Knock-Offs, Rip-Offs, and Just Plain UGLY!

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 4:32 am

My little girl checks out eBay a couple of times a week. She grew starry-eyed over the DR pinky heart thing (she loves pink), and also over some $5.99 pink flattop that cost $65.00 to ship (how do they get away with this?). She does have two Chinese electrics of OK quality, but the scales are a bit long for her fingers.

Dad to the rescue, and now when she decides to practice, the FG ES-16 is just her size. But I did have to replace the factory bridge screws, which stuck out so far that they gave new meaning to the word "shred"...

shamustwin · Post by **shamustwin** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 5:12 am

GC actually carries and displays those DR guitars.

winston · Post by **winston** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 5:32 am

Strange I posted on the AAAARRRRRGHHH!!! pirate thread about DR guitars and my parrot.

DOO DOO DOO DOO.

I have never been up close and personal but I suspect that the quality leaves something to be desired.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 5:48 am

AAARRRGGGHHHH!!! DOO DOO DOO DOO!!!

And, what did we expect from GC, anyway?

red_rob · Post by **red_rob** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 5:08 am

I've only just seen the original thread. I actually feel sick. Honestly. I know people say they "feel sick" all the time when they see crp things but I ACTUALLY feel sick.

That eagle gretsch monstrosity may just prevent me from sleeping this week thanks Paul.

What the hell do you type in to find these things???

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 11:54 am

www.gretschpages.com

He posts under the moniker "mvpgretsch"

jaybic · Post by **jaybic** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 4:23 pm

*shudders*

'nuff said

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 4:45 pm

ell, yeah, just checkin' that, being Rick folks and all, ya know, that we were sorta on the right page ya know...

aesthetically speakin', of course...

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 6:07 am

OK, here we are a week or so later, and look what pops up on eBay yesterday:

...with a starting bid of $6,000.00!!!

This is a different guitar from this one, at $2,000.00, which vanished from eBay without a bid last week:

As a matter of fact, when you click on the old link, it tells you that the item has been relisted, and links you to the $6K one.

Let's take a look at the ad and details:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7353989900

Notice, first of all, that the "handcarved" body has the grain running in the wrong direction; i.e., across the bouts.

Nice De Armond "rockabilly" single-coils, expensive Melitta bridge, Gretsch knobs. Quality tuning machines, too.

The armrest looks painted on, and instead of being plated, the homemade tailpiece appears to be spray-painted silver. The homemade pickguard is perforated metal. Hey, why not break with tradition a little?

But it's the fretboard and peghead that are the most unintentionally humorous of all. WHAT THE HECK is the thing setting on top of the peghead? Could it be--well, I heard that the Eagle s**ts on Friday, maybe that's what it's intended to replicate. Look at the inlays in the fretboard--one of them is actually a broken egg!

Looking at the first one and now the second, we can definitely see a progression going on. It does beg the question:

Will the next one have feathers? Will is be listed at $10K?

Or will he switch to, say, an emu for his subject matter, and start producing teardrop-shaped guitars?

Either way, it doesn't fly.

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 6:26 am

Does anybody buy these?!

jwilli · Post by **jwilli** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 7:46 am

HA! That broken egg shell at the 7th fret kills me,

randyz · Post by **randyz** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 8:24 am

Paul: I'm surprised that you didn't point out that the builder's name on the headstock is upside down for a right-handed guitar. Perhaps it's another way for him to differentiate himself from the competition (i.e. sane people).

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 10:29 am

You're right, Randy. I think it was blurry from the tears in my eyes...

Then there's the typeface, which is the sort of thing you see on nothing of any quality. I also forgot to mention the perforated metal TRC.

I'm sure this instrument has many, many interesting details to intrigue the eye!

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 11:07 am

I can't find any, Paul. Man, that is BULK UGLY!!

Six grand for something you wouldn't even hang in your toilet............. even at two it's laughable. Where are the cops when you need 'em......

melibreits · Post by **melibreits** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 12:14 pm

Thanks, guys, for making me laugh, AGAIN!

....I needed a good laugh today....

I can't believe that he would ask SIX GRAND for that monstrosity! I would say that it has to be near the pinnacle of poor taste....