Hello - Is there anybody out there?

redamber · Post by **redamber** » Tue Sep 23, 2014 8:21 pm

It is almost two weeks since anyone posted on this Forum on the RRF.

With due acknowledgement to Pink Floyd, where is everyone?

Tommy · Post by **Tommy** » Tue Sep 23, 2014 8:45 pm

I belong to a number of different guitar brand forums, and I have to say that the Ric forum seems to be the one least frequented by members. Now the conclusions that we draw from that can be numerous and varied:

A) Ric players have fruitful and busy lives

B) when it comes to their Ric guitars, Ric players are self-sufficient and can figure things out for themselves

C) Ric guitars are pretty well made and don't require endless posts from owners looking for advice on how to fix things

D) Ric players are generally older and are not as internet-dependent as young are

E) beyond the new fretboard woods being used, what really is there new to discuss or debate about Ric guitars? My model (a 325c64) that I bought in 2013 looks exactly like the one Rickenbacker made in 1964. They did things right back then, they keep things generally the same, wherein lies the need to actively discuss things about Rics?

libratune · Post by **libratune** » Wed Sep 24, 2014 12:21 am

Here's my take on it. In a word/s: People gravitate to the various Facebook pages devoted to Rickenbacker, including the Official RickResource Forum Facebook page, at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/379271585440277

For more, see here: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=410523

And numerous other FB pages that have come into being since I last looked.

jps · Post by **jps** » Wed Sep 24, 2014 12:50 am

libratune wrote:Here's my take on it. In a word/s: People gravitate to the various Facebook pages devoted to Rickenbacker, including the Official RickResource Forum Facebook page, at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/379271585440277

For more, see here: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=410523

And numerous other FB pages that have come into being since I last looked.

Is it the same log-on as the RRF? Or do we have to create a FB account to get in?

cjj · Post by **cjj** » Wed Sep 24, 2014 2:44 am

jps wrote:
libratune wrote:Here's my take on it. In a word/s: People gravitate to the various Facebook pages devoted to Rickenbacker, including the Official RickResource Forum Facebook page, at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/379271585440277

For more, see here: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=410523

And numerous other FB pages that have come into being since I last looked.
Is it the same log-on as the RRF? Or do we have to create a FB account to get in?

You have to have a FB account...

jps · Post by **jps** » Wed Sep 24, 2014 9:03 am

Well, I guess I'll just keep the lights on here in case anybody wants to visit this old ghost town.

kennyhowes · Post by **kennyhowes** » Wed Sep 24, 2014 9:12 am

My excuse is I'm skint and I haven't picked up anything new in a while.

I do check in every day, though.

jdogric12 · Post by **jdogric12** » Wed Sep 24, 2014 9:21 am

Sorry, Im at a tax conference this week lol

I definitely prefer this forum to the various fb stuff. There is a long sordid history that subjectively explains in part the traffic drop but generally id say all good things are fleeting. We'll never have another 2006-2008 here, but there is still a wealth to enjoy here which keeps me gladly contributing.

iiipopes · Post by **iiipopes** » Wed Sep 24, 2014 11:01 am

I spend more time in practice, rehearsal and gigging than typing on the forum.

8mileshigher · Post by **8mileshigher** » Wed Sep 24, 2014 3:15 pm

+1 to what Jason said.

Rubsoul · Post by **Rubsoul** » Wed Sep 24, 2014 8:56 pm

Tommy wrote:I belong to a number of different guitar brand forums, and I have to say that the Ric forum seems to be the one least frequented by members. Now the conclusions that we draw from that can be numerous and varied:

A) Ric players have fruitful and busy lives

B) when it comes to their Ric guitars, Ric players are self-sufficient and can figure things out for themselves

C) Ric guitars are pretty well made and don't require endless posts from owners looking for advice on how to fix things

D) Ric players are generally older and are not as internet-dependent as young are..........

+2 Tommy.

You want to see some volume responses, go to the Fender site and brag about that new "Squire" your Mom bought you!

Tommy · Post by **Tommy** » Wed Sep 24, 2014 9:40 pm

Rubsoul wrote:You want to see some volume responses, go to the Fender site and brag about that new "Squire" your Mom bought you!

stringsncords · Post by **stringsncords** » Thu Sep 25, 2014 3:26 pm

I think it's a combination of the increased supply of discussion groups, and the fact that there isn't much interesting news for the domestic consumer coming from RIC lately.

Unfortunately, the RRF isn't the only game in town anymore, plus there may be additional factors, as well:

I'm also on Facebook, and there's a number of sites that are devoted to Rickenbacker, including a corporate RIC page; Rickenbacker Guitars (Official).

There's also "Rickenbacker Guitars and Basses" and "Double Bound Rickenbacker Fever", and for bassists, the "Rickenbacker 4004 Club".

Obviously, Facebook has exploded over the past few years, and I've seen many familiar names on the various FB sites that I used to see on this forum.

Additionally, the fact that RIC depends on the tried and true 330, 360, and 4001 models as the bulk of their production and sales, with the only "news" over the last 3 years being Ruby and Walnut, there isn't a whole lot to discuss, which is OK; it's a small company with still-great products. Unfortunately, it seems that anything in the way of new models or designs are either being sold as special order items or overseas; either way, the USA consumers are being excluded. Personally, as a Rick fan, I don't like to see models being shown on their Facebook page that I have no chance of purchasing for myself unless I relocate to Asia or Europe.

The RIC corporate website is also way out of date (ignored?), so much so that the Gallery section doesn't even show any models that have been produced in the 2000's yet, and we're 14 years into the new millennium. The "We haven't gotten a chance to pull these out of our archive yet. Check back soon" message is just lame.

It seems that it's generally a down time in the electric guitar market, due to the fact that the music and recording industries have been in a decade-long trough of rap, hip-hop, and other non-guitar based music. I've also noticed that the guitar-collecting market isn't what it once was, either; possibly due to the economy, and/or the aging of the population who enjoy Rickenbacker's association with the Beatles, Who, Tom Petty, REM, and other -let's face it - aging acts that predominantly feature Rickenbacker instruments.

And, as Jason said, there have been a few ugly confrontations (not lately) between some major contributors to the RRF which perhaps eliminated or "turned off" some members, as well.

I do check in regularly, but unfortunately, there's definitely not much going on.

scotty · Post by **scotty** » Thu Sep 25, 2014 4:14 pm

I think we are all still checking in but to be honest i also think there's nothing much to say at the moment.From what i understand everyone i know is all a bit Meh with the new stuff.Nothing really interesting apart from the older stuff that sometimes surfaces from the depths of the ocean. .I agree with what Bob says above and i concur with Jason its not got the same vib as it used to back in mid to late noughties.
....sorry gotta go i saw in interesting tumbleweed

bvstudios · Post by **bvstudios** » Fri Sep 26, 2014 1:31 am

Seems to be the same all over these days. The six or seven various music forums I tend to inhabit all seem to be in a bit of a lull. No one is talking composing and/or recording, there are a very few discussions on DAW recording (and what there is mostly seems to center on a pending collaborative album being working on for charity). Likewise, the Gretsch folk, Strat talk bunch and even the car nuts are unusually quiet this past couple of weeks.

Maybe it's just the time of year. I doubt it's FaceB'k. Most of the folks I know online seem to consider that either a necessary evil (performers etc) or the work of the Devil himself.

I'm still here, but I am working on so much stuff that I'm more of a lurker than active most of the time..

K

Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum