When did Rickenbackers become so rare?

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doesitmatter

New member
I've always wanted to own a Rick so every few years I look around for one. And something has happened.

When I first started playing in the late 80's, Ricks were everywhere. I knew a few guys who had them (6 strings and basses) and they were perfectly willing to let me play them. Every guitar shop I visited had at least six on the wall.

Lately I can't find any. GC doesn't carry them. Musicians friend says call for price. Ebay and craigslist rarely have used for less than 2 grand! I don't want to pay LP historic prices for a light jangly guitar that honestly won't work on alot of different styles.

More importantly, what happened? Did the company fall on hard economic times? Are they not producing the numbers they used to? Did they fall out of favor with REM?
 
Re: When did Rickenbackers become so rare?

they are a small company and are usually really difficult to deal with. not sure why the shortage
 
Re: When did Rickenbackers become so rare?

They are not what I would call rare but a lot of bigger storees don't carry them simply because they don't sell that well...Ric's only do the Ric sound and they are pretty hard to play for a lot of players but if you want that sound you gotta get one.
 
Re: When did Rickenbackers become so rare?

They've become somewhat obscure, yeah. I think most stores consider Ric players to be a niche market. That, and they're kind of bizarre compared to mainstream electrics. Most of the people I know who got a Ric sold it in under a year, usually because they couldn't get past the weird feel of the thing.
 
Re: When did Rickenbackers become so rare?

I see Ric basses in the hands of musicians more often than I see Ric guitars.

I guess if they're difficult to deal with, as well as expensive and limited in versatility, that pretty much explains why they're becoming less common.
 
Re: When did Rickenbackers become so rare?

The necks are too skinny and the tone only works for 60's pop and Tom Petty.

Telecasters do it better.
 
Re: When did Rickenbackers become so rare?

I always dug the Ric Basses , I think I have seen 1 ric guitar with a similar body style
when I saw these schecters , i have to admit , Id love to put a pair of Blackouts in one and rock it , very rickenbackeresque
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Re: When did Rickenbackers become so rare?

i wish i would have bought one several years ago...the used prices have skyrocketed!!!
 
Re: When did Rickenbackers become so rare?

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This ^^^ is my main guitar, and i am NOT a "traditional" Rick fan, like the 'typical' Tom Petty type o' sound (although i LOVE his music), BUT, the biggest guitar GAS i have ever had is for a RICKENBACKER ! . . . huh ?

But then again, it doe snot sounds like your ave Tpm Petty tone either.
I want this one . . . asap !!!

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Not the best of pic's, but what a beautifull guitar in real life, and soooo un-Rick sounding !
Rick says it is Humbuckers, but to "ME" the look and sound more like min-Hum's !!!
Hope to have one like this before the end of this year !



James
 
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Re: When did Rickenbackers become so rare?

Rickenbackers = one of the greatest guitars I've ever owned and wanted, yet never could gel with. I used to have a 330/12 in mapleglow or whatever it's called. It was a fantastic piece of workmanship, but it and myself just couldn't ever get along. It's one of the few guitars I've ever sold. I think I sold it for like $900-$950 or so.

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Re: When did Rickenbackers become so rare?

doesitmatter said:
... I don't want to pay LP historic prices for a light jangly guitar that honestly won't work on alot of different styles. ....
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When did a guitar being more specific to a signature tone make it so much easier and cheaper to build than a more well known one that such a price discrepancy would be realistic? This is like saying a turkey sandwich should cost less than a ham sandwich because it tastes like turkey and not ham :laugh2::smack:

You want a rick but don´t want to pay what it´s worth? Then buy one that´s beaten up or buy a far east forgery.
 
Re: When did Rickenbackers become so rare?

Cool guitars, but definitely their own beast. Don't even think about owning one if you have large hands, those necks are way too small.
 
Re: When did Rickenbackers become so rare?

That90'sGuy said:
Cool guitars, but definitely their own beast. Don't even think about owning one if you have large hands, those necks are way too small.
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. . . just how small are those necks if you have to compare them to other known necks ?



James
 
Re: When did Rickenbackers become so rare?

really, really, really small.

and they're not wide and thin like Wizard necks. They're thin and round and small.
 
Re: When did Rickenbackers become so rare?

Quite possibly the smallest neck I've ever encountered. I wanna say the nut width is just over an inch. Very very cramped in the first position.

There's several fakes coming out of China these days, and they have wider necks. But then again, they're also POS'. Take your pick.
 
Re: When did Rickenbackers become so rare?

PFDarkside said:
I love that Schecter!

Are the Rondo knockoffs decent guitars?
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Everything I've gotten from rondo instrument wise has been great for the money. Some of it, I would pay double or triple for. I have no experience with the Rics from Rondo, so I won't voice my opinion on that particular model. I can say though, in all honesty, that you will not be disappointed in the quality...for the price.
 
Re: When did Rickenbackers become so rare?

They kinda fit for a certain pop/late 70's thing (Petty, the Jam, REM), then they went out of fashion...their heyday was the 60's, like the Mosrites. They were always pricey...
 
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