Rick Resource Limited Edition Bass?

86kubicki · Post by **86kubicki** » Tue Feb 24, 2004 11:37 am

I agree with Marc. If RIC we're ever to make a V68 as a limited version, I fully expect to pay a premium price for it. If the C64 has a $3000 retail price tag, I would certainly expect another "special edition" bass to be in the same ballpark. It would be interesting if Mr. Hall came up with a price and production would only start when a predetermined number of orders were received. I think he would be surprised at the number of "Rickophiles" who stepped up to the plate.

philco · Post by **philco** » Tue Feb 24, 2004 2:35 pm

I don't spend money on collectability, and I don't intend on starting now. That's why Americans come out with more new things, and the Japanese are stuck with COLLECTING AND COPYING what we thought up. I'll save that kind of money for investing in real estate or the commodity market. I think the best is possibly yet to come at RIC. I'd rather see a group get together and pay for a test run of 100 or more TOTALLY NEW DESIGN basses of a model that had never been built before and thus ADVANCE THE STATE OF THE ART rather than to fall back on the past. Each bass could have the CO-FOUNDING BUYER'S signature engraved into the body and thus become a true collectable in and of itself if the new model was a market success later on. When these models that are collected today were actually being made, they were usually the state of the art at that time. To own a true collectable, you have to own something that made a statement in its era rather than being a throwback to what previously existed. Owning a REAL 1873 Winchester is a lot different than owning a modern reproduction. Custer and his men probably wished they had 1873 Winchesters rather than their TRADITIONAL Remington rifles with a "glorious past" at the Little Bighorn. Let the Japanese keep collecting the past, but I will keep looking to the future and give them something to collect later on.

Why look to the past for a limited production run? Where does that mindset keep coming from?

jwilli · Post by **jwilli** » Tue Feb 24, 2004 3:03 pm

Er, let me know when you find a piece of real estate in the $3000. range, lol. Or a commode...

..........only joking. Point taken, Phillip

jnbass · Post by **jnbass** » Tue Feb 24, 2004 4:17 pm

nothing wrong with Katsuyuki Oyama's RIC collection!

Hey if he's willing to pay for it.

Just wish he leaves some for guys like me, broke that is.

jnbass · Post by **jnbass** » Tue Feb 24, 2004 4:27 pm

Custer probably wished he had that new fangled gattling contraption.

Wish I had an original Winchester yellow boy-not a repo!

ken_james · Post by **ken_james** » Tue Feb 24, 2004 4:56 pm

I believe those were Trap door Springfield's (in 45-70) that Custer's men were using.

philco · Post by **philco** » Tue Feb 24, 2004 5:31 pm

Custer needed kevlar body armor and a graphite Rickenbacker bass for a shield, with high tension string set so he could use it to shoot back arrows, four at a time! The Rickenbacker armored gattling bass. YEAH! Perfect for playing Your Last Stand, and holding off any irate audience. With optional bayonet mount for attaching the Daltrey microphone launcher and a free can of Alex Lifeson approved tear gas.

philco · Post by **philco** » Tue Feb 24, 2004 6:03 pm

Yeah, dedgoat, you may be right. Remingtons may have been a bit upscale in the army brass mindset to waste on a bunch of "backward savages" on the frontier. Some may feel that Henry rifles would have evened the odds a bit for Custer, but I'm not convinced. The point I made being that "working warriors" like the Sioux could appreciate a good effective rifle when they saw it, just as a working bass player would appreciate the best bass he could get his hands on, and not necessarily a throwback to the past. But some Indians did group out of sight in a draw behind some trees or small hill and use their bows and arrows like howitzers to launch arrows onto the 7th Cavalry at a high trajectory, which the troopers couldn't shield themselves from by hiding behind their horses, as they could from bullets fired from rifles. So they were at the mercy of the old technology while trying to fend off the new technology, and couldn't touch the old tech warriors because their Springfield rifles had flat trajectory that couldn't shoot over the obstacle giving cover to the braves. So even Henry rifles probably wouldn't have turned the battle. Which goes to show that in SOME instances, the old technology still works just fine. There's a place for the old basses, but it's been done and they DO already exist, while the next generation is waiting to be built. So give me my modern bass, and you others can have your V68 or whatever, but DO try to stay in the draw behind the trees at Your Next Last Stand.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Tue Feb 24, 2004 6:54 pm

ken_james · Post by **ken_james** » Wed Feb 25, 2004 3:13 am

The indians used Henry rifles at the Little Big Horn.

beatlefan · Post by **beatlefan** » Wed Feb 25, 2004 4:09 am

Interesting point, Philip....

Do you have any designs floating around in your head to share with us??? What new design would you like to see? A concept RIC bass that somehow manages to keep the TRC for a "touch of the past"?

Hmmmmm.....

86kubicki · Post by **86kubicki** » Wed Feb 25, 2004 4:41 am

What is more probable - John Hall modifying a current production bass to create something unique (as far as their current instrument lineup), or having him create a new bass from scratch?
Some here seem to think that those who are enthusiastic about a V68 are stuck in the past. I love Rick basses, but when I want a more "modern" sound I use my Laklands. My desire for a V68 is based on the fact that it would have many terrific features and it would be a new bass. Yes the sound would be akin to a V63 or C64, but the looks (which do matter) would be very different. Others have also said that rather than asking for a V68, we should all just go out and buy an original, but how many are there out on the always suspect "vintage" market that are great players and haven't been modified? All in all I still think the V68 is a worthwhile project.

shamustwin · Post by **shamustwin** » Wed Feb 25, 2004 5:49 am

If a '68 has a great neck and great sound, what's wrong with reproducing that? The second nicest neck (bass) I've played was a '67 hofner, the best, a '67 Rick (both mine). I like the idea of new innovations (products), but if some kid makes it huge next year playing vintage Rick tones, the whole ballgame could change.
I like the band Jet (they're new, they're hot)and from the look of the video I've seen, not one straty style guitar was seen, looked like old hollow bodied somethings (I might have to catch it again to be sure). What is a modern sound now might not be next year.
And by the way, just how many people from India fought against Custer, anyway?

dead_in_okc · Post by **dead_in_okc** » Wed Feb 25, 2004 9:17 am

A new V68 would be awesome....I can't find or afford a real one...If I wanted something Hi-tech,(which I do not)...I wouldn't be looking towards a Ric....I love the looks,features,and styling of the older 60's Ric basses...I personally,do not care for the whole "Boutique Bass" thing...nothing against it...just not for me..Imho,most of the best basses have allready been made...Obviously,quite a few think this also...that's why the reissue market is booming...that's why manufacturers like Ric and Fender and Gibson have put so much time and research into these areas...Apparently,they realize there's a serious demand for "The past" so to speak...If a V68 is ever made,I'll definitely buy one...just my opinion....

jeff_ulmer · Post by **jeff_ulmer** » Wed Feb 25, 2004 9:40 am

There is nothing wrong with recreating a company's heritage by offering features that aren't currently available in a new model. That said, if there were to be a limited edition bass in the $3000 price range, I would not be looking at it. Although I don't mind owning rare instruments, I don't buy them for resale, I buy them to use. While wide inlays and checker binding are cool, they don't change the sound of the guitar. I see no point overpaying for an instrument just because the company or the market deems them collectable. The v63 was a reasonably priced guitar, the C64 is not, IMO. I hope for everyone else's sake that a v68 may be produced, but if it is priced substantially higher than a standard 4003, you can count me out. I'll pick up a couple of other brand basses used instead.