Rickenbacker copies

cygnusbwa · Post by **cygnusbwa** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 3:13 am

What companies made Rickenbacker bass copies? I've heard Ibanez was one. Do you see some of these copies being sold on ebay as the real deal?

beatlefan · Post by **beatlefan** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 3:17 am

I think Tokai is another company that made Rickenfakers but NONE of 'em are the "real deal"

baces_high · Post by **baces_high** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 3:21 am

There was also a company called "Greco" who made some as well as "Univox".

86kubicki · Post by **86kubicki** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 3:25 am

Electra was another. I also remember seeing a copy by "Northern". Supposedly these were by Ibanez strictly for the Canadian market - the fret markers were little maple leaves!

djm150 · Post by **djm150** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 3:30 am

i have an 1976 ibanez rickenfaker. maple,neckthru,
single pickup. as good as the real deal this one is. ibanez made mostly bolt on fakers for the most part. i got mine on the bay for a song.
i sold my white with black binding real deal after i got the ibanez. im always looking for another neckthru. they are XLNT basses.

baces_high · Post by **baces_high** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 3:30 am

"the fret markers were little maple leaves!"

Hah...that would be cool.

cygnusbwa · Post by **cygnusbwa** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 3:49 am

Of course, none of the "Rickenfakers" (man I love that) would be as good as the real deal. Even the best basses out there don't sound as good as a Rick, how could a copy?

haw · Post by **haw** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 6:06 am

Dunno. mine does a fairly good impersonation. and cost wise it stopped me from having to sell a kidney!

rickaddict · Post by **rickaddict** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 6:18 am

Chris-

To answer part of your above question: We don't see a lot "being sold as real Rickenbackers." RIC watches ebay and has lawyers that put a stop to it. We see a lot of Rickenfakers being put up for auction on ebay where the seller is either unaware that they're selling a fake or pretends to be unaware, but those auctions are almost always stopped. It usually takes a couple days to stop the auctions, so there is the possibility of one selling for a low Buy it Now price. But I'd bet that most of those transactions wouldn't go through either.

basse · Post by **basse** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 7:45 am

My first "good" bass was actually a Univox MG 4001 copy in the late '70s. I hate to say it but judging from the Ric's I've owned since it was probably 75-80% as good as the real thing. It felt the same and sounded very close. Sorry John (Hall), I don't want to say it but it was my experience with that bass that made me want to step up to the original - because lord knows, if you're not playing the real thing, you're not getting the real sound and you're only playing pretend!!!

Obviously, since I'm posting here I grew up and could afford the real thing, abandoned my youthful desire to "be as close to the real thing as possible" and have bought numerous REAL rics over the years - both new & vintage.

Reading between the lines on the original question, if you're asking "are any of the 'fakers as good as a real Ric?" the answer is clearly "no" but some of the early Japanese copies did come "sort of close".

Don't get me wrong, they were NOT as good as the original, they were ripping off Ric's trademarks and they were trading on the perceived value of Rics in the marketplace. But, for a poor lowly paid, wannabe bass player one of them was stepping stone to the world of Ric and the thousands, upon thousands of dollars I've paid for Mr Hall's amazing products over the last 30+ years (I'm ONLY 42!!!!).

In fact, if Ric had a custom shop, they'd get a lot more of my money too. Until then, I'll keep throwing my money out on vintage and custom basses.

Long live the REAL Rics!!!

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 7:57 am

Let's punch it to the 'files':
4001 copy brands... Here we go:
Ibañez, Gherson, Sigma, Univox, Electra, Maya, Aria, Diamond, Cimar, Fernandes, Greco, Nagoya, Kay (terrible copies), Tokai (?).

cygnusbwa · Post by **cygnusbwa** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 9:29 am

Actually, I wasn't asking if they were as good as the real thing. I've just seen a few around. I remember seeing them (in more numbers) years ago. I just have never seen one up close. Had no idea who made them.

tony_carey · Post by **tony_carey** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 11:52 am

Sergio....you forgot Shaftesbury!
My parents bought me a Shaftesbury 4001 copy when I was 14 years old (1974). Even at that age it meant nothing to me, knowing that it wasn't the real thing. Beautifully made, but no soul & you just can't replicate that sound. I didn't have it long! I had to wait four more years before I could afford a real Ric (stopping off at precision land in between) & I have never looked back.

By the way David (DJM150)...are you supposed to admit things like that on this forum?

mikeylc · Post by **mikeylc** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 1:01 pm

Didn't Hondo make a 4001 copy?

djm150 · Post by **djm150** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 1:10 pm

yeah,i HAD i ric. so what. doesnt change the facts. ya'll can throw me off yer forum cause i dont own one at this moment. i aint losin no skin over it.lets vote on it. all in favor say...............