1982 AzureGlo Rickenbacker 4001 with Grover tuners

[Spanky(Andy)]

Is it worth the asking price? Info and photos here: http://www.gbase.com/Stores/Gear/GearDe ... em=1836395

They also have a BlueBoy 4003, but the price is too steep for me: http://www.gbase.com/Stores/Gear/GearDe ... em=1896848

Cheers

Andy
Canberra, Oz

[johnallg]

Almost looks too good to be true - either it was a case queen forever or it is a refin. I personally think it is about $400-500 overpriced in today's market and economy.

[inhuien]

Re the AzureGlo should an 82 4001 not have a split pickgaurd? I know my 4003 of the same year does. Also mine seems of have "somehow made it out of the factory with vintage box Grover tuners" aswell, would you credit it

[heinpete]

Is it worth the asking price? Info and photos here: http://www.gbase.com/Stores/Gear/GearDe ... em=1836395

They also have a BlueBoy 4003, but the price is too steep for me: http://www.gbase.com/Stores/Gear/GearDe ... em=1896848 ...

I guess some music shops are also heading for some "bank crash", overpricing seems to get fashionable more and more...
...until you realize there has been no sale for an "unpredictable" period

[rickenbrother]

Re the AzureGlo should an 82 4001 not have a split pickgaurd? I know my 4003 of the same year does. Also mine seems of have "somehow made it out of the factory with vintage box Grover tuners" aswell, would you credit it

An '82 4001 would not have a twp piece pickguard. Those were only installed on the 4003 from '80 to about '85 due to having the truss rod adjustments at the body end of the neck. Some early '80's 4001 basses did have the Grover tuners factory installed.

[cjj]

Re the AzureGlo should an 82 4001 not have a split pickgaurd? I know my 4003 of the same year does. Also mine seems of have "somehow made it out of the factory with vintage box Grover tuners" aswell, would you credit it

An '82 4001 would not have a twp piece pickguard. Those were only installed on the 4003 from '80 to about '85 due to having the truss rod adjustments at the body end of the neck. Some early '80's 4001 basses did have the Grover tuners factory installed.

As did some 80's 4003's, I've seen them on an '84 4003. I seem to remember reading somewhere that in the 80's the Grovers were an option you could order.

That Azureglo sure looks nicer than my '76 Azureglo, maybe I should get it refinished...

-cj

[antipodean]

Isn't that MID rather than AG?

[rickenbrother]

Azureglo finishes were produced until about '85, then Midnight Blue was produced.

[berth]

More pictures can be found here (click) (and on my harddisk).

[johnallg]

Dang, that looks awesome, and I'm not even that thrilled with blue.

[antipodean]

Azureglo finishes were produced until about '85, then Midnight Blue was produced.

Yes, sorry for the error - '85 was the year of overlap. It's a very deep and glossy AG that I haven't seen before...or my monitor is doing funny things...

[tvking]

Gentlemen,
I understand that you may feel the pricing on this and the Blue Boy to be a little North of what could be considered the "norm", but what you may not realize is that, in today's climate, a dealer is expected to negotiate on everything, provide superior customer service and be flexible on every detail of the sale. I can name many who are not, but to be negotiable on the price of an instrument is crucial to making a sale, especially with all the current hubbub going on around the world. It's just a basic law of sales to ask more than you will take for an item and then work on the price and details from there. I would assume that is the case here; In fact, as the vice president of this company, I guarantee it.

[mgauction]

Gentlemen,
I understand that you may feel the pricing on this and the Blue Boy to be a little North of what could be considered the "norm", but what you may not realize is that, in today's climate, a dealer is expected to negotiate on everything, provide superior customer service and be flexible on every detail of the sale. I can name many who are not, but to be negotiable on the price of an instrument is crucial to making a sale, especially with all the current hubbub going on around the world. It's just a basic law of sales to ask more than you will take for an item and then work on the price and details from there. I would assume that is the case here; In fact, as the vice president of this company, I guarantee it.

Marshall - I thank you for your clear statements which is appreciative to all forum members! I would like to let everyone here know that I have purchased a Rickenbaker bass from him at a convention show before and that I was happy with my purchase. Being forced to pay in cash, though, was not the sign of customer service. I disagree with your dealer comments. The "norm" presented by most/all dealers is a non-negotiable compromise and has been that way for years, colluded by many of the better known national dealers. Even in this current climate, dealers can be seen at convention shows with the same material as the previous year, which emphatically include all vintage Fenders, that seldom, or probably never sell. Thus, most player/collectors have little faith in guitar dealers and, frankly, never have. The absolute worst thing that dealers do is not print prices in their advertisements, which leaves nothing left but to make that horible - "CALL" which is nothing more than sizing up the person on the other line to see how much you can get out of him. Nobody wants to do that and I have heard it here many times. I believe most people walk away from high-priced instrument price tags, online and in print. A negotiation only leaves one in next years price based on the doubled price tag. If you really had a specific price in mind -- why wouldn't you say so in print or otherwise? Why does the dealer have the need to size up a person (where do you work, how much do you make?)-- to get a little more? Basic sales of law pertain to moving merchandise and continuing the flow of sales. It makes the market healthy and gives confidence to customers. Stagnant sales only constitute a one-way system. If you have sold an instrument for less than you bought it, then that's the breaks. It happens in all businesses. More than often, you do make money, which is why you continue to do it and that's a good thing. The recession will play out the worst to guitar dealers. It's happening now.

[tvking]

Hey Mike,
Good to hear from you and I hope all is well. I never meant to lump everybody into one big pile when I posted that reply, I was merely addressing what seemed to be some concern as to the pricing on those two Ricky basses we have. My experience with you was a pleasant one as well- in Texas as I recall. This transition period we are going through, Lee and I are calling "the great cleansing". We are seeing more and more dealers who, in the past have carried the "my way or the highway" attitude for years either not making as many shows as they have in the past or showing up with exactly as you said- the same items they had the year before. We're just trying our dead- level best to be different and better than the others and I will admit that while things are a little slower than usual, we're doing fine and the hard work seems to be paying off. I hope to see you in about a month, at the Arlington show and maybe we can discuss the state of the market over a beer and some laughs. Oh, we did pick up a 1973 lefty 360/12 at the Charlotte show and that's a tale worth telling when I see you.
Take care, my friend!

[mgauction]

Excellent, Marshall! Yes, I look forward to seeing you at Arlington, as well as anyone else here in the forum! Beers? You're on, my friend! On that lefty 360/12 I might have a few people I can forward to you at the show that will be interested. Make sure you bring it. What a great find!