Why limited production - the environment?

[a***@yahoo.com]

I have worked on a number of corporate projects in California and know
of some pretty crazy environmental regs.

While at my Rickenbacker dealer here in Montreal the other day,
shopping for a RiC (They are out of stock and waiting for their next
order of about 10 guitars) the assistant manager on the floor told me
that once an order is placed, it takes awhile because their production
is limited by the amount of laquer solvents they can release on a daily
basis !!!!

I would wonder they would have filters or scrubbers in their finishing
rooms for that?

Could this be?

[Michael Hernandez]

Post by a***@yahoo.com
I have worked on a number of corporate projects in California and know
of some pretty crazy environmental regs.
While at my Rickenbacker dealer here in Montreal the other day,
shopping for a RiC (They are out of stock and waiting for their next
order of about 10 guitars) the assistant manager on the floor told me
that once an order is placed, it takes awhile because their production
is limited by the amount of laquer solvents they can release on a daily
basis !!!!
I would wonder they would have filters or scrubbers in their finishing
rooms for that?
Could this be?

I don't think it has anything to do with lacquer solvents and EPA
regulations, or at least not to that drastic of a degree... I'm pretty sure
I read somewhere (most likely in archives of alt.guitar.rickenbacker) that
Rics are made to order; every instrument they manufacture has a set
destination to a retailer. Meaning, if you see a new Ric at an authorized
dealer, they ordered it months in advance instead of calling up the
distributor and placing an order for more guitars to be shipped in a few
days from a stocked warehouse.

HTH,
Mike

[Patrick Covert]

Post by a***@yahoo.com
I have worked on a number of corporate projects in California and know
of some pretty crazy environmental regs.
While at my Rickenbacker dealer here in Montreal the other day,
shopping for a RiC (They are out of stock and waiting for their next
order of about 10 guitars) the assistant manager on the floor told me
that once an order is placed, it takes awhile because their production
is limited by the amount of laquer solvents they can release on a daily
basis !!!!
I would wonder they would have filters or scrubbers in their finishing
rooms for that?
Could this be?

It could be, but it's not likely. If it is the case, the filters etc.
are probably a prohibitive expense to a company the the size of Ric.

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[Mo]

Post by a***@yahoo.com
I have worked on a number of corporate projects in California and know
of some pretty crazy environmental regs.
While at my Rickenbacker dealer here in Montreal the other day,
shopping for a RiC (They are out of stock and waiting for their next
order of about 10 guitars) the assistant manager on the floor told me
that once an order is placed, it takes awhile because their production
is limited by the amount of laquer solvents they can release on a daily
basis !!!!
I would wonder they would have filters or scrubbers in their finishing
rooms for that?
Could this be?

I was under the impression that spraying certain type of paint (nitro) is
heavily regulated in the states now --perhaps there are indeed emissions
limits that Rickenbacker has to respect.

And that explains why a lot of guitars are made outside of the US, where
the guitar makers are bothered with such nasty environmental regulations
that enforce silly things like proper safety equipment and pollution
controls...

[g***@comcast.net]

According to RIC, the regulations really dont have anything to do with
the current long wait time. Its mearly an annoyance. Most dealers
really dont have much of a clue. Its a production issue. They are at
100 percent production, and have an almost 2 year backlog of orders.
They are making em as fast as they can. An enveyable position for a
company RIC's size to be in. I waited almost 3 years for my 4004CII5,
that my dealer ordered at NAMM the year they were introduced. The first
one they got in went back for a factory defect, and it took another
year to get another. Apparently I got one of the very last ones before
they shut down production on this type.

[John]

John Hall gave me a tour of the Ric factory one afternoon 7 - 8 years
ago after the crew finished for the day. When we were at the acoustic
station I begged him to sell me the maple 12 string that was finished
and waiting to be cased up and shipped the next day. John said there
was something like an 18 month back-log on the acoustics at the time
and, couldn't/wouldn't take a check for the full retail amount on the spot.

Broke my heart but gave me respect for his commitment and integrity to
his dealer network.

Never did find an acoustic 12 string Ric in the US (I travel
extensively) and I always checked out the shops on 48th off Times
Square, N'ville, Seattle, even Santiago. These must be scooped as soon
as they hit the shelves.

Ended up with a one of a kind Gibson 12 string prototype they made for a
founding member of the Byrds. Best guitar I've ever owned. Wish I had
the skills to keep up with the mojo ;-)

Post by g***@comcast.net
According to RIC, the regulations really dont have anything to do with
the current long wait time. Its mearly an annoyance. Most dealers
really dont have much of a clue. Its a production issue. They are at
100 percent production, and have an almost 2 year backlog of orders.
They are making em as fast as they can. An enveyable position for a
company RIC's size to be in. I waited almost 3 years for my 4004CII5,
that my dealer ordered at NAMM the year they were introduced. The first
one they got in went back for a factory defect, and it took another
year to get another. Apparently I got one of the very last ones before
they shut down production on this type.

