Rickenbacker Guitars Factory Tour: Model 330 Construction
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- Опубликовано: 7 дек 2011
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PG's Charles Saufley is On Location in Santa Ana, California, where he visits the Rickenbacker Guitars factory and headquarters. In this segment, Rickenbacker's CEO/Chairman John Hall walks us through the process of building a Model 330 guitar and Model 4003 bass at their US Factory.
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you are going to laugh at this but, I got so absorbed into the process that when the guy with the razor blade was scraping the paint, at some point I instinctively blew at my phone's screen...
What strain were you smoking?
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@@RocketDRA sesghftizori😂😮d)))
👚👚👚👚👚👟👚👚👚👚👚👚👚👚👚👚👚👚👚👛👛👛👛👛🎒🎒🎒🎒🎒
Ja ja ja I love it!!! ,,👍🏻
Incredible to see how much hands on skill it takes to make these Rickenbacker Guitars. I'm never going to query the prices from here on.
i will still query the prices...
Exactly my thoughts. They said each guitar gets polished 1,5 hours by skilled workers. From a company perspective thats around 150$ labour alone just for polishing it.
I was seriously impressed with the skill involved.
The thing is, that its not just one. It a lot at a time. Multiple that $150 by how many they do a day. Then you have the right answer.@@Chris-yy7qc
@@ShortFuseFighting Stick with a Samick.
Just got my first Rickenbacker 4003 this week and I love it!! Thank you Rickenbacker for the great basses and guitars!! Keep supporting American companys!!
Rickenbacker was austrian ya mughead
@@oruletesfahejiz The guy who started it came from over seas yes, but it is an American company.
@@oruletesfahejiz Switzerland
Quantos mil dólares está custando um Contrabaixo Rickenbancker ai nas lojas americanas?
...while you keep butchering simple American English with such non-plurals as "companys."
Great job, genius!
I love the cottage industry feeling they have there at the Rickenbacker factory. It doesn't seem like a huge faceless concern, more a small bunch of friends making sure their product is the best it can possibly be. I'm also impressed by the hand finishing and the craftsmanship that's involved. They're an expensive guitar but the sound and quality is unquestionable.
Yes, you get what you pay for. I own two of them, I know.
They're not that expensive in the scheme of things. I buy nothing but used anyway. I currently have an '83 320 (non vibrato sibling of the famed 325) and guitars were made way differently versus CNC. They're hand routed for the old process, so open up an older Ric and you'll see how it's not very pretty nor precise. The shaping of the body and neck, paint and extensive polishing is all done by hand. The necks changed depending on the year and unit of production. Hence why they went to CNC to keep neck shape and profiles consistent. Rics made before late late 90s are conversion varnish. All Rics today have UV cured finishes. Both are hard, durable and have glass like finishes. When taken care of properly, they last forever and shine up instantly.
I do own a 4003, (and love them) but right at the end JH says, "I think this one's going to be a good one"... John, at these prices mate, they all should be good ones!
Agreed!
Wood is wood and every guitar is different. No mater how perfectly they are made.
Rick basses suck ass...actually
Even the best of the 4003s are no match compared to the 4001... that's just me, though
I think that is what is known as "quiet confidence". Of course he knows it will be good.
Loved the look & sound of Rick basses since first hearing the late Chris Squire of Yes
Chris Squires blowed my head with his bass sound in the 70's. I was 15 and im an amatuer bass player and play along with Squire......"Roundabout".....ruclips.net/video/0XuRxzYeXWw/видео.html
It's nothing they can reproduce unfortunately. I have the 4001CS and it's the closest they got but still not quite.
These guys are a American company,100%. Made in the USA with pride,love it!!!!!!
Let's place this in perspective. Some of the most significant and unique sounds in musical history have been attributed to Rickenbacker, Inc. A classic American company with many skilled artisans, who continue to contribute musical enjoyment to the world... whether you are a player, or listener.
You're romanticizing. It's been proven over and over again that tone wood is a myth.
That "sound" comes from the electronics and the person playing - nothing else.
There are also no artisans in this video. Running a CNC machine is a job for a teenager.
@@DiarrheaBubbles If you only saw CNC machines in the video, you quit watching early.
@@Big_Bag_of_Pus Also, why would we take anyone seriously, who lacks basic reading comprehension skills? The OP wrote absolutely nothing about the type of wood contributing to the tone.
