Looking for history lesson on Ric bass prices

squirefan01 · Post by **squirefan01** » Tue May 30, 2006 6:56 am

I am pretty new to the forum and Ric-Watching on eBay. For those of you who have been paying attention for years, how much have the prices gone up just recently? What was a 4001CS going for a year ago? Two years? I'd love a little history lesson on prices if anybody is up to it.

I have an '87 4003JG now, and if I increase my collection I would like to get a 4001CS, 4003S, and a 5-string Ric (thinking long term here...no rush). All of these are pretty costly these days, and I wonder if we're just trending high right now.

Thanks

leftyguitars · Post by **leftyguitars** » Tue May 30, 2006 7:03 am

I think Ric basses will just go higher and higher as demand increases faster than production for new ones, and older ones become more desireable/collectable.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Tue May 30, 2006 7:15 am

In 1973 I bought a 1968 4001 for $150 ... sold in 2004 for $6500

In 2002 I bought a 1973 4001 (late model) for about $500 ... sold it in 2003 for $800 ... then it was sold for about $1200 ...

in 2002 I bought a 1989 4003s5 for about $700 ... sold it in 2004 for $1400 ...

atomic_punk · Post by **atomic_punk** » Tue May 30, 2006 7:20 am

Prices go up as people can't get them. The 5-strings are in great demand since there are none being produced. If you can't get it, people want it!

leftyguitars · Post by **leftyguitars** » Tue May 30, 2006 7:31 am

If you want one, the sooner you buy it the cheaper it will be, and the longer you think about it the more it will cost you!

It's the same for most things in life but Rickenbackers actually cost more in real terms, as (used) prices are rising faster than inflation.

jnbass · Post by **jnbass** » Tue May 30, 2006 7:53 am

SUPPLY-DEMAND

its getting ugly...

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Tue May 30, 2006 7:59 am

I got a mint condition used 330 for $750 not two years ago, with an eBay BIN. You can't find that deal anymore.

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Tue May 30, 2006 8:32 am

Nobody wants anything until you cant get it anymore.

henry5 · Post by **henry5** » Tue May 30, 2006 8:47 am

Yeah, look at 4005s and azureglo....(actually I always wanted azureglo!)

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Tue May 30, 2006 11:38 am

Here's another price explosion story. The guy I bought my 1981 4080 from (for $3362) told me that he talked the original owner down to $750 back in '86.
There just wasn't much of market then.
The things to remember when looking at a Rick for sale are:
1)Can you pay for it?
If yes then...
2)Do you want it?
If at all, then...
3)BUY IT!!!!!!!!!
I've never met a Rick I didn't buy!

As everyone has remarked, the price will not go down in the foreseeable future. Even if you don't want to keep the guitar, if it seems like a decent deal you probably will be able to sell it later for at least what you've got into it, if not more.
I'm not selling mine, since that would feel like selling one of my kids, but some folks make a little money trading & upgrading. Of course, the longer you have it in your hands, the more likely you'll just want to keep it.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Tue May 30, 2006 12:20 pm

as prices go up fenders start looking better ...

fran4001 · Post by **fran4001** » Tue May 30, 2006 12:23 pm

Prices took a big jump just the last few years IMO. I was getting 70s 4001s for 850-1,000 regularly a few years back. the same basses seem to be 1,400-1,900 now. Some specific deals for me here in my area (N.E. PA) bought my '69 4001 BG for $300 in 1985, sold it in '02 for $1,950. Got my CS for $425 a few years back, worth 3,500-7,000 now. Just picked up a '94 V63FG for $1,800 from a fellow Forumite. Probably was a 1k bass a year or two ago. Crazy ain't it? Worst one though, I sold a sweet '89 V63 JETGLO which I got for $400 to a local guy a few years ago for 1K, and here's the kicker, are you sitting? He stripped it to natural ala Macca! Aaaggghhh! Then he offed it. What an a**!

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Tue May 30, 2006 9:09 pm

Yes, I bought two brand new V63's on close out when GC couldn't give them away (unbelievable now huh?) for 900.00 each, they're worth probably triple that now in 4 or 5 short years and I stupidly sold them within a year of buying them for about what I paid for them.
You could buy a nice condition used 4001 for about 500.00 during the early 90's and they slowly rose from there. But it has been within the past few years that the prices have really started to take off. I also bought a brand new mapleglo 4001 in 1977 for about 469.00 with a case. You could get a used one around then in nice shape for about 300.00.

rickfan63 · Post by **rickfan63** » Wed May 31, 2006 10:07 am

I paid exactly that-$300 for my used 4001MG in 1977. It was my first Rickenbacker...and my first really good bass. I then sold it around 1985 for less than that. I really regret that now.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Wed May 31, 2006 2:00 pm

I've sold many of them and regret every one.