Have we become jaded?

[sloop_john_b]

In egosheep's thread about Johnny Marr's guitars, there was mention of a Johnny Marr signature Fender Jaguar debuting at NAMM this year. Marr being one of my favorite guitarists (and the Jaguar being one of my favorite guitars), this was a most exciting revelation! However, it got me ta' thinking.

Here we are, just about two weeks before the NAMM show - typically a time of year in which there is excitement bubbling in regards to the debut of new products. Yet there has been zero speculation on this forum as to what to expect from RIC this year. Have we come to expect nothing more then, at most, the discontinuation of certain models? Remember the endless guessing as to what the next Color of the Year would be? Heck, even the "new model" guessing game - Capri reissue, 4001v68, etc. - seems to have ground to a halt.

I can remember a time only 4-5 years ago when I was so excited during NAMM weekend I would have trouble falling asleep at night. Calling dealers first thing in the morning to place my order for a brand new Blue Boy, Blueburst, or AFG. The magic seems to be gone around here.

[simer4001]

I suppose it has to do with the backlog. With it still being a 2 year wait, most of us just assume that RIC will be trying to put a dent in that. I also think that some may be getting a bit bored with the speculation threads about what new is coming from RIC because it probably isn't coming.

Thats just my take. I'm fine with the course they are taking. It gives me time to catch up on the guitars I still need to acquire before worrying about new gear.

[scotty]

The magic is gone John but if there is a light that never goes out i want a White 330 without the Black hard-wear.Have a great new year everyone.Actually a nice white Tele would do the trick also..

[jingle_jangle]

The magic is far from gone, Scottie. But it's kind of refreshing to not see a bunch of speculation that flies in the face of reality.

My own earnest wish for post-NAMM 2011 is, simply, to catch up.

[electrofaro]

Is it bad if RIC doesn't come with something new? I doubt it - they have a fine range of quality products for which there is a good market.

Personally I never followed NAMM - maybe because I live in Europe, but new product releases never made me go wild anyway. I remember the time before the Euro, a time when Ricks were unaffordable for me. As long as I can go out and find my favourite Rick brandnew in a shop I'm happy and the magic's still there.

[rickenbrother]

Is it bad if RIC doesn't come with something new?

It's not bad if RIC does not come out with something new. Look at the 4004 series. Killer basses, yet looked by most because they aren't just like the 4003.
With the approximate 2 year backlog and economy the way it is, things are going well. for RIC. So this might not be a good time to develop and launch a new instrument or two that everyone will look at and say, "Oh that's nice, but it isn't the 400X or 3X0 or 6X0..."

[ozover50]

I've come to expect nothing new from RIC at NAMM but I put it down to the backlog and their efforts to reduce it. That's fair enough in my book.... if they can't meet demand now, why create more and make life more difficult for themselves and more frustrating for their fans.

Of course if a surprise offering comes along then I'll be all eyes and ears!!

[sloop_john_b]

Has the backlog been reduced any?

[weemac]

Heres one that would warm the heart of all Rickenbacker fans......
VP option on any model!

Eden.

[cjj]

Has the backlog been reduced any?

Apparently. You can actually find Ricks in stock at dealers, so it would seem that at least some headway is being made.

I'm just happy that RIC is doing well in these tough economic times, allowing them to continue making the instruments we all love. Some day, I'm sure they'll be offering special models again, but until then, I'm just happy to see that they're still going strong...

[egosheep]

The backlog situation is frustrating, and it would indeed be interesting to see if the 10%, then 20% price increase a while back did anything to alleviate the situation. Obviously this is a good problem for RIC to have, but from a fanboy perspective it does get a little old. It does seem like at some point, the backlog would have to be solved(and I know this is obviously a priority for JH). Ric has had promotional pushes in the past, cool new models and lines like the C series, but this backlog is like being trapped in limbo. When does it become bad for business? The issue I see is under the current situation, anything "cool" and exciting for us as fans, is deemed bad for RIC because it causes more interest, more orders and more of a backlog.

One thing that I remember you mentioning last year, JB, was the tooling costs mentioned when reissue threads come up. I think the F series was the example you gave, and it was a good one: In the CNC era, it should be very simple to scan and cut out a billet guitar that has no ramp and no contours. Make a long trapeze and you're done.

Granted, there is a backlog now, but at the point when it has been solved, I see no other barriers to such a reissue. It doesn't seem like the production costs would be any more than a 330, and in some ways it seems they would be less. Since there are several C-series guitars that are now discontinued, it would be great to get one of the other classics from RIC's history back on the production line.

[winston]

Heres one that would warm the heart of all Rickenbacker fans......
VP option on any model!

Eden.

Where's the like button when you need it? Oh wait this is not facebook.

[rickenbrother]

Heres one that would warm the heart of all Rickenbacker fans......
VP option on any model!

Eden.

Where's the like button when you need it? Oh wait this is not facebook.

See, that's what happens when you've got the RRF and FB open at the same time!

[jps]

Personally I never followed NAMM - maybe because I live in Europe....

You folks have this, however!

[winston]

Thomas,

Backlog aside for a moment: I will presume that you, like me are not privy to any marketing research to see if re-tooling for an F model guitar is even viable. I would bet however, that RIC has looked at this model at some point in the past and has considered the potential start up costs. If they have indeed considered reintroducing this model, I would suspect that the results were not favourable, otherwise we would have seen some evidence of their resurgence.

This is a general observation and not made to anyone in particular at this juncture: Let's not second guess RIC or try to tell them how to run their business. It never goes over well with their management.