cestlamort wrote: ↑Fri Apr 07, 2023 12:06 pm
Another (random) observation on Rickenbackers (nothing groundbreaking). It seems that they've always had a "luxury" image to them, likely because there were no starter models (or copies, like strats and les pauls), even though they were always around the same price point as nice(r) Fenders, etc. So it was always a big deal when somebody played a Ric (and they were sometimes the object of misguided punk/indie privilege police shaming as a result).
In my experience for used ones, they always could be had for less than a USA Jazzmaster (or Fender US bass). It was just a question of patience and being able to find one. The street prices for new were always right around there as well (although often with a super long wait... I've never had a new one though). A new 360 is $2499 (
2022 price list), which is right around the $2399 of the AVII Jazzmasters. It's just that there are a million different models that are cheaper (Squiers now starting at $270, etc.).
I was a big fan of the jangle pop ‘80s bands and really wanted a Rickenbacker as my 1st guitar because all my friends had Les Paul knockoffs or Strats.
I had to buy new back in 1985. I had been searching for one since 1982 without any luck. Sometimes a halfhearted “Oh, we had one of those for ages, but we finally sold it,” or if there was one “Sorry, not for sale, that’s the shop owners collection.” I ended up with a mid-60s Jazzmaster as my first guitar because I couldn’t find a 360, and Jazzmasters were cheap and plentiful.
A friend had two Rickenbackers. Both ‘60s era. A 360 12 string and a 330. He worked at the shop that eventually sold me a new one. I had to order it as all they had were Rickenbacker bass guitars and a stray 620. It was Fireglow and I ended up finding a ‘73 Fireglow 4001 to match a few months later in a pawn shop for 1/4 of what the 360 cost.
I still have the bass and eventually replaced the ‘85 360 with a ‘93 Fireglow 360v64. The ‘85 I traded with cash for a ‘63 Jazzmaster, so it all came full circle.