Xgjkdj?????🎏🧨🧨🧨🧨🧨🧨🧨🧨🧨🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
I worked in the wood shop on the swing shift there in Santa Ana for most of 1975 while going to University of California Irvine. Besides the CNC machines cutting bodies, the old place really doesn't look as though it's changed at all. One thing I might advise if one were to considering purchasing a Ric: Occasionally, a slip of a chisel, an out of line cut, an overly aggressive bit of filing (or the like) would occur after quite a few hours had put into a guitar. Some wood dough, a wood patch and some glue, a shim, whatever, and then a big "B" would be drawn on- telling the paint shop "Paint it Black!" or some other opaque color. There were a few nasty screw ups mickey moused together, but mostly they were "Oh SHIT!" moments. Not critical, but noticeable enough to you wouldn't want it visible, Only the best were finished in "Mapleglo" or "Fireglo". So, give a black 4001 a closer inspection before paying all of the money for it. Great instruments.
also I tend to think of bass guitars when I hear Rickenbacker not guitars.
On a Martin guitar one slip up and the guitar is destroyed. They don’t make second.
I wouldn't mind a few Knicks along as it doesn't effect the sound or playability
Very disappointed with 330 and 4001s bass bad fretboard finish they say oh it’s your fault neck constantly needs adjusting finish very thin on body buff marks not very well made wood is not dried properly
I have a mapleglo 4003 that i bought preowned sight unseen off of reverb and it's in great condition but one tiny thing i noticed recently even after all of this time that I've had it and played it (I can't put it down) is that on the right where the neck meets the body it appears that someone took a tiny little piece off of the body and filled it with some sort of wood resin and then the finish went on top of it and it wasn't smoothed out or anything. It doesn't bug me at all (obviously since i haven't noticed it until very recently and you can hardly see it) but I thought it was kinda funny.
Ric is one of the few guitar makers left that really does it right! Brilliant job, keep up the awesome work!
what about hofner?
TheBeatlesRock12341 I have played hofner guitars and basses, and back when mecca first introduced the huffier bass them and the guitars were only as good as Kay or silvertone guitars. it was that way up until the 80's when they started trying to build a better instrument to take advantage of the popularity of the Beatle bass. today the violin bass is built great and can be intonenated. but the price is way higher than the quality.
"Played Hofner guitars....."....heh heh!!
I have a 1950's Hofner President....not even in the Official Hofner Legend book....not serial catalogued,cos in the beginning,Hofner kept no record of production.
My friend who bought it originally,broke the neck off completely,a long time ago,,[about 50 years ago..],and being a model engineer [self-taught],and a coalminer,he used his loaf,and secured the neck back on with a home-made bolt and through-toggle,which doesn't look pretty....around the twelfth fret,but I have had this instrument since 1971,the original finish has,over time cracked minutely,the soundboard has cracks around the "F" holes,and it has been in my studio for 17 years where the temperature varies between almost zero degrees celcius,and ninety degrees in the summer,and guess what???......I could bring it down now,not having played it for a year or two,and the intonation will be as it was when it was built.
The old Hofners were indestructible,even if a small repair was necessary here and there now and again!....AND....,they cost 28 Guineas 'in the 1950's[English old currency!]
One Guinea= £1-1shilling
One Shilling equals 5 pence in today's currency.
So the guitar cost £29-40pence!
50-odd years later....STILL a great sounding,and looking guitar!
Plus...Mother of Pearl inlays....NOT PLASTIC!
Check out the original Hofner GOLDEN GUITAR...!!!
Great Video..ignore the knockers who know nothing about guitars mate!!
@ don't you have a rickenbacker 325?
Kiesel does it well also
Thank you for being one of the few that kept your business in the states. I for one appreciate that.
🇺🇸
Exactly
Rickenbacker is a company that does it right. Hard not to be impressed with their commitment to their guitars, but also to their holistic processes and philosophies that are rare in this day and age. I have all the respect in the world for these guys!
Regarding comments suggesting that Rickenbacker should come out with an inexpensive import line (ala Epiphone or Squire); bad idea. Rickenbacker has a special niche in the guitar market. While they’re not for everyone, the devoted will remain forever loyal. Import lines compromises the mystique and sort of cheapens the label.
