4003 TRC - I smell something fishy

[espidog]

Look what's just popped up on UK ebay:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RICKENBACKER- ... 0689907116

Of course, if it's a genuine Rick TRC he's on dodgy ground anyway, but I have serious doubts about its authenticity.

For starters, his story doesn't make any sense. "Bought a new 4003, but its TRC didn't match its pickguard." ...WHAT??? And how did he "get it replaced from the dealers" without doing a proper TRC exchange?

Mostly, though, it's the look of the thing. Admittedly it's not the clearest picture on earth, but it looks like a wrong'un to me:

1. The Word "Rickenbacker" appears to be sloping upward, so the top of the 'k" is right up against the top edge.

2. The "MADE IN USA" looks like it's at a funny angle too.

3. I swear those letters aren't raised, just printed flat.

4. I've had the big version of the picture enhanced every whichway in Photoshop, and for the life of me I can't see any screw-holes in it!

Waddaya think, folks?

[weemac]

Simple, its a fake!

Eden.

[jps]

Simple, its a fake!

Eden.

+1.

Not Eden (he's real)

[Wiker]

It has no screw holes. (edit: sorry, you mentioned that already )

[jps]

These are the self stick on types that have a peel back protective layer on the back of the TRC.

[RicOSoundMan]

I noticed the absent screw holes and the off centeredness of the lettering. But then again it does state that it is for a Rickenbacker 403. Maybe that is common on those. I never seen one to compare to though, must be rare

[bassduke49]

One of the keys to look for is the presence of a little "serif" at the bottoms of each letter as it meets the underline. "Serif" are little feet and caps on some styles of fonts. You've probably heard of "sans serif" fonts which don't have these feet and caps; Helvetica is a principal sans serif font. Anyway, the genuine TRC logos have a hint of serif "feet" on each letter. Your example has none. Fake.

[winston]

Just a quick glance tells me that it's fake. No analysis required.

[espidog]

Thanks chaps. Duly reported to ebay and to RIC.

[rikk]

I bought a fake TRC of eBay a couple of years ago. Kenny helped me get my money back from eBay. Hopefully got the place shut down as well. Let's hope for some action on this one as well.

[ilan]

Another fake TRC on eBay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rickenbacker-Tr ... 500wt_1413

[espidog]

Stone me! The "Rickenbacker" on that is so poorly executed you wonder how on earth the original maker thought they'd get away with it.

[Grey]

Shoddy workmanship annoys me even more than the fact that they're selling fakes. I mean for the love of God, atleast put some effort into it, don't just whip out a box of crayolas and call it a day.

[espidog]

The listing featured in my original post has been removed.

[johnallg]

Another fake TRC on eBay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rickenbacker-Tr ... 500wt_1413

What? No Rickenbarker love?? WOOF! WOOF!