I got screwed royally by a well known Rickenbacker dealer.

[jwinstonp]

Ouch! Man, not only is that a sad story, but the behavior of The Dealer Who Must Not Be Named borders on unethical, IMHO. Best wishes for '08.

JimK

Jimk, happy 08 to you. thank you

[jwinstonp]

Man, Peter that is a terrible story. After reading that - If I had a Blue Boy I give it to you. I understand the family thing and sacrifices being made and looking out for what you think is the right direction to go in life for your family - but to lose your other Rick in the process of your dream guitar and have neither..Oh man... that is just aweful.

I too can't afford to collect guitars and have to usually sell something to get another guitar and it's always a sacrifice. But what happened to you is just too much. I really sorry to hear about this. The Rickenbacker Company I understand remains reasonably small comparitively to other companies selling guitars and has created a backlog which probably set this whole thing in motion due to the demand for their product. I'm glad that Rickenbacker has not sold out to other countries to make their guitars and keeps it at home and yes regretfully we will have to pay more for our Ricks now but they are really fine instruments and will maintain their value.

I see the same thing happening on ebay too but there are actually some of us selling some of our own Ricks at reasonable prices to get another Rick or more expensive Rick we dream of owning. I am so disappointed to hear what happen to you but as stated there are very reputable dealers for Rickenbacker and Many are expecting some fine guitars. Don't give up. Just hang around here and get some great dealer names that take reserve commitment responsibly and treat their Customers with respect. It's a tough deal to have to wait for a great guitar but it shouldn't end the way you have experienced.

I hope the best for you and your family this New Year and only hope you dream may be realized.

Thank you, I am hoping for a nice rickenbacker to someday come my way. I have a nice acoustic and a fender so I am not guitarless, no rickenbacker. I am just extremely frustrated dissappointed and sad that I no longer own my rickenbacker.

[jwinstonp]

Did you put money down on either 620 Blue Boy?

Good question. The first part of the story, no. I just put my name down on a "list". I did as I was requested to do according to the dealer.

The second time, I offered to put some money down on my credit card and was told that it was "unecessary" and that I would get a call when it arrived and to just pay in full then.

I was not a forum guy. I was calling a reputable guitar dealer I found in a search for rickenbackers. I followed "their" instructions. I had no reason to not believe them. I understand looking back maybe there was more I could have done, but to me they were the "authority" and I was following their rules.

[jwinstonp]

Here are the two pics I took of the "620 DCM"

See this bums me out. Sorry man, but when I passed on the so called "RED" 6 series 75th anniversary I assumed it was a fire engine red. It so dissapointing because yes I would have loved to have had the blueboy, but having a DCM is very cool too. It is so not "RED". I think that and the silver that I passed up on just makes it all worse for me. I don't care about the anniversary, I appreciate what rickenbacker has done. I just wanted a cool looking and playing guitar and a DCM would have been just fine with me, Freaking "RED" it is not.....

I had tunnell vision, I was on a mission to get a blueboy and I didn't know anything about rickenbackers so I passed up on some cool guitars, I can't fault myself entirely as I was made to believe that I was "waiting" for delivery of my blueboy. So I had a few good reasons to not think that I would be here today without a rickenbacker. Bummer. DCM is really hip.

[jwinstonp]

As far as selling a cherished guitar to pay for another goes, like they say in Vegas, "never bet anything that you're not willing to lose".

True, but I was lead to believe the guitar was "mine" several times. I was given the impression that we were just waiting on Rickenbacker. I wasn't really betting it seemed legit. I now see that I took a risk and lost, but at the time there was no risk. I was basically "guaranteed a guitar"

I know I shouldn't have sold a guitar that was so special to me. It was a mistake, I was caught off guard and made a stupid decision because I believed and trusted but ultimately I was duped.

[jwinstonp]

Certainly an unfortunate situation. Perhaps another option might be to eventually pick up a used 620 in decent shape (just about any color and it doesn't have to be mint) and make an appointment with Paul Wilczynski (official forum Curmudgeon) or Dale Fortune to have it converted to a blueboy. It's not an instant process as these guys are the best and in high demand and it's not cheap, but with new guitar prices climbing all the time it might not be that much more than buying new. It also would give you other interesting options, like crushed pearl fingerboard inlays, checkerboard binding, etc. These guys are true custom-shop craftsmen and could make you an absolutely stunning blueboy that will knock your socks off.

Its a thought, but to me its too much money to desecrate a perfectly fine instrument. I couldn't buy a perfectly good condition guitar and have it repainted. I also don't want a modified or unoriginal rickenbacker. I just want a guitar to be built and painted by rickenbacker.