Also, its hard to feel sympathetic to the kids complaining about Rickenbacker being too expensive for them. Well it’s too expensive for many grownups too. They’re special. You have to save for them. They just don’t fall out of the sky into your lap because you want one. You work up to a Rick, you don’t start off with one. And btw, there are tons of inexpensive if not dirt cheap guitars out there that are shockingly good! I’m still amazed sometimes. Can’t afford a Rick? - hell, there’s still countless affordable options out there.
ron bZoom oh wait till you get your taxes, what I did, never looking back..got the ruby red 2015 4003, love it!!
ron bZoom i waited, saved and planned for 15 years to find mine..
Good for you. Was it worth the wait?
absolutely. I have a 70s 4001s. i highly recommend seeking/saving for however long it takes.
***** I completely agree. However I think the happy few that pay top dollar for a new Ric don't do it for the sake of practicality. As I mentioned in another thread, people don't buy a Jaguar because of it's fuel economy or reliability. They buy because, it's a frigg'n Jag, baby! I think it's the same with Rics. People love 'em because they love 'em, expense be damned.
They're bass guitars are nothing less than gorgeous.
Their
The curves on the top and bottom look like they are from different instruments, in kind of a mesmerizingly weird way.
Whenever I see a line of guitars at a factory, I think, aw come on, just give me one. You wouldn't even notice, would ya?
I agree... they are so mass produced now
They would notice lol. They sell every guitar they make and I've heard the waitlist for a new Ric is 2 years long even.
this is NOT what you call "mass production", @@sheerluckholmes5320 , and each and ervery instrument is feeding a worker's family
@@manuelfraiman5534 I'm a CNC programmer.... and those sure look like those are mass produced on a CNC.... but I guess they do have to sand them by hand.....and drop the "feeding their family" crap.......
Sheerluck Holmes how could you find the programming for a cnc to make a Rickenbacker? I know someone who owns a cnc machine and id like to make one
This comes across as a much more likable company than Gibson, More honest , More transparent. Comments like "no magic here" from the CEO makes me like RIC and they seem to be conscience of the environment.
+Fergal Quigley John Hall is a little eccentric, but he's one of the best manufacturers of guitars today. He stays true to his production methods and product which is more than can be said for other people. I mean, can you imagine Rickenbacker pulling a stunt like GIbson did with the 2015 models? No way, man. No way.
+Fergal Quigley Privately owned, not corporate. Like it or not, it makes a big difference on the priorities a company can set for itself.
Fergal Quigley Gibson's are terribly overpriced and ridiculous, in my humble opinion.....
Rickenbacker instruments are really made with care. A lot of time, hard work, and love goes into making Rickenbacker instruments.
Fuzzy Butkus You can buy a Gibson Les Paul Studio new for around $1,200. By the time you get your Epiphone up to par with Gibson by upgrading humbuckers, tuners, bridge, electronics, etc... you are around $1,000 and your finish is still poly instead of nitrocellulose and still an Epiphone. ; )
En 1973 escuche por primera vez a la banda inglesa Yes, para ese entonces yo tenia 14 años de edad y quede cautivado por el sonido del bajo, tiempo despues me entere que era un Rickenbacker. Todavia soy fan de ese sonido y de Chris Squire !
I'll translate...In 1973 for the first time I heard the band Yes and around that time I was 14 years of age and was captivated by the sound of the bass. Some time later I found out the sound came from a Rickenbacker. Today I'm still a fan of the sound of Chris Squire.
YES.! Yo tambien in 1973.
So cool about the paint finish how it's cured and no solvents.
It's polyester, and a majority of electrics use, due to California's VOC (volatile organic compound) laws.
@Jorg Sure, Fornikilya needs more.
Yes this is the beginning UV
CURD .
LIKE TO SEE IT IN THE
MANUFACTURER OF 🚗. SHINE LIKE A DIMOND
@@robertgraf9265 it's about time
@Jorg Sorry, I get dyslexic went I try to type C A L I F O R N I A. There, that's better.
Thankful to hear the rep say that the "most important" thing in choosing maple is that it's responsibly grown and not an endangered wood. Environmental consciousness is all too often the last consideration in an industry like this, especially when some guitar-geek is buying his tenth or fifteenth axe, with exotic woods throughout.
Also nice to see that this video is 6 years old! And they were already thinking about that stuff. Same goes with the finish they applied with next to no solvents. that's really great.
he would say that though wouldn't he?
Says the people that live in entirely wood made houses lol
I knew he would say that. Guitar manufacturers are under strict legal guidelines what woods they can use. Just virtue signalling.
