jazzsmith wrote:"If it ain't broke, don't fix it". Ric has..... what, a two year waiting list? I love the fact that every part, even the outsourced parts are "Made in the U.S.A.".
Actually the Schaller machineheads and strap buttons are made in Germany, and the CTS pots are not made in the US any more as far as I know - although I don't know whether they are made in Mexico, China or elsewhere... but they are significantly lower in quality than the ones from only a few years ago. I'm not sure where the Kluson-style machineheads are made - but really, does it matter? The US and Western Europe are not the only places capable of stamping and machining steel into not-very-high-precision tuning gears.
Rickenbacker is a boutique outfit, not a corporate megalopolist. That's why we love 'em. I would hate to see cheap Rickenbackers coming from a country that virtually enslaves 12 year old orphans to crank out their ****** products. Besides, do we really want guitars made out of melamine?
Rickenbacker is a mass producer, period. While they aren't in the production league of Fender or Gibson, they are very definitely not a small, 'boutique' builder (and the better for it IMO).
You also obviously haven't seen too many far-eastern guitars if you think they're all made of melamine, or using child labor - try looking at things like a PRS SE series, a higher-range Epiphone, a Schecter, or many other brands (all Korean), a Japanese Fender, or a Taiwanese Yamaha. None of those countries employ child labor. And apart from deliberate decisions regarding certain materials and parts - many of which may be
intentionally to separate them from the 'main brand' US instruments - most of these guitars are as well-made as anything from the West. Yes, I totally agree that they often don't quite feel as nice or sound as nice, or have as much 'character', but they are far from '******' by any definition.
I also love looking at the production figures for vintage Rics, where they would make, like, 7 of something a particular year. It is like they were making Ferrari's, not guitars.
You can't build a successful international business on numbers like those, and nor could Ferrari... they are now owned by FIAT.