Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

O.K. I'm finally ready to order a 360/12C63. I figure with the length of time I have to wait to get it (estimated 1-2 years), I can pay for the darn thing before it ever comes in. Now, here's my question(s) - Has anyone in the forum ordered a guitar from Rhoads Music before? If so, was it a good experience, etc?
Do you think I'd be better off ordering from Rhoads (who have only four orders ahead of me), or should I go with NCM (about 40 orders in line).
Everything else appears to be the same - price, setup, deposit, shipping... What do you guys think? Help!

Kris,
You might want to talk to Tim Reynolds, the sales manager at the Music Zoo. I think they have 8 on order and as far as I know, 3-4 of them are spoken for. I think the deposit is less than NCM, though I've never heard anything but high praise for Gary and his service. When they'll come in...who knows? The 40th on order at NCM could come in before #2 at the Music Zoo (or anywhere else for that matter).

Yeah- go with Music Zoo, Tim is a great guy

Thanks -

I just sent an email to Music Zoo - I'll see what they say. It's going to be hard to beat NCM's and Rhoads price, though (they're both the same).
I don't mind waiting a year for the guitar to ship. As I said, it gives me time to get the money together for it. I just know from reading the posts that many of the forum's Rick addicts have ordered from NCM. I was just wondering if anyone's ordered a guitar from Jim Rhoads at Rhoads Music?

Kris,

I have used Gary @ NCM. I have received 6 guitars from him and have 2 more on order. Having said that, I've heard good things about Jim on this forum. So I think you'll do fine wherever you go.

Yea, I have only good things to say about Gary at NCM. He has gone above and beyond in answering all my questions. My 360-12C63 is the 2nd guitar from him But I've ordered straps, books from him too. Good place to do business IMO

Kris,

Seems to me there are three things to balance:

(1) Price/Deposit - This should be pretty much the same.

(2) Service - Can't speak for Rhodes, but my experience with Tim and the Music Zoo has been nothing short of outstanding. That said, I have friends who've dealt with Gary and I wouldn't hesitate to do business with him.

(3) Delivery date - this is the wild card. I believe I've read John Hall say that RIC basically ships out guitars based on the order date, but I don't know if there is any adjustment for dealer volume etc. So what you really want to know (it seems to me) is when the guitar you're reserving was ordered. I would think that either Gary or Tim could tell you that if you asked. Assuming all other things are equal (that's for you to decide) you'll want to get your 360/12v63 from the place that has one not yet reserved, that's been on order the longest.

For example, being first in line at Vendor A who ordered "your" guitar last week, is not as good as being #45 in line at Vendor B who's had "your" guitar on order for several years. Hope this makes some sense...and I'm happy to be corrected by those who know better...there are lots of them.

Heard back from the Music Zoo yesterday. Unfortunately, their quoted price was over $200 more than either NCM or Rhoads Music.

Does Musicians Friend do Price matches? I found they are easy to deal with on that respect. Buy it from them, get a price e-mail from someone that has the lowest price (NCM) then see if you can get it approved.

I think the hitch is that they will match any price from a vendor who has the item in stock....so unless NCM has the guitar in stock, I don't think MF will match it.

Alisha is right on. having it in stock is the key. And since no one (I'm aware of) has any 360/12c63s, I can't imagine they're interested in price matching. One of the additional problems we all face right now is the incredible demand for RICs in general, and some models in particular. Ed Roman will prices match on most things, but when I called to talk to them about a BBR 4003, he wouldn't go any lower than $1600 even though I had a much lower quote from someone else who had them in stock...all because of the demand.

Musicians Friend lacks the customer service skills to check if a product is in stock. I bought one about a month ago - and price matched it via their online website and got it down to $1980.00. Not sure if they changed their minds on matching RICs.

Hi gang, the "in stock" thing on price matching is the key...if I don't have it, I'd be willing to sell it for half .

Having said that, it pays to keep checking the web sites of the big internet houses. Sometimes a Ric will show up in the clearance or outlet venues--often it's a Ric someone ordered and didn't like (shocking, I'm guessing on this forum, but it happens . I got my first Ric this way--a 350 I'd had on order from one internet dealer forever, and then one showed up on clearance. Grabbed her, she was perfect--obviously a return.

Hey, the search and wait with Rics are part of the romance!!

Bill

There was at least one dealer of the seven I got quotes from (I can't remember which one), that said they couldn;t honor any price matches. It could have been Musician's Friend.

I'd have a hard time believing that MF would match the price anyway - They gave me the highest quote! The prices do seem to vary a good amount (at least on this model). It pays to shop around.

- Kris