How many guitars does Ricenbacker make in a year?
Moderators: rickenbrother, ajish4
How many guitars does Ricenbacker make in a year?
I'm really curious, can anyone estimate?
There are no major guitar producers that are publicly owned other than Ovation (Kaman Corp.). As a result any number you see published is either an estimate or a boast, and the actual numbers would be kept fairly confidential for competitive purposes.
However, I could probably rank the major makers fairly accurately on a units produced basis, if that would help. Speaking only of American-made electric guitars, my best guess is a follows:
1. Peavey
2. Fender
3. Gibson
4. Rickenbacker
5. PRS
In fairness, I believe we and PRS often surpass each other at various times and from what I know are for the most part neck and neck. There's also a huge gap between 3 and 4, and also a large one beyond 5.
On the basis of revenue, it's a whole different (and much more complicated) story due to the large number of imported guitars of all types and other product lines.
Mike, we work less than 250 days a year! We work 5 days a week, close a week in both summer and winter, and take the usual holidays.
However, I could probably rank the major makers fairly accurately on a units produced basis, if that would help. Speaking only of American-made electric guitars, my best guess is a follows:
1. Peavey
2. Fender
3. Gibson
4. Rickenbacker
5. PRS
In fairness, I believe we and PRS often surpass each other at various times and from what I know are for the most part neck and neck. There's also a huge gap between 3 and 4, and also a large one beyond 5.
On the basis of revenue, it's a whole different (and much more complicated) story due to the large number of imported guitars of all types and other product lines.
Mike, we work less than 250 days a year! We work 5 days a week, close a week in both summer and winter, and take the usual holidays.
I had no idea that Peavey was making that many EVH Wolfgang guitars and Cirrus basses. As far as amps go (guitar, bass, and PA gear), Peavey taking the lead would be no surprise.
Peavey seemed to me to be the darling of small privately owned music gear retailers, the ubiquitous brand seen in pawn shops that sold new music gear, but I noticed Musician's Friend and Music123 have started selling the brand.
If only American made basses were considered, Gibson would fall below Rickenbacker, and I suppose Peavey and Fender would also trade places, with Ernie Ball being added to the list and PRS dropping completely off. This is only a guess, but from what I have personally seen, it would be something like this:
1. Fender
2. Peavey
3. Rickenbacker
4. Ernie Ball
5. Gibson
As far as who makes the most basses as a percentage of their total production, Rickenbacker would probably be very near the top. I would not be surprised if the 4003 bass is Rickenbacker's most produced item right now. Musician's Friend lists it as one of their best sellers. It is usually held in the public's mind as the biggest competitor to the Fender bass.
Peavey seemed to me to be the darling of small privately owned music gear retailers, the ubiquitous brand seen in pawn shops that sold new music gear, but I noticed Musician's Friend and Music123 have started selling the brand.
If only American made basses were considered, Gibson would fall below Rickenbacker, and I suppose Peavey and Fender would also trade places, with Ernie Ball being added to the list and PRS dropping completely off. This is only a guess, but from what I have personally seen, it would be something like this:
1. Fender
2. Peavey
3. Rickenbacker
4. Ernie Ball
5. Gibson
As far as who makes the most basses as a percentage of their total production, Rickenbacker would probably be very near the top. I would not be surprised if the 4003 bass is Rickenbacker's most produced item right now. Musician's Friend lists it as one of their best sellers. It is usually held in the public's mind as the biggest competitor to the Fender bass.
Whoops - my European impression of the US work ethic (goddamn those Puritans!) had you guys working 6 days a week...
Clearly you're not going to tell us what the answer is, and for good commercial reasons it seems (though 'tis sad that bragging rights over the number of guitars produced counts for more than, say, 'satisfied forum customers'
as a marketing tool)
I did think about trying to find Ric's accounts online and divide revenue by the average price of a Ric ($750 wholesale? You're not going to tell us that either, are you?) to get a figure, but my knowledge of whether you would be obliged to publish such information, much less where to find it, is even less than it would be for an equivalent British company. Which is none at all, frankly.
Anyway, I am pleased to hear that Ric isn't a sweatshop (more of a sweetshop, really), I trust that the people that built my 620/12 are happy people (else why would it make a happy sound?), and am revising my estimate down to 10000 based on reasonable working days!
Clearly you're not going to tell us what the answer is, and for good commercial reasons it seems (though 'tis sad that bragging rights over the number of guitars produced counts for more than, say, 'satisfied forum customers'
as a marketing tool) I did think about trying to find Ric's accounts online and divide revenue by the average price of a Ric ($750 wholesale? You're not going to tell us that either, are you?) to get a figure, but my knowledge of whether you would be obliged to publish such information, much less where to find it, is even less than it would be for an equivalent British company. Which is none at all, frankly.
Anyway, I am pleased to hear that Ric isn't a sweatshop (more of a sweetshop, really), I trust that the people that built my 620/12 are happy people (else why would it make a happy sound?), and am revising my estimate down to 10000 based on reasonable working days!
