Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I believe the original Electros were made at the same factory, but with somewhat cheaper construction (glued-on necks instead of neck-through). The truss rod covers would not be a problem, because the original Electro brand had a different design and they had "Electro" on them anyways, not "Rickenbacker".

The problem would be one of quality control. The farther away, the harder to control the quality. The question would also be where to make them. In Europe it would probably be more expensive, in Japan it would probably not be much cheaper to make real quality instruments, in Korea maybe, but it would be hard to control the quality of the instruments and would require too much effort in terms of planning and organization (hiring new people, equipment), which I think they would rather use to expand their current facilities.

I also don't think the market demand for 230s and 430s is overwhelming enough (they don't sell at the ridiculous high prices some people ask for them) to require such radical steps.

Being rather new to Rickenbackers (see sig. at the bottom of the post), Rickenmetal probably has a good point. I admire John Hall for his idealism, or his insistence at any rate on doing business his way. And I can't help but think that if I were in his place, I'd likely spend the funds, time, and energy necessary to increase production in the home plant, without sacrificing quality, or compromizing the reputation of RIC.

JimK

if you read the factory forums as well you'd know they are trying just that - make more of them, buying cnc machines etc. i choose not to express any opinion about infinite wisdom of the management....
making it in eu doesn't have to be costly, and buyers there could save on all the import fees - not that anybody cares all that much for the cost to the end user.. i think that most of you guys would not be able to buy your regular rickenbacker fix at all if you'd live in europe those things are EXPENSIVE there even with the dollar going through the bottom.

rickenmetal wrote:I believe the original Electros were made at the same factory, but with somewhat cheaper construction (glued-on necks instead of neck-through). The truss rod covers would not be a problem, because the original Electro brand had a different design and they had "Electro" on them anyways, not "Rickenbacker".

The problem would be one of quality control. The farther away, the harder to control the quality. The question would also be where to make them. In Europe it would probably be more expensive, in Japan it would probably not be much cheaper to make real quality instruments, in Korea maybe, but it would be hard to control the quality of the instruments and would require too much effort in terms of planning and organization (hiring new people, equipment), which I think they would rather use to expand their current facilities.

I also don't think the market demand for 230s and 430s is overwhelming enough (they don't sell at the ridiculous high prices some people ask for them) to require such radical steps.

Although you're close to being right with your assessment of relative production costs in other manufacturing countries, you can forget RIC making guitars anywhere but it the USA. John Hall has been quoted many times as saying he is committed to USA products, period.

The original Electros were made in the same factory. They were a "student" line, sold through music schools mainly. They did have set-neck construction, and were finished with fewer paint operations--I think that this was the biggest savings cost-wise. However, the materials and hardware were still first-rate and the same as used in their bigger brothers.

This may not be common knowledge, but Dale Fortune was given permission a number of years back, to use the "Electro" brand name in his own guitars. However, this does not mean that he can make replica "Electro" guitars.

If they did that what would stop someone from putting a legit TRC on it and calling it a RIC? More power to JH if he can keep production in the US. Since he does not have to answer to stockholder he can keep doing what he's doing.

This happens with existing Electros, and more than one has been passed off as a Rick...

rikk wrote:If they did that what would stop someone from putting a legit TRC on it and calling it a RIC? More power to JH if he can keep production in the US. Since he does not have to answer to stockholder he can keep doing what he's doing.

See my above posts for a suggested solution