BREAKING UP NICE OLD RICKS FOR PROFIT...

[cjj]

This idiot

You're doing him a disservice. He's not an "idiot" and thinking of him that way is silly, we may not like what he's doing but unlike everyone else trying to sell expensive guitars on eBay right now, this guy is actaully turning a substantial profit and consistently sells his inventory. Do you blame the person providing the service or the people buying from him? It's your perogative not to sell to this person if you don't like what he's going to do with your instrument and I wholeheartedly dissaprove of the cheap tactics he uses to buy from people who would otherwise recognize and not sell to him, however, let's not make cheap shots.

Well said...

[collin]

This idiot

You're doing him a disservice. He's not an "idiot" and thinking of him that way is silly, we may not like what he's doing but unlike everyone else trying to sell expensive guitars on eBay right now, this guy is actaully turning a substantial profit and consistently sells his inventory. Do you blame the person providing the service or the people buying from him? It's your perogative not to sell to this person if you don't like what he's going to do with your instrument and I wholeheartedly dissaprove of the cheap tactics he uses to buy from people who would otherwise recognize and not sell to him, however, let's not make cheap shots.

Very true...

Can't comment on the guy's business practices (never bought from him, or sold anything), but there are a LOT of other factors that need to be addressed as to why a Rickenbacker is often worth more dead than alive.

He's not an idiot, he's a profiteer. Obviously, he wouldn't do this if it wasn't lucrative, and like it or not.....many other people out there wouldn't think twice about breaking up a perfect guitar if it meant profit. That's not my opinion, just the facts.

I don't worry if he'll buy one of my guitars and part it out....because if I'm concerned for that guitar, I don't sell it.

[woodyng]

Playing Devil's Advocate, ,there is a certain bass for sale in his home state i wish he Would buy and part out....i would love to have just the body.......

[RicukStu]

This idiot

You're doing him a disservice. He's not an "idiot" and thinking of him that way is silly, we may not like what he's doing but unlike everyone else trying to sell expensive guitars on eBay right now, this guy is actaully turning a substantial profit and consistently sells his inventory. Do you blame the person providing the service or the people buying from him? It's your perogative not to sell to this person if you don't like what he's going to do with your instrument and I wholeheartedly dissaprove of the cheap tactics he uses to buy from people who would otherwise recognize and not sell to him, however, let's not make cheap shots.

Nah, f**k that. He IS an idiot. An idiot for ruining perfectly good Rickenbacker/Gibson/Fender guitars just for a few $100 dollars profit. The problem is him and not the people that buy from him. This guy is motivated 100% by money, he couldn't give a flying frack about the work and effort that goes into making great instruments. Who cares about if this is a cheap shot or not, just one look at the amount of negative feedback comments this guy has should convince anyone thinking about buying something from him what an idiot he is.

[BAD RONBO, KiLLeR DWaRfS]

short of the jackplate, imho, and i discussed this with brian morton last weekend, yes , it's sad to see a perfectly good example sold off as parts, but if it helps restore 10 incomplete original ricks you can't otherwise get parts for, is it not worth it ??? yes he gets money, and some happy campers get parts they've been searching 20 years for.

[RicukStu]

The guy has two Ric jack plates up for sale, one listed as a 2001 plate the other a 2012. Both of the pics in the listings show a jack plate from a 2007 350/6 V63 which he has butchered! What a douche It's stupid stuff like this that gives him such frequent negative feedback.
So many of his feedbacks have complaints regarding differences in actual recieved items from what was actually listed. If we all took time to check his listings and find mistakes surely we'd have the ammunition to get him kicked from eBay?

[jdogric12]

This idiot

You're doing him a disservice. He's not an "idiot" and thinking of him that way is silly, we may not like what he's doing but unlike everyone else trying to sell expensive guitars on eBay right now, this guy is actaully turning a substantial profit and consistently sells his inventory. Do you blame the person providing the service or the people buying from him? It's your perogative not to sell to this person if you don't like what he's going to do with your instrument and I wholeheartedly dissaprove of the cheap tactics he uses to buy from people who would otherwise recognize and not sell to him, however, let's not make cheap shots.

Well said...

+1

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.p ... e+The+Game

[wim]

Take into consideration that all these 'valuable' instruments were bought for very low prices, in order to be able to turn a profit.
This questions the value of the instruments off course.
Anyone who has a heartache of seeing this happen could either buy the poor instruments themselves or set up an organisation to do so.

