Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Having just received a major online retailer's Holiday Sale Announcement, it's absolutely astounding to see how many models exist of Les Pauls, Stratocasters, and Telecasters. How does one go about choosing and purchasing one? And what's the difference between a $3,000 model and a $6,000 model?

Rickenbacker's product line is SO much easier!

I actually wish that there were a few more options to choose (double-bound, etc) in Rick's product line, but I'll take it over the aforementioned others anytime.

I think the great strength of RIC's approach is that quality is maintained across the board - you never need to worry about where the guitar came from or if the workers really showed up that day. And the materials are all top-notch.

Agreed.

I am also so glad I was able to get a Rick while the goings still good before John Hall retires and/or sells the company to someone besides Ben Hall (which hopefully won't happen, of course).....just in case.

It says a lot about the company - and the public's faith/interest in it - that their back-orders are keeping them so busy that they had to cut certain models for a while like the 650s and the acoustics.

Don't know how many here are familiar with Bill Nash who makes "time machine" Fender relics, but on on his website, he has an "IMHO" section in which he refers to other big guitar companies who, in his opinion, essentially don't even make the "real" guitars anymore, but merely copies of their founder's originals - with one exception:

"I think Rickenbacker is the only guitar maker from the old days that could actually claim that they are much the same as they once were, as they have not been bought, sold, moved, re-tooled, commissioned Asian factories and all the other things most makers have done."

http://www.nashguitars.com/IMHO.htm

Rickissippi wrote:Don't know how many here are familiar with Bill Nash who makes "time machine" Fender relics, but on on his website, he has an "IMHO" section in which he refers to other big guitar companies who, in his opinion, essentially don't even make the "real" guitars anymore, but merely copies of their founder's originals - with one exception:

"I think Rickenbacker is the only guitar maker from the old days that could actually claim that they are much the same as they once were, as they have not been bought, sold, moved, re-tooled, commissioned Asian factories and all the other things most makers have done."

http://www.nashguitars.com/IMHO.htm

This is excellent to read, as Bill has a stellar reputation among vintage guitar/bass lovers, worldwide.

Rickissippi wrote: they had to cut certain models for a while like ... the acoustics.

They never stopped making acoustics. You can buy anything you want new.

kiramdear wrote:

Rickissippi wrote: they had to cut certain models for a while like ... the acoustics.

They never stopped making acoustics. You can buy anything you want new.

Just going by their website where every 700-series acoustic model is described as "discontinued," as here: http://www.rickenbacker.com/model.asp?model=700S

Yeah, the website isn't exactly always up to date.

The current acoustic production is not being done in the RIC factory, but has been licensed to Paul Wilczynski (jingle_jangle). You can order just about any RIC acoustic by contacting Paul...

stringsncords wrote:it's absolutely astounding to see how many models exist of Les Pauls, Stratocasters, and Telecasters. How does one go about choosing and purchasing one?.

I see that same problem with those guitar makers. Plus you throw in those brands' B-line (Squiers and Epiphones and Made In Mexico stuff) and you add more to the confusion.

I look at those gear catalogues I get from dealers every month and it is beyond insane how many Les Pauls are offered. SGs are getting up there, too. I recently bought a Ric 330 and it was easy. I just bought a Ric 330. Color choice was my only head-scratching concern (and at that time there were only four colors offered so I didn't scratch much).

stringsncords wrote:Having just received a major online retailer's Holiday Sale Announcement, it's absolutely astounding to see how many models exist of Les Pauls, Stratocasters, and Telecasters. How does one go about choosing and purchasing one? And what's the difference between a $3,000 model and a $6,000 model?

Rickenbacker's product line is SO much easier!

Ah yes, the proverbial embarrassment of riches. And that's probably one of the reasons I've never been seriously interested in those other guitars. There are just too many to choose from.
JimK

I special ordered an acoustic from Gibson, I gave them my specs and had it in 7 weeks. Yeah those dealers make lots of guitars, not everyone can afford $1000 guitars.

Besides the quality, I greatly admire that RIC 'dances with who brung 'ya'. Those same models for decades. Simple and of the highest craftsmanship. It's all you need.
There is a quality acoustic manufacturer who's guitars I enjoy, but they have far too many models. Something like 145 IIRC. A far cry from the 20 or so they produced in the '60's. There's no need.

I actually wish RIC had more choices but I can relate to simple streamlined too especially if those were the models I liked which is not many when it comes to RIC.

But you can say only a small portion of people like every single model of guitar from all the guitar companies
I don't, I'm quite set in my ways and don't like to try new things.

cjj wrote:Yeah, the website isn't exactly always up to date.

Maybe not perfectly, but in some ways it is actually reliable. For example, right now, they've indicated they're on vacation for the week, and the boutique is also usually quick to be updated. (Options and Colors was another story for a while.)

cjj wrote:The current acoustic production is not being done in the RIC factory, but has been licensed to Paul Wilczynski (jingle_jangle). You can order just about any RIC acoustic by contacting Paul...

Ok, well, yeah, there's that. But they still had to quit making them in the RIC factory. Of course, this also means their website is in fact up to date, but I'm not trying to split hairs. Anyway, you're kind of making my point for me - production-demand of a few models was so high, they had to quit making acoustics in-house and outsource those to an independent builder. In any case, it doesn't have to be acoustics - that was just an example - they've discontinued more models than they are currently making, that's for sure, including some still in relative demand, like the 650D and 650S. I believe John Hall has even said as much either here or on the corporate forum.

In any event, I do love their "basic" product line, and I'm glad that Bill Nash's words are still absolutely true. Fun to be a part of this group, too, who all agree on that.

jps wrote: This is excellent to read, as Bill has a stellar reputation among vintage guitar/bass lovers, worldwide.

+1

I like Bill's statement that when you're buying many other brands (Fender, Gibson, Gretsch) etc, you're not really buying the real thing anyways, as the company has changed hands, materials, production facilities, country of origin etc so many times that they're literally building licensed copies of these famous guitar designs.

That, aside from owning the intellecual property of these designs (which is admittedly a significant point), Fender or Gibson are not producing a more "real" product from their own company's history than one of these boutique companies like Nash.

Maybe that's another reason I like vintage and I like Rickenbackers....there's no grey area. It's a Fender or it isn't....a Gibson or it's not.

A Rickenbacker, despite changing over the years, is always a Rickenbacker. Same company, same people, same materials, and most importantly...same country!

The other companies make the multitude of products because there is demand and they have the capacity to make them. It is good for the musician to be able to get a lower priced or higher priced Fender or Gibson if you want it. If they weren't selling the models, they wouldn't make the models.