Best shop to order from - Environmental Concerns

[Kingbreaker]

Hi folks. ..

So I've narrowed down my choices for a new Rick to replace my '02 MG330. Her name was Emma - may she provide joyous music wherever she is.

Here's my issue:

I live in Vermont. I am tempted to order from a certain store in Colorado because they have my desired model in stock, and they also appear to have the best prices. My concern is that the climate is so different that I would experience more problems with setup, neck tension, and so forth. We have a lot of humidity. . . Colorado can be dry as a bone. There are other dealers in more humid places . . . is this even worth stressing about or is the bullet ready to be bitten?

To restate it in a general way, are modern ricks very susceptible to climactic differences?

[jdawe]

I can only speak from my own limited experience, but I've never had any issues with my 1996 620-6 or my 2009 620-12, which I've had for about 1 1/2 years and 1 year respectively. I live in Toronto, where we have humid summers and fairly cold, dry winters. I don't do anything special to humidify or dehumidify the room where my guitars live, and haven't had any significant issues. For a couple of days during a particularly humid stretch last summer the 620-6 experienced a bit of fret buzz, but it soon went away before I got around to making any neck adjustments.

I suspect the semi-hollows may be a bit more susceptible since there is more surface area for moisture to be absorbed and released.

However, both my guitars were setup either locally or in a place with a similar climate (New Jersey), and it may be that a guitar set up in arid Colorado may need some work once it acclimatizes to your location. I expect others will chime in with better first-hand information.

[eljayski]

i've purchased two rics from a certain shop in colorado and they both needed setups, post-purchase, which the certain shop provided hassle free. i've also purchased two rics from a certain shop in ky that were perfectly set up upon arrival in colorado and remain so.

my two points are (1) the colorado seller seems not to do setups pre-delivery. maybe if you ask, they will before they ship. (2) going from humid ol' kentucky to dry ol' colorado bothered those rics not at all.

i'd bet that a colorado setup will survive just fine in vermont.

good luck w/ your quest! eljayski

[Wurlitzer]

I shipped and received rickenbackers from all over USA and Japan and was more concerned about the shipping company damaging the box than the climate differences. Just acclimate it when you get it.

[jwilli]

This is the same reason that Paul McCartney decided not to receive his '64 40001S until a year later.

NOT!

No reason to worry. Order away!

[jimk]

I guess my experience is germain. I bought my Rick from a dealer in Pennsylvania, and it arrived in Kansas (north east part of the state, very humid in the summers) in fine condition. So it made the trip from Santa Ana, CA (very dry) to PA, and then halfway in between to KS. I wouldn't worry too much.
JimK