How could this be??????

[jingle_jangle]

Hey, Gene: can you hear me in your bunker?

Crack the bombproof door open a bit there, and listen:

The choices are out there, in any music store, in any buying guide, on many websites, etc.

Although I haven't requested a price on a Rick lately from any online dealer, I am sure that there are a few that are selling new for less than $1500.00. I paid less than $1300 for a new 660/12 a year plus ago, and that's a premium model. I believe that 330s are in the $1100 range, and 650s are a few hundred less than that.

These are American-made instruments with loads of history, tradition, craftsmanship, and style. I recently paid $2300 for a discounted, brand new Japanese-made Gretsch. A gorgeous instrument, but you know Gretsch's spotty history and Fender's incredible and commendable efforts to bring the brand back practically from the dead. The lower-cost Gretsches are nice, but you can sense the lower cost when playing them.

And, what's up with Gibson? Wacky pricing, weird dealer relations, Nazi tactics at NAMM, and problems in Montana.

Players are always able to make the choice between bolt-together, factory-made assembly line guitars, and Rickenbackers. To me, there is no comparison.

Ricks have never been cheap when new, but that doesn't mean that they aren't incredible value for money.

A cheap Rick is as oxymoronic a concept as a cheap Bentley.

[country_gene]

Paul - Very good points - Thanks.

As for Gibson - it certainly is a wacky situation. I get the impression that they have some sort of *mission*, but they haven't quite figured out what that is yet.

BTW..................
This is the first time in Gibson's history that the CEO is NOT a musician. Maybe that has something to do with it.