jim_at Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 Hey everyone, I've owned a few basses over the years, starting on Encore, moving to Yamahas, then Musicman Sterling, then Fender USA Precision, Fender Geddy Lee sig Jazz - I still own most of them but now really want a Rickenbacker 4003 to add to my collection. After admiring the tone in many records and finally getting to play one recently I think I want to introduce it into my live and recording setup. Only problem is finding them! Theres a couple on eBay, but hardly anything in the shops. Where do people get their Ricks from? I'm London / Bournemouth based, looking for the amazing White finish (with black inlay) - but interested in other finishes too! Thanks guys, and hello, lovely place you have here, Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheButler Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 [url="http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/bass_guitars_detail.asp?stock=04051910564818"]http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/bass_guitars...=04051910564818[/url] I'd look second hand personally though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim_at Posted July 24, 2009 Author Share Posted July 24, 2009 [quote name='TheButler' post='549663' date='Jul 24 2009, 01:28 AM'][url="http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/bass_guitars_detail.asp?stock=04051910564818"]http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/bass_guitars...=04051910564818[/url] I'd look second hand personally though [/quote] Yeah, second hand and well looked after is my preference. Especially looking at that page and seeing the price Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoe_BillySheehan Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 They've really shot up in price over the past few years. you used to be able to get a real nice 2nd hand one for £700.. what they going for now?? Z x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 (edited) When I bought my first Rick 4001 in 1979 I paid £204 for it..........you couldn't get a Rick case for that now. And I remember when this place was all fields...... Edited July 24, 2009 by RhysP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Academy Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 I got asked for a Ricky yesterday. The UK distributor Rosetti quoted 2 years waiting for a new one! Why?!! That's ridiculous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machines Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 Exclusivity or some crap. Rickenbacker have utterly failed to understand the principles of supply and demand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musky Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 [quote name='Machines' post='549707' date='Jul 24 2009, 07:53 AM']Exclusivity or some crap. Rickenbacker have utterly failed to understand the principles of supply and demand.[/quote] I think John Hall is al too aware of the principles of supply and demand. When he put up their prices 18 months ago he cited the need to manage demand and 'help create a better balance between demand and capacity'. Doesn't seem to have made much difference though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spike Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 I think they understand the principles of supply and demand very well. A situation where demand exceeds supply is good for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon1964 Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 (edited) [quote name='Machines' post='549707' date='Jul 24 2009, 07:53 AM']Exclusivity or some crap. Rickenbacker have utterly failed to understand the principles of supply and demand.[/quote] Although the reason that an old fashioned passive bass, with a limited range of tones, sells for £1800 or so new is because they are so rare. Rickenbacker have never gone down the OLP/Squier/Epiphone route, and their marketing strategy has created an exclusivity to their brand which allows them to charge a very large premium. Good luck to them I guess! Edited July 24, 2009 by simon1964 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanbass1 Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 (edited) Whatever anyone says they are unique basses and they have retained a consistently high build quality throughout - you don't hear about the 'golden years of Rickencaker' as you do other mainstream brands. They keep manufacturing in the US and the output to a level where they can maintain this consistency. Hats off to them for that and are they that expensive when you compare to other similar volume of manufacturing passive basses, e.g. Fender Custom Shop? I got a 4003 from Peter Cookes this year, I rarely play it but it's a great bass! Edited July 24, 2009 by alanbass1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon1964 Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 [quote name='alanbass1' post='549722' date='Jul 24 2009, 08:18 AM']Whatever anyone says they are unique basses and they have retained a consistently high build quality throughout - you don't hear about the 'golden years of Rickencaker' as you do other mainstream brands. They keep manufacturing in the US and the output to a level where they can maintain this consistency. Hats off to them for that and are they that expensive when you compare to other similar volume of manufacturing passive basses, e.g. Fender Custom Shop? I got a 4003 from Peter Cookes this year, I rarely play it but it's a great bass![/quote] Don't get me wrong - I'm not criticising Rickenbacker for their strategy, and I love their basses. In fact I bought one last month! You can get reasonable deals on ebay. I paid £1000 for a mint 2004 which doesn't seem bad compared to new prices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farmer61 Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 Get on a plane to NYC and get yourself down 48th street, you could prob get a cheap flight and change for what you'd pay in the UK. Goy my Maple-glo for less than £900 (new), mind you exchange rate was better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevB Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 One here not far of ending on eBay; [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Midnight-Blue-Rickenbacker-Bass-4003_W0QQitemZ300331076343QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item45ed208af7&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C72%3A1688%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Midnight-Blue-Ricken...