Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Bob, no bad karma at all - it was 18-year-old-stock. Technically, the price should have been the same as in 1967 - new old stock does not appreciate. In fact, it usually goes down in price, to move it. Back then, we did not have much access to pricing information. My understanding is that Gibson ES-335s went for around $300 in the early 70s. I don't think you did anything wrong, personally - it's just good hard negotiating ! Some people are just so touchy, or should I say self-righteous ... jeez.

"Ethical" is a more appropriate word for what I was trying to invoke.

"Convenient justification" is the term for the "18-year-old stock" nonsense argument.

Most folks realize "NOS" is not the same as "used", and values things accordingly.

Let the shoe be on the other foot, and let's see who screams the loudest!

I suppose there are at least another dozen facile arguments for screwing the storekeeper out of his property. So let's hear them.

Here we go again ...

My best find was at a garage sale. I was driving down the road and happened to look over at a garage sale and thought I saw the familiar curve of a Rickenbacker TRC. I slammed on the brakes, turned around and went in for a closer look. Sure enough, I found a 1976 Walnut Model 480. He was asking $100 for it (No case) and a nice Peavey Backstage Plus amp. I felt bad so I gave him $150 for both. He was thrilled and so was I. That became my 3rd Rickenbacker of my collection and still one of the ones I play regularly.

My youngest brother is freak on the Beatles and he ordered a 320 back in 1979 or so and for some unknown reason, he sold it to me in about 1980, when it finally showed up! I think I gave 300 USD for it. I played it a lot in a band that I played in in the 1980's and I still have it and I like it a lot. I feel ultra cool when I whip it out, and all the guys are like, a lady with a Ric! I think it added a lot to our look and of course, our sound! It was so easy for me to play because of the 3/4 size. ALl these years later, I just bought a 620, because I wanted a Ric that I could play lead on. It needs to be magic, though, cause I am not currently a lead guitarist!!! Whatever, I wanted it!

In 1984, I was going to Toronto for my sister's wedding (from Newfoundland). My best friend gave me $600 and said 'See if you can find me a Ric bass like Bruce Foxton's'. I went to a bunch of guitar stores and finally found a 76 JG 4001 at a pawn shop, worn but not beaten up. They were asking $550. I came back the next day with $400 in one pocket and the remaining cash in the other. I told the guy that was all I had and besides, the case had no handle. He gave me the bass and threw in a replacement handle as well.
Same trip, I also picked up a mint 78 Tele (transparent blonde) for another friend for $450.
So there I was, 16 yrs old, driving cross country with my dad with 2 beautiful guitars in the back seat, and neither of them were mine.

I was 16 years old and my guitar teacher knew I wanted a Rick bass & told me he saw an ad in the paper for one.

So I call 'em up.

Now I didn't grow up poor, but I certainly wasn't in the tax bracket this kid selling the bass was in.
I showed up & his ice queen mother proceeds to ask me if I was from the "southside". The city of Atlanta is still pretty divided, & the "southside" is the proverbial other side of the tracks if you know what I mean.

And yes, I was from the southside.

They wouldn't even let me in the front door of their house - I had to go around back. The service entrance, I called it.

There before my eyes is a 74 Fireglo 4001 & a 20w Gorilla amp. Little Lord Fauntleroy wants $250 for the pair. I give him $200 & walk out with my first Rick (leaving him with that fine, fine amplifier). This was almost 20 years ago & I'm looking at this exact bass hanging on my wall as we speak.

Fair price?! Who cares. It's mine & I'm not gonna hunt the guy down & give him more money because I feel I got the better of him.

Plus that's probably just a drop in the bucket for his posh spice *** anyway.






I also found my 78 3001 at a flea market in 94 for $350.

Oh and Leslie Caron?!?!

Circa Father Goose era?!?

Yum.

A year ago, I was sneaking a peek at eBay whilst at work, as you do. A 1972 4001 FG had just been listed with a Buy It Now price of $1250.

Just as I was thinking about hitting the button, someone decided to place the minimum bid of $40, thereby removing the Buy It Now price before my eyes. I was devastated and the bass ended up with the final bid over $2000.

A couple of months later, the same bass was again offered, by the same seller. The original sale must have fallen through. The best part was that the seller relisted it with the same Buy It Now price of $1250!

I've never hit that Buy It Now button so bloody fast!

I visited the casinos on the Mississippi Gulf Coast in May, 2000. The following weekend, I went to a guitar show here in Houston, with the hopes of finding a Vox AC-15. I came home from the show with a left-handed Carl Wilson 12 string, that was paid for with some of the winnings from the previous weekend. Never did find that AC-15.

Ran a want ad in VG 10 or 12 years ago looking for a Ricky 325. I didn't think I'd get much response and if I did it would be for a later 60's refin with a large price. To my surprise I ended up with this 1958 for very little money! It was a great day.

You always find the best stuff, Ron!

Thanks Mike, I've been lucky and blessed in more ways than I deserve!

I've felt I got a good deal on both of the Ricks I've bought (so far).

The first was my '97 325V59 JG that I saw in a GC. They were asking $1299 for it. It had a cracked lower pickguard, which I used as leverage to get them to drop the price. As I played it there in the store, I also found a tiny imperfection in the finish on the side of the guitar. I pointed this out to the salesman, and got the price down to $1000. Then I asked about the case, and was told the price was for the guitar only. I told him a needed a case for it, and he offered to give me a gig bag. I held out for a hardshell, and after much hemming and hawing (and the salesman running to check with the manager), I walked out with the guitar in a silver reissue case - For $1000!

My 650S I won in auction off Ebay. Winning bid was $650 from a seller in Canada. It took forever to get (held up at the border by customs), but when it arrived, it was in a silver reissue case also!

I love these stories. I'll share another with you guys: I frequented a used guitar store in Fair Lawn, NJ back in the 70's. It's long since gone out of business. One day, I walked in with a few bucks in my pocket and there was a dead mint RIC 330-6 in what I believe was either Autumnglo or Burgundyglo finish. It was a dark red sunburst, definitely not Fireglo (help guys, which finish was it??)It had toasters, so I'm pretty sure it was late sixties vintage. I casually asked the price and almost fainted when the guy said, "Three hundred bucks with case. I took it in trade cheap and figured I'd pass it along at a fair price." You never saw anyone pull out money so fast in your life. I gave him $100 downpayment and came back the following week and snapped it up.

Then, like a spazz, I sold it a few months later for a $200 profit to some kid.

This guitar, along with my '71 Les Paul goldtop Deluxe, was one I should have saved. Oh well. You live and learn.