Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Im sorry, maybe I'm missing something, but just exactly what the h**l the problem at Rickenbacker? How can you discontinue models without having a model to take its place? I personally would love to order a 5 string Rick but cant. What do they expect loyal customers to do,,? wait forever? Musicians need their tools.

Sounds like there's quite a niche market right now for RIC 4-to-5 string conversions, Jeff! If Wilkinson could do it, why not you?

Ever think about a little side business?

I'll let you know when I do a good conversion of a 4003 into a 5 string ... most ric players play 4001' and 4003's ... the 4001 neck is not strong enough ... the 4003 neck is ...

The 4004 and the 2000 basses are easier to convert ...but there aren't that many of those around ...

I have a couple of good ideas for the bridge ... so I need to build a prototype ... someday ...

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quote:
...I'll let you know when I do a good conversion of a 4003 into a 5 string ... most ric players play 4001' and 4003's ... the 4001 neck is not strong enough ... the 4003 neck is ...
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I want a Rick 5 string bass so much, waiting about 17 years ( about the time when 5 string basses started to really hit the market ).
I would love to do a 5 string conversion on my '79 4001, but I won't. Really I'm not worried about the strength of the neck, the neck is very solid on that particular bass, it's just that I'd have a hard enough time playing a 4003S/5 with the string spacing the way it is. I know that my '73 wouldn't be able to handle it as most 4001 basses wouldn't be able to either. A converted 4001 string spacing would be even tighter than the 4003S/5.
I'm sure RIC 5 string basses with a string spacing better suited for all playing styles would sell better than the 4003S/5 did.
As much as I am eager to get a 4004Cii5, as Brad Farha suggested, from the looks and specs, it is possible that it is neck heavy, and I think most of us would prefer single coil pickups and a choice of what color hardware we prefer when we are spending alot of money and time waiting on an instrument.
I also can't understand why RIC would discontinue a model without a replacement in a reasonable amount of time, and post it on their website for over a year and a half like it has been available.

Actually I think I can get the bridge spacing on a 4 to 5 converted 4003 3/16" wider than the 4003s5 ... but the nut will be tighter by 1/8" ... so at the 12th fret it will be 1/16" wider ... that is 1/32" more per string ...

This is basically what my 2030 bass has ...

Scott Doseck:
That is a valid point: why discontinue a line without introducing an alternative? 5 string basses are and will be a fact of life. Any 5 string that shows up on the music connection.com or ebay is sold in seconds. Perhaps Rickenbacker's motto is: "Insensitivity is the best policy"!

I would also love to see RIC bring back the 4003s5. I am not about to wait a year or more for a 4004Cii/5. I hate to admit it, but I would buy another brand before waiting that long.

I apologize for the harsh words but I had a bad day and needed to vent. I just dont understand the delays, I mean its not like there isnt a demand for these basses, just look at the threads on this forum. I would think that by now we would at least have an honest estimate of a production date for the 4004/5, and 4004/8 not to mention seeing a few more 4004's around. Is it to much to ask for an explanation for the delays ?

Scott,
It's OK to vent.
Your agony was totally understood, and what you said was quite true.

Damnit ... we want new 5 string ric basses with single coils!!!! and lots of them ....

Perhaps if more people "vented" someone would take notice. The folks here who have waited 500 plus days for a bass or 26 months for a guitar don't sound happy about it; I don't understand how a company which in theory values the satisfaction of it's customers can allow this to go on.

I understand "being at full capacity" and all the rest, but then why continue to accept orders? I suspect it's because they can.

I posted the same frustration in another thread. I have communicated directly with Rickenbacker on a few occasions asking about a production date for the 4004/5 and they keep saying they don't know. I even pointed them to this forum.

Here's the most recent exchange:

Paul,

We do keep track of the news groups. Once a product is in production, I can give out lead times with some accuracy. Unfortunately, due to the "C" series, everything has been pushed back so I'm no longer giving out dates for items that are not yet in the production line. We have been
taking preorders and are working as fast as we can do be able to file these orders, but we will not sacrifice quality to do so. It may take us some time, but we do deliver what we sell.

Thank you,

Tommy T.
Customer Service
Rickenbacker International Corporation


-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Alvarez [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Friday, July 18, 2003 7:51 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Model 4004/5 Cheyenne II

Hi Tommy,

Thanks again for getting back to me. I don't know if Rickenbacker is aware of the forum that covers your instruments but I would urge you to look at some of the threads on leadtime and how long certain people have been
waiting. Some customers have been waiting well over a year for their instrument. The URL is:

http://www.brunnet.net/cgi-bin/rickresource/discus/discus.pl

I believe John Hall (your president?), sometimes contributes to the forum. I will contact you again in a few months to see what's happening. I really find it unusual that Rickenbacker has no process for managing product
leadtimes and that it cannot deliver what it sells.

Regards,

Paul

on 7/17/03 3:29 PM, Tommy Thomasson at [email protected] wrote:

> Hi Paul,
>
> The best thing I can say, is E-mail me again in 4-6
> months and hopefully I will have a better idea.
>
> Thank you,
>
> Tommy T.
> Customer Service
> Rickenbacker International Corporation
>
>

"E-mail me again in 4-6 months..."

Wow. Would any other company not self destruct? Do they have your money for your guitar? Is it collecting interest somewhere?

RIC is in a good position ... they are selling stuff faster than they can make it ...

I'm just glad they don't operate like Gibson ... raise the price to equal the demand ... then we would see $3000 basses and guitars ... and $5000 specialty models ... but the upside is they would be in the stores ....

Jeff-- Knowing how Gibson operates these days that's not much of an upside, I'm afraid........