Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

The last statement is the best considering their company history!

"...it’s not only a felony to sell counterfeit merchandise, it’s a felony even to own it.

heres my shaftesbury next to the real thing.does anyone know anymore history of shaftesbury guitars? i cant seem to find much on the web.

Very interesting notice from Ibanez! Does this mean they will collect and burn all the Ibanez "Ricks" out there? Unlikely.

I think Ibanez would draw a distinction between what's a counterfeit and what's a copy - their argument would be, that nothing they ever built pretended it was anything other than an Ibanez - even though some of them looked like other brands' products.

A counterfeit - like these Chinese things (Ebay's full of Chinese "Gibsons") will carry the branding of the original & try to pass itself off as the real thing, whereas Ibanez, and all the 70s Jap copyists, always put their own logos on the instruments. Even Tokai, who were very naughty indeed with their "Les Paul Reborn" models, never attempted to sell them as Gibsons.

Jon.

Paul - Shaftesbury was a 60s - 70s brand owned by UK retailer/importer Rose Morris, who, at the time, had a shop in Shaftesbury Avenue - hence the name.

Quite a variety of different instruments carried the Shaftesbury brand, including a range of UK- built guitars, designed by luthier Ned Callan & built by Shergold.

Shafty copies originally seemed to be sourced from Italy - some of the early 360-based Rick copies are Italian, but not all them. Japanese Shaftesburys seem to be broadly similar to Arias of the same era, suggesting the factory might have been Matsumoku.

Generally Shaftesburys seem to be good quality instruments, and Rose Morris also had a budget range under the Avon brand. I'm sure UK based readers are shuddering at the mere mention of the name - most of them were dreadful!

J.

Even owning a counterfeit Ibanez is a felony? That statement seems a little over the top.

Ted, I also do not believe that is true. It is not a felony to own it.

It is a civil matter only, not a criminal matter, to engage in profiting through commerce with it. It only rises to criminal when combined with other circumstances, such as large-volume fraud with intent, violation of customs laws, and other greater issues.

It is neither a crime nor even a civil matter to own it and use it and enjoy it yourself, or even to donate it to someone else free. You just can't sell it for money without risking the trademark owner who owns the trademark suing you in a civil court - if and only if they find out.

I am no Ric expert. I have 1 that I waited a long time to own. I can see the difference in those copies. there is just something not right.

just like the SX I have.Although I must say My SX looks more like a vintage P bass than any of those look like a Ric

Here are a couple of pictures of one of the best and rarest Rickenbacker fakes I have ever seen or played it is just like the one Jon Price posted a picture of and having been a Rickenbacker fan for many years and owning many examples this plays and sounds mega infact compared to my 4003s this bass has a brighter sound as my real 4001 has? It’s as they say a well made bass.



The obligatory disclaimers:

This will never been passed off as a real Rickenbacker.

all the best Dave Carr

thanks for that jon.

I believe Ibanez's statement was directed to a worldwide audience. Indeed, there are a number of countries where possession and/or sale is indeed a felony. Germany comes to mind, as years ago I observed an arrest in Frankfurt for this exact matter.

It's also true in China, ironically, and a number of other Asian countries, although it usually takes pressure (or a bribe) from the trademark holder to get the police to act.

Contrary to what a lot of people think, Ibanez did not make junk ... They may be turning out a lot of low-end **** today - I don't know

I have commented on this so many times now, I should get paid by Ibanez.

Ibanez sells a WIDE range of instruments at all price points from the entry level GAX line ($170) to certain Steve Vai models that are well over $2,000.

There are many who think that a couple of models in the middle (under $800) the AS103 and AF105 are two of the finest guitars that are made and certainly the best value of any guitars being made. (I own the cheaper cousin AS73.)

Just curious: what brand is the faker hereabove? Kawai?

Sergio I do not know what make it is as it came with a Rickenbacker truss rod nameplate (I must take it of to see if its got two trussrods)any help anyone can give would be greatful but it looks like the one Jon posted a Maya.

all the best Dave Carr

It's very like the Maya, down to having position markers that stop at the 17th fret, and what looks like an unlacquered board. Without its original TRC it's likely there's no way to be completely certain, although the most common Rick copies had triangular markers & bound bodies.

I've seen this style branded as Maya, Greco, Sigma & Heerby, but there were doubtless many others.

BTW - get the Rick trc off & don't put it back! It's quite easy to make a plain one from acrylic sheet.

J.