Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

maybe better to go with a dealer that has a reputation to protect.

Pay more, get a better seat.

I agree.What does anyone here think is a fair price? The store already answered my e-mail and would like me to call him to negotiate.

I'd pay Closer to the Edge of $1800-2000 US for a pretty nice condition.

Vintage Guitar guide can help here, high condition lists for $1900.

But those guys who set the prices are dealers, not buyers.

I little low, IMHO.

No way he's going for that. Keep in mind that the Vintage Guide is for excellent condition. This does look a bit sweeter than that. I'm really looking to go about $2500 dlvd.

The 73fireglo in question for this thread will probably go about $1500-1800. Look at the buckle rash and chips on it. It also doesn't have the same inlays as the 72 and probably not the same tuners.

In your word- "pay more, get a better seat"

He says he's fielded alot of inquiries on the bass and doesn't expect it to be there long. I just have to give it some thought before I call him.

I personally don't think the tuners are worth the price of admission. I have had them on a couple of Ricks over the years and found them sloppy feeling and they fall apart. Yes it would be nice to have the full width inlays but other than that it is the same as the '73. Of course the cosmetic condition may be important to you so that may be worth the extra $$$.

That's the beauty of negotiation, you offer the worst is he declines. As far as "A lot of inquiries", my opinion is that he is trying to speed you up for a snap decision. $3000 is a lot of money unless you are dead set on the year and color. Set a price on which you think is fair and are comfortable with. Shop with your mind and not your heart!

Check out www.chicagomusicexchange.com they have some from the 60s-70s @ the same or a little more in price.

Marc, the 72 B/G is a little over an hour away from me also...I,m trying to get to look at that too. They told me they would accept $2750...still way too much I think considering the last one sold for around $1750-1800 a couple of months ago. It,s real nice and it,s a 70,s Ric in a rare colour but not a super rare colour...(when did you last see an A/G or white one)...They may have had a lot of interest but paying that plus tax and shipping still rounds out at $3K, which is getting near real collectible $$$ for me...something like a 60,s 4001...If it was mint then $2k would be pushing it, I think around 1800 is about right, but the way things have been recently who knows...Still have not heard anything from the 73F/G seller...

Michael - re: Chicago Music Exchange - checked'em out. They have a FG69@almost 5K, way over book, and probably worth it but, more than I want to spend. Ironically they have a FG73@$1695. I certainly would buy that over bidding on an auction where the seller doesn't answer e-mails.

Andrew - Let me know if you get a look at the 72BG. I'm going to call him on Monday and offer $2500 immediately via paypal. If he doesn't go for it I'll probably pass. He can't collect sales tax from me and the most insured shipping should cost is $50.

I was in the collectibles business for about 10 years and going by guides and recent sales can be a crazy thing. From the appearance in the photo the 72BG seems to be in better than excellent shape and therefore should sell for a premium over guide.

That 69FG also seems to be worth more than guide as you just don't see many nice 60's Ric basses out there. What happened to Mike Parks's 65FG@$7500? He either sold it or never got it as it's not listed on his site any more.

Following Ebay tells me that anything even semi-collectible of a Ric bass is going to sell over what The Vintage Guitar price guide lists it at.Rics are hot. This forum probably has alot to do with it as there are so many members that would just gobble up anything worthwhile immediately.

For comparison - It seems as if P-Basses and J-Basses generally sell aorund guide and MM sting-rays sell much lower.I only mention them as these are other bass auctions I follow.

My bad, Mike still has the 65FG listed as coming soon.

So is your S/8!

Dammn..5k they are guilty of gouging as well, thats to bad... Seems like none of us can win here. Seems everytime some one goes to buy some thing is gets F!@#@$ by some dealer or sniper friend of the lister, and it seems recently. @ this point it seems like a good deal for that 72

sniper=moron.

Michael - that's why your point of negotiation is well taken. The people at Chicago Music are well aware of the market. They know what they had to pay to stock an item like that.We call and offer what we think it's worth. The meeting of the minds sets the value.

http://www.gbase.com/gearlist/guitar_picture.asp?guitar=507492

The only thing on that 69, is if I was going to spend that kinda loot, there's also a 61 model 4000(see above link), not in nearly as good condition but, it's only $500 more. Now that's a rare beast!

What we,re talking here more or less, is when basses move from a user to a collectible point of view. Any 60,s bass is seen to be in true collectible status, which will sit with the big $$$ tags on them until someone comes along, who in all probability wants one for a collection. Few are taking out their 60,s basses on a regular gig basis..Remember, you KNOW a bass is truly collectible when Jeff won,t do a 5 string conversion on it!!! The 69 above has been sitting for around a year now, and Craig Brody has had the 61 for a while too. The Japanese end up with a lot of the 60,s stuff. The 70/early 71 basses are rare too. You don,t see too many for sale. The increase in output comes after the Squire influence in mid/late 71, and 72,s become much more common. Marc, the 72 B/G for $2500, represents around a 30% increase more than what I,ve seen these go for...that,s a big increase. That,s $700 more than the VG+ 73 sold on e bay last month. You possibly set a new precedent by paying that much!! For that $$$ it has to be in original and real close to mint condition. We discussed this one a week or so ago. The pickguard could possibly be newer and the strap bolts look like they may be changed too from the pic, although it,s hard to see. I can,t get there until next weekend now, but I,d want these things absolutely clear before I went ahead. Ric basses have got crazy recently. There might be an adjustment for the more common models, but the early 70,s stuff will probably stay strong. A high demand and low supply will ensure that.

Maybe I should just chill on it until you get a closer look. I still feel that if a vg+ 73 sold for $1800, then $2500 is about right for the 72 IF it's all original.