New RIC bass copy

[wints]

Thanks for the clarification, Wints.

Well, you know how it is....

[jps]

I sympathize with the eagerness of youth, but I was eighteen once with empty pockets and a fire in my belly, and none of my guitars were copies. For me and my friends in the seventies, playing a copy guitar made you look childish, and no decent bands used them.

That's exactly why I got my '67 4005WB when I was 17. I traded my '68-'71 era Jazz Bass that I got when I was 15 for it.

[kiramdear]

For my part, trying to convince some cool players to give this punky kid-sister looking chick (me) a chance with the band was hard enough, but to try it with a copy instrument - as Joey would say, "FUHGEDDABOUDIT!" Go play with your Barbies! I needed every edge I could get.

[wints]

I too was very fortunate in my teens to own a real one, but the majority can't. In the UK they were really rare and expensive, and even known players like Foxton/Hook used a copy in the early days of their playing

So, spare a thought for the less able, they still have the same dreams as us, and a copy is sometimes all they can afford. In most cases it still leads to the real thing....

[kiramdear]

My heart goes out. It's the will the really separates the wheat from the chaff. Thanks for breaking it down from your side of the pond. If there's one thing I know, it is a whole new world out there, and our prejudices need to be checked often.

[ricaddic]

I too was very fortunate in my teens to own a real one, but the majority can't. In the UK they were really rare and expensive, and even known players like Foxton/Hook used a copy in the early days of their playing

So, spare a thought for the less able, they still have the same dreams as us, and a copy is sometimes all they can afford. In most cases it still leads to the real thing....

Amen to that, my first bass was a Zim Gar copy of a Hofner, a real piec e of s--t, had a big bow in the neck one of the tunning pegs was replaced with a completely different one, it hummed alot but over all I wanted to learn how to play bass so bad that I was thrilled to have it and cherished it, bottom line it was a mut and not a full breed,as time went buy and I got better, the better instruments came along, so that is a huge reason I never put down or insult an instrument that someone owns or that person, maybe some out there were born with silver spoons in thier mouths well lucky you, I cant speak for everyone but I wasent one of those fortunate ones, I worked hard and earned the things I have and still dont look down on anyone, but there will always be those who put them selfs up on a pedestol and take joy in looking down and belittleing those who are less fortunate, shame on, time for them to come down off thier high horse and get a good taste of reality.

[kiramdear]

I thought we were talking about copies, not including cheapies or mutts. I had a few of those when I started to learn, just no copies. No silver spoon here. No one bought my guitars for me. I do admit to being spoiled by growing up in a thriving rock 'n' roll community with a lot of good instruments available to be gotten. But I had no car or a lot of other things that other kids had. My guitars are all I'm worth in the world, financially, and thus has it always been. and I have no regrets about it.

In my day it was OK to show up with a funky Kay or a weird Teisco or a Dano, all very cheap guitars then, rather than an even more expensive Les Paul copy, say, if that's all you could afford. It wasn't about the money.

It's hard to make artists understand the good reasons such as copyrights and such that they shouldn't trade in these fakers. Rightly, we are set on making our music happen by any means. I grew up with available cheap alternatives to copy instruments and a consensus opinion of my peers about them that reinforced one's avoidance of same. I don't mean to sound judgmental of anyone in this day and age, but merely recount my own experience as truthfully as I can.

I'll say good night on this topic and thanks everyone.

[jingle_jangle]

In most cases it still leads to the real thing....

..or to an Ebay attempt with a claim that the counterfeit is "as good (or better than) the real item!!!!!!!"

[weemac]

So, spare a thought for the less able, they still have the same dreams as us, and a copy is sometimes all they can afford. In most cases it still leads to the real thing....

I have my tricked up faker (old aria) on loan to my Nephew as his bass expired through no fault of his own. I'm sure when he can afford one, a real Rickenbacker will be on his list.... He has just paid for the restoration of his 1970 fiat 124 special and he knows about waiting and earning.
I agree that Rickenbacker fakers should not exist, but I'm not about to either sell (as I would be part of the faker sin then) or burn it (why destroy a fine instrument).
I look at mine as a decent instrument in it's own right and a bit of a legal oddity that sounds and looks a bit like a Rickenbacker. Nothing more than that!
To be honest I'm not sure what I'm trying to say.... Something like that there is no excuse for a faker to exist but they still do! (that really was not worth saying at all was it!)

Eden.

[johnallg]

At first glance, it looked like a HS.

BTW Tony. You probably know that your hobby is a great service to those who are looking for stuff. No Joke.

But, what search engine do you use? A big block with a blower? (that, was a joke)

Ah, yes it is Jeff..

Hahahahaha!!!! I'll never tell!

[whojamfan]

That TRC could use some extenze

[ajish4]

At first glance, it looked like a HS.

BTW Tony. You probably know that your hobby is a great service to those who are looking for stuff. No Joke.

But, what search engine do you use? A big block with a blower? (that, was a joke)

Ah, yes it is Jeff..

Hahahahaha!!!! I'll never tell!

You got that huh John?

[Ric O'Sound]

Several years back, a young student of mine showed up at a lesson with a Rick bass copy. He was really happy that he finally had a bass that looked like the ones his heroes played. It played and sounded OK, but nothing like the real deal. I asked him if he'd ever played a real Rickenbacker and he answered that he'd never seen one in person, let alone have the chance to play one. So at the next lesson, I brought a 4001 with me and let him use it for the entire lesson. He was absolutely knocked out by the tone and feel. He said, "I absolutely have to get me one of these!" He sold the faker and I loaned him an old Squier Jazz bass I had lying around for him to practice with (nice guy, ain't I? ).

So about six months later, he shows up for his lesson with a really nice 4003 which his father had bought from a co-worker who happened to be selling it. It was used (about 5 years old), but in excellent condition and the kid was beaming with pride as he took it out of the case to show me. I asked him how he managed to afford it. He said he used the money from the sale of the faker and then saved all of his money from his job at a local fast food joint for the past half year. I was really happy for him.

This goes to show that if you want something bad enough, you'll find a way to get it, regardless of your age. Granted, the kid had to first A and B the phony with a genuine Rick to finally see the difference, but a If a sixteen year old can somehow manage his pocket money to swing a deal for a real Rickenbacker, then anyone can.

[just_bassics]

This has been a good thread - lots of members expressing various points of view without flaming or insults. One of the many reasons that this is the only forum I belong to...

In 1976, as a young teenager working as a paper boy (remember those?) I had saved about $300.00 and wanted a Les Paul badly. My Dad took me and my bass player friend to the local dealer but refused to co-sign a loan for a new LP. I was furious with him and considered buying a LP copy that was in my price range, but waited. Two days later, advertised in the paper that I delivered, was a 1971 LP Standard in Tobacco Sunburst, $275.00... my Dad drove me to the guy's house and talked him down to $225.00! (Father DOES know best!).

About a month later, I spotted an AZ 4001 Ric in the same paper and alerted my bass player. Two hours later, he had it and we went from SG and Hofner copies to being the coolest band on the block! One of my biggest regrets was selling that LP after taking it around the world with me during my Navy years, but my friend still has the Ric and can't decide if he wants to will it to me or be buried with it. Hope I never find out what he actually decides! I have a few nice Ric basses and don't want to add that one to the fold for a long time!

[gibsonlp]

I bought my first Rick (a 4003) in Israel when I was 17 years old, I paid for it with money I saved from working really hard, my parents never had spare money for these things, so yes - this goes to show that if you really want something, you can work hard and get it.