Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I'm in the market for a MG Rick 325C58 and figured that if they list for 3K that one would have to pay about $1,300-$1700 to pick one up used.
However, I've notice three recent auctions on eBay where these guitars have sold for $995, $1039 & $1049. Here are the links...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=41439&item=3747124173&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=41439&item=3747240183&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=41439&item=3747182466&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

Also, another Forum member posted that a GC let him purchase a new 325C59 for $850, which was documented by calling the store in Texas.

I'm wondering if is because Beatle or Rick fans believe these guitars will actually play well and find the vibrato and scale of guitar awkward. Or, could it be the market on these guitars is soft.

Any thoughts Rick Guru's?

Jim

This is pure speculation on my part, but I figure that GC is just cleaning out some old inventory. It probably didn't sell as well as they'd hoped, so they're being discounted. If you go to the 325 section of the board, you'll see almost no complaints about the playability of these guitars. Some folks swear by that shorter scale, and any issues with the Kaufman vibrato are easily solved with a simple locking modification. I don't even think that the wider market for these things is particularly soft. I think that it's just a question of a major chain over-stocking what really should have been a niche product for their very broad spectrum of guitar buying customers. (I mean, you get all types of players in that kind of store: beginner, advanced, jazz, blues, folk, pop, everything.)

Or, and this is even more rampant speculation on my part, maybe they're clearing them out to make way for the 325c64's that are about to come in.

In the end, I don't think that Rickenbacker over-produced these guitars to a point where their long-term resale value will be significantly decreased. I think it's just a question of too many of them ending up in one particular place. If you want one, buy without fear. In fact, if you can buy them that cheaply, buy as many as you can.

The one I bought was made in April 2003, so I'm guessing that all of them were sitting around for some time.

Mine was made in May of '03... GC said they had about one per store that had been sitting around for 18 months and so they are losing money by having them on the inventory.

Did talk with a dealer friend of mine who said the resale value at a guitar show or the like would be considerably lower than the retail but what isn't? Buy a diamond at any "chain" jewlery store and then try to sell it and you will find it is only worth about 1/3 the value. Same with cars... everything is overinflated in price and undervalued as a resale item. It is the way of the world. Sell high then try to buy cheap.

I remember when things were bought for value...

By the way, I am the guy in Texas and I didn't call the store... I walked into the Labor Day sale when the managers go thru the inventory and mark all kinds of stuff down.

Patrick

I get it... you called the store to verify my purchase.

What, like you didn't believe me? Wow... first time I have every had that happen.

Patrick, I'm sure it wasn't anything personal, just that we Forumers can be a rough crowd at times!

Resale? Who's gonna buy one of these in order to sell it later? You buy one of these so you can make that chunka-chunga rhythm tone you hear on "Lend Me Your Comb" (especially if you already have an AC30 or an AC15 -- which I do...).

I bought four. I have some shows coming up and want to smash them at the end of the set...

Hey, wait just one Minutaglio!

There was a post on VoxTalks that mentioned something about Guitar Center over-ordering 325C58 guitars when they were first unveiled at NAMM a few years ago, and that they are now reducing the price to blow them out of inventory.

That was the story I heard as well. I talked to the manager of the Guitar Center here locally about that subject and he offered no comment. I would have loved to have picked up another 325C58 at that Labor Day special price or even at $999!

Yea that post was only up for a short time then it was removed

Well I picked mine up today. I've not done the date check via the serial number, but the guitar isn't quite mint (not that I am complaining, of course -- I can't see how I could complain having paid $800 for it): There's a half inch scratch on the lower side and a couple of half inch scrapes on the back (buckle rash, apparently). Also, the vibrato arm is missing. The GC manager though, put the guitar in the vintage case (upgrade) for free because of the missing arm and the ding, so I left smiling. I'll be pulling Kaufmann off for a vintage trapeze anyway, as I will be gigging with the guitar and I won't have need for the trem.

I am still waiting to pick mine up. In the thread "Tuning a 325", you can follow the saga. But I did get to visit it at the shelter for great guitars which isn't too far from the house! LOL! It looked very sad sitting there in it's rectangular case, surrounded by a bevy of heavy hipped hard cases that were very obviously very jealous and saying "Hey, what's a classy guy like you doin' hanging out in a joint like this?"

I can't wait to bring it home!