A classic bass versus a modern masterpiece.

[cassius987]

It's pretty amazing at the place where they talk about bass!

Funny thing, I do okay there. This other forum was small and insular but had a group of very vocal, very hateful members with not much opposition so not a day went by (it seemed) without some pretty outrageous statements about RIC, its staff, and/or its instruments. There were some real examples of lemons one of the good members brought up--he is a good friend--but the others took that stuff and ran and I never felt comfortable there again.

[rickenbrother]

It's pretty amazing at the place where they talk about bass!

Funny thing, I do okay there. This other forum was small and insular but had a group of very vocal, very hateful members with not much opposition so not a day went by (it seemed) without some pretty outrageous statements about RIC, its staff, and/or its instruments..

The main reason why I rarely go there.

[cassius987]

The main reason why I rarely go there.

I very clearly told the mods to wipe my account so I would have no incentive to return... I think that was at least a couple of years ago.

[johnhall]

I think the singer still has some moral objection to the way the company is run, for whatever reason. He used to work in the industry (some kind of higher-up at Fernandes). I'm trying not to put words in his mouth, but he seems to think that RIC underpays their people and that the company in general is just "weird" the way they conduct themselves.

I find your singer's comment quite strange. We're located here near both Fender and G&L, which is to say there's a fairly competitive situation for hiring workers. There's a certain amount of migration but most people that leave us for one of the other companies end up back re-interviewing with us eventually. We actually have almost minuscule turnover and many people with 20+ years of service. If we weren't paying competitive market wages, I don't think these facts would be true.

If we're weird for not doing business the same old way the others do business in our industry . . . well, then we're weird. On the other hand, we're probably the only maker in our industry that's had two back-to-back record years in this down economy, as well as hiring a number of new workers, rather than laying them off. Maybe those outfits should try "weird" (aka original thinking) and see how well it works.

[coolingitdown]

Yeah, he never seemed to want to fully explain his prejudices, and I was always skeptical of his opinions about RIC. Despite being a a producer of quality, high-end instruments, RIC has been recession-proof! How awesome is that!? It must be some kind of professional jealousy or something.

Heck, I even find myself navigating over every so often to see if there are any job openings at RIC because how cool would that be to work at RIC!? I love the products and would love to be surrounded by them all day!

[coolingitdown]

Despite being a a producer of quality, high-end instruments, RIC has been recession-proof!

And by that I mean that despite having less disposable income, more players are spending the money to get a Rick rather than buy something less expensive. Truly amazing!

[rickenbrother]

Jonathan, it sounds like your singer works for or spends too much time at a particular music chain store.

[jingle_jangle]

Yeah, he never seemed to want to fully explain his prejudices

Most I've met who express prejudice or have a negative opinion of Rickenbacker, either the company or the products, are spouting second- or third-hand nonsense, or have an exaggerated sense of their own self-worth vis-a-vis the music world. Often it's both.

Interestingly, also in my experience, there's a Rickenbacker "type" of musician, and then there's everybody else. It works out to those who get it and those who don't.

Despite being a a producer of quality, high-end instruments, RIC has been recession-proof! How awesome is that!?

Conservative management using proven methods, avoiding both overexpansion and placing capital and stock at risk, means that RIC is a company that is firmly in control of its own present and future, rather than having to account to banks and stockholders.

It must be some kind of professional jealousy or something.

What else is new? Except that jealousy is not really professional.

[johnhall]

Well, since you mentioned that your singer worked at Fernandes . . . there is the possibility that I did indeed exhibit a less than professional situation with them once.

Perhaps 20 years ago, they had a small booth near ours at the Frankfurt Musik Messe. They put out on display a direct Model 325 copy; I in turn provided them with a copy of the trademark registration and politely asked them to remove it and they did put it away.

When I came by later, it was back out, so I spoke with a police officer (trademark infringement is a criminal act in Germany) who asked them to take it down and again they did.

But, of course, it appeared again at some point. I found "Mr. Fernandes", actually a little Japanese man, picked up the guitar, and in not so polite words told him exactly where in his body I was going to install it if I saw it again. There was some pantomime involved since he didn't speak much English. He was quite terrified.

Later that day, just as I was exiting the bathroom, he was coming in; when he saw me, he turned around and ran away, so I hope he didn't have an urgent need.

[nukebass]

This topic has been interesting to me since I am thinking of going in the opposite direction. I can't get a consistent sound I like out of one of my basses and am thinking about selling it and getting a Precision. If the market was better now, I would give it more serious thought. With conditions as they are, I will probably hold on to it for a while longer and maybe discover a sound I like. Nobody is crazy for playing a bass with a sound he/she likes, despite what others' opinions may be.

[jingle_jangle]

Well, that kills any riffing I would have done on John's post.

Timing is everything...

[Clint]

Interestingly, also in my experience, there's a Rickenbacker "type" of musician, and then there's everybody else. It works out to those who get it and those who don't.

And just what exactly is that "type"? You may riff on that if you like.

[jingle_jangle]

Gee, thanks for the humor, Clint!

[rickenbrother]

Later that day, just as I was exiting the bathroom, he was coming in; when he saw me, he turned around and ran away, so I hope he didn't have an urgent need.

After all the times he put the copy back up for display, I'd be hoping he had an extremely dire need!

[Lefty4001]

No urge to give the copy a Townshend Treatment?