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?
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Why Rickenbackers are so expensive?
- Thread starter supremo
- Start date
FaithNoMan said: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??????
RIC's are cool (and as noted - not expensive)
Wal's are Super Cool (and by the same token, aren't expensive relative to other well crafted, boutique basses)
IMHO, for what they are, Rics aren't expensive, and neither are USA Fenders.
They are, however, loved deeply by most people who own them (just like Fenders) & therefore are the subject of many flame wars here on TB.
Looking back through the TB archives, almost every "Why are Fenders/Rics/(and any number of other brands) so expensive?" threads start out civilized & quickly turn into a flame war or troll-fest. The very question is, imo, trolling, or at the very least is troll bait.
They are, however, loved deeply by most people who own them (just like Fenders) & therefore are the subject of many flame wars here on TB.
Looking back through the TB archives, almost every "Why are Fenders/Rics/(and any number of other brands) so expensive?" threads start out civilized & quickly turn into a flame war or troll-fest. The very question is, imo, trolling, or at the very least is troll bait.
I believe McCartney did use his Rickenbacker exclusively when playing with Wings in the 70's. This doesn't sound like a Hofner-esque tone to me, but it does sound pretty darn good!
I'm in new zealand, maybe they have a different market presence in the state or something...
buuut...
I can walk down to the music store now and buy a USA fender standard P bass to the tune of $2000. If I wanted a ric it would set me back about $4400
Is a ric twice as good as a USA fender?
buuut...
I can walk down to the music store now and buy a USA fender standard P bass to the tune of $2000. If I wanted a ric it would set me back about $4400
Is a ric twice as good as a USA fender?
No, but it would appear that Fender's world-wide distribution network is twice as good as Ric's.
$4400 is a pretty steep increase over what we pay here in the USA.
No, it wears on you. I've never had a problem playing an instrument, bass or guitar, with binding, including for long sets and rehearsals. Maybe I just have a way of playing that's more suited to instruments that have it. Dunno. I actually would prefer a 4001S or 4003S just because I like the look of no binding slightly better.
But yes, the 4004 doesn't have it and has smooth edges and a modern bridge, for those who don't like the binding. So I don't really see how it's an issue.
What company wouldn't? I mean, talk about stability. Having more demand for one's product than supply is much better than the other way around. What manufacturer wouldn't want to know that they will sell every single unit they make for the next two years?
It's not necessarily better, just different. It's a business decision. Many companies would choose to insure the capital outlay necessary to expand, thereby expanding their client base and, ultimately, their profits. Some companies don't desire to have a two year backlog and have their product viewed as more of a rarity. The downside to expansion is, obviously, the capital outlay necessary to expand. It's not without risk, and can mean the end of a company that doesn't handle it properly.
If a company already has the equipment and staff, and is profitable, it would be a bit silly to reduce production simply to obtain an air of exclusivity.
Unfortunately, this is excessively simplistic. At some point, have an extremely long backlog can be damaging to a company. Some customers simply won't wait 2+ years to receive and order, and tie up their capital for that period of time. This may cause the customer to reduce their order, or cease ordering all-together. It can also gain a company a reputation of being slow and unreliable, especially when the quality of the product ultimately received is less that perfect. There's a huge opportunity cost to an excessive backlog, too, especially when the comparison of the increase in production and the equipment/manpower needed to achieve that production isn't exactly linear.
Yes. McCartney is inextricably identified with Hofner. Even most bass players don't realize he played a Ric later on.
Alvaro Martín Gómez A.
TalkBass' resident Bongo + cowbell player
True. Although I've had my Ric for quite some time, I decided to buy a Höfner Ignition when I joined a Beatles tribute band last year.
Headroom said:
I'm not that familiar with McCarthy's gear all through his career. But by the time he played live with his Ric with the wings players such as Squire Geddy demonstrated some more Ric goodness. While McCartney certainly added Rickenbacker fame by playing a Ric his tone is not really what most people think about regarding Ric tone.
Alvaro Martín Gómez A. said:
And I have a Hofner copy due to the Beatles, and a Ric due to Squire playing one.