@@robsonf6683 The framing and sheet ply timber in modern houses is also sustainably plantation grown,so what's your point.
glad to see a CEO who knows what goes down in the trenches
Mñ
He does we supply them with the wood their orders take a pretty long time to put together and I used to think they are picky but in reality I now see why they are so picky these guitars are beautiful
My buddy bought a 360 sometime ago. I remember holding it and thinking that it had the most beautiful fit and finish I had ever seen on a guitar. Played and sounded wonderful.
Rickenbacker was very generous with excess materials they donated to the Orange Coast College guitar-making classes (when they still existed).
Ok now i understand the Price of these awesome Instruments
I have one P-bass and a Rickenbacker 4003 only; they are two differents animals but are both greats instruments. But the punch and the melodic approach of the Rick with the pick, for my humble opinion, is superior than P-bass. Instead The Last one is a Tank Groove machine with fingers.
Price of a Ric is very reasonable!! You pay more for much less quality with a Gibson. And don't get me wrong, I love my old Gibsons. but my Ric 360... there is no factory made instrument - and possibly no custom built either - that is in the same ballpark as Rickenbacker build quality.
I paid $999.99 for a new Fireglo 330 fifteen years ago and $1400.00 for a new Mapleglo 620 five years ago. I think these prices are fairly reasonable for an American made guitar.
@@michaelmcdonald8877 In 1980 I got a new 4001 for about $550. The p bass was about $450 back then.
They're using CNC machining on a computer program. The price is absolutely absurd and mark my words, will see the profits made by foreign companies who utilize the same technology and provide the same quality for a mere fraction of the price. If you want the best guitar on planet earth for cheap, buy a Korean guitar.
These guys would be better off asking twice the price for hand crafted instruments.
I'm sorry to be that way, but two thousand dollars is an absolutely ridiculous price for something that took 45 minutes to machine. That's just greed.
Shouldn't have watched,now I need a Ric
Go for it buy a RIC. I own like 3 basses and 2 guitars playability is super fine
I love the Ric aesthetic but (like most people) don’t love the 4003 tone, so I decided to build my own. It is really heartwarming to see people who take such immense pride in their work though.
Al Triego j
Dean, I play em all, matter of preference actually.
Al - I'll go with you..
Ha! :)
Didn't think I could have even more appreciation for my 4001, but this tour reveals some great thinking and honest work. Great video.
Full credit to them for staying loyal to USA with their production. A fantastic attitude.
Charles Saufley.... did you even change to go to bed last night???
Made in the US, is what we gtr non American buyers are looking for ! Greetings from Costa Rica !
I own a 2000 Rickenbacker 360/12CW Fireglo Carl Wilson #314 12-String. She’s a case queen but I do play her once in a while. An absolutely rare work of art that sounds incredible when played in stereo. It was great to see how she was made!
Thank you John Hall, and all at Rickenbacker - and PremierGuitar for this tour. Really appreciate it! \m/ As well as that it is kept like a documentary without annoying cuts and music clips and stuff. Great to have the host getting all the attention. Well done!
~ Michael
Thanks guys, putting this factory tour together is very much appreciated. The video provides a lot of insight into Ricky's unique style of guitar building, sense of quality, tradition and their committment to doing it here. I wouldn't be surprised if this RUclips presentation didn't sell one heck of a lot of guitars!
"No magic here" is the greatest magic of all.
I've owned many Ricks, worked on many over the decades, and was inspired by Rickenbacker design and building techniques since the 70's. It's truly legendary stuff.
Now I know, in addition to their rich heritage, why they're so expensive; they're not just guitars, they're meticulously handmade works of art.
Aah, enjoyed that! This is why I own a Ric👌🏼
This is a GREAT video. Many props for the producer and the factory manager for allowing us into such a proprietary process we would otherwise never see! Enjoyed it very much, thanks!!!
Highly skilled craftsmen and women producing products at a very high level...I could watch videos like this all day long!!!!
Amen!
"It's a thrill to be here, even though I look and sound like I'm clinically depressed".
😂😂😂
Does anyone else think the CEO sounds like David Letterman? I love the crack about the block of wood used to insert the position markers and that the CEO picks up on it and goes with it.
I agree wholeheartedly with John Hall about the consistency of his finishes. No one finishes guitars with consistent excellence like Rickenbacker. They are a cut above.
