Who Buys These Things?
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tony_carey
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What Jerry has said is exactly what I am saying. Rics are not 60's machines, but are totally contemporary gtrs(& basses). I do not consider my sound to be anything other. Listen to the sometimes dreadfull sounds of Les Pauls on early 70's recordings, but no one go's on about them being 'retro'. I think we have to be carefull not to alienate these youngsters who have stumbled on the beautiful world of Rickenbacker, by even beginning to suggest that Rics are old fashioned (because that is what some are suggesting)& don't solo ( which is so untrue). We have to revere the past, because the history is one of the things that makes Rickenbacker truly great & why many of us checked them out in the first place, but we also have to embrace the present & the future, for the sake of my (yet to be born) great great grandson. I want him to play Rics too!
'Rickenbacker'...what a name! After all these years, it still thrills me.
I wandered into this thread while drinking my morning coffee, and have to add my two cents, because it somewhat applies to me.
I have experienced the "buy and sell" cycle with one of my Rickenbackers. I have my 4004L for sale on consignment at a local shop, as mentioned in the " Ricks for sale" section. Did I feel the 4004L was not worth the money I paid? No way! In fact, the salesman that took it in on consignment would have paid me for it immediately for my asking price if he had the cash available. The owner of the shop was in no mood to take in new consignment since he had just stocked the shop with new guitars for Christmas, but when the case swung open and he saw that 4004L, he quickly and happily changed his mind.
Used Rick basses do not hang around for long in a shop. For the amount of Rick basses that have been built relative to Fender and Gibson basses, Ricks are more likely to end up in pro or semi-pro use as a percentage of total production. There is also no economy line of Rickenbackers to break in a player toward their upscale line, as in Squire and Epiphone. Almost every Rick owner switches over from a previous brand.
I do not play in a band, and do not need a big range of basses. I needed a "do it all" bass that would let me grow in any direction I wanted to move. I had never played one of the "real" Spector basses before I got my mint condition ReBop at a price that I simply could not refuse. The previous ReBop owner had never bothered to set it up correctly. I was underwhelmed at first as well. Plastic protective covers still remained on the backs of the tuning keys. Two hours of messing with and cussing at the Steinberger bridge solved the setup arrangement, and finally hearing how well it works makes it worth putting up with the setup idiosyncracies of the bridge. Spectors have a rep for coming setup a bit high for many players' taste from the factory, but most people seem to play them with a low setup. The preamp has no external switch and turns on when inserting the cord, oftening leading to a dead battery and poor sound. Hint: Buy them from a shop with Spector setup experience if you can't handle the task yourself. Pick them softly and let them ring long and clear.......nirvana! They almost play themselves. The necks are really strong. The strings often will not pull any significant amount of relief into the neck, so double acting truss rods had to be installed on later models. You don't often find them hanging around in shops either, so buying unseen is often a prospective Spector bass owner problem as much as it is a prospective Rick bass owner problem.
It would be more accurate to rate the Spector as a bass that was bought and quickly dumped at a BIG loss if only going by my particular ReBop......but that is totally inaccurate. It is more accurate to see it as a bass that is undervalued and available for chump change relative to its real value. I like that scenario a lot better when it comes to laying out my hard earned scratch for a different instrument. As somebody else mentioned, trading around is usually the norm as part of the search for "your" instrument. P-bass, Stingray, Rick.......all good for the right person, but I am a Spector personality. Just am, no apologies.
I decided I liked active electronics if they were of sufficiently high quality. My ReBop pickups are passive EMG and the Aguilar OBP-1 preamp mainly serves to flatten out the humped response that all passive pickups possess. The sound is quite "hi-fi" in character, but punchy. The patented Steinberger bridge is one of the best ever created in tonal terms, if not for setup ease. I like a "bull strong" bass neck and the ability to set a low action without too much buzzing concern as the weather changes. I love the double curved body that is smaller than most. The little hump on the back of the neck (not seen on Asian models) that instantly locates your left hand at the first fret position lets you know just how well thought out this bass really is. These are my preferences. You either "love it or hate it" when you play the ReBop. I love it. Somebody else hated it. My gain, his (financial) loss.
