Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Mike, you did get a pretty good deal, and everybody's happy. I hope I didn't seem sarcastic. I was pointing out the positive aspects of your experience.

He used to be one of PRS's biggest dealers/promoters until they changed the neck, and then they got an earful from ol' Ed. Last I heard, he was still selling them, but pushing the boutique lookalike brands harder. And then there's the flame/color thing.

He tells anyone who'll listen about how much CNC PRS uses now, and he's right, but the way he carries on you'd swear the Devil sold them the equipment.

BTW, I saw an old, mint Dragon with hand-cut inlays at GC for $20K!

I wonder what Ed has against CNC?

While checking out the site I saw that Ed was ranting on about how good the old or "vintage" RIC cases are and how poorly the current ones compare. Is this true? Are the vintage cases made of wood?

My '94 4003 came in a black wooden case. The new ones, like my '03 4003, come in plastic molded SKB cases. I actually prefer the molded SKB cases. The instrument fits perfectly inside, they are well-protected, and stickers actually stick to the outside of the case.

It's the instrument that's most important, though. If Ed's ranting about the new Ric cases, he needs more excitement in his life.

I think that Ed's got a point in his rants--the wooden deluxe Rick cases are a better environment for a wooden guitar than a plastic case which does not react to moisture in the atmosphere like wood does. I do think that a wood case provides a sort of buffer zone for the instrument.

That having been said, I think there's some pretty fine hairs being split here, and having one of each of the cases in a pretty mild climate, I don't think I'll see any difference in my guitars in years to come.

That's an interesting point, Paul. The only situation I can imagine where the case might play a role is if you are going from an air-conditioned environment to 100 degrees F and humid. In that situation, you are going to need hours of transition to avoid having the instrument go haywire, regardless of the case type. Wood might transition better, I hadn't thought of that.

Still, for most situations, the plastic cases are lighter, probably stronger, and the stickers stick to them. I suppose if a player anticipated a lot of rapid environmental changes, a wood case might be a nice option. Or, do like I do and play a backup bass that is not as valuable for those extreme outdoor gigs.

Also, I kinda enjoy Ed's rants, at any rate. It's interesting reading, even if you don't agree with him. My previous comment was meant in humor.

Yeah, he makes some interesting reading! And most of what he says has a reasonable basis, although he at times takes things to extremes.

How ya gonna build a rep as an irascible eccentric unless you act a bit unhinged?

Sorry, I was out astral travelling...was that question for me?