Factory Options

bassman · Post by **bassman** » Wed May 28, 2003 3:21 am

I'm going to direct this question to Mr Hall and see what information he can provide us with.

I was recently going through some of my 70's Rickenbacker brochures and noticed that during this period, the option of CB was available. The brochure said that the CB option = "Checkered Binding". I then looked at my oldest Rickenbacker price list (Jan 1, 1981) and it quoted the CB Checkered Body Binding option as having a list price of $75.00 per side.

This was a surprise to me. I was under the impression that this was never a "option" and that checkered binding had been discontinued by mid 1973 for all models. If I had known I could have ordered this option, I would have when I bought my first new 1975 4001. I don't think the store was aware it was available.

John, can you tell me in what year the CB option was discontinued and why? It must have been between 82 and 86. My 1987 price list does not show it as being a available option.

Finally, do you ever plan to make it a option again?

Many thanks in advance.
JC

admin · Post by **admin** » Wed May 28, 2003 4:06 am

There is some interesting information with regard to checkered binding at bunnybass.com. The cost of this binding may shock you.

johnhall · Post by **johnhall** » Wed May 28, 2003 6:20 am

I didn't recall there ever being a checked binding option and taking a quick look through the price sheets from 1971 to 1984, I don't see it there either. There was a "CTC" custom trim option but that relates to reversal of black and white trim.

I DO see that option code in the 1975 catalog but there's no equivalent in the price sheet. I actually wrote that catalog and did the pasteup myself so it was me that added that "CB" code but there's nothing to suggest it was actually made.

To add the binding requires an additional slot to be added in the very early stages in the wood shop, making it a very impractical option to implement which makes this even more of a mystery.

bassman · Post by **bassman** » Wed May 28, 2003 10:17 am

John, if you happen to have a copy of the Rickenbacker Price List dated effective 1-1-1981 which is printed on light blue paper, it lists on page 2 under OPTIONS Checkered Body Binding, Price per side $75.00 List & Net
The "CTC" Custom Trim Charge is also listed as a separate item under OPTIONS with a price of $25.00 List & Net.
My copy is a 6 page price list that is stapled together.
Can you comment on this?

rick12dr · Post by **rick12dr** » Wed May 28, 2003 1:19 pm

I went through my pile of old Rick catalogs and price lists, and I found the same info as JC is posting here.

webhead · Post by **webhead** » Thu May 29, 2003 2:14 am

While this tread has started.... It would be nice if Ric would offer custom options... I mean not only in color and pickups, but how about as above, different binding, maybe graphics to the finish, different inlays, different color guards... You can order anything you want from Gibson, Fender, etc.... But Ric won't budge if you want something like a silverburst.

shamustwin · Post by **shamustwin** » Thu May 29, 2003 4:12 am

Webhead - ah, but if they started giving folks what they wanted, they might have to make more and (gasp) sell more! That is against Rickenbacker policy!

I myself would buy anything in dayglow-off-green

johnhall · Post by **johnhall** » Thu May 29, 2003 6:34 am

What is it about you guys that you don't understand 100% capacity? For more than a decade now we've continually booked more orders than we can produce, items already in the catalog. I'll continue to increase production only to the point that the level of quality is maintained; I haven't even the slightest interest to sell more goods if quality is the tradeoff (as I believe it has been in some other shops).

I looked again and indeed the Checked Binding option does appear on the 1981 list and drops off in 1984. I still don't ever remember that option code appearing anywhere else or delivering such items but maybe I just don't remember now.

admin · Post by **admin** » Thu May 29, 2003 7:01 am

John: I think that most people understand 100% capacity from the intellectual standpoint, however, from an emotional perspective many dream about adding one or more Rickenbackers to our music-stands. I can well imagine that you tire of our endless stream of requests and that gentle whirlpool reminders turn into rushing white-water requests at times.

The very good news is that your product is of the highest quality and this leads to the bad news. We all want one right away.

