Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

This guy must be on some really strong medication, I just can't figure out whether it comes in pints. ounces, or milligrams.

I bought an identical set last week for $9.95 Some lucky person can snatch theses puppies up for a mere $79

Control Knobs "Vintage"

Superior Bass always has them for $9.95. This is the same guy who offered a 60's wiring harness for a starting bid of $300+ a few months ago.

That's where I got mine, prompt service, and good product.

Got mine from Mike Parks, as ever. Top guy.

They arrived two days ago, yet I don't have any Rickenbacker 4000-series bass to put them on anymore!

Hey Mark, who is Mike Parks ? You are in the UK, is he a UK based dealer that does Ric spares or just a general guitar spares type dealer ? I am only really aware of RicsRus. Mike Smith, I spoke to him this week, a really decent and generous guy! I would use him any day. I am interested to know though.

Mike Parks owns http://www.ricpage.com/ which is in the US. I think he is in the Raleigh Durham area.

Thanks Ted, its always good to have these people in mind, its a small world these days. Only problem is when we send to the US for something from the UK they sting us for import duty at 3.7%, that is on the shipping cost also. Then we get caught for 17.5% UK VAT on top of the whole lot ! Bumps the price up a bit.

Hey Keith, Yeah - Mike Parks runs the Ric page.

Technically he's not able to ship to me directly here in the UK because of dealer restrictions.

Thus, he ships all stuff to a friend of mine in Ohio, where they relay the stuff to me independently.

Oh - and by the way, Brits don't pay any tax on imports if the units are parts, replacement or otherwise.

Hi Mark, typical ! I came across this when I got (an incredible)price of $925 for a 4003 off I believe it was North coast Music?? They wouldnt send to the UK due to restrictions. That in our money is £495, how cheap is that? when the cheapest we can get one in the UK is £950. That is the price Mike Smith from RicsRus quoted the other day and that is very reasonable for the UK! On the tax theme, I dont know if things have changed but I had a pair of Jazz EMG's sent over from a shop in New York about 4 years ago. I definitely got taken for all the tax that I mentioned in the previous mail. I hope it has changed. With all the shipping and tax on they were still £60 less than in UK though.

Of course, anything Mike Smith sells you is also not under warranty being a gray market import, but then anything shipped from the U.S. is also only going to have the North American warranty as well.

You have some really consumer friendly business practices and warranty regulations going for you in the E.C. which you're trading away for a low price with unauthorized imports. Local service also goes out the window.

Just understand clearly that you get exactly what you pay for.

Mr Hall, I fully understand that there is a trade off when buying a "grey import" as I would think most people who do it are. The thing is in the UK we ALWAYS pay the higher price for everything and we are fed up with it. Guitars are twice the price and I could buy my Ashdown amp in the US cheaper than I can here and they are made here. It isnt anybody's fault but the lousy British government putting high tax on everything! How much do you pay for a gallon of petrol (Gas) ? Well we pay £3.50 or in dollars $6.50 a gallon and the price has just come down. 2 weeks ago it was $6.80, I bet that has shocked a few US readers of this forum. It doesnt get called rip-off Britain for nothing. So most people will buy a "grey" Ric under the circumstances taking the risk that the warranty wont be in place. I arent blaming Rickenbacker for this as I said we suffer because of the government, and some greedy music store owners. I will now get off my soapbox !

Welcome to the Forum, Keith.

Holy Mama! An Ashdown amp costs more in the UK than in the US???!!! How about Marshall, Orange and Vox amps?

£950 retail for a new 4003 is even more than what it costs in a high taxing and expensive country like Japan where you can get a new one for £880 retail.

However, it beats having no RIC dealers and no Ricks to be found in your country, which is my case. Thanks to the internet, I overcame that problem and acquired 3 RIC basses and am looking forward to getting more!

What are you complaining about? The retail price for a 4003 is in Norway $2400!!!!!!!!!!! I could buy one in USA, pay shipping and norwegian VAT and still be 30% lower than that!!!

Thankyou for the welcome Paul. Yes that is the case with Ashdown, really dont know about the others. I am 100% loyal to Ashdown all the way. I would just point out at this point, and this is for you also Lars, that the retail price of a 4003 in the UK is approx £1425 (please correct me anyone if I am wrong) which is $2667! A touch more expensive than Norway eh Lars my friend !!! The prices I was quoting earlier were the cheap ones, the "grey" prices etc. So That is what I am complaining about. I dare say buying a beer in a bar would cost a bit more than in the UK though !
Paul, I am surprised at the price of a Ric in Japan, I thought they would be more than that.




Yes Lars, the proper retail price in the Uk is I believe £1425

Well, the usdollar is very low vs. euros, £, and Norwegian kroners, and it does not reflect in the retail prices here. The favourable exchange rate makes it tempting to buy from the usa (not only on ebay, but amazon and other internet-stores). Which again makes it tough for the local dealers and retailers. Hm... tough call. Support your local music retailer, or save 30-40% importing from usa direct????