Canadian RIC dealers

86kubicki · Post by **86kubicki** » Thu Feb 17, 2005 4:44 am

Although I live in the Toronto area, the last two new Rickenbacker basses I've ordered have been from Mike Parks in the US. Why? The major RIC retailer in Canada is Long & McQuade (and their subsidiary Ward Music). For those in the states L&M would be similar to a Guitar Centre. Unfortunately I have only ever seen a couple of Rickenbackers hanging in their stores and the sales staff are generally unknowledgable when it comes to Rics, (sound familiar?). I called one store the other day to inquire about ordering a 4004cii/5 in Blueburst. He gave me a price which was significantly higher than the price I got from Mike Parks (factoring in the currency conversion). I also asked him to double check the price in case there was an upcharge for Blueburst - still waiting to hear back about that. I usually don't rant about such things, but I would really like to buy from a Canadian retailer who is knowledgable about Rics. Aside from L&M, the RIC website only shows two other Canadian retailers - Steve's in Montreal and a shop in Edmonton. Does anyone out there have any positive experiences with Canadian RIC retailers? If not I'm more than happy to stick with Mike Parks - a great guy who knows his stuff!

beatlefan · Post by **beatlefan** » Thu Feb 17, 2005 5:07 am

Steve....better find out if the CASE is included in that price.....The G.C.'s all charge extra for the case...a shady practice at best...

86kubicki · Post by **86kubicki** » Thu Feb 17, 2005 10:32 am

Just got a quote back from L&M for a 4004cii/5. After converting the currency their price is almost $400 Cdn. higher than Mike Parks!!! What the heck is going on here?

bassman · Post by **bassman** » Thu Feb 17, 2005 10:46 am

It's their polite way of saying that they don't want to sell you a Rickenbacker.

But if you insist on buying one from them, they're going to soak you for it.

Been there and done it.

But they have their reasons.

86kubicki · Post by **86kubicki** » Thu Feb 17, 2005 11:52 am

Hey Jon,
I'd love to hear about "their reasons" - e-mail me privately if you'd like.
Maybe L&M does sell a decent number of Rics every year, but from where I stand they don't seem that interested in making a sale considering the pricing they quoted me. The sales guy also made a big deal about the wait ("well over a year"). That may be true, but I just felt it was another way of disuading me from ordering the bass I was interested in.
There was a nice shop called Murch's Music in Chatham, but guess what - they're part of the L&M family now. We really need a good and knowledgable RIC shop up here. Maybe I'll quit my job and approach John Hall about becoming a dealer!

squid · Post by **squid** » Thu Feb 17, 2005 12:18 pm

L & M are very poor when it comes to Rics. I had the same experience when I was looking for a bass. I was told that they were not stocked and that they were available only as special order items. I know that it's rare to find a Ric hanging on a peg just about anywhere, but L & M weren't even trying. It was quite frustrating considering that they're an official dealer. There is a guitar-centric L & M in Toronto that did have a couple of Rics available: a 381 JG (used) and a 360/12 JG. Those are the only two I've seen in recent months.

Steve, I've had the same thought about setting up a web-based dealership, but my day job just wouldn't allow me the time I'd need to do it properly. Plus, I don't know a thing about the retail business.

In the meantime, Mike Parks is doing an excellent job.

oreca · Post by **oreca** » Thu Feb 17, 2005 12:59 pm

I've been to Steve's in Montreal two years ago, I was looking around for Gretsch's at the time so I didn't really take a look for Rickenbacker's, but after going around the whole store I only saw one.
It was hanging up on the side of a rack that in the middle of an aisle, hard to explain or maybe I just can't find the words right. Anyways it didn't look like they really wanted anyone to touch it.
I don't think it even had a price tag on it, maybe it did but I don't remember...
It was a 325 in Jetglo, not sure about the specific details it had, but it had a 325 shape...