Look at the instrument changes that John Entwistle went through during his career. He played ALL the major vintage basses and a lot of boutique basses as well, and in the end had to use a custom designed instrument (designed largely by himself, though built by others) that fit his particular and extremely refined and personal tastes. Few of us would have ended up with what he did! Few players wander upon the perfect axe when they make that first purchase. The strong character of a Rickenbacker may encourage some wandering around until it finds its rightful home. Be very glad if you find an instrument that finally found its rightful home.
I have experienced the "buy and sell" cycle with one of my Rickenbackers. I have my 4004L for sale on consignment at a local shop, as mentioned in the " Ricks for sale" section. Did I feel the 4004L was not worth the money I paid? No way! In fact, the salesman that took it in on consignment would have paid me for it immediately for my asking price if he had the cash available. The owner of the shop was in no mood to take in new consignment since he had just stocked the shop with new guitars for Christmas, but when the case swung open and he saw that 4004L, he quickly and happily changed his mind.
Used Rick basses do not hang around for long in a shop. For the amount of Rick basses that have been built relative to Fender and Gibson basses, Ricks are more likely to end up in pro or semi-pro use as a percentage of total production. There is also no economy line of Rickenbackers to break in a player toward their upscale line, as in Squire and Epiphone. Almost every Rick owner switches over from a previous brand.
I do not play in a band, and do not need a big range of basses. I needed a "do it all" bass that would let me grow in any direction I wanted to move. I had never played one of the "real" Spector basses before I got my mint condition ReBop at a price that I simply could not refuse. The previous ReBop owner had never bothered to set it up correctly. I was underwhelmed at first as well. Plastic protective covers still remained on the backs of the tuning keys. Two hours of messing with and cussing at the Steinberger bridge solved the setup arrangement, and finally hearing how well it works makes it worth putting up with the setup idiosyncracies of the bridge. Spectors have a rep for coming setup a bit high for many players' taste from the factory, but most people seem to play them with a low setup. The preamp has no external switch and turns on when inserting the cord, oftening leading to a dead battery and poor sound. Hint: Buy them from a shop with Spector setup experience if you can't handle the task yourself. Pick them softly and let them ring long and clear.......nirvana! They almost play themselves. The necks are really strong. The strings often will not pull any significant amount of relief into the neck, so double acting truss rods had to be installed on later models. You don't often find them hanging around in shops either, so buying unseen is often a prospective Spector bass owner problem as much as it is a prospective Rick bass owner problem.
It would be more accurate to rate the Spector as a bass that was bought and quickly dumped at a BIG loss if only going by my particular ReBop......but that is totally inaccurate. It is more accurate to see it as a bass that is undervalued and available for chump change relative to its real value. I like that scenario a lot better when it comes to laying out my hard earned scratch for a different instrument. As somebody else mentioned, trading around is usually the norm as part of the search for "your" instrument. P-bass, Stingray, Rick.......all good for the right person, but I am a Spector personality. Just am, no apologies.
I decided I liked active electronics if they were of sufficiently high quality. My ReBop pickups are passive EMG and the Aguilar OBP-1 preamp mainly serves to flatten out the humped response that all passive pickups possess. The sound is quite "hi-fi" in character, but punchy. The patented Steinberger bridge is one of the best ever created in tonal terms, if not for setup ease. I like a "bull strong" bass neck and the ability to set a low action without too much buzzing concern as the weather changes. I love the double curved body that is smaller than most. The little hump on the back of the neck (not seen on Asian models) that instantly locates your left hand at the first fret position lets you know just how well thought out this bass really is. These are my preferences. You either "love it or hate it" when you play the ReBop. I love it. Somebody else hated it. My gain, his (financial) loss.
Look at the instrument changes that John Entwistle went through during his career. He played ALL the major vintage basses and a lot of boutique basses as well, and in the end had to use a custom designed instrument (designed largely by himself, though built by others) that fit his particular and extremely refined and personal tastes. Few of us would have ended up with what he did! Few players wander upon the perfect axe when they make that first purchase. The strong character of a Rickenbacker may encourage some wandering around until it finds its rightful home. Be very glad if you find an instrument that finally found its rightful home.
