Lemmy Ask You, How Much?

j_gary · Post by **j_gary** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 2:09 pm

Good day all,new old guy here. Been dragging around Ricks for years, love em. I've fallen in love with the Lemmy. Any idea what they are actually selling for? I see some big asking prices, but are they selling at those big numbers?

Happy New Year, Gary

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 2:18 pm

There were only 60 made, so if you can find one for sale I'd probably snap it up. They're not going to get any cheaper in the future!
Welcome to the forum

j_gary · Post by **j_gary** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 2:42 pm

Thanks Kevin, any thoughts on what one can expect to pay to get one? Also curious as to their feel and sound, ever had a chance to fly one?

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 2:54 pm

I've never had the honor of seeing one in person. The pics posted by forum members who have them have been spectacular!
I must say the first pics I saw were fairly dark & lacked detail, but the better the shot the more of their beauty comes out.

I'll never own one since they're worth way too much for my limited budget, but the owners here say they're worth every penny (plus the wait-up to 7 1/2 years for one fellow).
The best price I've seen was around $7000 US & I think that was only the starting bid! Some have gone for more, some were for sale at around $12000, but I think that was Ed Roman's organization selling that one.

Sorry for the lack of detail, but they weren't really on my agenda at any time.
I think I'd be afraid to play out with something THAT valuable!
Others here are much more informed about these rare beasts than I.

j_gary · Post by **j_gary** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 3:12 pm

Thanks Kevin, interesting and insightful. Wow, if owners are saying they are worth every penny at those prices, they must be amazing. I appreciate your helpful comments. I'm going to have to find a Lemmy owner who wants a 98 Lincoln Mk VIII. If you see an old bald guy walking down I 75 carrying a Rick case, you'll know it's me with my new Lemmy and no car.

jnbass · Post by **jnbass** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 3:14 pm

saw 2 of 'em at Ed Roman's...

They won't go cheap.

lowendbob · Post by **lowendbob** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 3:18 pm

Welcome to the forum J Gary.
Here's one for you.
http://www.themusiczoo.com/Rickenbacker4004LK_LemmyKilmeister_Limited_Edition_0532228.html

I think The Music Zoo wants $10,000 for it.
Ed Roman's does have 2, but Jared is right. Roman's probably wants much more than 10 grand for their's.
Good luck!

j_gary · Post by **j_gary** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 3:48 pm

Thank you gentlemen, can that be a realistic purchase price as well? Is there something special about the electronics on the Lemmy?

phlemmy · Post by **phlemmy** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 3:51 pm

you're paying for the limited production run and the carve top.

that carvings on one at music zoo doesn't look as nice as some of the others i've seen.

j_gary · Post by **j_gary** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 4:19 pm

Hmmm....... so each one is different, and their sound would be that of the 4004 bass?

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 4:34 pm

Way way way over-priced in my opinion.

But then again, I'm not much of a Lemmy fan.

I am a big Chris Squire fan though, and I also think the 4001CS is way over-priced.

Just my opinion.

j_gary · Post by **j_gary** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 4:44 pm

I hear ya Scott. I've been around long enough to remember paying $500 to $700 for a new Rick. Seems like I say that about everything. My thought is if the bass is special enough, and holds it's value as a result, it would cost little to own, as at resale you get most of your money back. At $10,000 that could get tricky.

marc61 · Post by **marc61** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 4:52 pm

The issue is really, that as an investment, the higher the price gets, the fewer buyers there are. If you're looking to double your money, IMO chances are slim.

If you love the bass and it's attributes, that's different. It is a beautiful bass, Lemmy fan or not.

j_gary · Post by **j_gary** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 5:06 pm

Hi Marc, I've never made money selling a guitar. Shoot, same goes for playing them. I agree about trying to make anything on a $10,000 instrument, it would be tough. I would not even concern myself with making money on a Lemmy, my concern is the potential to lose $5000.

On second thought, that's about what I lose a year on my music addiction. So what's new?

Hey Marc, did you get my email on your Rick?

incubus2432 · Post by **incubus2432** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 5:27 pm

The "what is it worth?" question is a tricky one. I would not sell mine for $10K but I would also not pay that to get one (I paid $1799 when I ordered in 2001). I am so taken with mine that I offered Music Zoo $8K for their's but was turned down. If I see one in that range I'd jump on it. It is not that I feel it is necessarily worth it but I would pay that to have a 2nd one....I know that doesn't make much sense. I think that since most people waited so long to get them (likely unwilling to unload 'em) and they are so unique that the value will likely stay very strong but I think it is likely at it's peak for the near future. An Ed Roman employee told me the last one they had sold for $15K and they want more for the ones they currently have......how much more I don't know.

There was a comment about differences in the way some of them look. It could be due to the photography (my skills are somewhat lacking) but there are also some carving differences. The carving layout is supposed to be basically the same across the board but at least one (owned by a Forum member) is a very different layout. The more recent ones have a more 3-dimensional look than mine (#21 in the run of 60). For aesthetics I actually prefer the more recent versions to the one I have but I like mine since it is more faithful to Lemmy's (I am certainly a fan) and also since I own it (I suppose I'm biased).

As far as "anything special about the electronics?"......the third p/u just rounds out the tone some (a little "thicker" sounding) but basically it sounds like my other 4004 Rics.

Mine is not a case queen.....I play it regularly and gig it quite often. It is a fantastic player and I'm giddy like a schoolgirl every time I look at it.