Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I'd like to thank everyone that has responded for the kindness & friendliness here on this site. A real breath of fresh air (kind of like the nice folks, for the most part, on the Harley & Gretsch forums and unlike the HC stuff) Yeah, on the location thing, dumb on my part. What better shopping list than to map where good stuff is located for the thief's of the world to use. Duh

Just was curious about history on a guitar somewhat. I'll put some bids on the guitar and see if it goes anywhere. "If it's for me it will be" I always say. Maybe it real life the finish won't look so bad as it does with the flash photo's I'd presume. Sometimes it just don't pay to be so dang picky & particular like I am with stuff I own. Esp. Bikes & Guitars, picky, picky, picky. Will have to set an appointment to visit with some doc about that someday. Well, maybe. Guess that's why I became an EE and do what I do with my business. Love the details.

Got my Standard Epi Casino up for sale. I don't really notice that much difference in the MIC version vs the new Casino Elitist 1965 to be quite factual. Maybe in better hands than mine the details would be striking. 3x the $$ diff. however. The Elitist is finished/appointed nicer however I will say.

Jack Alan

Although you may be in the grip of RAS (Rickenbacker Acquisition Syndrome) I am going to suggest that patience may be your friend. Although the prices of most models of most guitars are at relatively low levels historically (due to the economy), the prices of 325s on the market at the moment seem to be quite a bit higher than "normal".

Ontario_RIC_fan suggested a starting price range of $1,500 which I think is right for a 325 in good condition. I paid a bit more than that for my 325v63 in June 2008 before the economy went into its power dive. (The "v" reissues are "pretty close to what they were like back then" so they don't command the price premium that the "REALLY-close-and-maybe-even-identical-to-back-then" "c" reissues do.)

However, I scanned ebay and craigslist (another tool to search multiple craigslist locations is http://www.jaxed.com - click on "Mash" and select "Instruments") and asking prices are in the $2,000 to $2,500 range, significantly higher than $1,500. Note that the current asking prices may well be justified based on the specific features of each instrument (John Lennon signature limited edition, c58 or c64 reissues, etc.) - it might just be that there are no run-of-the-mill 325s for sale right now.

From what I have seen, models that are less common appear to come to market in waves - none, or very few, for a while, then quite a few. I am sure that statisticians could tell us why (something about how randomness does not lead to uniformity). For example, after months of not seeing a Capri on ebay, now there are two!

So, if you can resist pulling the trigger for a while your willpower will probably be rewarded, either in price or, perhaps more important, finish quality. (On the other hand, you will have lost time when you could have been playing a Rickenbacker!)

Here is a Burgundyglo 320 that has just shown up on eBay today (12/9/10) - $1,500 Buy It Now, or Make Offer, right in Ontario_RIC-fan's estimated range:
http://cgi.ebay.com/rickenbacker-320-bu ... 255f969f3a

High-gain pickups, "R" tailpiece (not an Accent or Bigsby vibrato), and a less-common color. The seller rates its condition as a "9".

The Rickenbacker serial number decoder says that it was manufactured in October 1981.

Thanks for the advice. The bidding got crazy on that guitar on ebay with the fogged & scratched finish in JetGlo. Then it disappeared I believe after the price was up to $1925.00. Man, unless it had been beat up by one of the Beatles I wouldn't have paid $2000 for a 1981 guitar in that condition. Just me maybe. Don't know why it disappeared from ebay however.

I will just wait till "that wave comes to full tide" that you all were speaking about. Timing is everything and the time may just not be right at this moment for me to get what I'd like. I have plenty of guitars to play so you all's level headed advice is well given & taken too!!!

I'll keep posting till I can hit the magic number to access more things on this website and thanks again!!

Jack Alan

Still searching for that 325 but in the mean time I'd like to wish everyone a very safe & Merry Christmas

Take care & God Bless

Jack Alan

Thanks for the holiday wishes...

May the new year bring you your Rickenbacker...

Brian

@ Clement Chen:

Thanks for the excellent picture contrasting the 325 and the strat!

I've been wanting a 325 for a long time...originally because of JL...but when I found out and understood what a "3/4" scale was then that became a motivation as well.

I'm 5' 5" and I have tiny hands and short fingers. I'm not a lead player and I really have to work to stretch my fingers for standard chords. I'm looking forward to trying one out...

Thanks for giving me even more to anticipate and think about!

I also posted a photo comparing a 325 and a Squier Mini Strat here:

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=398625#p662069

A 325 is actually shorter scale than a Squier Mini Strat; based on my physical and visual comparison, the nut of a 325 is (roughly) equivalent to the 2nd fret of a Squier Mini, in case you want to get an idea of the size of a 325 neck - go into any music store and they should have Squier Mini Strats that you can pick up to get a very approximate feel for the neck size.

Thanks!

Cool.