4000 style El Degas copy

weelittlescot · Post by **weelittlescot** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 5:53 pm

Hello guys (and Gals)

I have in my collection a late 70's el degas 4000 style Copy in fire-glo, Stereo Jacks, neck thur body,proper fret board, bindings/inlays the whole works. A dead on copy and still stunning, as it is in near mint cond,

I've had this guitar since about? 1983-4 and I have really never used it.

Any Idea what it is worth today?

(It looks nice, keeping my Rick 330 company)

Cheers
RJ

marc61 · Post by **marc61** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 11:56 pm

Most of the copies are poo-pooed by us forum members. My opinion is that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Rickenbacker calls it copyright infringement(rightfully so of course).

With that said, I also feel that these 70's and 80's "lawsuit" instruments have some collectibility and minor historic value. With the Rickenbacker bass copies,I prefer the ones who actually did the neck thru design and some even with double truss rods.

I've seen these selling anywhere from $400 privately to $800 in stores.

Just FYI, if you decide to sell it, do it privately. Rickenbacker will have any Ebay auction(or any other type of public sale they become aware of) with this bass stopped.

Why not post a pic so some of the experts here can discuss the similarities and differences to the real thing?

Finally, welcome to the boards!

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 12:03 am

R.J., is your 4001 copy like this one?

www.retroguitars.com/guitars/misc%20basses/eldegas4001.jpg

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 12:05 am

Disregard the above link. Just go to www.retroguitars.com and look for an ElDegas copy in the Inventory.

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 12:07 am

S***! Just go to www.gbase.com and look for Rickenbacker 4001.

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 12:09 am

Or www.gbase.com/gearlist/guitar_picture.asp?guitar=613237

thx1955 · Post by **thx1955** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 2:16 am

Having problems Sergio !!!!

RJ ... always happy to welcome another Scot to the Forums.

weelittlescot · Post by **weelittlescot** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 5:08 am

Yes thats the one, A very nice copy and I can see why Rickenbacker doesn't want them around.

We took mine and a 70's Rick and the copy is real close, very close, but the neck is a little different, as the rick has a thinner neck, but sound OH! MY!

both basses had the same strings and they where close.

This bass is close, again it is not a Rick.

I have my 330 that a use Studio and Live.

On an interesting note, It was a 330 copy about 15 years ago that made me decide I want a real Rick.

I'm guessing a lot of the guy here are the same, (copy first and then the real thing)

I understand Rickenbacker's stand on this and I'm behind them 100%. They where very kind to me when I was looking to buy my 330 and helped me to locate a dealer and such.

But all things aside, I think they should stop the Copies now and look back at the older ones and see them for what they are.

Just a Copy and we all know the Diff, Don't we?

RJ

Another Scot? Great! (I'm a Canuck/Scot).