Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hi everyone,

This is my first post and I'm hoping you all can assist me in making a smart purchase here. I am a huge Beatles, Rush, Yes and Pink Floyd fan who loves the Rick sound and am looking at getting a 4003 but keep getting told that the backorders and wait times for one is months, if not years. One local store told me 3-4 years! :0 First off, is that true? I've been looking at other avenues in an attempt to aquire one and came across a local ad from a gentleman who claims he gets the basses directly from a U.S. dealer and sells them all the time.

I asked about warranty and was told that the warranty is not transferrable from the original owner, but that has never stopped anyone from buying them from him to avoid the long backorder wait times. Is it true that to get warranty service you would have to ship the bass back to Santa Ana California which likely nobody ever does because of the cost involved and risk of more damage en-route and that any hardware can purchased online and replaced much cheaper and easier then shipping the entire guitar back?

This sale would be strictly cash and that concerns to me some degree. The gentleman did promptly provide the serial number for the bass (produced during the 24th week of 2012), his full name, phone number and a link to his Facebook page.
The bass in the ad looks legit, but I'm a drummer and not a guitarist of any kind but want to seriously learn the instrument. I've been wanting to get a 4001 or 4003 for years.

Here is the ad. If anyone can help verify the legitimacy of it, I would greatly appreciate. I look forward to having many discussions with you all here.

http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-ViewAd?AdId= ... PSWk9MvuFI*

Thanks,
RS

That is a real 4003.

Robber Soul wrote:keep getting told that the backorders and wait times for one is months, if not years. One local store told me 3-4 years! :0

Maybe, but it's not hard to find brand new 4003 basses. They seem to be in stock everywhere around here, anyway.

Is it true that to get warranty service you would have to ship the bass back to Santa Ana California which likely nobody ever does because of the cost involved and risk of more damage en-route and that any hardware can purchased online and replaced much cheaper and easier then shipping the entire guitar back?

I don't know for sure that "nobody ever does it", but unless it were a major issue (finish or wood), I probably wouldn't.

It may be legit, but it's a high price for Toronto. The same model is available at L&M for around $1800. The asking price in the ad is more than I paid for my SnoGlo at L&M.

Last I heard, the backlog was around 18 months. That means that if you place an order, it might take 18 months to get that specific instrument that was ordered. Now, dealers place orders all the time, so the odds of having to wait 18 months for one are pretty small.

Of course, that depends on where you live and whether you want to do mail order instead of going into a shop and buying in person. There are a lot of dealers in North America (and yes, U.S. dealers can ship to Canada or anywhere in N. or S. America), many have basses in stock or will have an order coming in soon. Check out Pick of the Ricks, Wildwood, or even Musician's Friend. They all seem to have a few in stock. I've bought from all of them and had no problems.

As for the one in the ad you posted, it looks legit, but is a bit over priced for what you can get a brand new one complete with warranty for...

Hello Rob and welcome to the forum. As stated they are legit but way over priced. You can get one from L&M . I bought both of mine without ordering them as they come in periodically and at $1799.00 with full warranty. You won't get that from the guy on kijiji. Also if you want one ASAP you can check out Davesguitarshop in Wisconsin. They have 4003 in stock and have a good reputation from what I've heard from folks in this forum. If you need some more info pm me especially in regards to L&M. Good luck

Welcome to THE forum Rob. While there will be duty on anything coming into Canada the markup on the bass does seem a bit high. Maybe offer a lower price if the bass really pulls on you . Or look at some of the other suggestions here.

ram wrote:Welcome to THE forum Rob. While there will be duty on anything coming into Canada the markup on the bass does seem a bit high. Maybe offer a lower price if the bass really pulls on you . Or look at some of the other suggestions here.

Actually because it's made in America you really don't pay duty just that damn HST sales tax and of course shipping charges. Free Trade. oh and of course the difference in the exchange rate. If you buy it from the store I previously mention I believe you will still come out ahead of L&M price or very close to it. Just my suggestion tho.

There is plenty of trusty "fly by night" dealers like Olivia's Vintage that will be able to sell you a new 4003 for a decent price. As they are not authorised dealers you will not get a warranty but who really cares if you want a Ric now.

Cheers

First off, delivery for a "bread and butter" instrument like this is about 9 months for a new order. Jetglo black could be somewhat longer due to the high demand.

But that's for a new order. The bigger and/or smarter retailers order goods for inventory rather than for a specific customer's order, in which case delivery could be close to immediate, if not in stock.

For dealership purposes North America is consider one market and any US dealer is authorized to sell in Canada (or Mexico) so you may want to widen your search. You're going to pay local taxes no matter what.

Welcome, Rob.

How many places can you post a question and get an answer from the CEO!

teeder wrote:Welcome, Rob.

How many places can you post a question and get an answer from the CEO!

+1

Thanks for all the welcomes and all of the info guys. I greatly appreciate the responses. It has helped a lot!

Thank you cjj for the list of places to try. I messaged them all and got a decent price on one from one of the shops you mentioned and it looks very likely that I will pull the trigger on it. I actually thought I had a lead on one from Long & McQuade here in the Toronto area but I guess I missed my chance. Looks like at least a 12 month wait if I go through them now.

Buying from a US dealer will obviously negate any warranty that comes it, and the shop guaranteed me that the bass will be thouroughly inspected once again, and set up properly before it goes out their door. My question now is should I be worried about the lack of warranty? Are these things pretty bulletproof????

Thanks,
Rob

Robber Soul wrote: Buying from a US dealer will obviously negate any warranty that comes it, and the shop guaranteed me that the bass will be thouroughly inspected once again, and set up properly before it goes out their door. My question now is should I be worried about the lack of warranty? Are these things pretty bulletproof?

Welcome, Rob!

I think Mr. Hall saying that US dealers are authorized to sell in Canada and Mexico means that the RIC factory warranty will not be negated by such a sale. The dealer from whom you purchase it may stiff you on a warranty from their shop, but I'm pretty sure that -- if you have any significant issues -- the people at RIC will take care of you if you send it back to the factory within the warranty period.

They are pretty resilient instruments when properly cared-for, and most of the issues with "New" instruments that I can remember reading about here turned-out to not actually be "New," as in the Guitar Center basses with the flaking finish.

If you buy from one of the aforementioned dealers: I wouldn't worry about not being able to return it to the shop. However, there's always some element of risk buying an instrument sight-unseen, and without playing it, though new RIC instruments do seem to be more consistent then they have ever been. It may be different from what you're accustomed to playing, but if you give it a fair shake: they are really easy to play and love.

Even if you do not love it: it will hold its value well enough that you won't lose a significant amount of money if you have to sell it.

Go for it!

If you'd care to read the warranty:

http://www.rickenbacker.com/warranty.asp

you'd see it's a North American warranty. Last I heard Canada still qualified as part of North America.

johnhall wrote:If you'd care to read the warranty:

http://www.rickenbacker.com/warranty.asp

you'd see it's a North American warranty. Last I heard Canada still qualified as part of North America.

Awesome. It even says Canada too. Nice! lol
Thanks for the link!