BREAKING UP NICE OLD RICKS FOR PROFIT...

[frickengruvin]

I certainly don't advocate the dismemberment and selling of parts off of a vintage guitar, however, that happens on most vintage instruments to a certain degree. In my opinion, the biggest issue with Rickenbackers is that due to "trademark constraints" it is virtually impossible to get many parts necessary to return a bare body back to it's original glory.
This type of dismemberment would certainly be reduced if parts such as TRC's and jack plates were made readily available.
A "living" guitar being dismembered is unacceptable, though sales of functioning vintage pickups, tuners, and pots will always occur, as there is always someone out there trying to refurbish a vintage instrument (and possibly a more valuable one than the instrument the parts are being sold from).

Horses for courses I suppose.

[johnhall]

This type of dismemberment would certainly be reduced if parts such as TRC's and jack plates were made readily available.

It's not a matter of availability but rather price. All of the parts are readily available but some folks just don't want to pay the price.

This *IS* one instance where we have created artificial scarcity to drive the price up . . . so that the parts do end up on commensurately valuable vintage instruments rather than cheap Asian copies. Let me also point out that not a penny of these part sales goes into our pocket but rather to those that have come to appreciate genuine RIC instruments and their components.

[collin]

A "living" guitar being dismembered is unacceptable, though sales of functioning vintage pickups, tuners, and pots will always occur, as there is always someone out there trying to refurbish a vintage instrument (and possibly a more valuable one than the instrument the parts are being sold from).

Yep, and I've said it many times before....I think if a guitar has been permanently altered, has many replaced parts already, or is somehow otherwise "molested," it's pretty much fair game IMO.

Perfectly complete, original instruments though, are just a massive shame to see parted out like that, no matter what model it is.

[Grey]

it is virtually impossible to get many parts necessary to return a bare body back to it's original glory.

Not at all, you can find any number of the necessary parts that Rickenbacker will not provide without an original like jack plates, TRC's, and tailpieces on eBay all day long. It's not impossible, just expensive.

[JakeK]

As I've said before, it was never funny to begin with, but now it's become a sickness.

[david/wales/u.k]

This guy has had some terrible feedback...........doesn't inspire much confidence in buying off ebay.....(btw Jake how many times have you changed your profile pic over the years! )

[Grey]

This guy has had some terrible feedback

Item had more damage than indicated; said they filed a claim, no resolution.

Reply by gibsondependable (Jan-01-12 09:48):
It's a shame, we finally recieved the insurance refnd. Guess we'll keep it now.

What a *******.

[frickengruvin]

This type of dismemberment would certainly be reduced if parts such as TRC's and jack plates were made readily available.

It's not a matter of availability but rather price. All of the parts are readily available but some folks just don't want to pay the price.

[/quote]


Are you indicating that your company would offer them, or that they are available on Ebay?

My particular case is this. I inherited a '64 RM1997. It is what began all of the G.A.S I have now! Fast forward some 30 years later, and I bought a totally stripped (and I mean bare bones-just a body) '66 365-split top and back, and set out to refurbish it to close to it's original condition. My first call was to Rickenbacker. I actually spoke with Ben. I explained my situation. I had no TRC to exchange, no jackplate to exchange either. Ben said he understood, but there is nothing he could do. Ok...I suppose. That sent me on a mission to obtain the parts I needed. Did I get them? Well, of course-as has been stated there are means to get these items outside of Rickenbacker, but I would prefer to support your company instead of someone that is parting out a vintage instrument.

My thought is that if Rickenbacker made these items available and charged a reasonable price-underselling what Ebay asks for, but still maintains a good profit margin (let's face it, your company is in business to make a profit!) they would support the Ric afficiandos and deal a blow to the very people that they are attempting to prohibit in selling these items, thus serving both ideals. Supply and demand will always be met in one manner or another. If it has to be met by terms that are less than above the law, it will until that is "snuffed". Surely the products will be produced again though, because the demand is there.
I would advocate that Rickenbacker supply high quality, Made In U.S. parts, in the same light that they supply a high Quality Made In U.S. Instrument.

Thank you Mr. Hall for your insight on this thread.

[bartyclue]

This type of dismemberment would certainly be reduced if parts such as TRC's and jack plates were made readily available.

It's not a matter of availability but rather price. All of the parts are readily available but some folks just don't want to pay the price.

Are you indicating that your company would offer them, or that they are available on Ebay?

