Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

The guitar is not as rare, but it's a similar display technique, just updated:

hm, does it really make sense to call a one-off instrument rare?

Why? What would you call it?

wittyair wrote:Why? What would you call it?

Medium, medium-rare at most.


In reality, when I think of rare, I think of an instrument that is part of a short run, if there's only 1, then it's a one-off. In my skewed mind anyways... haha

tennis_nick wrote:

wittyair wrote:Why? What would you call it?

Medium, medium-rare at most.

Oh, I don't know. Most of the one offs that you have, Craig, I say were well done...

I suppose that "rare" is OK.

"One-off" is a mixed blessing. Depending upon the individual item, the designation could make it very desirable or merely an oddity. When I taught marketing to design students, I used to tell then that you can always sell at least ONE of anything, no matter how strange or ugly or impractical. (In the automotive world, this would explain the Mohs SafariKar... But, wait, I don't think BB Mohs ever sold one...)

When appraising one-offs, with no comps available, as it often the case, the issue of "what's it worth" becomes a real sticking point. This type of situation really brings into sharp relief comparative values, and makes the curt reply, "whatever somebody will pay for it", absolute truth. It also makes attaching a real value a moot point. Values in this case are evanescent.

Anyway, that Rickenbacker Curlicutie on the left might be a luthier's showpiece, but it's exceedingly, er, hard on the eyes. Fortunately, the young lady on the right makes up for it in a very retro-hip way! The custom one-off on the right is cool for curiosity value, but not distinctive enough to carry the Rickenbacker TRC, IMO...

It was made by Semie Mosely who worked under Rossmeisl at RIC back in the Jurassic Age. Looks a lot like the Joe Maphis Mosrite. Semie owned Mosrite...

Oddly enough he claims he was axed from Rickenbacker for making a one-off instrument 'without their consent'.



On this Thanksgiving Day I am grateful those curly monsters didn't remain in the Ric lineup!

Where the heck is it today?

Hopefully in the hands of someone like Deke Dickerson!

well, since English is not my mother tongue you guys certainly know better if "rare" is appropriate or not. I just kind of think that even if an item is rare, there is still a chance to find an example of it. With a one-of-a-kind instrument, it's not really the case, unless you find that very one. But as I said, I'm just a foreigner (at least in most parts of the world ).

casinoman wrote: But as I said, I'm just a foreigner (at least in most parts of the world ).

Well, aren't we all?

kiramdear wrote:

casinoman wrote: But as I said, I'm just a foreigner (at least in most parts of the world ).

Well, aren't we all?

Some may even feel that way in their own country! But since that is verging on politics that is as far as I will go with it.