Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hot dang! A pickguard on the back!

The whole thing looks very cheap to boot:

Looks like a 4002 from outer space.

Ew.

I'd rather have no knobs at all on my bass. I've never touched them. For years I would take the pickup toggle and put in UNDER the pickguard so would not hit it accedentally. What do you need all those knobs for?

Twiddling !!

I remember playing a green "rickenbircher" (as they were known) in 1978, in the same store in England where I finally bought my '77 4001 instead. From my memory it's not a bad instrument, trademark issues aside. John Birch is a well-known and respected luthier in the U.K.

Are we offending the Brits with all this " knob " talk ?

Nope, we're able to figure out which ones are being referred to !!

I've been aware of the JB Rickenbacker copies for decades. I'm really curious as to how they've escaped RIC's scrutiny - unless there's something I've missed in 5+ years of hanging around here.

Are we offending the Brits with all this " knob " talk ?

well if you must go British with the sense of humor;
" ooooh, I saw six enormous knobs last week at the music store (laughter)
"That's probably more than you've seen since VE day dear" (more laughter)

Oh, I dunnow, there was the unfortunate mistake with those funny symbols on the toilets at the cricket club dance last year (ect ect)

<I've been aware of the JB Rickenbacker copies for decades. I'm really curious as to how they've escaped RIC's scrutiny - unless there's something I've missed in 5+ years of hanging around here.>

Rick has enjoyed some good luck (and skillful lawyering) in convincing Judges in California that certain elements of the Rick design (the 'R' tail piece, the 4001 body shape and the headstock shape at a minimum)are trademarks, identifying its product to the public. European trademark law is somewhat different, such features tend to be copyright issues in design rather than trademarks, so the US decisions have little weight. I don't believe Birch sells direct to the USA. Hence RIC would have to litigate in the UK under different grounds without any precedential weight being given to its US victories. Given Birch's low output, and the negative effects of an unfavorable European copyright decision, I assume the risk is not worth it.

Not very attractive to say the least...

Try and save and buy the real thing...

I like mine quite a lot.
Not everyone's cup of tea, though and like I've said before, doesn't sound like any of my three Ric 4003's, despite obviously derivative features.

The pickups are the best I've ever heard.

LOL ! Martin .