New 4001C64 that's 2 yrs. Old
Moderators: rickenbrother, ajish4
What happens in the case of a purchase that the customer is not happy with and wants to return the instrument within the dealers return priviledge time? With the warranty card filled out by the dealer, wouldn't that create a potential problem, as in "final sale, no returns" becuase the warranty card was already filled out?
Yes, it did, which is why we deleted this provision, as I said. But in any case, once that card is returned to us, whoever does so, the instrument has been sold and can't be sold again as new.
Too bad guitars don't have odometers: it'd be interesting to see how many miles they rack up after being out repeatedly under 30 day return policies.
Too bad guitars don't have odometers: it'd be interesting to see how many miles they rack up after being out repeatedly under 30 day return policies.
With the help from a friend, I got my '98 4003 FG *NEW* in '02. She stayed in stock for 4 years at a Northridge, CA store before becoming mine. I love her to death even though she was 4 years old already when I got her!
When I expressed my suspicion of the bass pickup being probably defeated (output level lower than that of the treble pickup) in this forum, Mr. Hall graciously offered to get me a new one in exchange of the original although it was 4 years after the bass was made and that my country was not covered by neither the North American nor the Japanese regional warranty. Mr. Hall tested the original bass pickup and found it totally OK but sent me a new one anyway.
Like Bob Young said, a setup on a new instrument by the owner him/herself is a given because the factory default setup might not suit everyone's taste and playing style---some like it high with much neck relief while some like it low with an absolutely straight neck. So Bob, you might fall in love with your C64 after tightening the truss rods, lowering the bridge a little and re-intonating the baby.
And like you Bob, I prefer to see the warranty card coming with the bass in one piece and then mail it to RIC. That's part of the thrill of being the owner of a new instrument. I actually didn't send in the card of my '98 since I didn't live in the US. Got to keep it in one piece heheh!
Please keep us posted on the dealer's explanation.
Congratulations on your new acquisition should you decide to keep it!
When I expressed my suspicion of the bass pickup being probably defeated (output level lower than that of the treble pickup) in this forum, Mr. Hall graciously offered to get me a new one in exchange of the original although it was 4 years after the bass was made and that my country was not covered by neither the North American nor the Japanese regional warranty. Mr. Hall tested the original bass pickup and found it totally OK but sent me a new one anyway.
Like Bob Young said, a setup on a new instrument by the owner him/herself is a given because the factory default setup might not suit everyone's taste and playing style---some like it high with much neck relief while some like it low with an absolutely straight neck. So Bob, you might fall in love with your C64 after tightening the truss rods, lowering the bridge a little and re-intonating the baby.
And like you Bob, I prefer to see the warranty card coming with the bass in one piece and then mail it to RIC. That's part of the thrill of being the owner of a new instrument. I actually didn't send in the card of my '98 since I didn't live in the US. Got to keep it in one piece heheh!
Please keep us posted on the dealer's explanation.
Congratulations on your new acquisition should you decide to keep it!
Thanks Paul, they are somewhat comforting words.
I received an explanation, and I am satsified with it.
Here it is:
The warranty on your bass starts with the retail purchase date. This has no bearing on the warranty in any way.
This is a mistatement on my part, so I am correcting this after carefully rereading the warranty statement in the RIC website. There are still at least three years of warranty on materials and workmanship on the bass I sent you. You will see this warranty statement below, copied from the RIC website.
RIC's "manufacture date" is typically 3-6 months prior to the date the product is actually shipped to a dealer by RIC.
Fender Gretsch and Hofner guitars come with a one year warranty, so this is really quite a generous warranty from RIC.
==================================================================
Warranty Information and Procedures
North American Limited Warranty
Rickenbacker International Corp. guarantees all instruments to be free from defective materials and workmanship to the original purchaser for five years, except for the finish, which is guaranteed for one year. This warranty begins upon the date of manufacture as stamped on the warranty card.
==================================================================
I have decided to keep it. I really like the slimmer neck, and love the reverse headstock. The MapleGlow is somewhat of a plain Jane considering there is no binding. FireGlow would certainly be more flashy but I couldn't see spraying over the beautiful walnut wings on the headstock. What really would be cool IMO would be a model like the 4004 Cheynenne that has the walnut wings on both the headstock and body with the reverse headstock and the 4001 pickups, but than again it would be a reissue
Anyway, I'm not yet ready to give my thoughts on the pickups because I plan on swapping out the Ric roundwounds for some Pyramid flats that Jim Glenn so graciously gave to me.
Pics below, and many thanks for everyone's words
http://photobucket.com/albums/v324/lowendbob/
I received an explanation, and I am satsified with it.
Here it is:
The warranty on your bass starts with the retail purchase date. This has no bearing on the warranty in any way.
This is a mistatement on my part, so I am correcting this after carefully rereading the warranty statement in the RIC website. There are still at least three years of warranty on materials and workmanship on the bass I sent you. You will see this warranty statement below, copied from the RIC website.
