I would like to comment on yet another phenomenon in this this crazy guitar business. As many have seen in the past 2 years prices have dropped and sales have slowed and the market has fully adjusted from its glutinous state of mind before the wall street and banking sector crash. Well one of the three areas that has not crashed in this market is Rickenbacker guitar and basses. I Will comment on the other two in other pots.
We being both a vintage and used guitar company and a vintage parts dealer have been blown away once again by this phenomenon called Rickenbacker. We have seen time and time again that the Rickenbacker market just wont quit. Today most Gibson Guitars are worth 20-25% less than 2 years ago but Rickenbacker have not only not gone down they are more expensive now than ever.
This is due to a some call genius idea at Rickenbacker’s to limit it’s production over the past 6 years . I think it is a good thing many feel that to wait for a years for a new guitar is out of the question but I feel over production and lack of quality is worse. The second reason i believe is quality of Rickenbacker guitar has gone up and the are making the best guitars they have ever made right now. so put quality and limited production into the mix and you have the formula to success. The vintage ricks are great and sound great bit as many know there was neck issues and suck but today the guitar are as solid as ever.
Upon close examination Rickenbacker has risen above the mess we call our economy today. For example a Rickenbacker 4001 bass used not a reissues just a run of the mill one was $1300 -$1400 used 2 years ago today they are $1500-$1700 . The standard reissue series were $1700- $2000 two years ago now they are $2000-$2400 and some of the c series ones are now bringing $3000-$3300. Amazing in a market that has taken a 25% hit Rickenbacker is going strong. The same goes for the guitars and depending on the models , series and condition follow the same growth pattern over the last two years .
As far as parts go Rickenbacker once again will not sell parts easily and Pick Of The Ricks in N.J. is the only real source for Rickenbacker parts and by the way the owner Chris is a true Rickenbacker lover and a great guy. H e is one of the few I can recommend. So even teh parts are hard to get so the used parts prices are up 30% and so are the vintage parts. So Rickenbacker has got us cornered here also .
I love Rickenbacker guitar and Just had to write this brief comment to congratulate Rickenbacker on great product and strategy and to tell all you rick fans do not dump those ricks there are money in the bank. Any further questions you have please feel free to contact me at THE PARTS DRAWER and I Will be glad to answer all e mails within 48 hours
JIm Pasch
Tags: rickenbacker basses, rickenbacker guitars, vintage rickenbacker guitars, vintage rickenbacker parts