Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Yeah, I think that I will pass on any steaks that are the color of Blue Burst or Green Glo.

Come to think of it, I know several other Texans that would probably like a steak that is Fireglo on the inside and Jetglo on the outside.

That's my preference, too.

Medium-Ric will do me just fine, thanks very much!

I take my steak Ruby in the middle, Fireglo near the edge, and Monty brown on the outside... Just so it doesn't moo....

When I was in the hotel business many years ago, I worked for one general manager whose favorite saying was, "Volume can cover a multitude of sins."

I just glad that John Hall doesn't subscribe to that theory and I presume that GC & Wally World does.

Also, looks like GC's acquistion of Music and Arts will add the one thing that GC has never had; lessons. I guess that they are expecting you to buy that $399 guitar from GC and then run over to the nearest Music & Arts for for the lessons.

Axis Music Acadamy is next to the GCs in these parts and is affiliated to my understanding.

I was having no luck looking for dealers in my state from the Ric website. I was using Netscape 7.0. I tried on Explorer and it works fine.

And Sam Ash (new to San Antonio) is the only Texas dealer not in Austin. I'll have to go by and see if they have any hanging.

I think most parents buy a cheap instrument first. If their kids get into it, they will buy up. Few parents or teens are going to drop $2000 for a guitar. Selling a bunch of Squires is what keeps guitar stores in business.

I guess everyone sees things a little differently. I was always treated poorly at the Wurlitzer store in Boston. I could care less that they are gone. We have a store near where I am, which seems to be flourishing in the wake of a Guitar Center influx. Great new guitars, including a few Rics, huge selections, lots of used. Go in there on a Saturday and it's sometimes a mob schene. Owners are great guys and the people who work there are players. They don't carry some of the stuff Guitar center does like tons of keys, but there are 10x the number of guitars and amps I'd condisder buying there rather than GC. I've also seen them speak to parents of budding musicians and the don't talk down to them, make them feel important, and give them a real guitar for the hundred or 2 they want to spend. I don't blame the fall of some old time stores on GC, I blame it on the old time stores attitude. The local store that is doing well is a perfect example of how to run a business in this era.

JUST THINKING OUTLOUD
(Can you tell I'm no businessman?)

I don't trade guitars, and I don't own a guitar shop. But it seems if one does, they have to have something in inventory.

If they were to buy 100 Squires at $100 a pop and sell them for $170, they make $7000 in profit when they sell them.

If they buy one $1600 Rickenbacker and sell it for $2000, they make $400 profit. Quite a bit more profit for selling one guitar. It seems a dealer would be able to sell Ricks, and make more money selling fewer instruments.

But it seems it would be tough to stay in business if your customers could get an inexpensive guitar at one store, while they all they could get at your store was Ricks.

It's amazing to me to see a shop like Roman's with walls of Ricks. Imagine how much cash flow to buy all those. I wonder how quickly they move?

Ricks are fantastic guitars, but seem to be for a select audience.

>>Shoot, we'll just get a ranch out on Preston Road, offer a combination outlet store, steak house, and equestrian center. Guess we'd need a real estate office to make it complete.<<

While driving to Dallas & Arlington for the guitar shows many years ago Jeff and I talked about opening a guitar shop/blues bar/strip club in the DFW area. If anyone has a lot of disposable income laying around, I've noticed several good locations since moving here...

Sj