Why does Rickenbacker make it so difficult….
Moderators: rickenbrother, ajish4
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roadking
By reading the posts, it appears Ric's are not readily available anywhere. Maybe RIC is not interested in selling any more guitars than it is currently producing and is satisfied with the Status Quo on availability of their products. Some companies see no need for growth if they are happy with the current sales results and profits, or perhaps are concerned about keeping up with increased sales and in turn, quality control, or don't have the capital to fund growth. I don't want to see RIC be another Fender or Gibson. In a way I want to keep one of the best kept secrets of the guitar world in our elite club of owners. But the lack of availability is very frustrating.
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roadking
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voxtalks
If an instrument is defective, then it is repaired under warranty as long as the defect wasn't caused by neglect of the dealer or final end user. As end users, there is the utmost importance that any purchase like this should be researched to the max. If you don't read the warranty that comes with the guitar before you buy it, you're completely at fault for not educating yourself. I've owned dozens of Rickenbackers over the years and only ever had one problem, a 325/12 made with some bad wood. They completely rebuilt the guitar (neck and body) under warranty without any screwing around. This it had nothing to do with Mr. Hall being a friend of mine either, I don't even think he knew about it until after it was done, as he has nothing to do with warranty issues.
Rickenbacker doesn't have anyone working in the field, there are no reps that travel from store to store, that type of sales technique was eliminated a long time ago. They do show their instruments at NAMM and various other music fairs around the world. My advice would be to go to one of these shows and look for yourself, try one out there.
It isn't the factory's fault because there aren't ten Rics hanging in every guitar shop throughout the world. They can only produce around 50 units a day and couldn't build more than that if they wanted to in their current location. They don't have the manpower or enough hours in the day to increase production. They are several months behind on regular production, which doesn't even factor in the waiting C series orders.
I talked to John Hall yesterday for a minute and we both agreed on something very important, if it ain't broke don't fix it. The demand for Rickenbacker guitars exceeds their current production abilities and that isn't a bad thing from their point of view. The fact that the company hasn't produced a Beatles related guitar for over a year and they are still lagging behind in production is a good lesson learned. John told me that age of the average Ric user, as filled out on the Ric warranty card has now dropped to 26. The two units in most demand are the basic 330 and the 4003, they make more of those guitars than anything else.
Rickenbacker doesn't have anyone working in the field, there are no reps that travel from store to store, that type of sales technique was eliminated a long time ago. They do show their instruments at NAMM and various other music fairs around the world. My advice would be to go to one of these shows and look for yourself, try one out there.
It isn't the factory's fault because there aren't ten Rics hanging in every guitar shop throughout the world. They can only produce around 50 units a day and couldn't build more than that if they wanted to in their current location. They don't have the manpower or enough hours in the day to increase production. They are several months behind on regular production, which doesn't even factor in the waiting C series orders.
I talked to John Hall yesterday for a minute and we both agreed on something very important, if it ain't broke don't fix it. The demand for Rickenbacker guitars exceeds their current production abilities and that isn't a bad thing from their point of view. The fact that the company hasn't produced a Beatles related guitar for over a year and they are still lagging behind in production is a good lesson learned. John told me that age of the average Ric user, as filled out on the Ric warranty card has now dropped to 26. The two units in most demand are the basic 330 and the 4003, they make more of those guitars than anything else.
Nick: RIC is in the enviable position of having a demand that exceeds supply. While this is the envy of most manufacturers I suppose the downside is the waiting period for the consumer. I can certainly see why the Model 330 and the Model 4003 would be in the greatest demand. That Rickenbacker owners are getting younger is good news. I suspect that the average age of Rickenbacker owners in the 1960s was somewhere within this same age range.
Life, as with music, often requires one to let go of the melody and listen to the rhythm
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Nick makes a number of very good points; however, he also suggests:
"They do show their instruments at NAMM and various other music fairs around the world. My advice would be to go to one of these shows and look for yourself, try one out there."
That's worthless advice because these shows are not open to the public (read: non-"rock star" musicians)! I would suspect that NAMM membership costs just as much as a new guitar. Not to mention that for most people, attending would require a large outlay for airfare (up to half the price of a new Rickenbacker guitar). If that's the only option, it would make far more sense to fly to North Carolina and visit the Rickenbacker connection, New Jersey to visit Pick of the Rics, or one of the few other well-stocked dealers (since they'll actually let you in the front door, unlike NAMM). But that's still a hefty premium to pay for the privilege of trying out a guitar you may want to purchase.
What about guitar shows? Most major metropolitan areas have them a few times a year (or at least they did before the Internet) ... do any well-stocked Ric dealers ever attend these (I ask since I rarely attend one)?
"They do show their instruments at NAMM and various other music fairs around the world. My advice would be to go to one of these shows and look for yourself, try one out there."
That's worthless advice because these shows are not open to the public (read: non-"rock star" musicians)! I would suspect that NAMM membership costs just as much as a new guitar. Not to mention that for most people, attending would require a large outlay for airfare (up to half the price of a new Rickenbacker guitar). If that's the only option, it would make far more sense to fly to North Carolina and visit the Rickenbacker connection, New Jersey to visit Pick of the Rics, or one of the few other well-stocked dealers (since they'll actually let you in the front door, unlike NAMM). But that's still a hefty premium to pay for the privilege of trying out a guitar you may want to purchase.
What about guitar shows? Most major metropolitan areas have them a few times a year (or at least they did before the Internet) ... do any well-stocked Ric dealers ever attend these (I ask since I rarely attend one)?
My basses are Rickenbackers. My synthesizers and recording gear are analog.
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squirebass
- Veteran RRF member
- Posts: 1579
- Joined: Fri Oct 13, 2000 11:05 pm
Doug,
I have been to lots of guitar shows and they always have TONS of both new and used Ricks to try out and play. I'd recommend going to one of these if you live close to a major metropolitan area. I'd also say that most Ricks are very consistent, so that if you find a given model you like, chances are you can order that same model over the internet and be assured about what you are gonna get. I have bought both guitars and basses from Mike Parks and I've never had any unpleasant surprises. I would be very hesitant to do this with a Fender...
I have been to lots of guitar shows and they always have TONS of both new and used Ricks to try out and play. I'd recommend going to one of these if you live close to a major metropolitan area. I'd also say that most Ricks are very consistent, so that if you find a given model you like, chances are you can order that same model over the internet and be assured about what you are gonna get. I have bought both guitars and basses from Mike Parks and I've never had any unpleasant surprises. I would be very hesitant to do this with a Fender...
"This is the big one, Elizabeth, I'm coming to join ya, honey!"
Nick, thanks for the feedback. Input like yours is one of the reasons I read this forum and Voxtalks so often! I would disagree with your characterization of "that type of sales technique" not being used by RIC. I would support the notion that if they employed one or two people to periodically travel about the country to visit their best dealers to put on a "demo and info" type day, that it would be good "PR" for RIC and useful for current RIC owners. Of course they may get new business, but that's not always the goal of these types of gatherings. They are informative and enjoyable, and I would think useful to RIC.
I respect that RIC's demand is greater than their capacity to produce and that they are not willing to cut corners to produce more. Expanding capacity might not serve the future, either. Again, more reason's why these guitars stand the test of time! Thanks for your feedback. It's always good to get the story straight!
I respect that RIC's demand is greater than their capacity to produce and that they are not willing to cut corners to produce more. Expanding capacity might not serve the future, either. Again, more reason's why these guitars stand the test of time! Thanks for your feedback. It's always good to get the story straight!