Plenty of inconsistency with them, just like any other company. Too bad they just act shittier about it.
I've watched most of the big name guitar tours now, and thus far, these guys take the trophy - Bravo Rickenbacker!!!
I've played 660-6 Rickenbackers for decades . All maple , neck through body. Lightest production guitar. Wiring is right. My shoulder thanks you !
i really love the rickebaker sound...reminds me of revolver album!!!!!
John Hall has a reputation for protecting legally against anything else hitting the market that "looks like" a Rickenbacker. I can't blame him. It seems that they have production running smoothly, and demand is higher than supply. I plan to get another RIC as soon as I have the money ready.
I have a 330 and I recently played a used copy for sale at £150 (!) made by Indie Guitar co. It weighed a ton and felt and sounded so wrong. You get what you pay for...
DeadKoby thank you. I was wondering why I never see ric copies
MardukFilms In the 70's Shaftesbury made nice copies and in the 90's Tanglewood also..But nothing feels or sounds like the real thing. Since this I have also play a "Rockinbetter" Chinese rip off ... Firewood!
@@demilieu They use different fret wire now. Not an issue.
I own 4 Rickenbacker's. My first was an '86 4003 that I've had for more than 30 years. I have a 4003 fretless, a 620 and a 360/12. All are beautiful, play well and sound awesome! I hear people talk about how Ric's are too expensive. Well compare them to other brands custom shop guitars that cost three, four and five thousand dollars. I don't see that Rickenbacker is expensive at all considering the process and the fact that they are basically hand made instruements. My compliments to the company and their standards. Truely an American classic that is world renouned. I'm a fan for life. Cheers to RIC!
Just got my first 620 and it is indeed a piece of fine art in every way. Love it.
I bought a new 620 in 1981 love it, will always keep this cool neck thru body construction, guitar is a work of art, sounds great, my opinion the most versatile rick, congratulations and enjoy!
Joe Masse thanks Joe...I will!
I just watched the Gibson-tour, and Rickenbacker seems "nicer" or "friendlier" somehow (in lack of better words). Very nice that Mr Hall gives the tour himself. I own several Gibsons, and their quality is OK. I also own Rickenbackers (360/12FG, 360/12c63, 4003FG and the 4001c64S). The Beatles is why I own RICs. Giving them guitars must have paid itself millions of times over by now. In general I would say the quality of the finish is high on Rickenbackers, but with my first 360/12c63 I was very unhappy with the grain of the wood and the quality of the finish. Sold it and bought a second. It was nice, but the nameplate was scratched. RIC refused to exchange it for a new one under warranty, saying "we don't let any guitar out the door with imperfections". Mine had imperfections coming out of a sealed box straight from RIC. I considered buying more Rickenbackers, but because of their customer service I will take my money elsewhere in the future.
Emotions & spirit do count. I was tired of hearing C&C this and C&C that. Think spirit & soul.
C "N" C. It stands for Computerized Numeric Control.
You are thinking of C & C Music Factory:
"EVERYBODY DANCE NOW!"
: - )
Wow. So much more goes on here vs. the Gibson Factory. This place is the real deal.
Never been a huge fan of rickenbacher. After this video, a 4003 is going on the bucket list. Beautiful instrument and the focus on made in America says a lot about them
As a Rush fan, I love the 4003 bass and as a Tom Petty fan I love their guitars. So glad they are still made in America and still in Santa Ana. I had a Rickenbacker guitar that had the same shape as the 4003 bass many years ago. The quality of the R shaped bridge just stood out as quality back then and even more so nowadays. If I ever get my playing up to par and enough money together, I won’t think twice about buying another Rickenbacker. What you are sure to get with every Rickenbacker is the level of attention you would expect from Fender’s custom shop. They sound great, play sweet, and look gorgeous. Rickenbacker doesn’t make a a player series in Mexico or Squire series in Asia. Just beautiful guitars 100% American made. Rickenbacker is an absolute So Cal and American treasure.
Lemmmyyy! Miss you man! Cheerss...
Old people...
So excellent to see these people passionate about what they are doing, making beautiful hard work into musical instruments! That is very very cool. That's a special thing, thanks for sharing!
I played guitar in an alternative rock band in the 1980's and 1990's. Nearly every "cool" band around in those days used a 1970 Rickenbacker 4001 bass guitar plugged into a Trace Elliot amp. Man they had a great sound.