My particular case is this. I inherited a '64 RM1997. It is what began all of the G.A.S I have now! Fast forward some 30 years later, and I bought a totally stripped (and I mean bare bones-just a body) '66 365-split top and back, and set out to refurbish it to close to it's original condition. My first call was to Rickenbacker. I actually spoke with Ben. I explained my situation. I had no TRC to exchange, no jackplate to exchange either. Ben said he understood, but there is nothing he could do. Ok...I suppose. That sent me on a mission to obtain the parts I needed. Did I get them? Well, of course-as has been stated there are means to get these items outside of Rickenbacker, but I would prefer to support your company instead of someone that is parting out a vintage instrument.

My thought is that if Rickenbacker made these items available and charged a reasonable price-underselling what Ebay asks for, but still maintains a good profit margin (let's face it, your company is in business to make a profit!) they would support the Ric afficiandos and deal a blow to the very people that they are attempting to prohibit in selling these items, thus serving both ideals. Supply and demand will always be met in one manner or another. If it has to be met by terms that are less than above the law, it will until that is "snuffed". Surely the products will be produced again though, because the demand is there.
I would advocate that Rickenbacker supply high quality, Made In U.S. parts, in the same light that they supply a high Quality Made In U.S. Instrument.

Thank you Mr. Hall for your insight on this thread.[/quote]


So now I buy TRC's, Pickups and what have you from RIC... what's to stop me from turning around and claiming they are are from vintage instruments and then re-selling on EBAY?

[johnhall]

So now I buy TRC's, Pickups and what have you from RIC... what's to stop me from turning around and claiming they are are from vintage instruments and then re-selling on EBAY?

Precisely. Not to mention the logistics for validating what the controlled, logo, trademark parts would theoretically be affixed to.

Our current solution works well and the price of the genuine vintage parts makes it attractive for them to migrate off of goods where they don't belong . . . cheap copy instruments. The free market is doing exactly what it is supposed to be doing.

[Grey]

Our current solution works well and the price of the genuine vintage parts makes it attractive for them to migrate off of goods where they don't belong . . . cheap copy instruments. The free market is doing exactly what it is supposed to be doing.

Your method is a double-edged sword, however. Because these parts are so scarce it allows people making fake plexi TRC's to thrive. Lots of people want them, but Rickenbacker only provides them to people with originals to send in, so there is no shortage of people lining up to buy fake ones. What do you think is worse? People putting genuine TRC's on fake Rickenbackers, or people putting fake TRC's on genuine Rickenbackers? Your current solution works well for everyone, except the people who can't afford the inflated prices on eBay (due to the engineered scarcity of replacements) and don't have an original to send back.

[collin]

So now I buy TRC's, Pickups and what have you from RIC... what's to stop me from turning around and claiming they are are from vintage instruments and then re-selling on EBAY?

Because there isn't one single part currently made by Rickenbacker that is 100% identical to a vintage part.

There are a number of ways to identify vintage parts, the most obvious of which is 30-50 years of wear and tear (which cannot accurately be replicated.). Doesn't take a genius or an expert (especially with a resource like the RRF) to identify the difference with parts.

[johnhall]

There's always people that will do illegal activity, both buying and selling. I understand the incentive that our situation provides but in the end, it's the buyer of the illegal parts that gets what they deserve.

[Clint]

...I bought a totally stripped (and I mean bare bones-just a body) '66 365-split top and back, and set out to refurbish it to close to it's original condition. My first call was to Rickenbacker. I actually spoke with Ben. I explained my situation. I had no TRC to exchange, no jackplate to exchange either. Ben said he understood, but there is nothing he could do. Ok...I suppose.

Hello, Ford? Yes, I just bought a 1966 Mustang and I want...wait, what? You don't sell parts for '66 Mustangs...

[leftybass]

...I bought a totally stripped (and I mean bare bones-just a body) '66 365-split top and back, and set out to refurbish it to close to it's original condition. My first call was to Rickenbacker. I actually spoke with Ben. I explained my situation. I had no TRC to exchange, no jackplate to exchange either. Ben said he understood, but there is nothing he could do. Ok...I suppose.

Hello, Ford? Yes, I just bought a 1966 Mustang and I want...wait, what? You don't sell parts for '66 Mustangs...

Not like they used to. How do I know..? I have worked in the Ford system for 23 years. I used to love pricing a fender for a '57 T-Bird when it was still in the price book---abt $2500.00 but you could still get one.

Rather than be faithful to the older models directly, most of those parts are made by others with liscensing of designs and tooling. Frankly, as much exposure cars like Mustangs get, it is still a niche market.

FoMoCo is quite draconian in dealing with people trying to rip their brand, even if it's an illegal t-shirt.