Rickenbacker on backorder

For guitars of the straight waisted variety (or reverse offset).
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MrFingers
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Re: Rickenbacker on backorder

Post by MrFingers » Wed Mar 03, 2021 12:08 am

BoringPostcards wrote:
Tue Mar 02, 2021 9:39 pm
Do these 480 reissues have bolt on?

The bass is wowzers. I really can't wait to try one. Hope one ends up in my neck of the woods.
Neck through... and the bass is shortscale.

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Re: Rickenbacker on backorder

Post by wproffitt » Wed Mar 03, 2021 10:44 am

The bass may be short scale, but it it costs big bucks! I think $5,000. Perhaps it will be cheaper if it goes into regular production?

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Re: Rickenbacker on backorder

Post by Embenny » Wed Mar 03, 2021 10:47 am

A 480 reissue is all I've ever wanted from Rickenbacker.

I'm afraid to look up the prices, though.

Edit: $4800 USD. Pretty much the price of picking up a matching duo of a vintage 480 and 481.

They'll sell out for sure, but just aren't for me.
The artist formerly known as mbene085.

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Re: Rickenbacker on backorder

Post by Musjagjazz » Wed Mar 03, 2021 12:58 pm

or a Rickenbacker Combo - 1 pickup or 2 pickup will do

Image

Image

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Re: Rickenbacker on backorder

Post by Veitchy » Wed Mar 03, 2021 3:02 pm

I'd sell organs for a 50s style 360F - The hollow bodies with the bent sides. Probably too labour intensive for even Ric these days, but god I love those things.

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Re: Rickenbacker on backorder

Post by MrFingers » Thu Mar 04, 2021 2:07 am

Given that Rickenbacker basically makes their instruments 100% via CNC, the chance we'll ever see a "proper" hollowbody with bent sides is 0.

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Re: Rickenbacker on backorder

Post by Veitchy » Thu Mar 04, 2021 2:23 am

MrFingers wrote:
Thu Mar 04, 2021 2:07 am
Given that Rickenbacker basically makes their instruments 100% via CNC, the chance we'll ever see a "proper" hollowbody with bent sides is 0.
I didn't know they were CNC. I mean, it would make sense these days, and their semi-hollows are a pretty good shape to be suited to CNC, what with the flat backs, but with the wait times and prices I 'spose I figured they were still more handmade than that.

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Re: Rickenbacker on backorder

Post by MrFingers » Thu Mar 04, 2021 4:38 am

It's purely a matter of "not wanting to scale up production". There is a Rickenbacker factory tour video on youtube, and there you can see that basically everything is done with CNC. "Lumber goes in, a completed husk comes out". Only human actions are the installation of the frets, hardware and finish. And indeed, every model they make is extremely suited for CNC-production, as they are all carved out from the back out of a big block of maple (or walnut), no artisan "box-making" like with a 335-esque guitar.

It's a form of doing business. Having an orderbook that is filled to the brim, and thus be able to "bloat" the price by creating artificial scarcity, meaning you can sell your instruments for more money than they are actually worth. John Hall was an absolute master in cultivating that "exclusive feeling". Ever since he's gone, Rickenbacker became a bit more a normal manufacturer, but still with peculiar principles.

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Re: Rickenbacker on backorder

Post by mediocreplayer » Tue Mar 09, 2021 6:47 am

I did not know Hall was gone. Who runs the company now?

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Re: Rickenbacker on backorder

Post by cestlamort » Tue Mar 09, 2021 7:19 am

I believe his son is running it.

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Re: Rickenbacker on backorder

Post by Larry Mal » Tue Mar 09, 2021 7:24 am

Are Rickenbackers more expensive than their competition, really? The price seems pretty in line with other factory made American guitars from Fender and Gibson and whatnot.
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Re: Rickenbacker on backorder

Post by cestlamort » Tue Mar 09, 2021 10:45 pm

Larry Mal wrote:
Tue Mar 09, 2021 7:24 am
Are Rickenbackers more expensive than their competition, really? The price seems pretty in line with other factory made American guitars from Fender and Gibson and whatnot.
That’s a good point. They may seem to be somewhat niche/luxury but the prices are in line with Fender et al (2019 price list has 330 for $1999, 360 for $2499) and are less used, of course. There aren’t any real entry models, for better or worse. That said a 25% up charge from a 330 to a 360 seems kinda crazy to me.

Edit: it looks like street prices are around $1975 and $1600, so pretty good compared to the current offset prices

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