Rickenbacker news from NAMM

[Denis]

It's one thing to decide; We don't do five strings. Perfectly acceptable. Quite another though to bring one out, mess up - ooops! - with the pups, promise a solution (as they did at the time) and then do nothing about it for years. That is just sloppy and not at all with Ric's carefully tended image. My German enginneering ethics are hugely offended. Problems are zere to find technical solutions, jawohl! We didn't stop improving on the brakes of the Porsche either after Jimmy D. crashed his.

I think you're really talking about Toyota here, Uwe!

I would love to find a 4003 locally, but the used prices on these things are insane...Ric with flats was my sound for a lot of years...
I paid $300 for my 4001 in the early 80's...
Cinti craigslist has a beat player (80's or 90's) for $1400?
When did the price on these go thru the ceiling?

I've seen two 4003s on Craigslist in the past two months for $1000 or less. One was pretty beaten up though.

[Dave W]

About 3 years ago, I think. Ilan will know. Rick's backlog reached critical mass, they raised prices significantly for the first time in years, and that caused used prices to shoot way up.

Last year my son got a barely used 2007 4003 in a multi-bass trade on Talkbass. He got the Sadowsky he wanted and always intended to flip the 4003. I listed it at the Rick Resource Forum at $1400 and nobody bit. He put it on eBay at 1550 BIN with free shipping and it was sold in a few minutes.

[patman]

Just figured out that I made about $3,000 playing music last year (working my ass off)...kind of makes it difficult to justify that kind of expense.

Specially when a T-Bird or Jazz is so much more affordable.  I e-mailed the Musiciansfriend for a price and it was $100 off list (for a 4003)...just below $2,000.

Maybe I think about this stuff differently since I'm an accountant?

[Bert]

Maybe I think about this stuff differently since I'm an accountant?

Most likely. Hobbies cost. Maybe you should try motorcycling or cars as a hobby. ;-)