Here's a nasty idea of a Rickenbacekr bass

[scotty]

Youve probally seen this before but if you havent here a Rockinbetter.
http://www.guitarshop.arrakis.es/fotos/5410.jpg

[rickaddict]

That's a fairly decent-looking piece of intellectual property thievery you found there, Scotty!

[scotty]

I think its brilliant can you imagine the company Director,"Yeah Yeah I think Rockinbetter will work"

[scotty]

It could have been worse how about Chewybacca or Rickonseller OK OK ive taken that too far...

[bassassin]

How about a "Rickenbugger"?

That Rockinbetter's horrid, likewise the other modern copies I've seen. At least the old 70s JapCrap stuff made an effort to look right.

J.

[rikk]

At least the TRC does NOT say Rickenbacker. The dimensions are off or something. Doesn't look quite right.

[grayk]

As far as the "Roger Rabbit" bass goes I really like it. I aren't a great fan of these "organic" shape guitars but that one floats my boat !

On the Rockinbetter bass..... I have played one ! It was absolute garbage. Probably one of the worst guitars I have ever played. It was so badly constructed with paint runs and cheap hardware, just useless. I aren't a purist either as you can tell from my above assessment of the RR bass but this was just an insult. To add more insult was the price, I believe it was about £500. I seriously would not have paid £50 for it. The big shock for me was when I was told that Tokai are the makers of Rockinbetter guitars ! How true it is I dont know. Tokai (Japan) make great gear in my experience.

[sowhat]

You just ain't tried SilverStar...
One
Two
Three
Judging by their prices, even by local standards (and not only — a local guy told me he has tried to play them once, "tried" is the key word), they're not good enough even for firewood...
EDIT: oops, that's a bass section, and these are guitars, sorry... but you get the drift.

[bassassin]

The big shock for me was when I was told that Tokai are the makers of Rockinbetter guitars ! How true it is I dont know. Tokai (Japan) make great gear in my experience.

I've heard this too - although they don't say Tokai anywhere on them, and they don't appear in Tokai's sales literature. I suppose most Tokais you see these days are the licensed, Korean/Chinese made instruments, and nothing to do with the Tokai Gakki factory in Hamamatsu, apart from in name.

Interestingly, back in the 70s copy days, I'm pretty sure Tokai didn't make any Rick copies. These days the Japanese factory makes some of the CIJ Fender range (ironically enough) and these are generally held to be of comparable quality to the US models. I have a Tokai Talbo (aluminium body) bass and it's a beautifully made instrument.

Jon.

[rickenmetal]

Both the Lutarius and the Ritter look kind of Alice in Wonderland.

I kind of like the way the Lutarius looks, although I think it can be an acquired taste. Rickenbacker basses may look funny to some people as well.