Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Is it just me or is there a GLUT of semi-rare to rare/desirable Rickenbacker basses on ebay this last week or so?

I mean, I count:

2 4001CS
1 4001V63
1 4003S/5
1 4001V63 LH
1 4003 SPC Tuxedo
2 4003 BBR
1 4003 BBY
1 4001C64
1 2030
1 4001FL
1 4000
1 4005
1 4003 Shadow

and several 4004s in various model designations

Sure the 2030 and the 4001FL and the 4004s aren't "semi-rare" but they're rare enough to notice in a list of non-4001/3 basses.

So, I ask... is it just me or does it seem like everyone decided to sell this week? Or put another way, did everyone decide they were going to torment me (and maybe you) this week with the plethora of pretties out there?

Or... is this an indicator of how bad the economy truly is and people are selling because they really really need money right now?

What's your take?

PS: Joey, if it's better to move this to the Rickenbacker Online Sightings, that's cool. I just didn't know the best spot for it.

edit: I had forgotten to mention the 4080 that was on earlier and I swear I saw a 4003S/8 on there as well but don't see it now.

I've seen some pretty unusual stuff come through my local vintage/used gear shops lately. I'm talking some really nice, and off-the-wall gear too. I'm in the process of closing the deal on one now. Hopefully it will work out. It really does seem like there has been some great gear getting freed up.

Houses, cars, vintage guitars...it sure is a good time to buy...

Scott, this forum is fine for this discussion,
I think there are many out there who need the $$ right now. They held out from selling as long as they could. Things aren't getting better for the working man or in many cases, the still out-of-work man.
There are many sellers on ebay who don't move stuff easily. They still don't realize this isn't the time to be asking top dollar for most of the gear they wish to sell. Some of them hope for a buyer from other countries, but in these times, most people everywhere will wait for a bargain.

rickenbrother wrote:Scott, this forum is fine for this discussion,
I think there are many out there who need the $$ right now. They held out from selling as long as they could. Things aren't getting better for the working man or in many cases, the still out-of-work man.
There are many sellers on ebay who don't move stuff easily. They still don't realize this isn't the time to be asking top dollar for most of the gear they wish to sell. Some of them hope for a buyer from other countries, but in these times, most people everywhere will wait for a bargain.

This I do see quite often.

I still see sales of a vanilla 4003 of over $2k USD and that's just insane, IMO.

And I do think people are having a really hard time of it or we wouldn't be seeing such a widespread offering of different models out there.

I can't recall seeing two 4001CS basses selling at the same time let alone seeing them sell along with a 4080, a 4005 and a 4003S/5. It's just something you don't see that often and the only thing that makes sense is that people truly are having issues with money.

Matt, I can imagine some of the things you're seeing right now.

Last couple of years mid 70s 4001s went up significantly in price. Now the market is soft. If I were cash rich, I'd be picking up any examples I thought were choice.

If you have loads of cash, it's a fine time to buy.
For us mortals it's just causing agony

On the other hand, some quality vintage items are being snapped up at healthy prices.

Here's a '66 MG 4005 that had all of 4 viewers before it sold for a BIN of $8K: http://cgi.ebay.com/Rickenbacker-Bass-G ... 3a5e90111f

I only I had a couple of extra bucks around

Soft market, no doubt. If I had extra cash I'd buy this beauty. But I'm trying to thin the herd now - and it's difficult, since it's a buyers market also for vintage Fenders.

libratune wrote:On the other hand, some quality vintage items are being snapped up at healthy prices.

Here's a '66 MG 4005 that had all of 4 viewers before it sold for a BIN of $8K: http://cgi.ebay.com/Rickenbacker-Bass-G ... 3a5e90111f

Top dollar for sure!

otoh - I've listed my acoustic 4 times on Ebay and have had no more than a half price offer, or trades that pulled back.

the bass Ilan is looking at is a fine example of a cool bass to buy right now.

E-bay.com is certainy the place!

Over here in the UK, with obviously less Rics around, we don't get the amount on the market - and variation!

However, a year or so back, new 4003's were selling for close to the £2k mark - you can now snap up a MID for £1599. Not bad - although I bought (and sold eventually for a bit extra) a MID in 2008 for £1250!

So even here, prices have come down a little. I just wish I could find a bargain 4001 or something so I could be really smug!

This whole year felt like a good time to get vintage gear in general - if you had the $$$.

wints wrote:Houses, cars, vintage guitars...it sure is a good time to buy...

Yep. When there's blood in the streets: buy. When the trumpets are sounding: sell.

ilan wrote:Soft market, no doubt. If I had extra cash I'd buy this beauty. But I'm trying to thin the herd now - and it's difficult, since it's a buyers market also for vintage Fenders.

Aaaagh! I'm trying to contact the seller to see if he'll ship to the UK If not, could anybody receive and ship this for me, or could someone bid on my behalf? If I won I'd Paypal instantly and cover all fees. It's nearly gone! Wish I'd seen this earlier....