I'm supposed to go to Montreal this June for a few days, I'll drop by, see what they got, hopefully try one! Since I've never played any other then mine I'd like to be able to give a different RIC a shot.

I'm sort of disapointed that it's the closest dealer from home, well maybe there's one in Maine that's closer but I never go to USA so I wouldn't know.
What I'd like to do is be able to bring my guitar in for a professional set-up where they actually have people certified or whatever to work on RIC's.
I'm sure that if I handed in my guitar somewhere without telling them it's a different trussrod system they wouldn't know off hand...

paul_yan · Post by **paul_yan** » Thu Feb 17, 2005 1:10 pm

Steve,
Definitively go for it!
Your fellow Canadian RIC lovers will really appreciate you as a dealer who loves and knows RIc instruments and is passionate to "spread the love'.

This will also make you job much more fun for you, don't you think?

chronictown · Post by **chronictown** » Thu Feb 17, 2005 2:06 pm

Steve's Music Store on Queen St. W. usually has at least a few ricks kicking around, and the staff are pretty good in my experience. Haven't been there in a few years, though.
Steve - I'm with you on Murch in Cambridge...a very good store, too bad they've gone L&M...the store's really expanded but the last time I was in there the new staff seemed pretty sub-par...

beatleboy · Post by **beatleboy** » Thu Feb 17, 2005 3:27 pm

Guys,

Over the past 12 years, I have bought all 4 (+ another 3 on order) of my Ricks from Warren Cooper (Manager) L & M Brampton Tel: (905)450-4334.

He is VERY competitive on pricing. Warren's a great guy and goes above and beyond to help!

For Beatlefans: Warren also knows a lot about correct Beatles Gear these days since I have purchased over 17 Beatle guitars in the last year or so - LOL

Give him a call and say Paul Aujla sent you!

ATB

brian · Post by **brian** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 9:52 am

Hm, over 17 guitars in a year, how many Rics and do you still have them ? Which models and how about some pics ?

beatleboy · Post by **beatleboy** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 10:09 am

Hey Brian,

At the moment I have two 325C58's - one in Jetglo and one in Alderglo. They will soon be undergoing the Hamburg and Sullivan Lennon mods!

I USED to have a 1981 320 in Jetglo (I can still remember travelling to NY on the train to buy it - LOL), a 1994 325V59 in Mapleglo and a 1994 325V63 in Jetglo.

On order are: 360/12C63 in Fireglo, 325C64 Miami in Jetglo and a Lefty 4001C64 in Fireglo.

The other guitars are Gretsch, Gibson, Epiphone and Lefty Hofners.

One day soon, I will definitely post pics of the entire collection!

Cheers

Paul

jeff_ulmer · Post by **jeff_ulmer** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 10:47 am

I have been dealing with L+M for decades, and have always had great service from them, but I will agree that L+M and Rickenbacker have some serious issues that I wish they would resolve.

red360 · Post by **red360** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 5:06 pm

Yeah, Murch sold to Long & McQuade in Cambridge. Even so, Don Randall still works there. He is a great guy and understands Rics, setups and can really handle the two truss rods. He has done my Rics for some years and has owned a few himself as I understand. I have not had any dealings with Don since the take-over but I'm sure he's not too impressed with the name tag and neck-tie.
In stock now are 2 330 Fireglows, a Mapleglo 660-6 and a Fireglo 360. There are also 2 used Roland JC-120's as well. If a 381/12 Turquoise shows up it'll be mine!

expomick · Post by **expomick** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 4:45 pm

I ended up purchasing the 381V69 JG (used) from L&M in downtown Toronto 4 weeks ago. The staff were fine to deal with, though that's only my first time dealing with them.

When I finally squirreled away enough cash to purchase a Ric, friends warned me that it might be an adventure to track one done. And it was. Which is why I picked up this one when I saw it. So far, so good. Now, must buy a dozen more, but where to look?

Wife is making plans to leave me as she reads this...