It´s curious. See, suppose you live in Spain and want to buy a set of Rickenbacker strings for your Ricks. You contact the spanish distributor and they couldn´t care less, they just don´t know a thing about Ric strings, nor they will order the strings for you (I laugh at it now, but I remember that once, years ago, I phoned this distributor to ask a question about a Rick and the old lady that answered the phone said: "Rick... what?". No joking).
Well, you won´t get your strings in Spain, so you try to buy then in the States. But the stores that sell Ric strings can not sell them outside the USA, so they use to answer with the suggestion that you should contact your local distributor... full circle!
Would somebody please tell me where can I get my Ric strings?
No Ric strings for the spanish Ric players?
Moderators: rickenbrother, ajish4
Sure, Mr. Hall, I called at 'Keller'. They are in a beautiful village by the sea, not far to where I live. I even have relatives there. I bought one of my first guitars (a spanish-type 'Admira', made by 'Keller') from them. I have phoned them and write to them along the years and believe me, they are not doing a great labour distributing Rickenbackers products in Spain. Yes, I know there is not a great market here, but I´m not surprised, for they don´t put a lot of care in their job. That´s from my point of view as a costumer, obviously you know better.
As for the strings... well, I don´t know what are they doing with them, but certainly they are not selling them!
As for the strings... well, I don´t know what are they doing with them, but certainly they are not selling them!
They must use them to tie up plants in their vineyards.
Actually, they're the last of our small independent distributors. Everywhere else is now covered by multi-country "super distributors" (or at least they will be following annoucements at Frankfurt). No doubt Spain and Portugal will eventually be covered this way. The good thing is a very big warehouse with more inventory and greater resources to provide service, but it might also not have great local presence. Prague is serviced from Bologna, for instance, but goods are available overnight.
Spain itself also makes it difficult to import goods. Even though it's part of the E.C. and should follow the same procedures as, say, Germany, it doesn't and there's much more paperwork involved with importing. For example, there's no other country in the world that still requires a "Statement of Homologation" to import goods. Governments typically do this to stem imports and the outward flow of cash.
Actually, they're the last of our small independent distributors. Everywhere else is now covered by multi-country "super distributors" (or at least they will be following annoucements at Frankfurt). No doubt Spain and Portugal will eventually be covered this way. The good thing is a very big warehouse with more inventory and greater resources to provide service, but it might also not have great local presence. Prague is serviced from Bologna, for instance, but goods are available overnight.
Spain itself also makes it difficult to import goods. Even though it's part of the E.C. and should follow the same procedures as, say, Germany, it doesn't and there's much more paperwork involved with importing. For example, there's no other country in the world that still requires a "Statement of Homologation" to import goods. Governments typically do this to stem imports and the outward flow of cash.
Anything that replaces 'Keller' as a Rickenbacker distributor will be good news to the spanish costumers. As for the difficult on goods importing, yes, you are right. I´m a lawyer and I´m into E.U law, and Spain is still backing the homologation affair firmly, although I have been told that this might change in a not too distant future.
Hi-
I'm a spanish Rickenbacker fan -and a lawyer, too, Miguel
. I'm just a newbie at this great forum. I've been reading for weeks, but now I think it's my time to write something.
I would like to confirm what Miguel posted: Keller is not doing a great labour distributing Rickenbackers products in Spain. I have now the same problem with my Rick 360/12CW to get new strings. I'll have to buy at juststrings.com or rics'r'us. But it's not only the strings.
Some months ago I wanted to purchase a new Rick, and I call them before, cos' I wanted to know what spanish shop would have the better Rickenbacker selection on store (here it's nearly impossible to find a shop where you have just a couple of 330 and a 360 in inventory).
And that "lady on the phone" simply didn't know. I had to make my own investigation, till I find New Phono shop in Barcelona (I think they were spanish distributor before) They have... a single 330 fireglo! I had to make a 1800 kms. travel to taste and purchase a Rick 330 (I've said I'm a fan, didn't I?).
As Miguel said, I wonder if it's a little market because of this: not to many people want to purchase a new guitar that cost a good amount of money, if they can't taste one before, or you can't find any at the music shops.
