Question on my 'faker.

[haw]

Any pointers as to where I could get a treble pickup cover that would fit my bolt-on Ibanez?
I thought about just getting a proper Ric one but I take it I would be right in assuming that it probably wouldn't fit?

[ilan]

If you have a Ric 4001(3) you can try its cover on the Ibanez. If it doesn't fit, you can get a Ric mounting ring (off eBay, or maybe someone here has a spare) for the Ibanez pickup, then the Ric cover will fit.

[jnbass]

why not go all out?

[haw]

very nice. How much would it cost in UK pounds?

[johnhall]

And you guys wonder why we don't sell some of those parts anymore?

[baltimucho]

Would you sell them to me if I prove to you that I have an '84 4003S? =)

[haw]

"And you guys wonder why we don't sell some of those parts anymore?"

Sorry, are you inferring that I'm trying to pass off my Ibanez as the real deal?

[johnhall]

Hopefully you wouldn't do that but from long experience, I guarantee that the second or third owner down the road from you will. Whether they do it by intent or ignorance, it will nevertheless slowly erode our reputation.

[basshawk]

How true that is. The man is just protecting the very product that has brought us all to this site.

[bassduke49]

JH, you have e-mail.

Thanks.

[johnhall]

Lotsa e-mail, Paul, but none from you- not even in the spam box!

[aceonbass]

I work for GM, and Service Parts Operations is one of our most profitable divisions. Granted, there are certain limited production vehicles whose exclusivity GM wants to protect by requiring info such as a VIN# and even in some cases, block# and turbo#'s where applicable in order to buy certain parts. Occasionally I get customers who want to modify a vehicle which I usually discourage and can't get involved with for liability reasons. Other than these exceptions, I will get any part that someone needs, even to the point of locating it if it's discontinued. Now I do realize that there are those that try to turn regular Camaros into Z28's for example, but unless it's a part with the restrictions mentioned earlier, I will sell them anything they want without question. Occasionally a part is on back order or all stock is being used for production but I will make every attempt to find the part. When counterfeit parts turn up, GM prosecutes, when fake Z28's are sold the buyer has legal recourse. My point is that there are more genuine Rickenbacker owners who want to restore or repair their instrument than there are crooks trying to pass off a "Rickenfaker". If someone ends up with one of these and realizes it's a POS and discovers it to be a fake, I don't believe it will damage RIC's reputation anymore than a fake Z28 will damage GM's reputation. As an aside, it would also be nice if RIC would continue making parts for discontinued models for awhile so that we can keep our Rickies going without paying crazy prices for discontinued parts or having them made. I believe a comprehensive online parts catalog with an interchange(4003 bridges will fit a '75 3000 bass) would also be a moneymaker for RIC.

[jeff_ulmer]

I have to agree with Dane, I see no reason Ric shouldn't sell replacement parts, even if it means they end up on POS fakes. If someone is misrepresenting a guitar, it is up to the buyer to do their research.

What will hurt Ric's reputation more is if they are difficult to deal with, or take excessive time to deliver what are basically stock guitars (since there are no custom shop options). I would rather see the company making profits off parts sales than greedy speculators or scammers on ebay.

We have enough sentinels on this forum alone to parse out the real deal from the imitators. Those who would like to restore or otherwise modify their Rics with genuine parts have few venues for obtaining them.

[johnhall]

Sorry Dane, but we tend to follow something closer to the Porsche or Mercedes business model.

[simer4001]

OUCH!!!