Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

...we sell all we can make, as is, thank you.

I don't know how that could be taken, by a consumer reading this.

I'm sure that if some started coming out a little left of centre, and you were made aware of it, you would take the necessary steps to rectify it, correct?

I'm wondering if when we jump into the race to "improve" things, we end up taking back steps, particularly with musical instruments. I often read quandaries about "modernizing" Rickenbackers and I wonder what effect will it have on the Rick sound. The sound is part art & part science. The sound has much to do with the very way they are built right now.

It appears to me there are numerous examples of updated or modern versions of some of the "classics", (Marshall's, SVT's, active P & Jazz basses, post CBS & Elite Strat's, Harley Davidson V-Rod oops! How did that get in there?) that have met with mixed results.

To use the car analogy, I would concede that Toyota makes some of the most "refined" vehicles in the world. If that is your primary concern, trouble free transportation, Toyota should be on the short list. But if you are in your 50's, you look like you were standing a little too close to the last nuclear bomb test, and you're trolling for chicks at Metro Beach, give me a noisy, bumpy, hot & cantankerous Dodge Viper.

Mitchell said:

... You will not do this with and [sic: any] chevy, ford or dodge. ...

My late father's 1979 Chevrolet Malibu station wagon (267 c.i. V-8) has over 200,000 miles on it, and is still going strong with its original drive train (heads have been off for valve job, but never dismantled beyond that). Not every GM product is a dog.

BTW, the wagon doesn't have much rust, either, whereas my 1978 Subaru Brat was a near-total rust bucket by 1988.

The sound is part art & part science. The sound has much to do with the very way they are built right now.

Of course, but they don't have to bite your hand when you're in the process of feeding them, either.

I hear you Manuel, that's why I never had children.

I have two "R's", a 360 & 330. Mine are behaving. However, my SVT hurts me all the time.

"Toyota bred mentality"? Heh-heh. Then over the years i must have grown a Zhiguli bred mentality: "take it as it is cause no chance you can change anything about it, and if something goes wrong, repair it with your own hands & never address the manufacturer - he has more important things to do". But i'd like to grow "Toyota-bred" type of mentality.
(for those who may not know, Zhiguli is a region in Russia and a local brand for cars)
PS: oh, and i (actually, we, cause it's mainly my daughter's) do have a Rickenbacker. One and only. Without an "R" tailpiece. It's a good guitar, but i wouldn't say it's perfect.

Mr Hall thank you for finally adding your comments to this debate.

I had hoped for something more constructive & positive coming from you particularly in regard to the actual topic of substandard "R" tailpieces.

No you can't change a "Toyota bred Mentality" Mr Hall and you shouldn't try to, our brand credo still is:

"The relentless pursuit of perfection"

I'd like to know what yours is as the CEO of Rickenbacker could it be and i quote "we sell all we can make as is thank you"

The Toyota/Lexus brand is the number one brand in the world & i used it as an example of how we do things right. We are not here to as you put it "outwit the customer" but we do listen to the customer & innovate and improve our product range, something that i think you would benefit from doing.

Todd i commend you for putting the whole thing in a nutshell for everyone, but you certainly should not have to be cleaning up the sharp edges and metal burrs from the tailpiece of your new guitar. You've paid your money & it should be cleaned & properly plated before it gets to you.

The overwhelming majority of you i'm sure are aware by now that the Emperor has no clothes but are unwilling or afraid to voice it. I've never been a sycophant and am not about start now.

Ladies & gentlemen to re-iterate there is an enormous elephant in the in the room so don't be afraid to talk about it. The Rick police will not come to your home in the middle of the night & confiscate all of your guitars.

Nuff said me thinks.

The Rick police will not come to your home in the middle of the night & confiscate all of your guitars.

Now personally, that's the last thing that scares me. I'm Russian, and Russia is a huuuuge country. That's just this forum policy, as it was found out, Zubair, is such that the discussion should be "positive" when it comes to discussing Rics (but when it comes to discussing Fenders, or Ibanez, etc, that's another story). There's been a few discussions of that kind already in the past, and from what happened then (and what's happening now)... well, some simply remain silent about their Rics' imperfections, so to speak.

Zubair: Your initial questions were fair, however, with your Emperor and Elephant metaphors you have taken things too far. I do agree that enough has been said in this matter.

Your absolutely right Peter, I've said all i needed to on this matter & i thank you for providing the platform upon which I've done so.

I'm sure I am not the only one who has been silently watching this thread with great interest. I do want to thank you Peter for letting it go on. I would have been disappointed if it got removed from the forum.

you guys are killing me, A Ford with 150,000 miles, NO WAY. LOL

Want pix? {:^) I could shoot one of the mileage, the interior, the exterior, not to mention the aerial photography....... I know, I stole part of the line!

No, I believe ya, My brothers old F 150, with a 300 six has over 200,000 miles and still runs. It is used for a farm work truck, I would not drive it on a long distant trip.

My '67 Cougar had 210,000 on the clock and was running strong when I blew a connecting rod out of the side of the block at the drag strip. Nothing like doing 100+mph with oil and antifreeze blasting the windshield.