If I Want To Buy A Short-Scale 325....I Can't?

[collin]

look for a preowned one in mint condition (They're out there).

I'm looking...and they ain't out there.

The problem with Rics is Ric owners. Those who buy and own Rics know what they have. They save for these icons, cherish them...and don't want to get rid of them. As I said, I can find a billion used Epiphones for sale right now, but just very few Rics. Ric owners know what they have, love them, and rarely part with them. I have nine guitars and the very last one I would ever sell would be the Ric.
And I would never sell her. I'm a Ric owner -- I know what I have and I'm not parting with it.

How many millions of guitars do you think Epiphone has produced from a factory in China every year?

Now how many Rics do you think are hand produced in Santa Ana, CA every year?

You see more Epiphones for sale, because are are a TON more out there (!!).


....someone get this guy a free 325, please. Would the price be right then?

[Tommy]

You see more Epiphones for sale, because are are a TON more out there (!!).


....someone get this guy a free 325, please. Would the price be right then?

Uhhh, I see you figured out why I said there are a billion used Epiphones out there for sale.

And you think price of the 325 is my complaint? You sure have trouble reading simple internet threads.
The fact that they were discontinued is my concern. I don't buy used guitars.

[JakeK]

http://cgi.ebay.com/RICKENBACKER-RICKEN ... 286.c0.m14

This is the one for you, Tom. Just give the seller (Warpdrive/Cream City Music) a call, and make 'em an offer. Ask to speak to John M, he's a great, aimiable fellow, and the one who sold me my 1997SPC.

[Tommy]

This is the one for you, Tom.

I appreciate the heads up, really do. But that guitar is nearly thirty years old. I am not looking for a vintage guitar.

I know I am in a bit of a bind here. The Lennon replica 325 that Ric has out there for over $3,000 I find waaaaaay too expensive. And the 'non-Lennon' 325s are not in production any longer. And I won't buy used.
Some here have suggested that Ric will one day put the 325 back into production. I've waited this long, so what the hell, I can wait them out a bit longer.

In the meantime, my money will be going to other guitar companies. I will be buying myself a Gibson SG next. Had a 325 been out there I would have bought that instead. Ric's loss, Gibson's gain.

[wj350]

You gotta stay true to your own standards Tom. If you don't want to buy used, I'm guessing that even if you caved and bought you wouldn't be truly happy.

I'm just the opposite--if I want something I'll upturn every used stone I can think of before buying new, except for those rare times when a really sweet deal on something new falls into my lap. Different strokes, right?

But not all Ric owners are alike....at one time I had six of them; trying very hard to trim that number to two as I type this.

Cheers, Bill

[Tommy]

I really just don't see the point in buying used guitars for many reasons, but one of the main reasons is price -- prices of used gear (non-vintage, mind you) isn't that far off from new gear! That is nuts in my mind. That used 325 Ric in a previous post the seller was asking $2,500. In my mind I would just save the extra five hundred and get a brand new one, no scratches, no fret wear, warranty, all mine and only mine.

I am looking for a Gibson SG Standard right now. I saw a gorgeous one hanging in a store $750 used. The new ones I can get for just over a grand...why pay nearly the same amount for a ten year old guitar?

There really is no incentive price wise to buy used.

[tennis_nick]

I really just don't see the point in buying used guitars for many reasons, but one of the main reasons is price -- prices of used gear (non-vintage, mind you) isn't that far off from new gear! That is nuts in my mind. That used 325 Ric in a previous post the seller was asking $2,500. In my mind I would just save the extra five hundred and get a brand new one, no scratches, no fret wear, warranty, all mine and only mine.

I am looking for a Gibson SG Standard right now. I saw a gorgeous one hanging in a store $750 used. The new ones I can get for just over a grand...why pay nearly the same amount for a ten year old guitar?

There really is no incentive price wise to buy used.

There's a guy on the BeatGear Cavern selling a 325C58 with a Bigsby installed for $1800. But it's not new. Looks great though.

[Tommy]

There's a guy on the BeatGear Cavern selling a 325C58 with a Bigsby installed for $1800. But it's not new. Looks great though.

Hey, he's asking $1,725. What do you get a $75 commission?
Thanks for the tip, but nah, not interested in used; and besides, it ain't Jetglo...BLACK as it is called by normal people.
That, however, is an AMAZING deal. Incredible.

[wj350]

Well, y'know what they say, a couple hundred here, a couple hundred there, pretty soon you're talking real money .

Nothing wrong with sticking to your guns though; ultimately you have be happy with your purchase.

[paologregorio]

You'd like a new non-VRI 325, I'd like a new double bound 360 series guitar. RIC doesn't build them, so neither of us can buy one, so the answer to your qustion "If I Want To Buy A Short-Scale 325....I Can't?" is, nope, you can't, at least for the foreseeable future.

[Tommy]

ultimately you have be happy with your purchase.

I agree. And if you can be happy with finding a great deal on a guitar that you seek used, then have at it.
The only music gear I ever bought used was a BOSS EQ pedal. Won't buy used guitars.

[Tommy]

you can't, at least for the foreseeable future.

I know. And I am hoping to wait out Ric. One day they'll put back into production a standard 325. I'll be first on line with my money. Until then my money is going to Gibson for one of their SGs. They haven't discontinued them.

[FretlessOnly]

Won't buy used guitars.

Not quite sure why you're so adamant about this. Give the wood a chance to age, grow into itself, and if it turns out sweet after 10-20 years, so much the better. I would advocate the purchase of a quality, well broken-in used guitar over a new one any day of the week. Fewer question marks down the road. But, you do need to do your homework up front, of course.

But, you know, vive la difference.

And frankly, your attitude to some of our long-standing members is, well, not great.

[collin]

you can't, at least for the foreseeable future.

I know. And I am hoping to wait out Ric. One day they'll put back into production a standard 325. I'll be first on line with my money.

Technically, there is no such thing as a "standard" 325.

When they were producing what you are thinking of as a "standard" 325, it was simply the evolution of the 325, and many of the vintage spec details had changed by then. Eventually, people asked for more vintage spec details, they scrapped the incorrect "standard" 325's and released vintage reissues (of course with a higher price tag as they require more work and more expensive parts).

That was 20+ years ago. If they issued what you are thinking of as a 325, it'd technically be a reissue of the 325 version at that specific time (think 325v82 or something...). OH----but then it'd be a vintage reissue, and wouldn't be alright by your standards. See what I mean?

You're asking for something that never really existed. I don't think they ever offered "standard" 325's alongside vintage spec reissues at the same time, and if they did---it wasn't for very long.

The long line of "fantasy guitars" that we all want RIC to produce is longer and more detailed than you can imagine....we'll just add your request to the end of the list.

.....some people are just happier complaining about things than dealing with reality and accepting what is available. It's all good---that's your prerogative.


(ps....you keep calling it a "Lennon" reissue. Why? His name is nowhere on the guitar, and not attached to it in any formal fashion. I would buy a 325c58 without any relation to Lennon-----it's just a great reissue of a vintage model. )

[gregga41]