It is late and I thought I would spend a few minutes with my reasoning for buying and owing a Ric.
I bought the first (325c58) in September because it it was such a steal. And having grown up with the Beatles, Herman's Hermits, The SEarchers etc,. etc., it has always been my dream to have such a finely crafter AMERICAN instrument in a day when there are few good guitars left (Martin has ruined it's products, IMHO...)
But I knew it wasn't what I wanted. I wanted a 360 and the minute I picked it up and played, it felt like I had owned it for years.
Yes, I play rhythm strictly and yes I love the sound but for some reason the Ric has enabled me to play bar chords I couldn't or was unwilling to play before. The guitar challenges me and yet encourages me. I never thought I would find out what the "action" on a guitar meant and I've been playing since 13 (38 years). Now I know because I have discovered the meaning. It isn't something you can describe. It is something you feel.
I don't believe Rics ar for evryone but I think the same way about Tele's, Strats and LP's. I am not interested in them. I wanted a Ric or a Gretsch and the opportunity presented itself.
I think Karma is the best description...
But I have a feeling most posters here would agree... once you have one in your hands, you will either really love it or sell it immediately. There doesn't seem to be a middle ground.
And for the money, the Ric is one of the best around as far as quality and construction. They haven't sold out.
As for me, the quest is over for now. Maybe when I am 60 I'll be able to afford I can afford the Country Gent I want... but it may be more than I can play since it is a lead guitar. But for now, I strap on the 360 and fantasize I could keep up with Tom Petty or Roger McGuinn... that's enough for me...
I bought the first (325c58) in September because it it was such a steal. And having grown up with the Beatles, Herman's Hermits, The SEarchers etc,. etc., it has always been my dream to have such a finely crafter AMERICAN instrument in a day when there are few good guitars left (Martin has ruined it's products, IMHO...)
But I knew it wasn't what I wanted. I wanted a 360 and the minute I picked it up and played, it felt like I had owned it for years.
Yes, I play rhythm strictly and yes I love the sound but for some reason the Ric has enabled me to play bar chords I couldn't or was unwilling to play before. The guitar challenges me and yet encourages me. I never thought I would find out what the "action" on a guitar meant and I've been playing since 13 (38 years). Now I know because I have discovered the meaning. It isn't something you can describe. It is something you feel.
I don't believe Rics ar for evryone but I think the same way about Tele's, Strats and LP's. I am not interested in them. I wanted a Ric or a Gretsch and the opportunity presented itself.
I think Karma is the best description...
But I have a feeling most posters here would agree... once you have one in your hands, you will either really love it or sell it immediately. There doesn't seem to be a middle ground.
And for the money, the Ric is one of the best around as far as quality and construction. They haven't sold out.
As for me, the quest is over for now. Maybe when I am 60 I'll be able to afford I can afford the Country Gent I want... but it may be more than I can play since it is a lead guitar. But for now, I strap on the 360 and fantasize I could keep up with Tom Petty or Roger McGuinn... that's enough for me...
"Whatcha ya gonna do now, Rich?"
Can't say I agree with you about "Martin ruined their products", though maybe you just haven't seen ones that wound your binder. Maybe Martins Other than their Vintage series, of which I own a couple, and they are far and away the best Martins I ever owned, and I've had older ones as well.The good ones are where you find them, and maybe you just haven't yet.FWIW, I just got a new Gretsch 6122SP and it is Incredible.
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spencer
My stepfather owns a guitar store and being a dealer often means a full commitment, they do want you to have pretty much one of everything.
I know he wants to be a Ric dealer but I don't think it's happened yet. His store is of modest size and his claim to fame is having absolutely pristine used guitars, something not found at GC and the like, so his space is limited.
He got a few of the 325C58s in all the sales as well and he tells me everytime he sells one.
My question is always 'who bought it, how old were they?' and it's always a 50+ Beatles fan.
I know he wants to be a Ric dealer but I don't think it's happened yet. His store is of modest size and his claim to fame is having absolutely pristine used guitars, something not found at GC and the like, so his space is limited.
He got a few of the 325C58s in all the sales as well and he tells me everytime he sells one.
My question is always 'who bought it, how old were they?' and it's always a 50+ Beatles fan.