Check out this bass copy?

[ricky4001]

Found this on Australian Trading Post site. What dah?

[tennis_nick]

Looks like a Bass Rick should be doing.

[mgauction]

I've owned one of these before - yuk! There is a big German dealer on ebay that consistently tries to sell one and has no idea who the manufacturer is. Shaftsbury made illegal copies of different kinds og guitars sometime around the late 70s.

[ajish4]

This VERY Bass has been on Ebay MULTIPLE times. I recognize the broken headstock.

I THOUGHT about it a few times, but it apparently keeps getting pulled around the $500.00 mark. If I recall correctly, the seller was in the UK.

[twangs]

If real Rics looked like this, dare I say we wouldn't be discussing them on a forum....

[paologregorio]

Although the quality of the copy is nowhere near that of a Rickenbacker, this is a bass Rickenbacker should have made, both in the 330 style and 360 OS style. I think if Rick had made them, they would look far superior to the 4005 series(full disclosure; I prefer pointy horns and sharp edges to those that are more rounded). Joey Vasco had an even more interesting idea/dream Rick; a 381 bass, which would be the coolest of all!

[ricky4001]

He's asking A$900 for it!!!!!!!! (about US$800)

[mgauction]

Thats about what they sell for.

[paologregorio]

Although the quality of the copy is nowhere near that of a Rickenbacker, this is a bass Rickenbacker should have made, both in the 330 style and 360 OS style. I think if Rick had made them, they would look far superior to the 4005 series(full disclosure; I prefer pointy horns and sharp edges to those that are more rounded). Joey Vasco had an even more interesting idea/dream Rick; a 381 bass, which would be the coolest of all!

I like the additional logo inside the soundhole.

[simer4001]

Brutal!

[headbanger]

From what I understand.... These and other models were commissioned by Rose Morris after they dropped Rickenbacker around 67/68. How long they were made for I don't know.
I think they're 'orrible

[rickinroma]

I think they were made in Italy...

These and other models were commissioned by Rose Morris after they dropped Rickenbacker around 67/68.

I am not sure about that but that was probably THE reason why Rickenbacker and Rose, Morris ceased the business relationship
I may be wrong of course

[rickenmetal]

Shaftsbury was a British company, I don't know where those things were made though.

I've also seen pictures of Japanese basses similar to that with the brand name "Honey", and I believe other brands exist as well, I don't know if they are all from the same factory.

Yes, it would be nice if Rickenbacker made a bass like that, preferably with a short 30" scale, a pencil thin neck like on the Eko-built Vox basses, and Schaller M4 tuners.

[bassassin]

From what I understand.... These and other models were commissioned by Rose Morris

That's correct - Shaftesbury was one of Rose Morris' own brands - their retail shop was in Shaftesbury Avene, in the West End of London, hence the name.

There are both Italian & Japanese versions of this design, and I think I've seen both with the Shaftesbury brand - this particular one is Italian, identified mainly from the hardware, and these were actually made by Eko.

It's an interesting point, I don't know whether or not this was being marketed at the same time that Rose Morris was Rickenbacker's UK distributor, it would seem unlikely, but US guitar makers weren't anything like as protective of their designs & trademarks back in those days - hence the rise of the whole 70s "copy era".

Jon.

[rickenmetal]

The picture of the Honey bass I've seen has the same hardware, except for the tuners, which are more modern and probably replacements. It's in the Japanese book '60s Bizarre Guitars.

Now it is not unthinkable that the exact same model was produced in both Italy and Japan using the same hardware, but I doubt the Japanese company would import the whole guitars or the bodies and necks. Of course, I cannot prove that they were built in Italy or Japan or both.