I have 11 Rickenbacker's and they just keep going up in value. I plan to buy one more to make it a dirty dozen. In the past, I've owned Fenders and Gibsons as well, but nothing compares to the outstanding sound and beauty of a Ric.
you still have your rics, 9 years later?
its refreshing to see that Premier Guitar is actually addressing the homeless crisis in America by hiring this guy
Ya, Charles could do with a shower and a clean up every month and maybe find a barber close by the homeless shelter.
Yeah because every guitar legend was a real clean cut "short back and sides" kind of guy! 🤣
El, they all look kinda skid row. I bet the older ricks are better quality. But what do i know , nuttin.
I love that he cares about the sustainability of the wood they use TAKE NOTE GIBSON
Hey Tree Hugger, before you wrinkle your undies too much, I hope you realize something - the Natives in most of the countries where the cool wood is from often use it for firewood and/or tear it out and plant beans where it was. They are not managing it at all, so if Gibson gets hold of it, it will actually get appreciated.
@@captainamerica9353 Almost 70 percent of deforestation in Latin America is caused by commercial agribusiness concerns, not "Natives".
@@c.a.t.732 , you may be correct, but the fact of the matter is that precious wood is often used for firewood, so i figure it's better used by instrument makers. And another defense of Gibson is that all guitar, oboe, clarinet, piano makers have used exotic wood over the years. The biggest problem is the Chinese using it for furniture, they care how they get it, and use 10X as much as all the guitar builders combined.
@@captainamerica9353 Bottom line... what people, including Gibson or the Chinese, have been doing in the past by way of using up increasingly rare and endangered wood species is clearly unsustainable, as is the case with any finite resource. In the same way that efforts are being made to replace slash-and-burn agriculture in Latin America with eco-tourism and other more environmental-friendly sources of income, the use of sustainable woods in instrument manufacturing just makes sense in the long run.
@@c.a.t.732 , Sustainable wood has been used from the get-go on most guitars, and exotic wood on the high-end models. IOW, your bread-and-butter guitars have used maple, mahogany, walnut bodies and sitka (acoustic tops). Only a relatively few ever used Brazilian or similar Rosewoods and very few acoustics have Swiss spruce tops and ebony fretboards. So what I'm saying is that most good acoustics have used sustainable East Indian Rosewood bodies and Sitka tops for the last 50 years, and electrics Alder or Maple bodies. I have no problem with using more Cherry or Walnut but the use of the exotic stuff on instruments is nothing compared to using it for flooring, wall paneling and furniture for the rich Chinese.
Now you understand why these instruments are not cheap , worth every dime !
I've said it over and over, Rickenbacker is thee' most beautiful guitar on the planet!! The 325(goes without sayin'), 360/12(sharp & round cutaways), 4001 Bass!! On my Bucket List: I don't play guitar, but one day I will own a Lennon '64-Rick/325 because I want one!! To hold it, to strum it, to feel it, to admire it, and hopefully someday to play it. Gorgeous instruments!!
what a unique sound thru the ages it's endured..
Charles looks like he just rolled out of a ditch.
Just imagine what he looked like before he cleaned up for the factory tour. 🤣
Or like he slept under a truck last night.
This ain't no fashion show.Try to concentrate on the video.I find Charles one of the most insightful reviewers at Premiere guitar.Ricks are an acquired taste.Not for everyone but a well made instrument compared to a lot of junk out there.
@Roughman Hey, I'm a lawyer and I can't afford one, though I had a 4001 back in high school.
I really enjoyed the tour, it made me appreciate my Rickenbacker even more
Hi my name is Robert Bussiere I am 66 years old, I've seen a Rickenbacker guitar twice in my life,
The first time was in 1967 12 string and the second time was 2013 bass and I fell in love with the bass.
Well I have decided to buy a fireglo bass and display in my house. Just to have a piece of American history!
Absolutely Beautiful. It's Great to see s Quality product completely made in America. I hope to one day own one of these Magnificent instruments. Thank You Premier Guitar & Thank You Rickenbacker.
I wonder how many times the Premier guy was handed change before they figured out who he was.
Oh my goodness...the 4003 is SO beautiful! It's such a gorgeous and organic shape. I really wish they would make a six string version on it like the one they used to have, but without the problems.
