RIC Acoustics......

[jingle_jangle]

Both Fender and Gibson have the corporate structure and a take-no-prisoners, profit-wherever-we-can-get-it marketing philosophy, coupled with gigantic offshore capacity. They do a volume business in many, many price points and each has a large number of profit centers, of which the custom shop is only one (and a smaller one), which the company can easily carry through the lean times of set up and runup, and which brings status and hyped-up revenue mostly because of simple material and process upgrades. The highest dollar Fender Custom Shop Strat is still a bolted-together guitar, although it is carefully hand-assembled from nicer pieces of wood and carefully hand-painted and hand-rubbed-out. (Except for the bolted-together part, it approaches the care in assembly of a Rick, at several times the price. The rest is hype...)

These are entirely different business models from RIC's.

Adding a custom shop to the concept of a satellite hinterland acoustic RIC shop only makes it more difficult to turn any sort of reasonable profit, IMO.

[sowhat]

Sad news, indeed... but the reasons are more than valid.

[red_rob]

I'm gutted about this.

[sloop_john_b]

I'm gutted about this.

+1... I was really looking forward to ordering one in an odd finish once they were back in production.

[8mileshigh]

+2 How am I gonna get my 700C/12 now??? Anybody selling???

[dswp]

Do you think that they will complete the ones on order already??

[sowhat]

Hey Gary Wilkinson - have you found a SwampGreenGlo 760J?!
Nah... kiddin', of course... but in fact, i've always wondered, since the moment i started pickin' on a guitar: why is it considered to be a "norm" that the acoustics must be cheaper than electrics (or, at least, that's the way it is here, where i live)? I mean, i've heard many people say acoustics are "uncool", "for wimps", etc... in my view, they are... sorry, i cannot put my thoughts into right words... just cool.

[86kubicki]

If RIC decides to cease acoustic production, it's because they are unable to produce them. I would think that any outstanding orders would simply be cancelled.

[jwilli]

I believe Steve is right but we'll probably hear something "official" soon from John Hall in the near future. (BTW: I have a MB 700C on order)

[wmthor]

I saw a 730S JG last week at a local shop. However, it already on hold when I saw it and was purchased the following day.

[dswp]

John, I have a 700L/12 MB on order. I really want a 12 sting... Man I hope they make them..

Can't Paul or Dale pitch in at the factory for a couple of weeks??

[86kubicki]

Personally I would be very disappointed if RIC is unable to deliver on their outstanding acoustic orders. I've been waiting on a 700C-12 through Mike Parks and the guitar was originally ordered in 2002. It would be nice if there was an official announcement from RIC about acoustic production so that I would know whether to wait it out, or move on to another manufacturer.

[ken_j]

Since I'm kind of late to this thread it was earlier stated:

Gibson has their acoustics made in Bozeman, Montana but their electrics are made in Nashville,Tennesse.

Gibson purchased the Flatiron Mandolin Co.in Boseman. They had an existing facility and experienced personnel. I'm sure there were some issues with converting to run the Gibson line (along with the Flatiron production), but many of the human resource issues were covered.

[webhead]

I think a lot of us would be disappointed if RIC doesn't fill the outstanding orders. I can see ceasing production on future acoustics, but I would get a bad taste in my mouth that after a long wait they decide to cancel outstanding orders...

[ken_j]

Especially if your order included a down payment.