Yes, I think I have understood this by now; all I wanted to point out was, that if a miracle would happen and Rickenbacker would produce a lot more guitars one day and AFTERWARDS the efforts concerning marketing and distribution would be increased in Europe and Asia, the potential for new customers in Europe, Asia and Australia would be even higher than anybody can think of nowadays. It might well be that Rickenbacker could sell even more than 8 times of their current output.

This is the reason why I sometimes utter some unpopular suggestions in this forum. Would it not be possible to think of a collaboration with other high-quality guitar manufacturers all over the world? Would it be wrong if someone like Höfner or Framus/ Warwick would get the license to produce Rickenbacker guitars for the European market or a company like Ibanez would produce these guitar designs in Japan for the Asian market? Surely the companies mentioned would be glad to get a truely great name on their hands, that would enable them to keep the jobs of their workers in Germany or Japan instead of moving them to China.

On the other hand, the fact that Rickenbacker always seems to act a little different than all the other companies, is part of the value of Rickenbacker guitars. If you own a Rickenbacker guitar, you will never have to explain that you own a "real, American" RIC, like you would have to explain, if you would own a Fender or Gibson guitar. This is part of the magic and part of the value of a RIC.

So after all, "please, don´t ever change" ;-) ...

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"Writing about music is like dancing about architecture." (Elvis Costello)

How about we keep all our jobs here in America, and let you Germans and the Japanese worry about your/their own workers?

Also, I thought you said high quality makers?

Aren´t Höfner, Framus/ Warwick and Ibanez (as far as their Japanese made guitars are concerned) high quality makers?
Let us not argue about that. If these manufacturers are not able to survive with their own brands they surely do not deserve any help. I was just making some hypothetical suggestions. And as I said before - as far as Rickenbacker guitars are concerned, everything is perfect the way it is.

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"Writing about music is like dancing about architecture." (Elvis Costello)

Wow, finally started a popular thread. ;) Well, I thought of something else. I've read info from Mr. Hall in other threads concerning the difficulties in getting new workers at the current location. With demand so healthy, and the advent of computer assisted cutting, might Ric consider taking over a failing company somewhere (in the US obviously) and converting it to Ric production, thus opening a second US factory ala Gibson? It could probably revitalize some other area and simultaneously give all of us Ric lovers more of what we want. Again, just curious.

I won't add my two cents here.
I'm certain Mr. Hall has and continues to evaluate all possible options.

But, what us Ric owners do know is that we're thrilled with the product quality of our instruments and all we want to see is the consistent quality level we've known and expect to continue.

No, I don't enjoy "the wait" but, if that's way it has to be in order for me to get a top quality instrument in my hands I dearly love, its just a fact of life I'm willing to endure.

(Now back to my New York strip steak and aged Napa Valley cabernet, already in progress.)

Howdy,

I seem to remember seeing a post from JH in another thread stating that he will keep production in the current Rickenbacker factory to insure strict quality control.
Just my opinion here....
I feel that Rickenbacker should not expand to another location even within the USA for that very reason. I'd rather sacrifice quantity for the quality that we all now enjoy.
When looking at other brands that are still made in the USA (I'm only referring to USA produced models), a scorecard is now needed to know which company is owned by another. Also in the second hand market there are also distinctions that are made by the place of production. Again I'm only referring to USA produced models. Some examples of this are:
Pre Fender or Westerly Rhode Island Guild
Kalamazoo or pre Nashville Gibson
Pre CBS Fender
Needless to say, we do not see any designations like that for Rickenbacker and hopefully we never will. Just my 2¢ worth.

Steve

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"A Splendid Time Is Guaranteed For All"

And here I am stuck in Michigan... Always wanted to be a luthier.

I would add that Rickenbacker seems to have a good thing going. The backlog is a nuisance, but it's also a sign that there's a huge amount of demand for their products. At a time of general economic recession, they're still doing very well. Why mess with what works?

I wonder how production was for 2019, 2020, 2021?…

Did Covid-19 impact the annual production, or production of individual models?

How might I obtain this info?