It's so great to see so much hand work go into a guitar. These people are true craftspeople. It's people like this who keep the art of fine instrument making alive. To think it all started with Adolf Rickenbacker and his "frying pan" guitar. He was a true pioneer of electric instruments. Thank you for this video.
love the tour and the guitar. Aldo the interviewer looked a little bit hungover :-)
Michael Deas
A little?
and that's his 'excited' look. maybe his dog died that morning
He looks like he's been doing heroine for the past week
A shit job by the "interviewer.
Wow! I am quite impressed! Awesome.
How great thou art Rickenbacker Guitar Company. What a cool tour.
I have a lot of guitars. One is a 360 6 string. It's by far the best build quality of any factory made instrument I've seen, including Gibson (even the older ones - I have some more than 20 years old - and Custom Shop) and Fender. It's not even close. I'm a bit obsessive and I've studied my Ric top to bottom. It's perfect. The wood working is perfect. The binding is perfect. The finish is perfect. Even the chrome plating is perfect. I guess a custom built guitar might have cooler wood or whatnot, but it's hard to imagine anything could have better fit or finish than a Ric. And almost entirely USA made parts. A Ric is not inexpensive, but it's not any more money than other high-end brands -- that can't come close to the quality and USA content.
(In the woodshop) "...well unfortunately this isn't very impressive because we're late enough in the day that we've already cut up most of our wood..." (In other words, CHARLES needs to get up a little earlier next time so when he visits " a pillar of American guitar building industry" he won't waste Mr. Hall's time and miss out on a important part of the tour! LOL
Just as the Ric plant has a high quality control regimen.......the Mgr. should demand the same from interviewers.
i.e. no tour unless you at the very least comb your head & beard OR, wear a paper bag with cutouts!!
Totally agree with Mr. Trageser and Mr. Frank. I wonder if his mommy still makes Mr. Saufley's bed. Perhaps she drove him to the interview, too.
Yes the facts that he was there late and that he looked like he hadn't showered in a week and a half were very unprofessional.
The gentleman sounds exactly like Letterman.
My first bass was a 4003 back around 1996. Great to see how they are made.
Love the craftsmanship that goes into these pieces of art.
I don't know about modern Rickenbackers,but my 40 year old 4001 is a tone machine.
+jsilence418
Now is, great Chinese machines, making great American guitars.
jsilence418 My 1979 4001 is awesome!!! Even though it has to compete today with more modern basses I have, like Alembic (THE bass) and Yamaha, I always said the same: if I have to sell everything, I will keep only the Rick.
A Rick has a sound all it's own - keep the Rick!
I used to carry myself like Charles the interviewer when I was like 13. I was to cool for anybody at that time. But I grew up a bit. On a positive note, good tour despite the bum that Premier Guitar sent out..
The guy was so flat and unresponsive, would have been better with a dummy.
@@johnrogers9481 You mean it wasn’t a dummy???
Finally splurged and bought a Rick after wanting one for over 30 years, like my heroes Geddy and Squire. I love it!! It’s not just the unique tone and the beautiful look, it’s also a piece of Americana. When not playing, I’ll still look over at it throughout the night and pinch myself.
На такой гитаре играть в кайф и смотреть на нее , одно удовольствие - шедевр !
I have a Rickenbacker 340S built in 1964. I purchased it in 1970 at a pawn shop for $200. It is in excellent condition and has the Fireglo finish. I'd be curious to know what differences Rickenbacker used in production in 1964 compared to now. My guitar is constructed with quality and the finish is "like new."
A Rick for 200 wow your lucky
Rics sure ain't cheap but I've found I've gotten what I paid for and nothing else sounds like a Ric. Quality instrument sold in a quality case. I love both of mine.
He might not remember, but band I was in '79-'80 in the old SAHARA HOTEL was in a lounge show in the CASBAR lounge. I still have my black '73 4001 to this day. Just so happens Mr. JOHN HALL apparently caught our show, came back stage afterwards and gave me some major kudos for using one of his products and how great it sounded. Asked me if I ever used the stereo deal and said I never aquired the special cable. He offered to send me one, but I never took him up on it. Still never used the Stereo to this day. Still my favorite and still sounds and plays great. Thanks JOHN HALL
Not sure why Ricks seem to attract a lot of ignorant negative comments. They have a totally different vibe than Fender or Gibson, but they are well made, gorgeous, and great sounding.
