How's your "4001(k)" doing?

[cheyenne]

Hang on to that one Ryan, they'll have their day.

[jps]

I don't think prices for limited-run and older models will ever decrease -- the supply is ever decreasing, even if demand doesn't go up much. I also think it's still a great time to buy, whether for investment or playing purposes (or both), and will be for a while, as long as you keep your eyes open for the right deal. The price increases (and the weak US economy) have brought out a lot more supply in the near term, but that hasn't really brought down prices much.

Sincerely,
Alan Greenspan

[jakeox]

I don't think prices for limited-run and older models will ever decrease -- the supply is ever decreasing, even if demand doesn't go up much. I also think it's still a great time to buy, whether for investment or playing purposes (or both), and will be for a while, as long as you keep your eyes open for the right deal. The price increases (and the weak US economy) have brought out a lot more supply in the near term, but that hasn't really brought down prices much.

Sincerely,
Alan Greenspan

OMG. I just totally got plagiarized by the former US Federal Reserve Chairman. I'm calling Ben Bernanke. (I totally have his number.)

[2112]

The only problem with my substantial Ric investment is it's quite unlikely I'll ever cash it in.

Same here. I only have four, and I'll have 'em for life. If I sold them, all I'd have is money and that would be gone in a blink of an eye. My Ricks will last me for the rest of my life. (now about half done) (or more).

Unless, of course if and when my fingers no longer work to allow me the enjoyment of playing them, then I might lose my mind thinking about the fact that I've gotten near the end and won't want to look at them because they will remind me of much better times that I will no longer ever be able to enjoy.

I'd better shut up now.

[VRICKY63]

Im always looking for a bargain RIC to "flip" for profit . I found a listing for a 660/12 recently on a well known music catalog site . I ordered it and kept getting a notice that it "was not in stock" . I forgot about it ,then it showed up and I was given the sale price . Tossed it on ebay and craigslist . Sold it for a $340 profit . That's not a lot of money but it beats workin ! I doubt I will sell my 4004Cii FG 4-2-5 but I do see a gain on selling my FGV63 . I like the hunt and have fun searching and learning about RICs

[ilan]

From business-standard.com:

Fund out to strike chord on vintage guitars

James Mackintosh / London March 23, 2008

Baffled by the complexity of modern financial instruments? Don’t fret: real instruments are going financial, as a hedge fund sets out to raise €70 million to invest in vintage guitars.

The Guitar Fund, being pitched to investors by Anchorage Capital, a London boutique investment bank, aims to profit mainly by buying electric guitars and classical guitars, plus mandolins, banjos and amplifiers.

Thomas Byrne, chief operating officer of Anchorage and manager of the Guitar Fund, pointed to Vintage Guitar magazine’s price index, which has averaged returns of 31.6 per cent for the past 17 years. “The main difference between guitars and wine or art or other exotic investments is that not only can you buy it as an investment, you can play it,” he said.

As well as aiming to make money, the fund will lend out its instruments to investors, in return for them paying the insurance costs. The fund, which will have a fixed 10-year life, has three investors willing to put in $10 million-$25 million each, but will not start until it finds a lead investor.

Guitar-collecting began to attract speculators in big numbers a few years ago, creating price bubbles in several types of instruments, according to George Gruhn, who has run Gruhn Guitars, a guitar shop in Nashville, Tennessee, for 38 years. He has all his personal wealth invested in a guitar collection. “The guitar market is not crashing, but there were some items that got bid up really high, like 1950s Les Paul models,” he said. He says the guitar market is complex, as models move in and out of favour with investors and collectors.

The guitar fund is the second instrument fund to search for investors, with a London-based violin fund in the process of calling in $25m of pledges with the aim of starting up this summer.

Mr Byrne – an amateur guitarist and guitar-maker – has teamed up with Brian Troup, a former professional footballer in Scotland’s first division who now runs a London guitar shop and will be joint fund manager. An advisory board features Robbin Thompson, a singer with Bruce Springsteen’s early band Steel Mill; David Noble, a former 3i private equity partner; and several guitar experts.

[8mileshigh]

Interesting reading. I might drop them a line and see if they want to send a few million my way!

[cheyenne]

Now is a great time to buy. People see some of the outrageous prices that are being paid on Ebay and are getting in their closet and cashing in their Rickenbackers. (Just like dipping into a 401K). Not recommended...

Most are being bought up by collecters and will never see the light of day again. This will drive used Rick prices up and up. especially with the hard to find rare items. Though I have nothing really rare and desirable, Im not complaining, their all nearly dead mint, and mine.

[rickenbrother]

Cool collection and pic. Scott.

Watch out for that ceiling fan!!

[twangs]

I bought my 4004LK in 2001 for $2K, and I've seen them go for $9K on Ebay - That certainly beats the stock market...

[phlemmy]

i buy mine both to play and to sell if i get the urge. i get bored easily so i like to keep my stock rotating.

like out of all of these, i only have one of them left...photo taken one year ago and have 3 others in hand now.

[jeff381]

want a better way to make money from rickenbackers,move to england!!!!!!with the dollar so low,every guitar on ebay.com is half price to us,they are giving them away!!!,2 dollars to the pound,you cant lose!!!!!!!!! .

[gshadoan]

want a better way to make money from rickenbackers,move to england!!!!!!with the dollar so low,every guitar on ebay.com is half price to us,they are giving them away!!!,2 dollars to the pound,you cant lose!!!!!!!!! .

While the British pound has been relitivly stable, the Eruo is the one to watch right now. I recently sent a GPS (rental) out with a band heading to Europe, and am having them pay me in Eruo's rather than USDollars. The Eruo has increased in value over the dollar .01 plus since they left And that was one week ago.

[jeff381]

i hear what your saying about the euro,i`ve just payed for a 68fg 4005 from germany,the auction ended at 4995 euros,so i had to pay 3990 pounds,we used to get 1.50 euros to the pound!!!!!!,

[seyesbass]

By coincidence I was discussing this very subject with Graham Griffiths just the other day.
Back in the late 80s I had a chat with a guitar dealer who mentioned that even back then the Japanese were expanding their investment portfolios to include rare electric guitars.
I am one of the people like others on the thread who buy guitars to use onstage and for the pleasure of playing them.
I am pleased that Ricks are gaining value but at the same time they have to be insured and you are always wary of theft or breakage at gigs.I couldnt imagine taking an RM out on the road these days simply because of its value and rarity so as nice as it would be to own another it would have to be viewed as an investment only.
Back in the early 80s there were serious doubts as to the length of time that collectible guitars would increase in value because of changing musical trends and the possibility that the bottom could fall out of the vintage market altogether with younger people getting into electronic music.At that time in Britain a new Rick and a vintage RM were around the same price even though the RMs were rare. Since then the Rock Business has marketed guitar bands and nostalgia very heavily what with bands like the Eagles Stones etc.plus "new" bands like Oasis Nirvana in the 90s getting guys back into electric guitars. Thats pushed the vintage Rick market way ahead of the price of new instruments but because quality always comes at a price new and ltd edition Ricks are increasing too.
The interesting thing will be what happens in a slump ( which could happen any time ) and the market suddenly sees a glut of vintage guitars all competing for a finite number of buyers. Thats the scenario I had in mind when I said that RMs could come out of the woodwork when older guys start looking to boost their pensions.That doesnt mean they will be any cheaper but it might mean that prices stall for a while afterwards. What do you think?