And it's got to be said: yes, there are many spanish Rickenbackers fans. We have one of the largest threads at spaniard guitar forum, just about Rickenbacker:
http://www.guitarramania.com/foros/viewtopic.php?t=10924. So I always thought the spanish market it's not big, but perhaps it's not so small as we believe: the kids are buying at Germany or UK.
That's my point of view as a customer, and I hope it can be helpful for Mr. Hall and Rickenbacker.
I'm a spanish Rickenbacker fan -and a lawyer, too, Miguel
. I'm just a newbie at this great forum. I've been reading for weeks, but now I think it's my time to write something. I would like to confirm what Miguel posted: Keller is not doing a great labour distributing Rickenbackers products in Spain. I have now the same problem with my Rick 360/12CW to get new strings. I'll have to buy at juststrings.com or rics'r'us. But it's not only the strings.
Some months ago I wanted to purchase a new Rick, and I call them before, cos' I wanted to know what spanish shop would have the better Rickenbacker selection on store (here it's nearly impossible to find a shop where you have just a couple of 330 and a 360 in inventory).
And that "lady on the phone" simply didn't know. I had to make my own investigation, till I find New Phono shop in Barcelona (I think they were spanish distributor before) They have... a single 330 fireglo! I had to make a 1800 kms. travel to taste and purchase a Rick 330 (I've said I'm a fan, didn't I?).
As Miguel said, I wonder if it's a little market because of this: not to many people want to purchase a new guitar that cost a good amount of money, if they can't taste one before, or you can't find any at the music shops.
And it's got to be said: yes, there are many spanish Rickenbackers fans. We have one of the largest threads at spaniard guitar forum, just about Rickenbacker:
http://www.guitarramania.com/foros/viewtopic.php?t=10924. So I always thought the spanish market it's not big, but perhaps it's not so small as we believe: the kids are buying at Germany or UK.
That's my point of view as a customer, and I hope it can be helpful for Mr. Hall and Rickenbacker.
Hello everyone
I’m Spanish too and I am the proud owner of three Ricks (350V63, 360 and 660/12) which I had to buy on line because never there is any Ricks available in my place (I don’t live in Madrid or Barcelona but an small island called Tenerife).
But despite this I find the kids reaction to the guitars is really great . “Woa!! That’s a Rickenbacker guitar! Where did you get that one, man?” When I told them I bought the guitars through internet they usually think it’s a very risky procedure.
So I’m agree with you: I’m positive sure the sales in my country aren’t much bigger because there isn’t enough guitars on the shops. The “good side” of this is Rickenbacker guitars have become a sort of legend in my place (almost as the atlantida myth!!)
It’s also sad you can find a lot of brand names guitar strings in the shops not only for guitar but even for banjo, mandolin…buy I’ve never seen a Rick strings package. Yes, I have to buy them abroad too and it is really expensive due to the shipping rates
That’s my humble opinion, I hope it helps to improve “Ricky-heads people” situation in my country.
PS: Hey! I’m a lawyer too!! Is that a coincidence?
I’m Spanish too and I am the proud owner of three Ricks (350V63, 360 and 660/12) which I had to buy on line because never there is any Ricks available in my place (I don’t live in Madrid or Barcelona but an small island called Tenerife).
But despite this I find the kids reaction to the guitars is really great . “Woa!! That’s a Rickenbacker guitar! Where did you get that one, man?” When I told them I bought the guitars through internet they usually think it’s a very risky procedure.
So I’m agree with you: I’m positive sure the sales in my country aren’t much bigger because there isn’t enough guitars on the shops. The “good side” of this is Rickenbacker guitars have become a sort of legend in my place (almost as the atlantida myth!!)
It’s also sad you can find a lot of brand names guitar strings in the shops not only for guitar but even for banjo, mandolin…buy I’ve never seen a Rick strings package. Yes, I have to buy them abroad too and it is really expensive due to the shipping rates
That’s my humble opinion, I hope it helps to improve “Ricky-heads people” situation in my country.
PS: Hey! I’m a lawyer too!! Is that a coincidence?
