RIC website

billikenn · Post by **billikenn** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 3:10 am

and how about a forum where Some educated employees offer advice on technical questions.

A poll on the frontpage to decide the next years special color from a list of choices...

there is all kinds of cool stuff that could be done with their site, but I must for what they do have I like it.

spencer · Post by **spencer** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 5:11 am

"and how about a forum where Some educated employees offer advice on technical questions."

Oh man.

We used to have that.

Look for the name Kenny Howes.

admin · Post by **admin** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 6:06 am

"and how about a forum where Some educated employees offer advice on technical questions"

Indeed!

While this is likely to be boring for some, let me make a not so brief comment.

In 1997 I started alt.guitar.rickenbacker, which seemed like a reasonable thing to do at the time. John Hall contributed in a meaningful way and for a brief period the participants didn't believe that it was the CEO of Rickenbacker. Who would take the time to do this? John Hall

In 1998 I started the Rickenbacker Registration Page and much valuable information was obtained for this site. And who provided much of this information? John Hall

In 2000, I created the Rickenbacker Forum and who provided many posts about RIC and its products? John Hall

Much time and energy went into these endeavours and we were fortune to have John Hall as a participant. To my chagrin on all too many occasions people who felt that they were entitled to say what they wanted offended Mr. Hall. I can't say as I blame him for not wanting to hear people complain about everything from a 5 cent screw to how he should run his company.

It is pretty much the same old story, a very small percentage of people feel that they can express their views regardless of the manner in which it may offend others. I am sure there is a Forum for this, however, I wish they had chosen one other than The Rickenbacker Forum.

So should the Admin person seem touchy on occasion, that is the reason. We can only hope that John Hall will find the time to post here sometime in the future. A handful of people can take the credit for driving Mr. Hall and others away. John, seeing as we are on the subject, I again apologize for the way in which you were treated.

doctorwho · Post by **doctorwho** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 1:30 pm

And I wish to apologize to John Hall for any offending comments made by others within this thread.

I'm not pointing the finger at anyone in particular, but as I read the comments, it became clear to me that some comments are very close to crossing that difficult-to-see line between commentary and criticism. Not that criticism is bad per se, but some of the wording could have been less harsh.

From my perspective, I figure that Rickenbacker International Inc. is not an ISP and does not have a person on staff whose sole purpose is to maintain, update, and embellish the website. I know how hard it is to maintain a personal website even at a beginner's level in my spare time. So I don't go to the RIC website with expectations of "new-and-improved", but rather accept it for what it is, a highly useful resource.

By the way, I recently went to the Gibson website, and I think it was far inferior to the RIC website in regard to finding useful information on parts!

Just my two cents' worth. Peace, all!

mrtidy · Post by **mrtidy** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 4:43 pm

ah c'mon, you MUST have a thick hide to even think about participating on an INTERNET bulletin board! And this is a sign-in ONLY board! If someone here has offended John Hall (who has participated on many internet boards) then his skin is not so thick!
John has helped me when I have a question, sometimes ignored me when I have a problem. (This is NOT really the place to address warranty problems with the CEO). And yes, I have had some "issues" with the Rickenbacker warranties!
I'm sure he will be quick to respond if someone posts something that is obviously slanderous (or even just "wrong').
All in all, the Rickenbacker CEO is very internet savvy . The website is Not updated often, because they sell a LOT of guitars with or without a current website.
P.s. I love my 360v64, 730 MG, and 4001. Soon I will get a 12 string...( Those are good too... right?)

rkbsound · Post by **rkbsound** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 5:32 pm

I think a crummy website adds an allure and mystique to the product.

tony_carey · Post by **tony_carey** » Wed Nov 24, 2004 12:05 am

I don't think that criticism is a problem, but getting personal is. It is difficult not to moan occasionally, when you care so much for the product & a dedicated forum is bound to attract, from time to time, moans & groans. I also think that it is quite easy to get caught up in the debate & perhaps write whilst forgetting that your comments can be viewed by others, not just the handful of people actually posting on a particular subject.
I have posted elsewhere on the forum that my own contact with JH has suggested that he is a very passionate man who takes his company very seriously. Being at the top, JH must get the flack for everything, but this thread seems a likely spot to remind ourselves that he does make the greatest guitars in the world, that attract not just players, but die hard enthusiasts. They are probably the most distinctive & revered gtrs. ever & the credit to Rickenbackers on-going commitment to ensure this continues, surely has to go to John Hall.
If we acknowledge this, then all our little moans & groans are put in their rightful place.