[Keith Adams]

I guess hiring some more people never occured to him? Most people are
in buisness to make money. I'm sure he loses alot of buisness because
of his waiting period. Personally I wouldnt want to wait 10 minutes
much less years. Theres a pretty good chance that any of us might be
dead this time tomorrow with the final thought (sob) I never got to
play my new Rickenbacker

<***@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:***@e56g2000cwe.googlegroups.com...
I have worked on a number of corporate projects in California and know
of some pretty crazy environmental regs.

While at my Rickenbacker dealer here in Montreal the other day,
shopping for a RiC (They are out of stock and waiting for their next
order of about 10 guitars) the assistant manager on the floor told me
that once an order is placed, it takes awhile because their production
is limited by the amount of laquer solvents they can release on a daily
basis !!!!

I would wonder they would have filters or scrubbers in their finishing
rooms for that?

Could this be?

[g***@comcast.net]

I guess hiring some more people never occured to him?

No, Im sure that NEVER occured to him. He is real stoopid. Very much
like your comment.

[Keith Adams]

Hiring more people doesnt have a damned thing to do with stamping out
guitars or a loss of quality. Its just an effort to meet demand.
Selling more guitars would only be beneficial to the company. It seems
to me that if you're going to buld guitars then it would be a matter of
pride to have a popular product. I think I've only seen two
Rickenbacker guitars being played (that wasnt a televised performance)
in the last 10 years.I wouldnt say that Hall is as stupid as your reply
but he's pretty close to it. I doubt that Rickenbacker will even be
building guitars 5 years from now unless the company is sold to someone
who is actually intrested in its success.

<***@comcast.net> wrote in message news:***@p10g2000cwp.googlegroups.com...
I guess hiring some more people never occured to him?

No, Im sure that NEVER occured to him. He is real stoopid. Very much
like your comment.

[no_name]

Post by Keith Adams
Hiring more people doesnt have a damned thing to do with stamping out
guitars or a loss of quality. Its just an effort to meet demand.
Selling more guitars would only be beneficial to the company. It seems
to me that if you're going to buld guitars then it would be a matter of
pride to have a popular product. I think I've only seen two
Rickenbacker guitars being played (that wasnt a televised performance)
in the last 10 years.I wouldnt say that Hall is as stupid as your reply
but he's pretty close to it. I doubt that Rickenbacker will even be
building guitars 5 years from now unless the company is sold to someone
who is actually intrested in its success.

It's a privately held company. Mr. Hall owns it. He runs it the way he
wants to run it. I expect it's as profitable as he wants it to be, and
the company produces the products he wants it to produce.

So the individual who actually HAS an interest in its success is running
the company in the manner he considers a success.

Start your own company and run it the way you want to run it.

[Scott McDaniel]

Post by no_name

Post by Keith Adams
Hiring more people doesnt have a damned thing to do with stamping out
guitars or a loss of quality. Its just an effort to meet demand.
Selling more guitars would only be beneficial to the company. It seems
to me that if you're going to buld guitars then it would be a matter of
pride to have a popular product. I think I've only seen two
Rickenbacker guitars being played (that wasnt a televised performance)
in the last 10 years.I wouldnt say that Hall is as stupid as your reply
but he's pretty close to it. I doubt that Rickenbacker will even be
building guitars 5 years from now unless the company is sold to someone
who is actually intrested in its success.

It's a privately held company. Mr. Hall owns it. He runs it the way he
wants to run it. I expect it's as profitable as he wants it to be, and the
company produces the products he wants it to produce.
So the individual who actually HAS an interest in its success is running
the company in the manner he considers a success.
Start your own company and run it the way you want to run it.

I was going to give you a Golf Clap, then I realized this needed a standing
ovation.

Bravo!

Dammit! I'm having more fun on this group than I've had in a year!

[no_name]

Post by Keith Adams
I guess hiring some more people never occured to him? Most people are
in buisness to make money. I'm sure he loses alot of buisness because
of his waiting period. Personally I wouldnt want to wait 10 minutes
much less years. Theres a pretty good chance that any of us might be
dead this time tomorrow with the final thought (sob) I never got to
play my new Rickenbacker

When John Hall used to post here, I got the impression that Rickenbacker
made more income on other products than it made from guitars; that
guitars were a profitable line, but that production levels were where
they were because it was his judgement that was where they needed to be
to maintain product standards.

He didn't want to expand production at the expense of the quality.

[no_name]

Post by a***@yahoo.com
I have worked on a number of corporate projects in California and know
of some pretty crazy environmental regs.
While at my Rickenbacker dealer here in Montreal the other day,
shopping for a RiC (They are out of stock and waiting for their next
order of about 10 guitars) the assistant manager on the floor told me
that once an order is placed, it takes awhile because their production
is limited by the amount of laquer solvents they can release on a daily
basis !!!!
I would wonder they would have filters or scrubbers in their finishing
rooms for that?
Could this be?

I think John Hall posted that Rickenbacker had installed state of the
art systems for meeting California's air standards.

Rickenbacker's production nunmbers are low because it's not a stamped
out by the thousands product. More craftmanship.