Importing 4003 from US to Melb Australia (info needed)

[heptagram]

NEVER use UPS, they are bloody useless.... Frist They said it will be here today, then they said monday... so I've swaped my days off, now they say tuesday... so yet again I have to swap my days off, it they now say wednesday... I'll flip at them! You don't trace your parcel on their site, you trace the bloody paperwork....

[Aussiericlover]

Hi Josh,

I have always used Fedex for all my imports and found them very efficient and helpful. Only one bass has gone astray, via Austria and then they refunded me the full delivery charge due to their mistake.

If Fedex reads these posts, I'm happy for all future deliveries to come to Australia via Austria! :twisted

Hope you get resolution soon.

[Aussiericlover]

Did you purchase the bass from a dealer or an individual? You said it was new so a little red flag went up re: shipping outside the US.

Hi Brian,

I have brought in 2 of the 2007 4003's in the last 3 months which were advertised as new, unplayed through Ebay. They appear to be mint condition though offcourse there is no warranty on them. The shipping outside the US is a problem 'Downunder' so how else do you obtain a current model without the wait time through Japan?

You can't imagine how much it frustrates Aussies and others seeing postings about Rics at very reasonable prices in the US and not being able to access them. I approached North West Music this week regarding a post on here earlier about well priced Rics. Once again was told they cant sell to me. We are left to pay US$1900 -2000+ for unwarranted or second hand basses.

This is the price we pay for living in paradise I suppose.

[heptagram]

Hey guys!

It actually arrived today. I was shocked! Cool thing too it's one of the "Greyglo" that was being talked about on the official RIC forum! Looks VERY cool! Going to post photos later! It's still in the RIC shipping carton and fresh from RIC. I bought it from The Ric Parts Page, so it is 100% brand new! All up, it was $2200 AUD with shipping

[wj350]

Josh,

Congrats, sounds like a happy ending! Howard, thanks for the info/insights--my wife and I would LOVE to get back to Australia (we visited there way too briefly back in 2000 while we were stationed in Guam).

If we're ever able to do it, I'll let the word out here and be glad to help you guys out with your Ric-lust!

Bill

[rickenbrother]

Congrats Josh,. looking forward to your pics!!

[johnallg]

Wow, congrats Josh! I wonder just how many of the GreyGlo basses were made? Yours will be unique to Australia, no doubt.

[ram]

John Hall said (in the Rickenbacker corp forum)

"Long story- that would be GrayGlo. They start out as JetGlo but get a coat of matte finish underneath the gloss final coat.

We have produced some instruments like this and dealers have been quite enthusiastic of the color. However, it remains to be seen whether we'll produce additional units."

So some is the official count..... mayhaps more to come...? Josh maybe you have a real collectors item - time will tell.

[heptagram]

Here's the pix! I'll take some better ones later, but you can really see it in the second pic! Looks VERY VERY nice in person! I like it HEAPS! Will be a rare bass in OZ at the moment for sure. Would be interesting to know the numbers on the basses for sure! I'll be keeping a hold onto this one for sure, as well as my 4003 MG. The neck is slimmer on my 4003 GG '07 than my 4003 MG '01, but I love both basses Can't wait to get my 4003 MID next year (I hope) that I have on order through RIC ASIA

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/1183/ric1fm3.jpg
http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/5320/ric2nk9.jpg
http://img107.imageshack.us/img107/6255/ric3ni7.jpg

[houblues]

If it will help, I am happy to arrange purchase of something available in Houston and ship it to you. Fuller's Vintage Guitars has a number of Rics in stock and Parker Music had three 4003 JGs when last I checked for $1,199 each.

[ozover50]

Josh! We have a get-together happening in a couple of weeks........... you've just got to get there and bring that motha with you!!! More info in a couple of days...............

[beatlefreak]

Great looking bass, Josh - Glad you got it OK.

[johnallg]

She is sweet! Josh, is the edge of the pickguard silvered or perchance the guard is a back-painted clear plexi? In the closeup pic the edge looks silver. Or just a flash effect?

Can you imagine that one with CB?!

[heptagram]

Howard

Please keep me informed about another meeting as I'm really keen to make it to one and will bring my new 4003 GG and my 4003 MG as well

[heptagram]

John

The pickguard is just a standard white, but that would look cool!