RIC's "manufacture date" is typically 3-6 months prior to the date the product is actually shipped to a dealer by RIC.
Fender Gretsch and Hofner guitars come with a one year warranty, so this is really quite a generous warranty from RIC.
==================================================================
Warranty Information and Procedures
North American Limited Warranty
Rickenbacker International Corp. guarantees all instruments to be free from defective materials and workmanship to the original purchaser for five years, except for the finish, which is guaranteed for one year. This warranty begins upon the date of manufacture as stamped on the warranty card.
==================================================================
I have decided to keep it. I really like the slimmer neck, and love the reverse headstock. The MapleGlow is somewhat of a plain Jane considering there is no binding. FireGlow would certainly be more flashy but I couldn't see spraying over the beautiful walnut wings on the headstock. What really would be cool IMO would be a model like the 4004 Cheynenne that has the walnut wings on both the headstock and body with the reverse headstock and the 4001 pickups, but than again it would be a reissue
Anyway, I'm not yet ready to give my thoughts on the pickups because I plan on swapping out the Ric roundwounds for some Pyramid flats that Jim Glenn so graciously gave to me.
Pics below, and many thanks for everyone's words
http://photobucket.com/albums/v324/lowendbob/
Buy it before someone else does.
Beautiful bass (es), Bob. Congratulations on your new purchase. How is the C64's neck compared to the 4003? I've played a V63 and liked the neck a lot, and although there wasn't a great difference in neck size between the V63 and 4003, the C64 is supposed to be slimmer yet. It should be one heck of a smooth bass.
Give us a review whenever you can.
Give us a review whenever you can.
Andrew
'05 4001C64, Fireglo
'03 4003, Jetglo
'05 4001C64, Fireglo
'03 4003, Jetglo
Thanks Andrew
How can I forget the neck. The neck unless my eyes deceive me seems to be a little tapered at the nut. The biggest differance is the thicknest of the neck. The 4003 is somewhat C shaped sort of like a P bass. The C64 is considerably thinner and flat. It's almost as flat as the fingerboard. Very smooth. I posted 3 pics side by side with my 4003. I think you can get a pretty good idea of how the necks differ.
http://photobucket.com/albums/v324/lowendbob/
How can I forget the neck. The neck unless my eyes deceive me seems to be a little tapered at the nut. The biggest differance is the thicknest of the neck. The 4003 is somewhat C shaped sort of like a P bass. The C64 is considerably thinner and flat. It's almost as flat as the fingerboard. Very smooth. I posted 3 pics side by side with my 4003. I think you can get a pretty good idea of how the necks differ.
http://photobucket.com/albums/v324/lowendbob/
Buy it before someone else does.
I disagree with one statement: "RIC's manufacture date is typically 3-6 months prior to the date the product is actually shipped to a dealer by RIC."
In fact, and it answers another question above, we forward date the manufacturing date as shown on the warranty card sticker to assure that dealers get goods that still have the full warranty remaining. In most cases, the dealer will get goods that show as just being manufactured but it often happens that one is delivered showing a date in the future.
There's just too many factors including manufacturing time, holidays, time in transit, etc. that affect this and we chose to offer this "grace period" so it's our problem rather than the customer's.
In fact, and it answers another question above, we forward date the manufacturing date as shown on the warranty card sticker to assure that dealers get goods that still have the full warranty remaining. In most cases, the dealer will get goods that show as just being manufactured but it often happens that one is delivered showing a date in the future.
There's just too many factors including manufacturing time, holidays, time in transit, etc. that affect this and we chose to offer this "grace period" so it's our problem rather than the customer's.
-
mikeyesfan
- Member
- Posts: 398
- Joined: Sat Apr 26, 2003 5:00 am
Hey John, I know how this warranty stuff works.
You Make a Very High Quality product, you have highly Skilled workers,and you have Great Quality control. i'll bet 2 out of 100 guitar customers use the Warranty...
This is the American Way or Was.
Nowadays it's Profit margin that most companies are interested in, Not Quality.
Some of us Smart consumers buy quality! When we do we buy more than one!!!
You Make a Very High Quality product, you have highly Skilled workers,and you have Great Quality control. i'll bet 2 out of 100 guitar customers use the Warranty...
This is the American Way or Was.
Nowadays it's Profit margin that most companies are interested in, Not Quality.
Some of us Smart consumers buy quality! When we do we buy more than one!!!
YES is the Answer!
I've owned and played your products for over 30 years, in all that time I've had absolutely no major issues with any of my instruments ...
Rickenbackers don't work for everyone, but for those that do, there's more of a love affair with them than any other instrument ...... I still get shivers each time I strap on my bass at rehearsal, or for a show ....
Rickenbackers don't work for everyone, but for those that do, there's more of a love affair with them than any other instrument ...... I still get shivers each time I strap on my bass at rehearsal, or for a show ....
"It's Red Jim, but not as we know it...."