Recession and Rickenbacker Values

[paologregorio]

This is a really interesting thread.

I've played a few 60s models that I liked. Dan's and Kenny's 360/12 OS models sound fantastic and play beautifully, as do Kenny's 360 OS/6, and Graham's `62 375 "Chet Cox Signature model" Graham's 375 is an example of a guitar with a very thin "D", rather than "C" shaped neck, and a subtle 9 1/4" fretboard radius. I really liked the way Collin's 336/12 and Bob Schneider's 360 NS/12 played as well. Graham's FG 360F/12 is amazing (bigger, thinner body-ultra resonant!), as is Darren's `58 Capri. Thank you all, gentlemen, for allowing me to try your instruments.

[8mileshigher]

I'm 25 years old, and in the vast minority of young people who know enough about vintage guitars to care at all (that means I get to buy all your guy's guitars cheap as chips when you kick the bucket. )

Hah !! We old guys better make a Codicil to our Last Will and Testament, to protect our distraught and grieving Widows from being taken advantage of by Whitley's Guitar Estate Sales

[collin]

ah, buy you haven't even seen me lay the charm down yet.

[antipodean]

There is also another factor. As a player, I have NEVER played a reissue that I liked more than the vintage counterpart. Try as I may over the years, I wanted to really find some reissue guitars that I felt played and sounded just as good as the originals, but no luck.

Absolutely. That's been the straight truth in my experience.

I think that reissues work best for people who have never played the real thing. Ten seconds with a 40-50 year old vintage item, and the reissue will seem awkward, clunky, and foreign. Unfortunately, the number of people who have played vintage guitars is low enough to sell tons of reissues.

Every time I catch myself thinking "wow, I wish _____ company would reissue _____ model," I then remember how different it would be from the original item, and it doesn't sound like a good idea anymore.

As the owner of a couple of true vintage pieces and a couple of RIs, I can't agree, but maybe that's because I'm a cheapskate.....

I do concede that vintage Ricks, Gretsches, Epiphones and Mosrites haven't hit the lunatic prices of collectible Gibsons and Fenders and thus may represent very reasonable value relative to RIs (with the possible exception of the 4005, RM1999, and 360/12 OS). On the other hand, QC is probably better across the board than it was in the '60s - it's not like we have lost the secret art of making guitars and descended into a dark age in the last 40 years....

[collin]

Yeah, that's true-----QC is far more consistent today (Gretsches are a great example of this). Guitars are much stronger and even in construction.

Plus, to be perfectly fair to reissue guitars, we are comparing a fresh off-the-line guitar to one that has aged 40 years. Call it pretentious BS or whatnot, but I think the wood "opens up" after many years, and they resonate better. Plus, the more a guitar is played, with sweat etc...the better it sounds, IMO.

If I had the benefit of playing these guitars when they were new, 40+ years ago, I might be singing different praises.

There's tons of factors at play here, and they differ from company to company, but I think that the main culprit is the thick finishes found on many modern reissues either slows or prevents the aging processes that make vintage guitars sing so well in the first place.

[vintagemusicgear]

A 40-50 year old guitar will always look, play, and sound different from a modern day equivalent. And the prices are generally more for the vintage stuff. It is a matter of whether those differences warrant the cost difference. "Better" is always a relative term, as is "investment." Ulitmately, we can't take anything with us, whether it's a guitar, cash, a home, etc....so the amount of joy we get while we have these things are both real and intangible "returns on our investments...." My philosophy is, you only live once. If you can afford to enjoy what life has to offer, why not?....

[libratune]

If I had the benefit of playing these guitars when they were new, 40+ years ago, I might be singing different praises.

My new 1966 Rick 360/12 MG sounded fantastic in 1966, 1967 and 1968! It had a great thin neck, stayed in tune and got the heck played out of it.

Of course, I didn't have a 2009 360/12C63 with which to compare it . . .

[jps]

Of course, I didn't have a 2009 360/12C63 with which to compare it . . .

I thought you were more resourceful than that, Ron. How disappointing!

[collin]

Of course, I didn't have a 2009 360/12C63 with which to compare it . . .

I thought you were more resourceful than that, Ron. How disappointing!

Yeah, Ron.......you can't time travel? What gives!?

[Jimmy-Jim-Jim]

Much of the vintage market is a classic bubble model (like tulips), but with old Rickenbackers you get a decent object at a decent price. I don' t think Rickenbacker values have fallen or will fall that much, sales will just be slower and a nice one might be easier to buy. Although I must add that 'second-hand' reissues and standard 90s Ricks do seem to be taking a bit of a tanking.

[billydlight]

Colin said: ah, buy you haven't even seen me lay the charm down yet.

I've seen a picture of you in a Duck suit...(please repost) it don't get any Charming'er than that!!

[bubbasweet]

Just to throw somthing else into the mix. We all play vintage Ricks because our heroes Beatles and Birds etc played them (or maybee you have a totally different reason)..

Being in bands was cool in our generation 60's 70's 80's 90's.. Now that kids all steal music and the music industry is disapearing and (have you looked at the musicians classifieds lately??). What does the future hold?

There may come a time that the masses or even the small majority that appreciates these vintage pieces will cease.

If this happens demand and price will go down. (keep in mind I am talking years in future)

It may be that that it (being in bands and playing guitar) might not be the cool thing of the future as future generations may not think being in bands is cool. Bands might even be a thing of the olden days.. (they will have an IPOD "APP" for this" LOL.

food for thought.

[collin]

Birds etc played them

Nah, Ron Wood played a telecaster painted like the American flag.

Colin said: ah, buy you haven't even seen me lay the charm down yet.

I've seen a picture of you in a Duck suit...(please repost) it don't get any Charming'er than that!!

It was a Justborn® Peep........and all the ladies loved it.

[billydlight]

Poor parenting. If a kid don't wanna be in a band, it's because of poor parenting. Used to be the other way around, I know. But these days any self respecting kid who does not wanna play in a band, and own lots of cool vintage gear is a victim of POOR PARENTING..

[jps]

Ron Wood played a telecaster painted like the American flag.

Our lead guitarist comes close!