Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

It's hard to get the color to show up in a picture, but believe me, it's VERY green.

In your position, I'd take it back to the store. It's not the colour you expected and they can't deny that. If you are parting with that kind of money, you want a blue bass. Someone else will snap it up.

Hi Ian,
I've been considering that and have talked to the store twice so far. I have until monday to make my choice. The only other BB I've seen for sale was on Ebay. I was ready to pull the trigger, but the seller (a forumite I believe) cancelled the auction prematurely to sell to a friend. My urge (and ability) to splurge on large ticket items comes fairly infrequently and if I return this who knows when another BB will surface... and if so, how green will THAT one be? And more importantly, will I have the money then?
I know to some it doesn't make sense to complain and not return it... but really, my point in all of this is (I'm sure I'm not going to win friends with this comment) I think Rickenbacker messed up.. It would be nice if they just acknowledged it instead of explaining it away, or worse, saying just deal with it.

Anyway, like I said I'm not trying to stir things up... just voicing my thoughts on my first experience with this company.

If you didn't like the color, why did you buy it?

Hi Ben,

I live in Seattle... I found the bass online from a shop in California. I asked for pictures, but they said they didn't have any. I posted earlier in this thread that I asked whether it was Blue or Minty... I was told it was blue with SLIGHT greening on the edges. "Barely perceptible if viewed in sunlight" was their wording.

That is why.

We didn't mess up and there's nothing to explain away. During that particular time in production the clear coat on all instruments produced, not just Blue Boy, was yellowish. We eventually found a way to minimize it but now we charge extra for it on the Amber Fireglo!

If you need someone to complain to, call the South Coast Air Quality District and tell them the material they required us to use by law as of 1 July 2005 sucks.

.

Keith, the different rate of change from blue to minty green of these Blue Boys will make them more unique, even to each other and become more collectible.
If you are really unsatisfied, I'm sure the music store you purchased from will take it back and refund your money or give you a 4003 with a different finish (Jetglo, Mapleglo, etc...) that you won't have a doubt about what color it will be. Just be certain you haven't blemished the finish in any way and see about sending it back ASAP. Someone else will be very happy to buy it.

...and than just maybe in a few years or less, you'll be kicking yourself for parting with it.

Hi john,
I'm just a customer voicing concern over a product that did not arrive as advertised... if you see that as complaining, then so be it. As Thomas so cleverly stated... End of discussion.

Hi Joey,
Thanks for the friendly advice. I appreciate it. As I've said, the color is starting to grow on me and I've decided the bass will be staying with me. I just hope the finish evens out after a while.

Everyone else,
Thanks for all the helpful advice given over the weeks I've been here preparing for my first Ric purchase.
I will leave you in peace now! (and there was much rejoicing!)

"it ain't easy being green"

"I'm just a customer voicing concern over a product that did not arrive as advertised... if you see that as complaining, then so be it. As Thomas so cleverly stated... End of discussion.'

Keith, the way I see it is that you are 100% correct. An instrument that was advertised and marketed as being blue, was (IMO, YMMV) not blue due to a manufacturing issue.

As consumers, we can choose to accept or reject an instrumene due to this, but in the end how many of us are going to reject an otherwise great instrument due to the specific color?

FWIW, my "." post wasn't clever. It was my way of editing my original comments. I have a tendency to say some imprudent things when stuff like this comes up, so I'm treading carefully.

Tom, self-editing is critical sometimes on the Forum. You did well to edit if you felt your post went over the line

"Rickenbacker 101"

Fact: Rickenbacker finishes "yellow" or "amber" over time. Thats just the way it is people.

My point isn't that instruments shouldn't yellow, because we all know that they do.

Rather, the point I was making is that an instrument, bought new (or even used) less than a year from it's manufacture date _should not_ exhibit significant yellowing (unless it was subject to unusual conditions).

It's quite clear (pardon the pun) that here was an issue with the clear coat that resulted in instruments yellowing prematurely.

Whether the result is aestethically pleasing or not, is an exercise for the reader. I happen to like mint green and I get lots of compliments about my green boy Laredos. I do, OTOH, wish one
of 'em were actually blue, which is one of my favorite colors.

Keith, if that's the case the dealer should have returned it right away and we would have refinished it. What did they say when you called them on it?