%3A1%7C294%3A50[/url] It looks like it's genuine and a sensible price for a nearly new instrument. I paid just over £800 for a mint jetglo back in 2002. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 [quote name='jimairtraffic' post='549659' date='Jul 24 2009, 01:23 AM']Only problem is finding them! Jim[/quote] Keep watching Ebay - and the Basses For Sale forum here, they do come up quite often. Secondhand is getting dearer but only proportionately to new retail price - and you really will have a job finding a new 'un. If you're not fussed about finish and the details RIC change from year to year, you shouldn't have to wait long before a decent used one comes up. It also might be worth your while registering on the RickResource forums, people buy & sell all the time on there. Most of the members are in the US but you might still get a decent deal importing one. Best of luck! Jon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 Fuzz in Nottingham had a Jetglo and a Mapleglo Ric 4001 last time I looked. Of course both were the full new list price... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon1964 Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 [quote name='BigRedX' post='550455' date='Jul 24 2009, 06:05 PM']Fuzz in Nottingham had a Jetglo and a Mapleglo Ric 4001 last time I looked. Of course both were the full new list price...[/quote] Both in good condition too. They do have some very nice, top end stock in there, especially for a new store, but I do worry about how much they'll sell in the current climate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 (edited) [quote]It also might be worth your while registering on the RickResource forums, people buy & sell all the time on there. Most of the members are in the US but you might still get a decent deal importing one.[/quote] +1 for RickResource - a year or two ago I picked up a lovely Mapleglo 4003 with Black trimmings for a competitive price (even taking account of shipping and import duty ~ £800-850 IIRC), from a US RickResource member. The dollar has gone the wrong way since but its nowhere near as bad as it was a couple of months ago Just never dare mention Rickenfakers or they will hunt you down like a dog Edited July 24, 2009 by Clarky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 They're not exactly a new shop - it's a second premises for Guitar Base. Personally I hope they do well. Their stock is way more exciting than either the Drum and Guitar Centre or the offshoot of Millennium Music that's in the old Sound Control shop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon1964 Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 [quote name='BigRedX' post='550466' date='Jul 24 2009, 06:22 PM']They're not exactly a new shop - it's a second premises for Guitar Base. Personally I hope they do well. Their stock is way more exciting than either the Drum and Guitar Centre or the offshoot of Millennium Music that's in the old Sound Control shop.[/quote] Ah - didn't realise that. Definately agree on the quality of their stock, and they seem pretty helpful. The old Sound Control, on the other hand, is even worse than it used to be! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geddys nose Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 There's still this one going- [url="http://www.airguitars.co.uk/product_info.asp?ID=3940&item=RICKENBACKER+4003+BASS++%28+2003+MODEL%29"]http://www.airguitars.co.uk/product_info.a...8+2003+MODEL%29[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 (edited) [quote name='simon1964' post='550474' date='Jul 24 2009, 06:55 PM']Ah - didn't realise that. Definately agree on the quality of their stock, and they seem pretty helpful. The old Sound Control, on the other hand, is even worse than it used to be![/quote] If it wasn't for the fact that I've recently gone self employed and have to watch the pennies for the moment, plus I've decided that I shouldn't buy any more 4-string basses, I'd have been severely tempted by the Jack Cassidy Sig, Thunderbirds and Rics that they have in stock. The old Sound Control shop is now part of Millennium Music. I've had to deal with them in the past when I wanted to buy a Nord keyboard and they were the only way of getting one in the UK at the time. It wasn't a particularly pleasant experience and I'm in no hurry to do that again. Edited July 24, 2009 by BigRedX Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 [quote name='Clarky' post='550465' date='Jul 24 2009, 06:21 PM']Just never dare mention Rickenfakers or they will hunt you down like a dog [/quote] Funny - they seem to quite like me over there & I never talk about anything else! Although maybe it's because [spoiler][size=1]I haven't told them I don't have a real Rickenbacker...[/size] :ph34r: J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrcrow Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 (edited) apart from a very retro look and a set of different pups...pup manufacturers do ric replacements its a lot of money i got my 4003 new in 1991 for £700 Edited July 24, 2009 by mrcrow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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