RIC Acoustics. Do they exist?

[epitreture]

I have an acoustic electric Ibanez which is one of the best guitars I've ever owned. I've always thought it was unfair that asian guitars have the reputation of being of low quality.

[sloop_john_b]

The Japanese-made Gretschs are FANTASTIC quality. The two I owned were incredible.

[johnhall]

This day and age, it's not so much an issue of quality. It's an issue of philosophy; simply put, we need the work in this country. Until everyone here has a job, then it's simply wrong to ship jobs out of North America.

There are other issues as well, such as many Asian countries not respecting intellectual property, as well as artificial trade restraints and manipulation of exchange rates.

[rickenbrother]

John, I wish most, if not all American businesses would use your business philosophy and ethics.

[epitreture]

If some people in this country aren't willing to get a job or want too much money for that job, then they don't deserve a job. If we take the attitude that we can't move on until everyone here has a job or that everything must be perfect, then it's a good thing our founding fathers didn't take that approach. If they had they never would have left Jamestown.

[woodsgirl]

Brian, are you just trying to start some ^$&#?
I like to buy American, as long as the quality is good. Of course, we all know that some Asian products, like Toyota, are better than most American comparable products, so a person has a perfect right to buy them until the USA can catch up......however, I think it is FABULOUS that Rickenbacker makes a super, number one quality guitar, made in America at a reasonable price for me to buy. Maybe they can't do everything, so I did buy a nice hand made acoustic guitar from my local luthier. He was somehow able to make a great guitar with ebony fretboard, bone saddle and nut, gold Waverly tuners, etc, for 1500.00. Of course, he doesn't have the overhead of Ric. I would rather that there were no Ric acoustics or that they were expensive than have them outsourced, Thanks Mr Hall!

[winston]

John Hall has the correct philosophy in both moral and economic terms. Plus through his guidance, his company has maintained superior quality standards as well as instantly recognizable brand and trade dress. I am happy to see that the brand and trade dress are fiercely and doggedly protected. If all that is not seen to be an attribute to the well being of a company that contributes economically and socially to the well being of the nation? Then it's no wonder we are being overrun by offshore, cheaply made products, produced by workers who have a lower standard of living than the average household pet in North America. Not to mention that they work long hours with little or no rights in some countries.

Three cheers for Rickenbacker. They do all the little things right and the things that truly matter right. IMO.

I wish more CEO's in North America would have the courage to stand up and take the same stance as John when it comes to the subject of outsourcing jobs overseas.

[eric_b]

So Brian-and I quote here:
"If you cannot afford to make a product that people want, then you have two options. You stop making the product or you move somewhere you CAN afford to make the product."

So we go with YOUR option #1..What's the problem,and why is RIC wrong?Are you perhaps trying to make some OTHER point? Maybe teach us all a "lesson"? You're contradicting yourself...

[epitreture]

I own eight left handed Rickenbacker guitars. The reason I have them is because I happen to think that they are the best sounding and best looking guitars on this earth. I'm also very proud of the fact that they are made in the U.S.A. It's a shame that economic conditions prevent the manufacture of more acoustic instruments by RIC. I have a couple of Taylors that I'm very happy with and they too are made in this country. Someday maybe the problems will be worked out and more Rick acoustics will be available for all of us.

[sharkboy]

I think Mr. Hall is on the right track, but I also hope I get to play one of the Rickenbacker acoustics, before I'm really old. (I only play Rick electrics nowadays and Taylor and National acoustics- it isn't because they're made here, but that is a plus.)

I have been close to the music industry for years, and I think about how each company (hmmm, mostly not privately held) that decided to grow rapidly wound up with a severe drop off in quality and some companies disappeared entirely (I know Kramer probably still exists in name, but I don't think they are brick and mortar.)

If I ever get offa my hiney and start making studio gear and guitar amplifiers, I will basically go forward with the same idea: make the best possible product, make enough that you can eat, increase production incrementally if the market and resources merit it and at the same or higher quality, and keep the product at a reasonable relative value. Then people look forward to going to work in the morning and they can sleep at night.

[winston]

Mark,

[jingle_jangle]

I fail to see any connection between never leaving Jamestown and everyone having jobs.

Although it is only in a society loaded with disposable income among a sizable percentage of its residents, that a "take what you can get" business model can actually take hold in an entire business culture.

Prior to (roughly) the 1970s in the USA, there was no such model that was successful in any substantial way. Typically it was the "cost to produce plus reasonable markup" model, as RIC still uses.

Case in point: In the 1950s, Cadillac made two models ('53 Eldorado convertible and '56-7 Eldorado Brougham), both very limited production, and lost A LOT of money on each one built and sold, in order to cement their market position.

The exact opposite is "creating" a product with no intrinsic added value, deliberately damaging it to make it look old, and doubling its suggested retail. Or tacking on a celebrity's name and a set of vinyl labels, and charging what the traffic will bear, far and above the actual cost plus markup to cover production plus a reasonable profit.

This is how lazy marketing people "justify" their jobs, along with overpaid CEOs who seem more and more to be tripping on the razor edge of the law as written, while ignoring both the letter of the law and the issues of ethical behavior, in their daily ministrations.

[shamustwin]

I'd really love to own a Rick acoustic, and still kick myself for pondering a little too long on one that was sold whilst doing so.

But a non-made-in-America Rick would not be a Rick to me. I've learned a lot about Rick on this forum, and the way they do business is a big part of their appeal to me.

So it's wait either way, for production here to get underway, or for a reasonably affordable one to pop up in the market. That's life.

[westtexasrickenbacker]

Good grief! It's getting a bit political. I've played some wonderful quality American-made guitars and some wonderful quality asian-mades.

I tremendously respect RIC's decision to not build overseas. It is fantastic that they can still do that. In this day of Globalization though, it's also difficult to begrudge F*****'s right to send lower lines to Mexico and Asia.

I am simply grateful and pleased that Rickenbacker is still able to run a successful and profitable manufacturing operation out of the USA. That's an encouraging story in this day and age. It has nicely preserved the pedigree of their guitars. Rickenbacker instruments are the coolest

[webhead]

Here's a question... With recently, like in the last couple months, we've been seeing a couple acoustics get shipped. Is RIC still making these or are these just remainders of what once was?