Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I'm not entirely sure if this is true but I heard Long and McQuade is backed up five years because of all the Ric orders. I ordered a bass last August, and I am wondering if anyone knows that a. if the rumour is true, and b. if it will effect myself getting a new Ric this summer. Thanks.

Not sure Marc re the guitars but I wouldn't be surprised. I was in there one day (Burlington, ON branch) and decided to order a few sets of strings to keep in stock. The clerk told me they'd be shipped with the next order they received from Ric but that it might take a while - no skin off my nose as these were just extras anyway. In any event, they came in with the next Rickenbacker shipment, a year later! Obviously there's not a lot of stock circulating through the store but it's equally obvious that I don't know how long instruments are backlogged at L&M.

5 years. I thought that was a bit long.

I was told that same thing here in Australia some years back by the then distributor. Just as well I didn't order any from them as the pin was pulled sometime later, so to speak.

Anyhow, it appeared to me that when they said "5 years" they actually meant , if you know what I mean.

As long as L&M placed the order, your wait shouldn't be longer than if you ordered it from any other dealer. That being said, the L&M staff never seem very excited when you bring up Rickenbackers. Sad, considering they are the major retailer in Canada. Oh well, I'm more than happy to give my Rickerdollars to US based retailers like Mike Parks or Chris Clayton.

I agree with Steve, but will also add that you're better off looking in the used market if you're not dead set on a certain model/colour. I spot a few nice guitars around Toronto fairly regularly.

I am with you all the way here Greg. Used Rickenbackers are fantastic instruments at an affordable price.

Further to Steve's point, with the exchange rate the way it is right now, new Rics from US retailers are a far better deal than any Canadian retailer. US retailers were a better deal when our dollar was running at $0.80 US.

BTW, Steve's Music (Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal) are quoting 18 months for a new Ric, and will order it for you happily. But are they ever EXPENSIVE!!

I saved over 50% on a Steve's Music price for my 350 by driving 3 hours (plus border time)to Albany to buy one at $0.80 exchange. On the way back, I had to pay GST and PST on the purchase price of the guitar. No duty, no broler fees, nothing more.

Over and above the price and availability issues, I was treated extremely well by the sales people. Not at all like my Steve's experiences.

...Dean

Ditto regarding Steve's, though the staff at L&M in Toronto were great to deal with when I bought my 381 two years ago.

(Hey Dean, glad we didn't overpay for Briere).

I've bought a LOT of Ricks from L&M (including a 300 JG just a few weeks ago during the 'zero interest' sale). The last bass I bought was my 4001C64 which came in the New Year, about 16 months after I'd ordered it. As somebody else pointed out, the waits should be the same for any dealer. You can ask at L&M to check if there's any in the chain and they'll bring it in if it's available.

Thanks for the input everyone. Actually getting a new Ric from the U.S. might be a better idea because they're about $1675 CAD at L&M, but in the U.S. I've seen them as low as $1200 USD, so maybe I'll start looking South...