"Limited" Production Runs of Instruments.....

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Fri Jun 14, 2002 8:36 am

Just how limited IS limited???

Officially, we (as comsumers) have had opportunities to purchase instruments that are limited-production, which can be as much as 1000 copies, and numbered...i.e. 325JL, 370/12RM etc...

In the past Rickenbacker has let out "unofficial" limited runs of instruments, such as the Rose-Morris re-issue 1993 12-string, and the 320-325/12-string of 1985-86...released with very little if any fanfare at all. These usually ran in numbers less than 100. Bigger music stores are sometimes responsible for these orders..

Could be possible to get a small run of a particular model or color, if enough interest would be generated? What would the minimum amount have to be??

admin · Post by **admin** » Fri Jun 14, 2002 9:36 am

John: This question has come up on previous occasions. As you point out, "limited runs" have varied in terms of the number of instruments made. John Hall is the only one who would be able to answer this question in a conclusive manner. Having said that, I recall some discussion in the past that orders of perhaps 20-30 instruments would receive some consideration from RIC. This may no longer apply today, of course. So what will it be, a run of 4005's or a run of 360/12's with a wider neck?

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Fri Jun 14, 2002 10:30 am

I, along with others, am very happy with the dimensions of the 360/12CW, except for the string spacing. All of the ones I've seen (including mine) have 1/8" thin tops and are very well-made guitars that are fairly accurate and true to a 1965 round-top 360/12; and the scatter-wound pickups just scream.

I want a Mapleglo version, and they(RIC) can measure the neck dimensions and string spacing on my 1968 370/12 as a guide; it has a fantastic neck. The 360/12CW neck is the one used on the 360/12V64, complete with square heel. IMO it could be done better....

I think we could come up with enough people to generate an order. It could be like an 'unofficial' re-issue of a famous Rick player who bought his first 360/12 after seeing "A Hard Day's Night".....

All right everybody!!! Chime in!!!!!

corey · Post by **corey** » Fri Jun 14, 2002 10:39 am

I will personally hold out for

a) The Peter Buck signature series
b) a 460 reissue

Those CW's are fab, though.

sir_andrew_of_left_coast · Fri Jun 14, 2002 11:01 am

I had hopes for a Combo 800... but, well, there's always alternatives...

jwilli · Post by **jwilli** » Fri Jun 14, 2002 1:42 pm

JH has reported ion the past that they actually have built a prototype Combo 850 but they havent given it the go ahead to produce it ....yet.

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Mon Jun 17, 2002 4:14 am

I am curious to know what the magic number would be to generate an order---

All of the guitars mentioned above have merit; The Combo guitars would be really cool. Perhaps a 'C-Series' of sorts could appear sometime in the future with models such as the Combo 850, the first 4000 series bass from 1958-59, and how 'bout a full-body 360??

As far as my first suggestion (a 1964 re-issue round-top 360/12 in Mapleglo) the start-up costs for a guitar like this would be minimal; all of the tooling is still contemporary...

admin · Post by **admin** » Mon Jun 17, 2002 4:38 am

John: From my memory of comments made by John Hall some time ago, I believe that the magic number was in the 20-30 instrument range. This was in response to a particular instrument and I am reasonably confident it would apply to only those guitars for which a template exists. I hope John will be able to relay this information to us or respond directly. The big question would be, when might RIC be able to take on such as task?

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Mon Jun 17, 2002 6:44 am

Peter, in the broad scope of things, I imagine it wouldn't be any harder to fit an order in than what was done in the past with previous lots of instruments. I had heard that most of the 325/12 guitars from 1985-86 that didn't go to Japan originated from Manny's Music in N.Y.C., once shipped from RIC. From there they ended up in various other locations. So do the bigger music outlets take a chance on these guitars and have some made, and I wonder if any one would again, such as Northcoast? They seem to have a lot of the 60's related instruments in stock, and will carry the C-Series when they finally make it out..it just seems logical to mention them; I'm not trying to put them on the spot---but if they care to comment, that'd be cool too.

aladams · Post by **aladams** » Mon Jun 17, 2002 7:16 am

Hi...has ANYBODY heard from Mr. Hall on this web page lately??? Hope all is OK and good. AL A.

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Mon Jun 17, 2002 10:15 am

Al, there has been some talk of illness in his immediate family; we can only hope that all is well or getting better....

37012mgvp · Post by **37012mgvp** » Tue Jun 18, 2002 2:47 am

I personally would like to see a reissue of the late 1950's Capri series. I learned to play guitar on my dad's 1958 345 Capri, and it has the most comfortable neck I have ever played. Unfortunately, its single-trussrod neck has not aged well, and the neck has some twist in it. The Kaufmann Vibrola and its roller-saddle bridge leave a lot to be desired, too. I guess the new 325C is the closest thing we'll see to a reissue Capri for now. If I were Mr. Hall, I would bring back the 330, 340, 360, & 370 Capri series and forget about the Kaufmann. It is interesting to note that the Capris have much thicker bodies than the current line, and that the weight distribution noticeably leans towards the body. Quite the opposite of the basses! I would estimate the body to be a good 2 to 2-1/4 inches thick. Perhaps I will verify this with calipers soon.

shiraz · Post by **shiraz** » Tue Jun 18, 2002 3:28 am

There are so many versions of the 300 series double cutaway guitars; what I would like to see -be it a Vintage Series reissue or a standard guitar- is a return of the 360F. Big, beautiful guitars. Presence and mojo. I can envision one in the same walnut as the 380L... figured maple... Blueboys! Ahh. A six-string with a Bigsby. A twelve-string with an R tailpiece.
Cheers, Noel

I would probably order two straightaway.

rubrsol97 · Post by **rubrsol97** » Tue Jun 18, 2002 7:00 am

I recently emailed John Hall suggesting that very accurate mid-60's 360/12 and 370/12 could be added to the 'C' series....rounding out that series to include accurate Byrd guitar reproductions. I suggested using the Carl Wilson 360/12CW as a starting point...offering it in MapleGlo for the 360/12 version and adding a 3rd pickup and Byrd wiring to make a 370/12 in MapleGlo of course.

John replied that many people come up with cool ideas but they are swamped with focusing on increasing production as well new products that are synergistic to their long-range strategy - at least for the foreseeable future.

I guess that doesn't rule out doing special limited production runs..but it didn't sound too hopeful.

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Tue Jun 18, 2002 8:12 am

Brian: Interesting..that is probably how I would have asked John Hall about it too!!!

There has to be a starting point somewhere, as there was with the B-Series, the vintage re-issues, signature models and the upcoming C-Series. Ultimately, I would like to see exactly what you describe, a replica of the Byrd Rickenbacker which would be more accurate than the 370/12RM, or a round-top '360/12C65'...Other than the C-Series getting out the door, one would have to wonder what John Hall's 'long range strategy' is. Hopefully, some cool stuff....