Advice for buying vintage gear online?

[8mileshigher]

Currently in SF for the next 2-3 weeks but I will definitely cruise down to LA just to check out a bass if it's worth it.

Well, here's a suggestion. The big Mini Confluence Jam Session is coming up on Saturday May 8th at Backline Rehearsal studios in Garden Grove ... an all day event, Noon to 8 PM. You won't find a greater assembly of Rics in one location in California for awhile (other than at the Ric factory itself ... or maybe Gary's storage vault )

You can see, feel, smell,talk and worship Rics with fellow enthusiasts and maybe get steered in the right direction for getting the Ric of your dreams... see the thread under the Ric Conferences and Confluences sector.
viewtopic.php?f=15&t=394331&start=135#p619909
Lot's of friendly and helpful RRF-ers will be there ... good chance to meet some of the names you have seen on the Forum.

Don't forget to RSVP on the thread to Paul A., our Jam organizer, for our headcount !

If you want to find out more about what this Confluence phenomena is all about, check out the earlier threads in the Confluences sector .... Any of the threads that have a whole bunch of pages means there's pictures posted.

[jps]

You won't find a greater assembly of Rics in one location in California for awhile (other than at the Ric factory itself ... or maybe Gary's storage vault ) .

Perhaps Vincent Gallo's as well.

[antipodean]

Hi Adam,

Re the CS v C64 - the C64 pickups are definitely underwound relative to the CS, and the cap is in the tone circuit in the C64, which I do not believe is the case in the CS. The C64 will get you the vintage tone, and you can retro fit it with the push-pull pot and wiring to be able to take the cap out of the circuit and get a beefier sound. I'm not a fan of the reverse headstock, but others love it.

If your heart is set ona CS, I've noticed that Mike Parks at The Music Connection is expecting one in - it is probably worth your while giveing him a call to get an idea on price. I am not alone in believing he is one of the very finest Rick specialists out there. He also has a Jetglo C64S in stock.

But before doing that - the confluence is a great idea if you can make it. This is a fabulous way of getting answers to your questions - particularly those you haven't even thought of asking yet!

[johnallg]

Hi everyone, new forum member here with a Rickenbacker-related question. I'm looking around for a new bass, and I'm really impressed with how versatile the Rickenbacker is, and how different it sounds compared to the fender jazz/ampeg SVT II combo I've been using for so long. I've been searching around different shops and so far all I've been able to play is a brand new 4003 model as well as 4001C64. Looking on ebay, I've found all kinds of vintage instruments, but I'm wondering if there is some sort of criteria you guys follow before spending thousands of dollars on a vintage instrument that you've never played first? Do you just have to trust the seller's reputation and *hope* it's actually gonna sound good when it's in your hands? I'm veering towards a vintage 4001 from the early 70's or maybe a 4001CS, but I'm extremely hesitant to buy an instrument I may not actually ultimately like and won't be able to return. From what I've read it looks like alot of you guys do buy stuff online, I'm wondering how you do it? At the risk of sounding totally uninformed, is the vintage tone of an early 70's model really so different from a 2010 model that you would risk it financially for what's going to become a gigging, touring workhorse and not just a collection piece? Thanks in advance for any advice, and thanks for reading!

Bryce (brycicle) has a Paul W refinned CS for sale in that area of the forum. 18 more posts for you and you can see it.

[AdamBomb]

Hi everyone, new forum member here with a Rickenbacker-related question. I'm looking around for a new bass, and I'm really impressed with how versatile the Rickenbacker is, and how different it sounds compared to the fender jazz/ampeg SVT II combo I've been using for so long. I've been searching around different shops and so far all I've been able to play is a brand new 4003 model as well as 4001C64. Looking on ebay, I've found all kinds of vintage instruments, but I'm wondering if there is some sort of criteria you guys follow before spending thousands of dollars on a vintage instrument that you've never played first? Do you just have to trust the seller's reputation and *hope* it's actually gonna sound good when it's in your hands? I'm veering towards a vintage 4001 from the early 70's or maybe a 4001CS, but I'm extremely hesitant to buy an instrument I may not actually ultimately like and won't be able to return. From what I've read it looks like alot of you guys do buy stuff online, I'm wondering how you do it? At the risk of sounding totally uninformed, is the vintage tone of an early 70's model really so different from a 2010 model that you would risk it financially for what's going to become a gigging, touring workhorse and not just a collection piece? Thanks in advance for any advice, and thanks for reading!

