An E-Mail I sent to Rickenbacker

philipharris · Post by **philipharris** » Sat Dec 11, 2004 12:17 pm

Perhaps the C64 came out of a surplus of left hand necks in the factory from the V63 run? Or they needed to justify keeping them in production?

jmh · Post by **jmh** » Sat Dec 11, 2004 3:01 pm

A Skyline is about half the cost of an American Lakland, I figure. But I was mostly referring to a V68 type bass with all the bells and whistles.
Someone can do it, and someone can make sure it's done right. It of course can't come out of California. If Lakland fans are buying the Skyline's, and raving about them, this too could happen, at least in theory. It also can be priced reasonably (being Korean) for such a bass (under $1600?). It's not about the price, as much as expanding the choice of styles in good quality authorized basses.

jps · Post by **jps** » Sat Dec 11, 2004 6:20 pm

It's not going to happen. If you really want a Korean bass, you will have to get any other brand, just not a Rickenbacker.

dave4004 · Post by **dave4004** » Sat Dec 11, 2004 7:11 pm

Right you are, Jeff. Rickenbacker is not going to have any "authorized" versions made by anyone else anywhere. It's not just a matter of being Made in USA, it's a point of pride that if the instrument says Rickenbacker that means it's made by RIC in their factory, not farmed out.

Once again: it's not gonna happen.

incubus2432 · Post by **incubus2432** » Sun Dec 12, 2004 12:00 pm

If they came out with an import model....no matter what the costs/reasons....it would disappoint me greatly. I'm not even sure of exactly why. It just seems wrong to me to even think about it.

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Sun Dec 12, 2004 1:07 pm

Rickenbacker is, for better or worse, an american institution.

rickenbrother · Post by **rickenbrother** » Sun Dec 12, 2004 1:46 pm

Dave 4004 said: "it's a point of pride that if the instrument says Rickenbacker that means it's made by RIC in their factory, not farmed out."
I couldn't agree more. These USA based companies have authorized copies of their instrument made in other countries. A Skyline may very well a nice bass guitar, but it is probably made in the same factory, by the same manufacturer that makes instruments for other manufacturers as well as their own, not by Dan Lakin. I can't see spending that kind of money on a copy of an instrument when I can get a great one for a comparable price or less that has been made in it's home factory in the USA.
It has been necessary for most of these companies to make instrumnts overseas or they would have gone out of business.
I hope RIC never has to resort to making instruments in other countries, but I would understand it if had to happen.

jmh · Post by **jmh** » Sun Dec 12, 2004 2:59 pm

What about Sadowsky Metro basses?

rickenbrother · Post by **rickenbrother** » Sun Dec 12, 2004 3:40 pm

The Sadowsky Metro basses are made in Tokyo, Japan, not in NYC USA like the real Sadowsky basses.

jmh · Post by **jmh** » Sun Dec 12, 2004 6:32 pm

I was trying to point out yet another American company making basses abroad that have suceeded in producing a good product. We certainly don't need a 4003 made abroad, it's easily available here in the good ole US of A. Rickenbacker will most likely never produce basses outside of the USA. "In a different reality", would you consider buying an authorized V68 or v73 made overseas with the same level of quality that Skylines and Metros are made? It's just a hypothetical question, assuming the overseas cost of production would yield a bass at about half of what it would cost to produce here.

brianb · Post by **brianb** » Sun Dec 12, 2004 8:54 pm

Jack
I've seen your rational before and I understand its logic.
However, I've also seen things slowly disappear and never "really" return. ( I grew up in Springfield MA). It must be tremendously difficult for JH and RIc not to start down this path of obvious financial gain. But once you take that step... Hell... I support Farm Aid. .
maybe we need a Guitar Aid. I saw some guitars in Walmart yesterday.

jmh · Post by **jmh** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 4:23 am

Brian, I hadn't thought of it that way. Point taken.

kbhag · Post by **kbhag** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 5:32 am

I received a personal reply from Mr. John Hall concerning my posting of 12/10/2004. I would ask him if he would allow me to post that reply e-mail here for everyone to see.
Kenny
[email protected]

86kubicki · Post by **86kubicki** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 11:12 am

Kenneth - you may need to ask John Hall's permission directly rather than through this forum. I'd be very interested in seeing his response.

philipharris · Post by **philipharris** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 3:29 pm

Nice to hear JH is still watching the boards. Best of the season to you, Mr Hall.