While we may not get everything on our wish list, our good fortune is that we are able to talk about the Rickenbacker of our dreams here. Please keep building them and we will come. I predict this subject will come up again.

webhead · Post by **webhead** » Thu May 29, 2003 9:36 am

I don't think anyone is saying that Ric guitars would be in the realm of Fisher Price if they are able to grant requests. It's just that I find it hard to believe Ric doesn't offer Custom Shop options... I recently custom ordered a Gibson with some special options. The guitar was amazing, binding was perfect.. Not a hair out of place... So if I wanted to resurrect a 360 with binding on the headstock, the answer is: "We don't do that." And recently it's the black trim that went south... Sorry, just venting....

johnhall · Post by **johnhall** » Thu May 29, 2003 10:06 am

It's not going to happen any time soon. In order to not lose production of 10 standard instruments in order to do one custom unit, you really need a separate shop geared specifically to do this work, as the others have done. (More power to them, feel free to give them the business.)

We have neither the extra space nor manpower to spare for this, especially the supervisory personnel needed to properly train such folks.

For the record, posts like this make me even less inclined to consider a custom shop. Let me also thank Gerald and the other 4 people that bought instruments with black trim. I liked it personally but the market certainly didn't.

mayhem · Post by **mayhem** » Thu May 29, 2003 10:45 am

Sure its great to be able to order your own little details on your Gibson guitar and only have to wait six months or so to get it, but a Ricky is real piece of art. Art is the key here. You don't go to an art exhibit (painting, for example) and say "I'll take that one, but can you change it in this sublte way that makes it more appropriate for my livingroom wall?" I know this is an extreme example and a stretch as a comparison. How about a closer-to-home comparison for us musicians. I HATE hearing remixes. I don't care if the guy that remixed it found a clever combination of rock and techno or any **** like that. The ARTIST designed the ART a specific way for a specific reason. Cover tunes, though, are a different story as they have their roots in homage.

Bottom line (just one mans opinion), when buying a Ric guitar you know that you're getting something exceptional, virtually perfection in the craft. Why ask them to do more than they do when they're really at the top of their game?

mike_smith · Post by **mike_smith** » Thu May 29, 2003 11:37 am

The reasons Mr Hall states for not having a custom shop, are I'm sure we'd all agree, very valid. However guys, the factory could be a little more helpful on simple stuff, I recently ordered a 700C Comstock 12 string in Fireglo, and requested that the tuners be chrome not gold and the nameplate white not gold. The only reason being I dislike the gold hardware. The reply? Not an option, however, my dealer can purchase a spare set of chrome tuners and swap them, and return the nameplate for exchange. Now I know this can be done, I have a 660-12 in mapleglo that has white guards and nameplate instead of gold, done at the factory!

mayhem · Post by **mayhem** » Thu May 29, 2003 12:02 pm

Its a logistics problem. Those of us who've worked in manufacturing facilities know that its not as simple as taking a custom order and building a custom product. There are a thousand and one things that can (and do) go wrong in that process. I sell boats, no two boats go out exactly the same, this is HELL for us. Probably 1 in 5 boats is presented to the customer with something not-quite-right. So for a company that would be shipping its product, you get your guitar a year after you ordered it and its not quite right, you send it back, six months later you get back, none the worse for wear, but now RIC has payed for shipping three times, payed employees for the additional service time and paperwork, and has some extra piece of hardware in inventory. Now you're ticked off because you had to wait a year and a half, and you say "I'll never buy one again!". OR you buy the product, take care of personalizing the hardware yourself, you're happy with your instrument and think "Next time I need a guitar, I think I'll buy another RIC!"

Think of car dealerships. If you want something not offered on a particular model, its not impossible, it just won't be done at the factory. Develop a relationship with the staff at your local guitar dealership and they'll be happy to give you great deals on stuff like hardware changes on a new guitar.

corey · Post by **corey** » Thu May 29, 2003 4:20 pm

Exactly.

I know I don't mind the wait as I am very confident in the Rickenbacker product. Personally, the idea of custom shops who artificially age parts and cater to every little whim a 15 year old "Rock God in training" might have for their guitar is silly. Try playing it before you go tinkering.