Would AAA flame/quilt tops on RICS be desirable?

mojo_jojo · Post by **mojo_jojo** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 11:45 am

If they offered rated tops (like PRS), do you think RIC buyers would pay extra for this cosmetic amenity? For instance, would you pay another $400 or $500 for an outrageously flamed 360?

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 11:59 am

It's sort of an accepted thing with Ricks that the best-figured guitars are finished in natural Mapleglo.

Some of these are quite spectacular, too. I've seen some 381V69s in MG that rival the vest-grained guitars anyone's ever seen.

Your scenario, however, would amount to a special order, and would create repercussions at the factory which I'm sure would negatively impact production to an extent exceeding the couple of hundred dollars per unit that RIC could hope to gross on such an offering.

wj350 · Post by **wj350** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 12:14 pm

Aside from the practical realities Paul W cites, for me, personally, no I wouldn't want Ric to go that route. I do appreciate the beauty of those woods and finishes--I have a G&L Legacy in a honeyburst finish with a flamed top. But Rics are, IMO, beautiful in their simplicity--the fine grains running through the burst finishes, and the stark "plainess" of a Jetglo.

Just me.

Bill

jwilli · Post by **jwilli** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 1:04 pm

Send me all of your castaway flame/quilt and birdseye RICs, willya?

krick · Post by **krick** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 1:48 pm

Like these?

wj350 · Post by **wj350** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 2:12 pm

Yikes...those are gorgeous....

jwilli · Post by **jwilli** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 2:33 pm

Yes, those castaways.

melibreits · Post by **melibreits** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 2:54 pm

....Or how about this one?

beatlefreak · Post by **beatlefreak** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 2:55 pm

Beautiful guitars, Kevin.

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 3:17 pm

Like Kevin has said thru pictures as examples, the CW 6 and 12-strings had to have had selected maple, for they are simply fabulous, and still a shaded finish to boot. The one I had sported a very flamed-bookmatched back, but the top was rather tame. Some of the 381s are spectacular as Melissa relates to, and there are some 660 solid-bodies around that have beautiful wood as well.

What you don't see too much of are Rickenbackers from the 60s and 70s with flamed wood like the ones above. They do exist, but they're uncommon IMHO.

jwilli · Post by **jwilli** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 3:20 pm

Might as well include this:

jwilli · Post by **jwilli** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 3:24 pm

And this '95 381....

wj350 · Post by **wj350** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 3:25 pm

You guys and gals have some beautiful instruments there... I have to be honest, I've never seen Rics with those tops.

Bill

krick · Post by **krick** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 3:33 pm

Speaking of 381 models:

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 3:35 pm

JWilli, that '95 381 looks like it's made of gold. What a guitar.