Bryce (brycicle) has a Paul W refinned CS for sale in that area of the forum. 18 more posts for you and you can see it.

Actually 17 more posts after this post! Can't wait to see it. What exactly does it mean that it's refinned?

[AdamBomb]

To put them in perspective, there is this 4001 at a US dealer with all the goodies - correct tailpiece, full width inlays, treble pickup cover - for $3.5k - which I'm sure is negotiable.

Going going gone. That ric looked amazing, and it sold a couple hours after you posted it here. Do you find that's a problem with linking to deals on these forums, that other people come in and snipe them? Not that I'm saying that happened, but it is gone...

Edit: Sorry about the double post!

[johnallg]

Hi everyone, new forum member here with a Rickenbacker-related question. I'm looking around for a new bass, and I'm really impressed with how versatile the Rickenbacker is, and how different it sounds compared to the fender jazz/ampeg SVT II combo I've been using for so long. I've been searching around different shops and so far all I've been able to play is a brand new 4003 model as well as 4001C64. Looking on ebay, I've found all kinds of vintage instruments, but I'm wondering if there is some sort of criteria you guys follow before spending thousands of dollars on a vintage instrument that you've never played first? Do you just have to trust the seller's reputation and *hope* it's actually gonna sound good when it's in your hands? I'm veering towards a vintage 4001 from the early 70's or maybe a 4001CS, but I'm extremely hesitant to buy an instrument I may not actually ultimately like and won't be able to return. From what I've read it looks like alot of you guys do buy stuff online, I'm wondering how you do it? At the risk of sounding totally uninformed, is the vintage tone of an early 70's model really so different from a 2010 model that you would risk it financially for what's going to become a gigging, touring workhorse and not just a collection piece? Thanks in advance for any advice, and thanks for reading!

Bryce (brycicle) has a Paul W refinned CS for sale in that area of the forum. 18 more posts for you and you can see it.

Actually 17 more posts after this post! Can't wait to see it. What exactly does it mean that it's refinned?

The finish on the particular 4001CS Bryce bought was in bad shape and he is having Paul W refinish it to like new. A work in progress:
http://www.rickresource.com/phpBB3/down ... &mode=view

[antipodean]

Adam - "Refinned" = refinished....but don't get the wrong idea - a Paul Wilczynski refinish is a thing of beauty. Check his website out!

Hmmmm......That '73 did go within 12 hours or so of being identified here. It may just be paranoia but I'll PM any sightings in future.... at least until you can access the Marketplace section...

[collin]

You won't find a greater assembly of Rics in one location in California for awhile (other than at the Ric factory itself ... or maybe Gary's storage vault ) .

Perhaps Vincent Gallo's as well.

Yeah, but I think Mr. Gallo's is locked up like Willy Wonka's.

"Nobody ever goes in....and nobody evergoesout!"

[AdamBomb]

Adam - "Refinned" = refinished....but don't get the wrong idea - a Paul Wilczynski refinish is a thing of beauty. Check his website out!

Hmmmm......That '73 did go within 12 hours or so of being identified here. It may just be paranoia but I'll PM any sightings in future.... at least until you can access the Marketplace section...

Cool I appreciate it! I actually was gonna buy that after I put money in the bank

But anyway, half way there, without spam posting the board either (I hope). Trying my best to have some intelligent conversations here, but you guys know a hell of a lot more about Rics than I do! I'm learning alot though, glad I didn't just go to the guitar shop by my house and buy a brand new jetglo 4003 for $2160 like they offered me. They even said they would give me a free $100 setup!