Thankyou Mr. Hall

melibreits · Post by **melibreits** » Wed Nov 24, 2004 7:32 am

Well said.... John, we really miss you!

lostwire · Post by **lostwire** » Wed Nov 24, 2004 8:12 am

Personally I too would love to see a revamped Rickenbacker web site because these days it really is your "face" for the world. An instrument like Rickenbacker won't usually be found in your local music store or even some of the big chains so web site is the only place most people can go to get information.

In addition to all the great things they have up already I'd really like to see nicer pictures of their current line in all the available finishes, with the option of clicking them for pop-up hi-res versions. The descriptions of these instruments should also be expanded upon because as of now they're all pretty vague aside from the stats. With such a rich history it would also be nice to see a more elaborate section detailing their previous models too - with nice big pictures when available. I'd really love to get lost on their site during slow days at work & read up on what they've offered & find out more about all the new models.

If it's a matter of finding the time to put it together themselves I'm sure if they made an announcement requesting help from their clientele they'd have a stack of emails from designers offering to lend them a hand. Maybe all it would take would be a tour of the factory or a reduced rate on a guitar.

tony_carey · Post by **tony_carey** » Wed Nov 24, 2004 8:46 am

I think what we are all trying to say is that the Ric site is not actually bad at all for a first visit, but it doesn't have the depth for repeated visits. The fact that it seems to change very rarely doesn't help either. When there is so much that could be done, it doesn't seem a bad idea to get help from a true enthusiast.

Applications in writing to.......!

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Wed Nov 24, 2004 10:54 am

I think the website is maintained by RIC staff - probably even JH himself. A week or so ago conflicting info from two different pages about finish colors was pointed out over on the bass forum. It was corrected the same day.

beatlefan · Post by **beatlefan** » Wed Nov 24, 2004 10:59 am

The RIC website is fine as it is....it just needs refreshing and some things updated.

Make no mistake, John does watch over this and other forums and he'll respond via e-mail to certain parties involved.....

He sent me an e-mail a few weeks ago during a brief "color of the year" discussion we were having here....I had suggested a color that changed hue depending on the angle it was being viewed from and he graciously replied that it wouldn't be cost effective. That particular type of paint cost a TREMENDOUS amount per gallon and would drive the price way beyond reason.....and he also mentioned that SOMEONE had already mentioned the new color of the year.....!!!

doctorwho · Post by **doctorwho** » Wed Nov 24, 2004 2:56 pm

John has granted me permission to post his reply to my comment earlier in this thread. Here it is:

You said:

"From my perspective, I figure that Rickenbacker International Inc. is
not an ISP and does not have a person on staff whose sole purpose is to
maintain, update, and embellish the website. "

I say:

Actually, we do have a full time IT guy and webmaster. We do act as our
own ISP, have redundant T1's, our own server farm that hosts half a
dozen websites and full datacenter facilities such as uninterruptible
power.

There's a full ASP website that been in coding for quite awhile now,
fully SQL driven by the corporate network. There's no other guitar site
like. It's funny, virtually every idea that everyoje put forward is
something we've looked at at least a year ago.

But the site has not been a priority- the internal network and how we
use it for production has been.

Thanks for the information, John!

86kubicki · Post by **86kubicki** » Thu Nov 25, 2004 5:32 am

As an IT person myself, I can certainly understand that network maintenence takes precedence over web page design. Hopefully we'll see a revamped RIC site in the not too distant future.
I'd also like to ask John H. to re-join the forum. Getting info straight from the source (see preceeding post), was one of John's great contributions. Maybe he can give us a hint as to what thread mentioned the 2005 Colour of the Year!

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Thu Nov 25, 2004 1:16 pm

Everyone likes a "visual website experience". Myself included. But there is an old saying that I personally think sums up Rickenbackers thinking.

"Speak softly and carry a big stick".

I'm proud to say I own 5 of their big sticks