Well,

Nothing would ever be "100% accurate" since not everyone even bothers to return their Rickenbacker registration card, but the Ric stats available to them certainly would give a rock-solid good indication of what's been going on in the market place.

It is not that hard: The average Ric owner is a middle aged (approx 55 years old & probably caucasian ) man with kids, is married (or was), and has disposable income to spend on expensive guitars.

And he's probably a Beatles fan.


I think the real interesting question is what happens to Rickenbacker once this group is no longer buying? Do they introduce some lower-end stuff in an attempt to capture some market share of the younger players who cant afford Rics? Do they lower the price? What does Ric do when all those Beatles loving, Ric buying, middle-aged white guys are fertilizer alongside Lennon and Harrison in some Octopuses Garden in the sky?

darthbass

You may very well be right with the off the cuff conclusion you offer here.

But, I've never been one to be big an basing things on "opinions" or speculaction.

Hard statistics and fully documented as possible facts are what I mostly rely on.

I own 3 but only rely on 2 of them so the 3rd may move on as much as I love it. I don't have tons of storage.



I must not be very average. The Beatles are not a big part of my listening pleasure.

My Rics get used for jazz mostly. In the style of bop and fusion. Great upright meets electric tone. I hope people realize Rics go well beyond elder bands of yore and are very capable tools.

Howdy,

With the exception of the disposable income, you just described me exactly! When I see a Rickenbacker that I want, I will almost always sell some other stuff that I have to finance it. Being 55 you tend to accumulate a lot of stuff that someone else is willing to purchase.

Steve

_________________
"A Splendid Time Is Guaranteed For All"

1) Their is no question in my mind that Ricks "star was born" the first time the Beatles played on Ed Sullivan.
(I was in 4th grade). I'll never forget: Rickenbacker, Hofner, Gretch, Vox and Ludwig and Zildjian. (Zildjian went into back order mode for years after that performance).

2) If I were in Ric's shoes, I would commit 98% of my marketing budget to artist development. We see over and over how so many people are influenced by what their favorite stars are playing. Give Rics to people that matter!!

I would send 381's to Jay Z, Kanye West, etc.
I'd send a 330/12 to Taylor Swift even though she has a guitar deal already. A picture of her and her Koa custom guitar adorns her T shirts, (available at Wal-Mart). Talk about marketing a $4,000 guitar to 10 year old girls. In 30 years those 10 year old girls are going to be 40. What kind of guitars do you think they will buy for themselves or their spouses?

3) Quality never goes out of style. What could make less sense than buying a Rolex when you can pay buy a Casio for $15 that keeps time just as well. Anyone here dreaming of owning a Casio?

4) Don't underestimate the young peoples ability to find the money when they want something.

5) Ric should ALWAYS make fewer guitars than they can sell and NEVER lower the price even if manufacturing efficiency allows them to. Why compete on price and enter a race to the bottom of the market?

I'll add my 2 cents:

Just one right now:
330-6 Fireglo - purchased new in 2006

I'm 28, married, live in Wichita, KS, and have a baby girl due next Tuesday.

47 and Married

Only 2 at the moment

350v63 FG new 06
660/12 MG used 04

Rick's that are sadly long gone

3001 BG new 79
4001S BG used 74'ish
360/12 MG new 00
2030 MG used 87

CONGRATS Rob!,

330's rock.
Truly, if at he end of the day it all had to boil done to "only one Ric", the 330 truly would be the one!

The 330 looks terrific.
(I personally like the 330 body much better then its pricier sibling, the "Roswell, NM alien spacecraft circa 1947 'melted edge' " 360). -The 330 does just about everything you can throw at it extremely well.

-As many 330's as Ric makes and sells, I still feel it's grossly underrated by an enormous amount.

I'm 21 i have a girlfriend and go to college. I own four of them a 2001 340mid bt bought new all others used, a 2000 650 sierra, a 1989 230 in red and a 1983 4003 in ruby. and i have 11 other guitars and basses. I am a fan of the Beatles but I don't play anything in that style. Maybe my father buying his ric showed me they were nice. I have little extra money to spend but its a lot easier when you don't drink or smoke pot like other musicians my age that i know who own very little.