[AdamBomb]

Being a huge jerk and double posting in my own thread AGAIN since I've gotten such good advice here (as well as the one I posted in "general", asking about respectable online dealers). I actually found a brand new 4003 jetglo for a grand total of $1734 with shipping included. Does that sound like a good deal? I kinda want to hold out for a '73 4001 with the checkerboard trim and all original parts like was posted (and sniped?) earlier because I really want my ric to be something "special" and not just stock (or maybe a CS but the "yellow' of it all is kinda weird to me, but still intriguing), but if this really is a great deal I think I might be happy with it (for the time being at least... what's the resale like on a new 4003?). I really need a change of pace musically, and I need it fast, I'm so bummed on my Fender Jazz right now I barely even want to play it anymore and have spent more time programming bass parts in ableton the last few weeks than actually playing it! The more I learn about this amazing line of instruments and all the players who have used them the more I want one! I think I just might be developing a serious case of Ric Acquisition Syndrome so please give me some serious guidance before I do something crazy and break into a guitar shop and end up arrested fleeing down the street with an armful of basses!

Adam - "Refinned" = refinished....but don't get the wrong idea - a Paul Wilczynski refinish is a thing of beauty. Check his website out!

Hmmmm......That '73 did go within 12 hours or so of being identified here. It may just be paranoia but I'll PM any sightings in future.... at least until you can access the Marketplace section...

Forgot to say, that guy's refinishing work is really out of this world. How does something like that actually affect resale value though?

[rickaddict]

Forgot to say, that guy's refinishing work is really out of this world. How does something like that actually affect resale value though?

That's hard to say, 'cuz I don't think anyone has sold one yet!

I'll tell you what though...that "refinishing an instrument cuts it's value in half" theory is a line of complete and utter BS.

Paul re-did this 4001 for me:
http://www.rickresource.com/register/vi ... ine%3Dtrue

Before the re-fin, it was probably worth around $1300... and I sure as heck wouldn't sell it for $650 today.

[AdamBomb]

Wow that is really beautiful. What year 4001 is that, that you orignally purchased it for $1350, especially with the checkerboard?

[rickaddict]

Wow that is really beautiful. What year 4001 is that, that you orignally purchased it for $1350, especially with the checkerboard?

Thanks Adam!

Ummm...Well, I didn't purchase it for $1350. What I was trying to say is that if I hadn't had it refinished, it would be worth around $1300. It was ugly mucas yellow...checked, flaking, and unevenly yellowing.

It is a 1980. I bought it new for $530 I think. It didn't originally have the checkers. I had Paul put the checkers on it, the sparkly inlays, and the 1/2" spaced toaster. It's my first Rick. It's just a great bass...the one that began my addiction to Ricks! And now it looks as good as it plays and sounds. Yay!

Thanks Paul!

[collin]

Forgot to say, that guy's refinishing work is really out of this world. How does something like that actually affect resale value though?

That's hard to say, 'cuz I don't think anyone has sold one yet!

I'll tell you what though...that "refinishing an instrument cuts it's value in half" theory is a line of complete and utter BS.

Refins are tricky business regardless of who did the work.

It's worth less than a mint factory paint job on vintage models only. ......now how many "mint" factory paint jobs do you regularly see on vintage guitars? Not many.

Also, most vintage guitars that get a professional refin either don't have the factory finish left on it, or it's in such terrible shape it's past the "mojo" stage, or has had mods etc. In these cases, a pro refin and repair will increase the value over a bodged guitar with little/no paint or a bad rattle can job.

As for new guitars---a professional paint job doesn't seem to hurt resale one iota. In fact, people recognize the value in the work done, and it may be worth more. Maybe not as much more as the work costs, but it certainly doesn't devalue the instrument if it's quality work and done properly.

All that said, certain brands are much trickier to figure out in the refin market. Rickenbacker buyers seem far more forgiving of refinish, while Fender buyers are very split on the issue. In the case of many vintage Fender models----a refinish will cut the value in half or more.