I am hoping something turns up on a forum or ebay or somewhere. A cool rickenbacker will make me feel better, then I just have to log on some memories into it and become buddies.

[teb]

"I also don't want a modified or unoriginal rickenbacker. I just want a guitar to be built and painted by rickenbacker"

That's fine. To each his own and some folks want factory original and won't accept anything else. But perhaps when you've been around here for a while you'll have a better understanding of what I'm talking about. One of these guys is a very well respected former Rickenbacker luthier and the other is the only man on the planet currently authorized to build the Rickenbacker acoustic guitars. The moment you first open the case, a guitar rebuilt or refinished by either of them is worth more than the entire project cost, sometimes a lot more. They also have the time to finish and tweak them to a level not possible at the factory. "Desecrating" a guitar is a home-refinishing job with a few spray cans from Stew-Mac, these guys are artists and very seriously the best. They can take an old beat-up Rickenbacker and send it out the door looking and playing better than it did when it was new. Anyway, I hope you find what you're looking for. It can somtimes take years to finally get the Ric of your dreams, but that's just something we all live with. If they came in from China by the boatload, they just wouldn't be the same....literally.

[johneek]

"I also don't want a modified or unoriginal rickenbacker. I just want a guitar to be built and painted by rickenbacker"

That's fine. To each his own and some folks want factory original and won't accept anything else. But perhaps when you've been around here for a while you'll have a better understanding of what I'm talking about. One of these guys is a very well respected former Rickenbacker luthier and the other is the only man on the planet currently authorized to build the Rickenbacker acoustic guitars. The moment you first open the case, a guitar rebuilt or refinished by either of them is worth more than the entire project cost, sometimes a lot more. They also have the time to finish and tweak them to a level not possible at the factory. "Desecrating" a guitar is a home-refinishing job with a few spray cans from Stew-Mac, these guys are artists and very seriously the best. They can take an old beat-up Rickenbacker and send it out the door looking and playing better than it did when it was new. Anyway, I hope you find what you're looking for. It can somtimes take years to finally get the Ric of your dreams, but that's just something we all live with. If they came in from China by the boatload, they just wouldn't be the same....literally.

Another thing you'll discover is that refinishing a RIC isn't viewed in the same light as refinishing a vintage F3nder or Gi6son. Most people would think (and the market would confirm) that refinishing one of those would lower the value. This is simply not true of Rickenbackers. Paul has spoken in great detail about this phenomenon in other threads, but I do not recall exactly where.

[jdogric12]

Sorry about that, man. I learned the hard way once (and not that long ago) to MAKE them take your money to reserve it. All the best to you in this new year. Cruise ebay and gbase once or twice a day, and I'll bet you'll find what you're looking for in the next 2-3 months if not sooner.

[bosco64]

What a horrible story, Peter. My dealer had a 620 BB hanging in the store for about 7 months until someone bought it in 2006. As Jason said earlier, keep checking eBay and Gbase; hopefully you'll find what you're looking for. Best of luck.

[chefothefuture]

Having Dale or Paul refinish a Rick will give you a guitar that is better than the factory.
All of my BBRs are wrought with imperfections including but not limited to: Fisheyes, Runs, Razor marks
on the binding, and Orange Peal. This might be their charm, but I think it would be a lot less frustrating
to find a nice 620, and have it done your way. No more wait. No more dealer gouging , etc....

I think we're all just trying to help you find a solution. Best reagrds in your quest

[doctorwho]

The 660 DCM has a nice color:

As said above, if I had a 620 BB, I'd send it to you!

[octagon]

I thought the DCM was a very limited release(only 75 of each model ?).Didn't those have a much higher list price than a Blueboy 620?

[johneek]

I thought the DCM was a very limited release(only 75 of each model ?).Didn't those have a much higher list price than a Blueboy 620?

Mitch, you are correct about the limited release; 75 from each of the following models, 330, 360, 660, 4003. The 620 that Dane took a photo of in the factory was probably a one off, with which RIC was experimenting (apparently only 1 of those around). The price paid for each of these guitars varied significantly. Many people paid list price for them (and were happy to do so), others paid less.

[octagon]

I thought the DCM was a very limited release(only 75 of each model ?).Didn't those have a much higher list price than a Blueboy 620?

Mitch, you are correct about the limited release; 75 from each of the following models, 330, 360, 660, 4003. The 620 that Dane took a photo of in the factory was probably a one off, with which RIC was experimenting (apparently only 1 of those around). The price paid for each of these guitars varied significantly. Many people paid list price for them (and were happy to do so), others paid less.

Wow!What a bargain!