What erks me.

[08 Ric 4003]

Here is a sore subject with me. Why do we need so many signature guitars from all big and not so big manufactures? I have the 2010 and 2011 Guitar World Buyers Guide. And almost every page has at least three sig models on it. Most from guys I go "Who the hell is that" or "Why that guy"? In my mind there is only one signature guitar and that is the Les Paul. Yes there are many guitarists and bassist deserving of a sig model. Hell it seems like Gibson comes out with one every week. Fender has a sig bass for the bassist from Blink 182. WTF. Seriously Blink 182. I believe it is all a ploy to jack that price up. The Gretsch George Harrison guitar is $20,000. There is no typo 20 large. The Gretsch Billy Zoom guitar was I believe 10 or 11 large. Lemmy's sig Ric sold to I think 20 large or so. I can buy 5 to 10 killer axes for those prices. If you in any way shape or form believe that that artist is playing his sig model off the shelf like you or me with no mods done, and just a set up you are crazy. Of course Chris Squires '64 Ric sound different that yours. Its 47 years old and has been refinished a number of times due to putting stickers on it when he was in Mable Greers Toy Shop, according to Chris. Plus he is playing with primo amps and effects and he has his own bass tech and who knows what the producer and engineer and sound board guy are doing when he records and plays live. I understand there is craftsmanship that go into a guitar and bass. Look at Warmoth. If you wanted to buy a just a finished neck and a body and assemble your own axe your could get a nice bass neck and body for 6 to 7 bills. Now obvioulsy you need tuners, pickups, pickguard, pots, a switch and some wire. So all that will set you back maybe $300 or so. And you have a rig you that is not only quality, but you can take pride that there is not another one on the planet like it. I am going to build a Jaguar or Jazzmaster in the near future. That is not to say I don't like or own any big manufacturers guitars and basses . I have an acoustic Martin, Fender Tele, Fender Strat, Fender Jazz Bass with a Warmoth neck ( and it is better that the one that the truss rod broke and warped and needed replacement), Gibson ES-225TD, Ric 4003, and a Gibson ES-355. Now bring on the hate replies I know they are coming.

Joel

[nukebass]

Yeah, it does get a little old with all the new signature guitars.

I think the original price on the 4004LK was somewhere around 2k, not 20. Only 50 or so were made so that drives the price up for those who want them.

[08 Ric 4003]

I think the Lemmy was way more than 2k. You can buy a New 4003 for 2K. I just looked on Ed Romans site and it said they originally sold for between 17Y and 25K. That is a a new car.

[jingle_jangle]

Ed is, to put it mildly, a teller of tales...

I don't know the exact MSRP of an LK, but it was safely in mid-4-figure territory.

BTW, it's spelled "irk". (Seeing it misspelled irks me...).

[jps]

I know for a fact that the Lemmy sold for under $2K, at least when they were available new from RIC.

[08 Ric 4003]

There is no way a Lemmy Ric new sold for less than 2K new. For all that engraved wood, three pickups and a sig model to boot. Maybe Ed Romans site was quoting MSRP. Even at 17K MSRP say knock 3k off. Its still 13 Large. Plus only 50 to 60 were made. I think Lemmy was given #3 or #4. You know Ric saved one for a museum. The Paul Mac replica is over 3K new at Musicians Friend . Sorry for the spelling not a English Major just a working stiff in the USCG.

[captsandwich]

If jps says they sold for less than 2k, they did.
Rickenbacker's limited editions never semed to be ridiculously priced, just difficult to obtain because they actually were limited. It was the spec market and flippers that drove the price up. Ask anybody who bought an 75th Anniversary Edition from a reputable dealer that actually honored the ordering process.

[libratune]

Here's a link to a 1995 RIC news release regarding the 4004LK: http://www.rickenbacker.com/news_item.a ... 6&news=old

Can't be sure -- this may have been a typo -- but it appears the MSRP was $4004.00.

Or maybe we've been "punked."

[indianation65]

Mr. 4003,
As to your original question, "Why so many?" Obviously it's just to "sell." We tend to want to emulate our heroes in any genre, for guitar nuts, it's our music heroes. I remember talking with a guitar buddy who loved Zeppelin, and I loved Kiss. He made fun of me because he was of the 70s/80s ilk that didn't take Kiss serious, like radio guys. However, like Zeppelin, Kiss launched a thousand bands and musicians, and of course, even though we don't see it, Blink 182 has its following, and those kids, now young men love those players. The price topic is always a 'brow raiser with me, regarding both new signatures or vintage axes. The prices are ridiculous, and I know they are strictly market driven. However, as I've said to myself before, I couldn't get myself to pay $20,000 for any guitar, much less an authentic '58/'59/'60 Les Paul burst, that are currently topping $200,000! I certainly wouldn't pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for one guitar, even if Page, one of my faves, owned it! If he and I become buddies one day, maybe he'll give me one through friendship! (Think big and be big!!!)
I believe it was Townsend who said guitars were just tools used to create, not items to worship. The real art is the music, or something like that. I agree, even though a guitar is still a beautiful piece of craftsmanship. The Sisteen Chapel was the art, not the brushes and paints.

...wisdom

[JakeK]

How about those MG 370/12 McGuinn models, huh? (Collin, where are you bro, I need you!) Remember when one went for $9k?

Don't get me wrong they are AWESOME guitars, but not $9k awesome.

[johnhall]

Check our Jan 1, 2004 price list . . . the 4004LK "Lemmy" bass has a MSRP of $1749 and all were sold to dealers on that basis.

[Clint]

Life's too short to worry about how other people waste their money. No guitar company would be making signature series guitars if people weren't buying them. These are made for collectors, not players. You might as well be upset by the price collectors are willing to pay for beanie babies or postage stamps.

[ken_j]

... If you in any way shape or form believe that that artist is playing his sig model off the shelf like you or me with no mods done, and just a set up you are crazy...

I believe that all Rick signature models are identical to the ones issued to the artist. They usually get #1 ( or possibly the first few) in the series. The only exception is the side fret markers for John Kay. Look towards the bottom of the page: http://www.rickenbacker.com/news_jk.asp?news=recent As far as other brands I really don't know, but would assume they are given the same model. I did read once that Fender has a neck duplicator and when building Eric Clapton a new neck they matched the neck of his old guitar that was too worn to be re-fretted.

[jingle_jangle]

The Sisteen Chapel was the art, not the brushes and paints.

...wisdom

Now I know the origin of "Sisteen Candles"...

[ken_j]

The Sisteen Chapel was the art, not the brushes and paints.

...wisdom

Now I know the origin of "Sisteen Candles"...

You will find that here: http://www.vatican.va/various/cappelle/ ... index.html