Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

colin wrote:

RIC_FACTORY wrote: Also, I think pretty much everybody will agree that the finish is way better and more consistent than before.

I have to say so far I'm quite happy with not just the finish but also everything underneath it on my new 4003 JG!

Well that is good to hear Colin!

I wish we could change the name of this thread to New 4003 JG is here! And I am extremely pleased!

BTW I bought my first RIC bass last year. A November 79 JG 4001. I too am very pleased with it!

Ontario_RIC_fan wrote:I wish we could change the name of this thread to New 4003 JG is here! And I am extremely pleased!

BTW I bought my first RIC bass last year. A November 79 JG 4001. I too am very pleased with it!

I agree with you, Brian. That's what the title will display from your post onward!

Congratulations on a happy ending, Colin! And a belated welcome to you.

Hey, I'm waiting for the action, Joey!

paul_yan wrote:Congratulations on a happy ending, Colin! And a belated welcome to you.

Thanks, Paul! The new JG should see its first public performance this evening.

Can you use paypal or a cheque or something to buy a Ric from MF? I'm wanting to pull the trigger on a new FG 4003 but I don't have a credit card and I'd like to avoid the wait of ordering one from the factory or whatnot. I already have a 78 4001 painted union jack that I got off a forum member here (I used to be on this forum a few years ago) but it has a few problems.

HydrasBreath wrote:Can you use paypal or a cheque or something to buy a Ric from MF? ........

I suggest contacting MF to discuss methods of payment.

Just a quick Big up for the MID's, when mine arrived, a Nov 2010, it was absolutely perfect,( I did lower the string heights and adjust the pole pieces, but hey that's the fun on a new guitar) it was so well set up and assembled, I was extremely happy indeed.

aceonbass wrote:MF accepts PayPal. That's how I paid for my new 4003 MID.

yeah I know MF generally accepts paypal I just don't see the option when I navigate to the 4003 product page there's no buy now thing like other guitars and basses. It says to call to place an order and I didn't think paypal worked over the phone.

HydrasBreath wrote:

aceonbass wrote:MF accepts PayPal. That's how I paid for my new 4003 MID.

yeah I know MF generally accepts paypal I just don't see the option when I navigate to the 4003 product page there's no buy now thing like other guitars and basses. It says to call to place an order and I didn't think paypal worked over the phone.

Call and check? They seem to be pretty easy to deal with mostly.

Seans wrote:Just a quick Big up for the MID's, when mine arrived, a Nov 2010, it was absolutely perfect,( I did lower the string heights and adjust the pole pieces, but hey that's the fun on a new guitar) it was so well set up and assembled, I was extremely happy indeed.

+1.
I scooped up a MID from the big MF sale last fall. Looks great and sounds great, right out of the box.
It's currently my go-to bass.

My 11th Rick, and STILL no Jet-Glo.

rickyfricky wrote:

Seans wrote:Just a quick Big up for the MID's, when mine arrived, a Nov 2010, it was absolutely perfect,( I did lower the string heights and adjust the pole pieces, but hey that's the fun on a new guitar) it was so well set up and assembled, I was extremely happy indeed.

+1.
I scooped up a MID from the big MF sale last fall. Looks great and sounds great, right out of the box.
It's currently my go-to bass.

My 11th Rick, and STILL no Jet-Glo.

That's number 12 sorted then!

rickyfricky wrote:
My 11th Rick, and STILL no Jet-Glo.

I don't see any problem with that at all!

grygrx wrote:

HydrasBreath wrote:

aceonbass wrote:MF accepts PayPal. That's how I paid for my new 4003 MID.

yeah I know MF generally accepts paypal I just don't see the option when I navigate to the 4003 product page there's no buy now thing like other guitars and basses. It says to call to place an order and I didn't think paypal worked over the phone.

Call and check? They seem to be pretty easy to deal with mostly.

yeah I'll try and get a hold of them later.

Clint wrote:

coolhandjjl wrote:

Brother Firefingers wrote:Quality control is simply not what it used to be in manufacturing. In the 70's and 80's if you bought USA you almost always got a winner. Not so anymore; a coin toss at best.

I always felt the opposite, mid/late 70's and well into the 80's seemed like US manufacturing's darkest days.

Clearly our Brother Firefingers didn't buy a new car, guitar or small appliance for a good 20 year span.

That's hilarious, and not far off the mark, lol!

Lots of good commentary here... I suppose the more general point was that there's a big difference between "craftsmen" and "employees..." Also, factor in pride-of-workmanship versus collecting a paycheck.

At a certain point in a factory's growth, it must simply become an impossibility to properly QC individual items in any detailed fashion. Even with the advent of CNC milling for bodies and necks, machine-winding for pickups, mechanical/robotic spray paint systems, etc., to me, the human element is the most critical element in a finely-crafted item, be it a car, guitar, watch, etc.

Does that fact lower or lessen my enthusiasm for a new Ric, or anything else new, for that matter? No. Just saying that there's always going to be the pick-of-the-litter that stands out above the rest, and conversely, the runt.

BTW a MID or Montezuma Brown bass is on my short list... they're beautiful.