Rickenbacker - A Rarity In Isreal

[admin]

Ilan: I can't help but notice we have less than a dozen Rickenbackers in our Register from Israel. Are they that rare in your country or do we need to "beat the bushes" more.

[gibsonlp]

I'll take the liberty to answer...

They are pretty rare, but the instruments registered are only the tip of the iceberg.
Our own forumite, Marc Lazare has a "few" (7 IIRC) unregistered ones, and from the list of owners I have collected so far we have:

4 70's 4001
2 360/6 V64
2 360/12 V64
1 360/12 WB
9 4003
2 620/12
1 620/6
1 LH 4003/5
2 330/12
1 330/6
1 325JL
1 Lapsteel

Rumors about a 60's 360...
This does NOT include Ilan's, Marc's or my Ricks...

[ilan]

There are certainly less Rics than fenders etc., but I believe that the reason not many are registered is that owners are reluctant to join an English-speaking forum.

Israel's population (7 million) is about the same as Switzerland's, Bulgaria, or Hong Kong. Switzerland has 3 registered Rics, Bulgaria - 1, Hong Kong - 0.

I hope that a confluence will change things dramatically.

[johnhall]

We used to have a great distributor in Israel (which meant we couldn't do business is Arab countries) but I think the guy got too successful. It seemed every time we tried to contact him, Udi Marom was on the slopes in Chamonix.

[gibsonlp]

Thank you for your comment, John
I have talked to Udi several times (I bought his last rick many years ago), he said he is VERY interested in being RICs distributor.
I believe he mentioned that he didn't order enough or something like that and that he got shut down by RIC because of that.

Besides Udi Marom - I know a couple of other store owners who are "dying" to be Rickenbacker's distributor in Israel. Is there a chance for us, Israelis - to have a distributor here...???

As for your comment about the Arab countries: it is not the first time that some Arab countries are banning companies that sell in Israel, that's really funny, because they can easily buy Israeli technology (from Intel CPUs through Voicemail systems to Agricultural technology using a 3rd party)...

[ilan]

It seemed every time we tried to contact him, Udi Marom was on the slopes in Chamonix.

... Still he's a very nice guy, always helpful, and was very impressed by you, Mr Hall.

Now the only Ric in their store is a used Jetglo 330...

[tomersg]

hello Gil, Ilan and other Israeli Rickenbacker owners, and John hall off course.
this is a shame that there is no distribution of Rickenbacker in Israel.
marom are disgrace.
3 yeas ago i was interested in purchasing Ric 4003 from them and they didn't pay any attention to me.
there are also a lot of complains from lot of costumers about their costumer service. not related to Rickenbacker.
in my opinion, they are one of the worst music stores in Israel. there are otters stores that can be better distributors to Rickenbacker basses and guitars in Israel.
and there are lot of people who wants to buy Ric.
but now, personal import is the only option that available, like i did.

[gibsonlp]

Hello Tomer and welcome!

This is great to have another Israeli in the forum.
You have a Mapleglo 4003, no?
Please take the time to register it.

If you recall - we have spoken on the phone once or twice about a possible confluence, this is finally getting closer and closer, I'll keep you posted.
Meanwhile - enjoy this forum, there are many nice Rickenbacker enthusiastics around here.

[saab95]

Hello Gil, Tomer, Ilan, Mark, Baruch and other israeli Rick players\collectors,
I have a humble collection of 3 Ricks:
325 V59 JG with Lennon mod's
325 V63 JG
360/12 V64 FG
I used to have a 360 FG but I sold it last year.
In the future I plan to get a 325 C64 MG.
Ariel.

[gibsonlp]

Hello Ariel!
Good to see you around!
Your collection is very impressive, I remember that you waited for a C63 a few years ago, no?

[saab95]

True, but I gave up as so much waiting got me "on the edge". So I decided to go for a v64 that was a bit easier to find. I finally found it with the help of Peter in a musical store in Canada .

[ilan]

Welcome Tomer and Ariel! Great to see you here.

Ariel - did you sell that Hofner?

[saab95]

Hello Ilan,
No I didn't sell it yet, It's still for sale.

[SGTPEPPERS]

what year is this guitar? which model?
is a guitarist from Israel ...
thanks!!

[gibsonlp]

This is a fake Rick...