Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I'm in...

I can't believe this ... RIC is a for profit corporation ... and you are going to give them a $1200 guitar ... RIC has enough money to buy that guitar if they want it ... I don't know about you guys, but I work for my money ...

If you want RIC to have more money then buy a new instrument ...

If you want to donate money there are many good charities ... RIC is not a charity ... yes it is a shame something got stolen from them ... but we didn't steal it ...

I have to agree with Jeff Rath's statement. Rightfully, the guitar should be returned but in lieu of that RIC should purchase the guitar, if they want it back badly enough.

Just trying to right a wrong, somehow...

The "owner" isn't talking...so far he hasn't seen a bid. This is a low price for a prototype from a legendary maker, but still I think his market is collectors, and so far he hasn't interested too many it seems. Dealers are staying away too so far.

I wonder if he's a member here...

I agree with Jeff too. This is kind of ridiculous; it may very well be that the seller bought it from somebody else and believed it was legit. If so, the "right thing to do" is to give the guitar back and be out a whole bunch of money? I dunno about you, but that just seems ludicrous. We're using the jump to conclusions mat instead of our heads

A nice gesture is not ridiculous. I thought it was a good idea. If you aren't interested, thats cool. I don't mind making a good will gesture. I think it is appropriate. But thats me.

Actually, I'd like to revise my former statement after thinking about this overnight. I would still offer the stolen property to Ric at the value that I had invested but, the more I think about it, if they declined my offer I wouldn't just give it to them. If it only cost me a few hundred dollars I might but not for $1200.

I still feel that it is the right thing to do BUT I would probably feel better selling it (with fully disclosing the details) and giving the money to a local animal shelter (I usually give them a nice chunk of cash anyway so that would free up some of my legitimate cash to buy another Ric.....or some Harley parts ) so it wouldn't be as much of a financial loss to me.

I don't think this site or any of us would be here if John Hall and his family just owned another "for profit corporation" making widgets.

I know you're right Jeff & I understand & sympathise with that point of view. But I feel that if Rickenbacker can't bid on this for whatever reason & perhaps the vendor is unwilling to lose his investment, then $20 each would be worth it, just to show our goodwill & help repay the immense pleasure that Rickenbacker has given us. We're not talking about ANY guitar manufacturer here, we're talking about Rickenbacker, who's history flows through the veins of those of us that are priviliged enough to use these masterpieces, surely just as much as those who produce them. It might be seen as our duty to try & help restore a part of that history, as without it, perhaps a part of ourselves might also be missing.........just a thought!

I really didn't want to hurt anybody's feelings ... you guys are right the guitar should go back to RIC ... you just got a little too generous ... Ric has plenty of resources to get it if they want it ...

Jeff, you aren't hurting my feelings. You are entitled to your opinion and that is what makes this forum great. We are all able to voice our opinions. We all have opinioons, but it isn't often we are given a voice like this. I'm not sure if it is possible to be "...a little too generous", but if that is what you think thats cool. I think RIC shouldn't and probably won't set a precedence for buying back what is rightfully theirs. Whats the saying...we won't negotiate with terrorists. Sorry, that may be extreme, but you get the point. People would be coming out of the woodwork (no pun intended). They simply can't. But we can. Again if this thing sells its gone forever. Just my humble opinion.

Rock on!

Maybe we got a little too "Hands Across America" for Jeff...
I just think it would be a nice thing if it ended the right way.

I sent the fellow an E-mail explaining my thoughts on the ownership of what he believes to be his proto-type guitar and how he could/should call John Hall and make arrangements for it's return. It's on E-bay and the whole world, (which when you start dealing in rare guitars,) is very small, will know it was/is a stolen guitar and who would feel justified having someone elses wife in their bed, same goes for our guitars, IMO.
Anyway, I hope he does the honest thing and returns it to Hall where it belongs.

I haven't gotten a reply to my email asking how he came to acquire a prototype.