If This Isn't A Ric, Then What Is It??

mgauction · Post by **mgauction** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 3:42 pm

Described (not by me) as:

"This bass is an extremely well made model of a Rickenbacker bass that never existed. We haven't confirmed the name of the builder, but it has a 350 style body with checkerboard binding, 360 style fingerboard inlays, and 3 toaster style pickups. Rick Turner has confirmed that he custom wired the bass for Howie and possibly designed the pickups. This guitar is truly amazing in every detail, down to the gold pickguards and custom made bridge and tail piece. This bass was NOT built by Rickenbacker... but maybe it will inspire them.

wints · Post by **wints** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 3:45 pm

Mike...go here:
http://www.rickresource.com/cgi-bin/discus/show.cgi?tpc=5&post=284195#POST284195

mgauction · Post by **mgauction** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 3:53 pm

Wow! Thanks, Wints!

maplered · Post by **maplered** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 6:30 pm

Is that for sale anywhere. I wonder how much they are asking?

ginger_lee · Post by **ginger_lee** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 6:32 pm

omg verrry nice!

mgauction · Post by **mgauction** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 7:04 pm

Yes, Carmen. Here's the link to the sale of Howie Epstein's (formerly of Tom Petty) Estate Auction:

http://www.topshelfguitarshop.com/EpsteinWeb%20folder/RicBass.html

doctorwho · Post by **doctorwho** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 8:02 pm

I still think that the TRC needs to come off.

loverickbass · Post by **loverickbass** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 3:00 am

If RIC made those, I'd buy two right now!

Cole

xakattack · Post by **xakattack** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 7:38 am

how much they sellin it for?

topshelfguitars · Post by **topshelfguitars** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 3:26 pm

Hello,

Rick Turner emailed out shop and confirmed that this particular bass was made about 15 years ago by a builder who'd like to remain anonymous.
Rick stated that he wired the controls with push/pull pots for each pickup for a "no load" set up and also custom made the guts for the toaster pickups. He also stated that there was quite a controversy emanating is southern CA over this bass. Regardless of who built it, it's quite an amazing instrument with a rock n'roll history.
It's just sad that it ended the way it did.
Neither of the Epstein brothers are musicians, and don't feel like they need 38 of Howie's guitars and basses, and it's hard to let them go. They kept a few for themselves, but would like to see his instruments being played again. They believe that Howie would have liked that also. I hope this clarifies a few things.

Jeff/Top Shelf Guitar Shop

mgauction · Post by **mgauction** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 4:34 pm

Thanks for the clarification, Jeff! I look forward to this sale! I am interested in a couple of pieces.

simer4001 · Post by **simer4001** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 5:02 pm

Personally I never believe the line in any auction that says " I don't play and would like to see it got to someone who does". Or something like that anyway. I have a hard time believing that. When I see auctions like this it tells me the estate owes money and this is the way to get it. No one does proper estate planning.

bassduke49 · Post by **bassduke49** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 7:00 pm

Brian, then don't bid. I've laid hands on the instrument, and while it ain't a Rick, it's pretty interesting, and there's documentation that it belonged to HE. The brothers liquidating the estate are doing the right thing. Jeff has an honest business and the Epstein's are lucky to have him handle affairs.

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 8:24 pm

"...confirmed that this particular bass was made about 15 years ago by a builder who'd like to remain anonymous."

I'll bet.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 5:09 am

Nothing is really any clearer here, Mike, than it was a couple of weeks ago. We know it was Howie's, we know it was built by an anonymous, very talented luthier. We know it is up for sale.

We also know that there are issues with all of the Rickenbacker visual cues. It's plain illegal to sell it with the nameplate affixed, and beyond that there are still trade dress issues that I don't know enough about in detail.

Bottom line:

It's a knockoff. Well-made, but still a knockoff.