[collin]

Take into consideration that all these 'valuable' instruments were bought for very low prices, in order to be able to turn a profit.

Not only that..... the instruments are largely purchased on eBay - the same place they're later broken for profit.

I see a lot of people upset by these guitars, but not a lot of people stepping up to the plate and "rescuing" them. Do it!

[GIBrat51]

Take into consideration that all these 'valuable' instruments were bought for very low prices, in order to be able to turn a profit.

Not only that..... the instruments are largely purchased on eBay - the same place they're later broken for profit.

I see a lot of people upset by these guitars, but not a lot of people stepping up to the plate and "rescuing" them. Do it!

+1
I must say, first of all, that I also think it's a shame that perfectly playable instruments (especially RICs) get treated this way. However... As some of you have said, he is simply filling a need in the marketplace. My father did the same thing, years ago, with Volkswagens. Some parts were impossible to get otherwise, if you were trying to restore one (try finding parts for a '67 Beetle, for example - nothing from any other year will fit), and they were worth a lot more parted out than not. Sad to say, same with most manufactured items; and all emotions aside, that's what a Rickenbacker, or any other instrument, is - a manufactured item.

As for the arguments put forth defending Mr. Hall's policy about TRC's and other parts; it's his company, and his decision. Yes, that policy does fuel the demand for parts from parted-out RICs, and a market need for guys like this to fill, but obviously Mr. Hall considers the alternatives to be worse for him; so be it. As the Golden Rule says: "He who has the gold, makes the rules". Personally, I don't care about other people's Fenders, or Gibsons, or Rickenbackers, and I don't care how many Partscasters, Pseudo-Gibsons, or Fakenbackers are around for clueless people to buy. I care about my instruments, and if the only way to get genuine parts for my stuff is from guys like this, well, c'est la vie. I learned the hard way many years ago, to look after my own butt, 'cause nobody else cares about it more than I do. If I need parts like TRCs, I'll get them however I can - short of stealing yours, of course.

[tomt3]

Sorry folks, I hope I didn't offend anyone, but I call 'em like I see 'em, and I stand by my comment. Maybe it's not politically correct to call someone an idiot, but we've all been called worse. No need for an elaborate response here, I simply strongly disagree with the practice. Funny how one strong comment can totally reverse the tone of the thread...

[kiramdear]

We leave no turn unstoned.

[jingle_jangle]

While we surely don't mean "idiot" in any literal sense, the meaning is accurately conveyed. My own experiences with this dishonest character should inform anyone who deals with him. Of course he is "filling a need", but that in itself is the single lowest-level definition of capitalist enterprise, and tends to be the province of the cynically-minded profiteer. Some of us are outraged because his cynicism is the polar opposite of our own appreciation of beauty and quality of construction. Our instruments are the product of thoughtful human effort, and as such products they represent well that effort and thought and reflect those attributes to anyone sensitive enough to understand and appreciate them.

Assisted by Gareth Holder, I did rescue one instrument from this butcher. I am glad we did, and it'll be in my own collection for some time.

[Ontario_RIC_fan]

Assisted by Gareth Holder, I did rescue one instrument from this butcher. I am glad we did, and it'll be in my own collection for some time.

I felt exactly the same mixed feelings when i bought the parted out 2002 BG 620 from him. On one level i felt sorry to reward his destruction of the guitar, but on the other i was able to get an instrument i wanted "peace meal" as i could afford to pay for it. In the end it cost the same as if i had won the original auction (when the butcher bought it).

I just felt this immediate "emotional" reaction - this guitar must be saved - it must not be scattered to the winds - it must go back to exactly as it was. BIN also had that immediate gratification - click and it was mine with the correct jackplate.

It took almost a year but today it is back to factory spec... And is in that sense a victory. I play it everyday so it must be a favorite.

[rickyfricky]

My $ .02: It's not only what you do, it's how you do it.

I bought a used RIC bass case (the newer style) from the JB. By checking his feedback, and from what I read about him here, I assumed it would be a bit of a crapshoot.

I asked him about its condition, and was given somewhat vague answers. It arrived with a crack and two of its feet pushed in. There was no protective packing (bubblewrap, etc.) in the box when it was shipped. Dollars-to-donuts this case was sold to me ("in good condition with a few surface scratches") with this damage pre-existing: I don't believe it happened in shipping.

Bottom line: This dude's slicker than puppy s#!t in the rain. Caveat emptor.