| Author | Message | ||
     Larry Carroll (Eggman) Junior Member Username: Eggman Post Number: 26 Registered: 06-2005 Posted From: 66.157.176.157 |
Mr. Hall, Thank you for answering my question. And thanks to everyone else here for helping clear up this matter for me. Respectfully, Larry | ||
| Lawton Higgs (Lawton) Senior Member Username: Lawton Post Number: 201 Registered: 08-2003 Posted From: 68.17.148.135 |
This is interesting to me as someone who's owned/owns a 325C58 and a 325v63. Neither guitar has any binding, but neither guitar (except for Guitar Center's insanity last September) was/is available at any sort of decreased price (and I don't expect that will be true of the 325C64). It's not that I mind this as a 325 player -- I love the 325s and don't feel that I've paid more than their worth -- but it's interesting to consider that Rickenbacker might be making a bit more profit on these guitars than on some of the others (again, not a bad thing -- we want Rickenbacker to make money and stay around!).  | ||
| Anthony Carey (Tony_carey) Senior Member Username: Tony_carey Post Number: 780 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 81.157.59.212 |
Lawton, I would guess that the R&D & re-tooling to manufacture a C series to the accuracy to which they aspire, would be a LOT higher than adapting a production model.... | ||
| paul wilczynski (Jingle_jangle) Senior Member Username: Jingle_jangle Post Number: 2631 Registered: 12-2004 Posted From: 67.180.37.56 |
Lawton, with all due respect, I think that this is a moot point that would lead to another pointless cost discussion. Any manufacturer sets his trade prices by taking his cost to build, in materials and labor, adding whatever other burdens are attached to the product, adding his desired profit margin, and tossing in a fudge factor. RIC stays closely to this formula, making their guitars affordable legends with awesome DNA and unbeatable history. There are direct ties to all of this in that, though modernized, the guitars retain their characteristic sound, classic playability, and legendary quirks. The whole research project and retooling on the historic line has to be recovered somehow, and I for one feel they are worth every penny and then some. They absorb a lot of time and effort. And it takes guts and commitment to produce something like the 325C58, warts and all, as it is a playable museum piece of heirloom quality. | ||
| Lawton Higgs (Lawton) Senior Member Username: Lawton Post Number: 203 Registered: 08-2003 Posted From: 68.220.246.89 |
Paul, as I said in my post -- "I love the 325s and don't feel that I've paid more than they're worth." As guitars go generally I like neck binding and something other than dot inlays. Somehow those preferences don't seem to apply as regards my feelings about the 325s! | ||
| John Hall (Johnhall) Senior Member Username: Johnhall Post Number: 1011 Registered: 01-2003 Posted From: 68.5.231.238 |
Indeed, the C Series had a significant up-front investment that figured into the pricing. However, another factor was at work as well. We had not raised our prices since 1999, until just this last April, even though many costs had increased significantly. The C Series being new items to the line, were priced based on current costs, obviously. On the other hand, they didn't go up in April either, so that temporary illusion that they were much more pricey does not exist much now. Finally, since you specifically mentioned the 325C58, this guitar is more costly to build than many of our other guitars for a number of reasons including the use of extra thick Alder, which in turn requires much more work in the finish process. The Kaufman vibrato is also quite an expensive assembly and there's a large amortization to cover the tooling costs for the repro keys. | ||
| Howard Bishop (Ozover50) Senior Member Username: Ozover50 Post Number: 1335 Registered: 01-2005 Posted From: 220.240.241.114 |
I was wondering when the word 'amortization' would pop up! A not insignificant part of the cost which is often not even considered by those not in the business of product development and manufacture. | ||
| Ted Williams (Ted_williams) Senior Member Username: Ted_williams Post Number: 102 Registered: 04-2002 Posted From: 24.196.66.162 |
Mmmmm - WB. My main axe:  | ||
| Larry Carroll (Eggman) Junior Member Username: Eggman Post Number: 36 Registered: 06-2005 Posted From: 66.157.177.242 |
Ted, Your 360 WB is the prettiest git-tawr I've ever seen! Respectfully, Larry Carroll Bossier City, La. | ||
| Anthony Carey (Tony_carey) Senior Member Username: Tony_carey Post Number: 789 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 81.157.56.158 |
I've always liked the WB, but find the double bound body & large headstock to be clashing with each other. I have to say though Ted, that is a fine looking gtr...a beautiful fireglo....want to sell it? |
