Rickenbacker back at Guitar Center

[Joseph Higginbotham]

I was glad to see Ricks (includng the 620 solid body) in my latest Guitar Center mailer!

[type79]

Not to be flip, but what importance is it that a "Big Box" musical instrument retailer that has helped drive smaller personalized stores out of business is once again selling Rick's?

[deaconblues]

Not to be flip, but what importance is it that a "Big Box" musical instrument retailer that has helped drive smaller personalized stores out of business is once again selling Rick's?

It's of a lot of importance to people who might not otherwise be able to see a Rickenbacker, let alone play one.

[kennyhowes]

Not to be flip, but what importance is it that a "Big Box" musical instrument retailer that has helped drive smaller personalized stores out of business is once again selling Rick's?

It's of a lot of importance to people who might not otherwise be able to see a Rickenbacker, let alone play one.

+1

[jdogric12]

This argument would be better fueled at thegearpage.net

[Grey]

I'd love to hear from John Hall about anything he's willing to share behind the scenes. As I recall, it was once said that Guitar Center would never carry Rickenbacker instruments again. This is good news.

More visibility, more exposure, more people getting the chance to play Rickenbackers. Being able to reccomend a Rickenbacker guitar without needing Mapquest to hunt down a place that actaully has one isn't bad either.

[johnhall]

I'd love to hear from John Hall about anything he's willing to share behind the scenes. As I recall, it was once said that Guitar Center would never carry Rickenbacker instruments again. This is good news.

The full quote was that Rickenbacker would never permit Guitar Center to carry the brand as long as Marty Alberson (their former CEO) was there. We're now two CEO's on from him. I might have extended that to include someone else that's still there in a management position but I can only see a positive effort on their part to work with us and represent us well.

[Folkie]

I'd say it's been over ten years since regular (non-Platinum) Guitar Centers have carried Rickenbacker guitars. I think the fact that they now sell new Rics is good news for all of us. Musician's Friend has been a Ric dealer for years. Why shouldn't Guitar Center, which is run by the same company, sell new Rics? And what better way to shop for a Ric than to try out some of the new models? If you spring for one, GC will give you a 30-day return policy, which allows much more security than the 48 hour return policy typical of "high end" Ric dealers. Thanks for posting this thread; I think this is cause for celebration!

[manta]

I only see used ones on the website. I like GC as it ships to Guam and MF hasn't figured out how to use the post office yet.

[johnhall]

I'd say it's been over ten years since regular (non-Platinum) Guitar Centers have carried Rickenbacker guitars. I think the fact that they now sell new Rics is good news for all of us.

Let's be very clear here- only a certain number of non-Platinum stores have been authorized to handle Rickenbacker, whereas all Platinum stores do. Store were chosen so as to widen the scope of Rickenbacker access, without damaging existing dealerships.

Musician's Friend has been a Ric dealer for years. Why shouldn't Guitar Center, which is run by the same company, sell new Rics?

Until recently, Musician's Friend was an entirely autonomous operation, with their own staff, warehouses, and policies. We never had an problems with them. However, more recently it's all been merged and consolidated together and fortunately not really in a bad way.

I only see used ones on the website. I like GC as it ships to Guam and MF hasn't figured out how to use the post office yet.

Odd, as Musician's Friend's staff and warehouse does all the fulfillment for Guitar Center dot Com, or so I was told. It's possible it's a contractual or nexus thing

[paologregorio]

To paraphrase Cure frontman Robert Smith, some people must be shopping at Guitar Center. . . .

[aceonbass]

If you spring for one, GC will give you a 30-day return policy, which allows much more security than the 48 hour return policy typical of "high end" Ric dealers.

This was part of the problem with GC in the first place. Once a Rick is sold, the warranty period starts. If it's returned within 30 days, warranty registered or not, it's now a USED guitar with NO manufactures warranty. How much would you pay for a Rick that's been sitting in the store, purchased, played, and returned without a warranty? I don't blame RIC here, but the buyer and GC's liberal return policy. Hopefully GC's old practice of pricing the case separately is a thing of the past too.

[jwilli]

I believe that the warranty starts from the date the guitar was finished, not sold. Am I crazy? Hold it..don't answer that.

[aceonbass]

Ya know, I think it does start from the date of manufacture (an odd practice), but it's still not transferable to the second purchaser.

[johnhall]

As stated elsewhere, Guitar Center had to agree to a fairly long list of points that we raised to make them conform to the practices of the rest of our dealers. I feel it's a new day with them.