than making a bass and then trying to sell it.
 
#146
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. I love their guitars, I agree the bass is the standard but it's never floated my boat. Business model wise they keep themselves exclusive to keep the price up, it's a no brainer. The quality is good enough it justifies it over Gibsons prices for sure but I still find their CS lacking.
 
#148
Buster Brown said:
Honestly, I fail to see your point. What the hell do I (the consumer) care about a "supposed" backlog when I can find one ready for immediate shipment?

I fully understand that they DO NOT sell to anyone but retailers AND the retailers HAVE the basses - where is the backlog!?!?!

This is getting as ridiculous as a circular firing squad.....:D
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The backlog is between RIC and the dealers. It is approximately 2 years. Your inability to comprehend this is amazing
 
#151
guy n. cognito said:
The backlog is between RIC and the dealers. It is approximately 2 years. Your inability to comprehend this is amazing
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What the hell do I care about dealers as long as they have inventory!?!?!

I have been buying RICS since 1971 and have NEVER waited for one. Apparently YOU are unable to comprehend the idea that as long as DEALERS have INVENTORY there is no backlog!!!!! Regardless of the nonsense that John Hall says. His strategy has ALWAYS been to keep demand high by "rumor and innuendo" and, quite obviously, it is EXTREMELY successful.
 
#152
Buster Brown said:
What the hell do I care about dealers as long as they have inventory!?!?!

I have been buying RICS since 1971 and have NEVER waited for one. Apparently YOU are unable to comprehend the idea that as long as DEALERS have INVENTORY there is no backlog!!!!! Regardless of the nonsense that John Hall says. His strategy has ALWAYS been to keep demand high by "rumor and innuendo" and, quite obviously, it is EXTREMELY successful.
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So you're stating that John Hall lies in order to sell instruments? And, to make matters worse, he convinces all of his dealers to tell the same lie? Wow. Not only am I amazed by the level of deception that this company is willing to undertake to sell their product, but I'm also amazed that you have single-handedly discovered this deceit and exposed it to the bass buying public.

I shall go down to my dealer tomorrow and tell him to his face that he is a bold-faced liar. Thank you for all you have done for the bass community. You are truly a champion of all things RIC!!!
 
#153
Immigrant said:
New Rics aren't as hard to come by as people think. Musician's Friend has em (though they are sometimes out of certain colors) and there's a non-BigBox in Portland, Or that has at least a dozen all the time.

For a real bad case of Ric-induced GAS, search YouTube for "Tour of the Rickenbacker Factory". I've seen it twice and nearly bought one after each viewing... And I personally can't stand the way they play.
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It's funny you say that, I watched a couple Ric factory tours, etc and it has made me want to avoid them. To each their own absolutely applies here. :-)
 
#154
Why Rickenbackers are so expensive?

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I bought this Rick last summer for around $1100 from Musicians Friend ... the trick is to use the sales properly ...

2011%204003%20002.jpg


2011%204003%20020.jpg
2011%204003%20015.jpg
 
#156
maxgrant said:
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.
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Maybe the Beatles exposed Rickenbackers on the guitar front. But McCartney almost never used the Ric live and even on Sgt. Pepper he still have this muffled and warm tone which is not so different then his Hofner tone. If he use the bridge pup on his Ric the tone pot must be closed.
 
#157
dbd1963 said:
The binding does hurt. I started using the non-bound body styles for partly for that reason. The binding looks good, but it does wear on you after some time playing.

The 4004 has a better designed bridge too.
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The 4004 does look much more comfortable, but something about that look is a bit less Rickenbacker look. While the binding does add that classical Ric thing I also like the look of the RM1999 and the 4001CS where the body is curved at the areal the arm is placed.
 
#160
Ric5 said:
Why Rickenbackers are so expensive?

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I bought this Rick last summer for around $1100 from Musicians Friend ... the trick is to use the sales properly ...

2011%204003%20002.jpg


2011%204003%20020.jpg
2011%204003%20015.jpg
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That to me, is dirt cheap for a great bass like that.

I paid 870.00 for mine used in the spring of '04, and it was built in the fall of '03. That seemed like a very fast turnaround.

Rics aren't so expensive.

Why are Wals so expensive??????:p
 

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