Rickenbackers Overpriced?

[bassduke49]

I've bought four brand new Ricks for the Forest, and each of them cost me $1600 or less. It's the second-hand collectible Ricks I've gathered that cost real $$$, a few of them double the above.

[cjj]

I bought one recently that was a tad more than that... but I still think it was worth it...

[ajish4]

I bought one recently that was a tad more than that... but I still think it was worth it...

JUST A TAD!

[throw_this_away]

Prices on Ebay look pretty hot again.

If you can stand the wait for ordering a new one... I think they are great value for what you get. The thing is, where I am from they are rare as hens teeth and get snatched up fast.

[throw_this_away]

I bought one recently that was a tad more than that... but I still think it was worth it...

JUST A TAD!

I got my 72' for 2000 canadian a few years back. I am not up on the latest prices, but I saw a few of similar vintage going for 4000+ on ebay.

[rickfan63]

Are new Rickenbackers over priced? IMHO yes and no. To me all made in the USA basses are overpriced . But you can't blame the companies for that. It's just the cost of manufacturing here in the USA. When you take into consideration labor costs, material costs, equipment costs ect, the street price of A RIC 4003 is not too bad. Plus they hold their value quite well these days. So buying one can be seen as an investment so to speak too.

However, when you are just a weekend warrior, or low level touring pro who dosen't pull much $$$ from gigs(I only pulled $400 a week on the road BEFORE expenses), then the cost becomes somewhat prohibitive. Unless you have a real good day job, or are able to save enough to afford it. If I had not been able to make payments on the RIC's I bought (4003, 4001C64), I could have never have afforded them. I bought my old V63 with a credit card. As much as I loved that bass, I would never do that now on any instrument. It took me forever to pay that damn thing off.

It's the reason McCartney bought that now famous Hofner in Hamburg so many years ago. It was cheap and affordable as opposed to a Fe#%er. Plus, it could be custom made as a lefty.

Just my 2 cents YMMV.

[scott_s]

Personally, I think we're spoiled by what we can get for our dollar these days. I haven't done the numbers for Ricks, but at least in the Fender world, if you take 1950's prices and apply inflation, they would be priced like "boutique" guitars and amps are now! They were not cheap back then, either!

- Scott

[jack1953]

Personally, I think we're spoiled by what we can get for our dollar these days. I haven't done the numbers for Ricks, but at least in the Fender world, if you take 1950's prices and apply inflation, they would be priced like "boutique" guitars and amps are now! They were not cheap back then, either!

- Scott

Good point Scott. After I did some research, just on GC and what they sell, which is limited, I found many makes that were as much or more than the Rickenbackers. The only difference is, most of the other makes, also make lower end and middle end models. Rickenbacker sticks to the top end quality stuff. I don't think they are hurting for revenue, but if it ever came to that, that would be an option for them.

Jack

[scott_s]

I don't think they are hurting for revenue, but if it ever came to that, that would be an option for them.

Jack

Let's HOPE it never comes to that! They're bucking the trend by remaining privately-owned, debt-free, and focused on quality over volume.

- Scott

[fabandgear]

Personally, I think we're spoiled by what we can get for our dollar these days. I haven't done the numbers for Ricks, but at least in the Fender world, if you take 1950's prices and apply inflation, they would be priced like "boutique" guitars and amps are now! They were not cheap back then, either!

- Scott

I believe George Gruhn wrote about this a while back. Using several guitar models from Martin and Gibson that have been made for years, he factored in inflation and the buying power of the average consumer (amount of disposable income). His conclusion was that not only were the guitars he referenced about the same value as they were in years past, the average consumer of today has more disposable income to purchase them than they would have had years ago. I wish I could remember where I read this article. Gruhn made some pretty strong arguments!

[collin]

Personally, I think we're spoiled by what we can get for our dollar these days. I haven't done the numbers for Ricks, but at least in the Fender world, if you take 1950's prices and apply inflation, they would be priced like "boutique" guitars and amps are now! They were not cheap back then, either!

- Scott

I believe George Gruhn wrote about this a while back. Using several guitar models from Martin and Gibson that have been made for years, he factored in inflation and the buying power of the average consumer (amount of disposable income). His conclusion was that not only were the guitars he referenced about the same value as they were in years past, the average consumer of today has more disposable income to purchase them than they would have had years ago. I wish I could remember where I read this article. Gruhn made some pretty strong arguments!

Yup.

Why do you think there are so many worn "relic" guitars from back then? Because many people could only afford one guitar and they played the heck out of it.


Inflation is an imporant factor. If you adjust it, a standard Ric (like a 330 or 1997RM) cost over $3000.