Rickenbacker Choices

[rickaddict]

...The main, but not the only, reason I purchased both of these Ricks is because of their resale value. I figured if I'm gonna play bass in gigs twice a week, I might as well play something that will give me a profit after I'm too old to play anymore. (I'm 56 now ) Now I know both of the Ricks I have now will do that, but here's what I'm considering. There is a guy on TB who has a sweet 4008 4004L Mapleglo that is flawless for 1490 shipped. I'm wondering if I would benefit (long term) from having the Cheyenne and the Laredo, as opposed to the Cheyenne and the 4003? Opinions? Advice?
Jack

My quick $.02 is to keep the 4003. I mean, that's what you are considering, right...essentially trading the 4003 for the Laredo? This way you'll have two basses in your arsenal that are more different from each other (and hence, more versatility for you as a bass player).

My first thought is that the 4001/4003 series would hold it's value a little better because it is the quintessential Rick bass. The 4004 series is the other guy. The 4001/4003 is the safe bet.

Then again...look at the 4005. 20 years ago you couldn't give one away, and now a nice 70's example is worth around 3 times more than it's 4001 counterpart. So I guess you never know.

But really, the amount of profit or loss that you'll see on 2 new Rick basses over the next 20 years or so is probably not going to be significant enough to fret about (pun intended!) Buy what you like to play/hear.

[rickaddict]

Anyway, in Germany we have a word: "The last shirt you wear does not have any pockets!"

I like this!

[marc61]

I think this is a GREAT time for people with cash to buy vintage instruments. Last year it was hard to find deals on mid-70s 4001s less that say $1800-2000. I looked the other day and saw no less than 5 mid 70's jobs that had sold for around $1200 on Ebay .Nice examples too! Just the economy turning around should make your investments appreciate by 150%.

Keep in mind that Rics look and sound terrific, AND are generally valued less than 70's counterpart Fenders.

[berth]

I'm kind of thinking that 4004's, being almost rare, will be worth more than a standard production 4003 over time.
Look at what happened to the 480 guitars.. nobody wanted one when they were in production. (which I can understand completely - there - I said it)
Still, they fetch quite some money these days.

Still less than the normal Rick's from the same time.

[8mileshigher]

From the investment standpoint, don't most of you think that Ric instruments hold their value over the years? (Must be the "sustain" !) The value of Rics never tanked like the stock market did there in 2008-09. I think there have been a couple of threads on "investments" and Ric values.

[henry5]

I remember a time in the 80s in the UK when you couldn't give Rics away. Of course those who held onto them during that time have had their faith rewarded. It was also a great time to buy them!

[jdogric12]

I hate to be a downer but I think this economy is going to get much worse before it gets any better. Tony's right, play what you like. The 4003 might make you more money now, but I sold two, count em, two 4003S8's before they were discontinued and you couldn't hardly give em away. Now look at the stupid money they fetch. You never, never know.

[jfine]

20 years from now, who knows if there'll even be a vintage guitar market? I think the "blue chip" items like 'Bursts, blackguard Teles, '50's Strats, stack-knob Jazz Basses, '57-'61 Rick basses, etc. will hold their value as being the prime examples of their kind, but the vintage guitar market seems to be pretty well driven by us baby-boomers, and 20 years from now, I'll be 80! I hope I'll make it that far, and still be able to play, but you never know. The younger generation doesn't seem to be as much into guitars as we are/were--maybe the valuable vintage guitars twenty years from now will be Kramers and Ibanezes! And if the DJ's complete their takeover of live music, nobody will be playing instruments anyway. Perhaps the only way to make a vintage guitar viable for mid-21st -century msic will be to interface it with a computer--remember that virtually all the Stradivarius violins in use today were heavily modified sometime in the 18th century to enable them to be used for that new-fangled classical music, rather than the Baroque music they were designed for. And--will we see a return to the type of inflation that caused a Rickenbacker bass that sold for $400 in the late-'60's to go for over twice that 12 years later? Or the decline in quality that we saw in the '70's that created the vintage market in the first place? Based on my experience with my old '72 381 guitar, the new reissues are a lot better than the vintage ones, at least better than mine was!

[spongebob]

Every 4003 I've sold has gone for a profit.

The 2 4004's I owned and sold both went a loss.

Cheyennes or Laredos or one of each?

One of each!

Nice basses, but from a playing point of view I just prefer the feel/tone/look of the 4003.

Agree with most above - play what feels right....I've tried playing other, 'cheaper' basses, other brands and shapes, and utimately came to the conclusion that the 4003 is the only bass that really suits me, reagardless of value (and more's the pity...!) expense.