I wonder if that guy putting on the name plate was the same guy who put the name plate on my 360v64 and miss drilled the hole slightly so that it got into the edge of the relief cut for the truss rods back around '94-'95. Other than that I love the thing.
look at 20:30 setting the screw...
if you're trying to find the Gibson Museum in Memphis, just follow the smell of solvent....you can't miss it....
The absolute best bass in the world...most beautiful too!
I still have my 1963 4000, it's been my favorite! I own several Rics including the new 5 string.
Since I cam remember Rickenbacker's has been one of the guitars that others are measured by, I'm not saying all guitars just this style that appeals to some. Someone who prefers Les Paul will measure other guitars by that standard. Rickenbacker's are just beautiful guitars, you get what you pay for.
@IngLouisSchreurs Rics are not in any way overpriced.
Beautiful factory, great process, and amazing instruments. God Bless Rickenbacker for keeping Americans employed and their tradition going. Great tour PG! In spite of Charles.... holy hell.....does he stink, or what?
Fell in love with my 4001 the day I saw it and love it more every day
Cool to see the birthplace of my 4003. Thanks for posting.
"What's going on here?" "Just putting a name plate on...." lol
Interviewer looked like he stayed up all night watching 'The Simpsons' and sniffing glue. Not much respect shown to the owner of this great company.
Agreed. He made homeless people look like English royalty!
Billy Stone Oh bullshit! If I've heard one story like this as the foundation for a rebuttal just to make me feel bad I've probably heard a billion!
And if you're homeless just how the hell can you afford a computer much less the power to run the damn thing!?
Michael R Sounds like a pretty good night to me minus the glue sniffing haha.
He just looks like a regular ass musician. If he would've introduced himself as Jeff Tweedy I wouldn't have bat an eye.
Sad thing is the he ia probably getting paid to do this shit
Fascinating stuff!!
I've had my 330 FG LH for 21 years now, it's a thing of beauty in looks, playability and sound. I've also had my ac30 for the same length of time and together they jangle and chime brilliantly.
It's also great to see Rickenbacker are still American made unlike some of the others.
If I had tons of dose, I'd go for a 325 MG and a 360/12, one can only dream.
Keep up the great work folks.
Those 4003s are just beautiful.
I don't know why some of you worry so much about price.....if it's a good, well made guitar, save up and buy it or finance it...taken care of a good guitar lasts indefinitely, longer than most careers and relationships lol! Wot, u don't want the people who build these things to make a living? Then buy from the Chinese where most workers are treated like slaves.
spot on
Compare the price of a Rickenbacker 330 to a dot-neck Gibson ES-335. While the two instruments aren't the same, they're both made in the USA and semi-hollow. Rickenbacker is a comparative bargain and nobody can question Rickenbacker's build quality.
I can question their build quality. When you've seen the absolute lemons from those guys that I have you realize that nobody is too good for mistakes.
I've owned 7 Rickenbackers and 4 Gibsons (counting my '66 Epi Casino I bought in Houston in '86). I'd rate Rickenbacker's build quality at least equal to my '80 335, '98 LP Special and better than the '76 LP Std I had for a year. That old Casino was fantastic. Rickenbacker has a hard-earned reputation for impressive consistency. Now DESIGN is a different matter: Some take issue with Rickenbacker's slim necks and narrow string-spacing, which is a legit complaint.
Agree completely. Not everyone can afford everything they might want. Rics are a BARGAIN compared to many other high-end brands. I am primarily a LP player, have a lot of those, but absolutely love my 360 Ric and have immense respect for the Company. They do it right, they don't compromise, and they are committed to "Made in USA".
Yo!!! I didn't even know they were in my city!!
I always enjoy watching these factory tours. This being my favorite brand of guitar this was especially interesting and impressive. I have long loved Rickenbacker instruments and It's still my dream to one day own one.
I have a 330 Maple Glow. Beautiful instrument. The low string tension and neck scale make 330s easy on the fingers and great noting plus I had Toaster pups installed and the instrument has classic tones. A classic guitar design.
"It's late in the day so we've already cut up most of wood. Maybe get here a little earlier, ya lazy, slow stoner."
that's how I took it too
I would love to have another Ricki.... mine was stolen. One day I will, I hope 🤞 and pray.
just got my 4003 in the mail today. I couldn't decide on the finish, i ended up going with midnight blue but after watching this i think the sunburst looks the best. Amazing guitar! highly recommend - worth every penny.