Fakenbackers (can) rule!

[dougp]

No, this is not a troll, honest!

On saturday night, I saw a band from Portland, the Mega Hertz, at the local punk rock dive (Kimo's, San Francisco). Their bassist was playing one of the stranger Ric copies I've seen - maple fretboard with *black* inlays, T-bird-like pickups in both positions, "********" nameplate/truss rod cover, dark wood body (walnut?!?), bolt-on neck, and a few other subtle differences that most people would miss, but the regulars here would immediately notice. The thing is, the bass sounded *great* - with the thick bottom and punchy, cutting mids that I love about the Ric bass sound. When I spoke with the bassist after their set, he said he wished he could afford the "real thing", but that he'd compared his with some, and his copy played just as nicely (but he had no idea who manufactured it). I would have liked to have tried it out for myself, but I'm not about to pester a touring band THAT much.

It's always nice to be reminded that, while a nice instrument is a great thing (and I've never encountered a Ric that wasn't a NICE instrument), when it comes to making music, it's the player, not the name brand, that makes the difference.

[jps]

Go ahead and pester away. I got to play Gary Willis' and Percy Jones' basses that way! Just be friendly with them.

[bigbajo60]

Check out the bridge on this Fakenbacker!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2548334619&category=4713

Do you suppose that the rear portion of that bridge is hollow on the inside like the typical die-cast type, or does it look as heavy and as solid to you guys as it does to me?

Fugly, yet somehow intersting!

[rickcrazy]

Hahaha! That one copy is as crass as they come! Unbelievable.

[rictified]

Hey what do you want for a rickenbecker?

[rickenbrother]

Here's another Rickenfaker:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... gory=10171