Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

What happened to the market for Rickenbacker basses? Looks like it tanked. So many on eBay selling between $1100-1200. Lats summer I had no problem buying and selling 4003 models. Now, I can't move them without taking a loss.

I don't know but I think there was a bit of a "backlog bubble" (real or perceived) for a while. That may have something to do with it. These days it is not even half as hard to find a new Ric as when I first got interested.

I also think the availability of the 4003s model, which can often be purchased new at under $1300, has cut into the value of used 4003 models. I bought a new 4003sw late last year for less than used 4003 basses were selling for.

Expect the trend to continue. Between the 4003S, W's and the target market "aging" (you know what I really mean) I don't see prices climbing any time soon.

berklee6 wrote:I also think the availability of the 4003s model, which can often be purchased new at under $1300, has cut into the value of used 4003 models. I bought a new 4003sw late last year for less than used 4003 basses were selling for.

+1

It's the same with Rickenbacker guitars. There's a 355JL that's been on eBay for around $2300 and it's been through a few auctions but hasn't sold. Same for a 350SH that's priced around $4400.

Prices are down.

I think it's because of two things. One, there are a lot more RICs out there now. Two, the economy. When the economy starts to tank, the luxury items are the first to go.

Prices have certainly dipped over here in the UK as well. A few years back, I could buy, play, and sell a bass for the same or more than I paid!

However, the new prices have gone up a fair bit, but the used market hasn't seemingly moved with it, a used bass seems to sell for the same as it did in 2008/9 (when I sold), and so the buyers loss would now be greater.

The vintage market seems to be okay - the vintage dealers are still wanting big bucks for the older basses (not sure if they're actually getting it, though).

I did get a '74 4001 for a very good price before Christmas - and it had been there for a while. It did need some work (which I factored in), but nothing major. A few years back, I suspect it would have sold in an instant.

There also aren’t a lot of variations from year-to-year in the (non-vintage period, non-limited edition) bread-and-butter models, such as the 360, 4003, and 330. So, if I’m in the market for, say, a 330 then I can just as easily buy one from 1997, 2007, or a new one this year based on price; there are no material differences between them. The supply of the core models just increases with each passing year.

It must be regional, new 4003 are thin on the ground in my area (Boston/Eastern Mass), and 4003s nearly nonexistent. They had 4003 in stock at Boston GC about 6 months ago, now they seem to be back ordered again,nine available in stores locally.

Try Mr. Music in Allston. They were the first Ric dealer in the Boston area and seem to get a good supply of them in. I've been buying mine from them for years. You won't see them in stock as they typically go to preorders.

If you don't mind driving to eastern Connecticut, Spindrift Guitars appears to have a brand new 4003S in Fireglo in stock (as well as a translucent blue 4004cii). It won't get you a discount, but you can tell them I said hi. I bought my 4003 FG there last June.

On the used price question, when the USD weakened after the GFC, most overseas distributors kept prices constant in their domestic currencies (e.g. Yen, Euros) and pocketed the change. This opened up demand from overseas buyers for used Rickenbackers from the US as these looked super cheap relative to new prices in their home countries. This price differential has closed up considerably with the stronger USD, resulting in fewer foreign buyers in the used market. This could account for some of the perceived market softness.

jdogric12 wrote:Expect the trend to continue. Between the 4003S, W's and the target market "aging" (you know what I really mean) I don't see prices climbing any time soon.

I don't see how Rics are only supposed to appeal to people in a certain age bracket (or how we would even know if it were true). You see them pretty much everywhere these days; more than I did when I started out (mid-2000s, I'm sub-30).

Well apparently in Turkey the price trend goes in the reverse direction.

Hmm. There's a lot "wrong" with that one in Turkey. The photos won't enlarge for me, but it looks bogus.