Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I think its a fake one too.

1)Because of the wrong trussrod cover
2)See the picture

It is indeed a fake, gentlemen. It's a shame that every now and then someone still tries to pass off 4001 copies as genuine Rickenbacker basses. And as we all know, putting a genuine Rickenbacker TRC on such copies is asking for BIG trouble, but apparently, some such sellers feel adventurous...

Peter...I've seen several neck thru fakes. Ibanez and`Univox mostly. Some have two truss rods as well.

No question we have a fake, regardless of what the jackplate says.

Fair comment Marc, I also think that it is a fake because it has too many dubious features. What is with the volute on the back of the headstock?

The seller agreed to let me take a look, I just have to nail down a time. He will know what the deal is before I leave there. That is if the Rick police don't get him first.

Definitely a copy with a model 4000 TRC added.

The seller emailed me and said he had received a number of emails stating this was not a Rick. He said he wanted to research it to see what he has. I believe he thought it really was a 4000. The listing has been pulled. He bought this from Guitar Center! Need I say more.

I emailed him and told him to return it to Guitar Center for a refund as it is not legal for them to sell it.

Hello,

I am the guy who unknowingly listed a Rickenbacker copy on Ebay which I truly believed was a model 4000, seeing how it was purchased from Guitar Center with a Rickenbacker model 4000 sales tag on it. Well, I have since discovered this to be a copy. Most likely an Ibanez because instead of saying rick-o-sound, the jack plate says stereosound which is what I understand was used by Ibanez.

Anyway, after discovering that this was a copy, I tried (unsuccessfully) to return this bass to Guitar Center for a refund. You might find this hard to believe (or maybe not) but Guitar Center is still claiming this to be a real Rickenbacker! Despite the fact that while I was there they looked in a book that stated that the letters Rickenbacker uses to represent the manufacturing month only went to "L" but this particular bass has "W". Despite the jack-plate saying stereosound instead of "rick-o-sound". Despite it having 2 pick-ups instead of one. Despite the fact that it has binding and triangle inlays instead of dot inlays. None of this was enough for Guitar Center, they claim they are not sure.

Basically, I would like to prove to Guitar Center without a shadow of a doubt that this is a copy. Any help in this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Rod

A lawyer comes to mind. With some photos, quotes from here, and official publications, it's easy to prove that's not a Ric. Unbeleivable that GC would stoop to this low. Call their bluff. Tell them they'll be hearing from your lawyer any day now.

Has anyone checked to see if it has two truss rods yet. That would be a sure way. Even if it were a fake with two rods, you can remove the Rickenbacker rods but not the fake ones.

Roderick, I hope there is some way to return the bass. I'd say let Rickenbacker know and they can pull dealer status from GC. Oh, they've already done that. There are many experts here. Maybe Rickenbacker could give you some assistance.

Hi,

Thanks for the responses and the info. I have contacted Rickenbacker and they are "more than happy" to assist me simply because it is Guitar Center.

This is a uncomfortable situation (that they put me in) as I am friends with everyone at Guitar Center. Even though, though I do not believe they intentionally deceived me, they "were" a Rick dealer at the time they sold me this. You think they would have known.

Anyway, thanks again. I will keep you informed as to what happens.

Rod

Good luck Rod. Nice to see that RIC is "more than happy" to assist you. Keep us updated.

Roderick Valentine writes...

Thanks for the responses and the info. I have contacted Rickenbacker and they are "more than happy" to assist me simply because it is Guitar Center.

Good luck brother. No way they should be peddling a bass like that.