Hey All, again I do appreciate all the ansewers here. That's interesting that RIC and PRS are neck and neck, at least to me. It seems that when I go into the local Guitar Center or Sam Ash that there's always a huge display wall of PRS guitars and only a couple Rickenbackers, if that many. I was thinking that they were producing on a much larger scale. Of course I never looked into PRS at all so that's probably the reason for my misconception.
Anyway, thank again everyone for your input. I do appreciate it.
Anyway, thank again everyone for your input. I do appreciate it.
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beatlesgear
I was thinking in sync with Bob on this one - judging by numbers of units on the wall of stores at any given time, PRS crushes RIC around here. I guess it's just because most Ricks are sold and delivered to the end user before they ever hang on a shopkeeper's wall.
To my knowledge there are 5 brick-and-mortar Rick dealers in NC. 4 of them are the two big chains, the 5th is 4 hours away so I've not visited. At those establishments fortunate enough to be treated to my incredible playing, the two Sam Ashes usually have around 3 330/360s, one of which is a 12, and 2 4003s. The GC's usually only seem to have the 325c58.
It'd be cool to see some of the modern styled models (380L, 650, 4004) but that means that the corporates at the two chains would have to order them.
To my knowledge there are 5 brick-and-mortar Rick dealers in NC. 4 of them are the two big chains, the 5th is 4 hours away so I've not visited. At those establishments fortunate enough to be treated to my incredible playing, the two Sam Ashes usually have around 3 330/360s, one of which is a 12, and 2 4003s. The GC's usually only seem to have the 325c58.
It'd be cool to see some of the modern styled models (380L, 650, 4004) but that means that the corporates at the two chains would have to order them.
"The only worthwhile conquests are those wrested from ignorance"
-Napoleon
-Napoleon
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spike
Quite timely, the comments about GC.
Just yesterday, I went to the local guitar center to get some info on which area stores had either a 350v63 or a 620/6. The two guys I worked with were great, but in the entire chain, nationwide, they didn't have any 350v63s and only 3 620/6s (2 LH models, and a FireGlo RH). I suspect that if I wanted 330/360 or a 4003 bass, I'd have had more luck.
More on topic:
I wonder what the percentage split is for where Rics get sold. Do the smaller dealers make up the
bulk of the sales or is it the big retailers like
musicians friend?
Just yesterday, I went to the local guitar center to get some info on which area stores had either a 350v63 or a 620/6. The two guys I worked with were great, but in the entire chain, nationwide, they didn't have any 350v63s and only 3 620/6s (2 LH models, and a FireGlo RH). I suspect that if I wanted 330/360 or a 4003 bass, I'd have had more luck.
More on topic:
I wonder what the percentage split is for where Rics get sold. Do the smaller dealers make up the
bulk of the sales or is it the big retailers like
musicians friend?
I would consider that the population of guitars on display at the local retailers is dictated more by historical sales than by production numbers. The stores will stock more of what sells better (higher demand, shorter inventory time) to maintian profitability levels.
My local Guitar Center (Fountain Valley) has about six RICs in stock (no basses, however), and the local Sam Ash (Garden Grove) has none at all. I rarely see any hardtail Strats or Thinline Teles at either as well because there is little demand for them.
My local Guitar Center (Fountain Valley) has about six RICs in stock (no basses, however), and the local Sam Ash (Garden Grove) has none at all. I rarely see any hardtail Strats or Thinline Teles at either as well because there is little demand for them.
It is better, of course, to know useless things than to know nothing. - Seneca
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shamustwin
- Senior Member
- Posts: 5287
- Joined: Tue Apr 29, 2003 5:00 am
I agree John...it would be amazing to see the "other" models at a shop...I suspect many people don't know other Rics exist.
A related note...my nephew, mid 20's, plays for a living. Was at a rehearsal studio and told me he played this amazing amp...a Vox A-something (he plays, I dunno, whatever green haired punkers play). I tried to explain. "Youngsters" might be missing out on so much (ignorance is not bliss). Alas, I've never seen a 650, 380L, newer style Ric bass in person.
A related note...my nephew, mid 20's, plays for a living. Was at a rehearsal studio and told me he played this amazing amp...a Vox A-something (he plays, I dunno, whatever green haired punkers play). I tried to explain. "Youngsters" might be missing out on so much (ignorance is not bliss). Alas, I've never seen a 650, 380L, newer style Ric bass in person.
I played a 650S for exactly 2 minutes once when I happened to be in SF for a friend's wedding last year. As I was walking out the store to pick up my tux under a tight deadline, I noticed a 660/12, and strummed it for another 2 minutes. It was MUCH easier to play than the 360/12 I played for 1/2 an hour. (To be fair, the 360 needed a setup bad.)
"The only worthwhile conquests are those wrested from ignorance"
-Napoleon
-Napoleon