Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

The vast majority of parts ARE available and those that aren't are for the most part repairable or refurbishable. Truss rods and horseshoe pickups come to mind.

There are other issues that Dane touched on, such as liability, although in our case it's a liability related to the obligation to provide warranty on goods when newly produced parts are installed in old, less than perfect instruments.

Actually the old fakes do dilute our trademark- fortunately the law has moved to recognize this well and has greatly increased our latitude for enforcement.

At the same time, we have the free market right to decide what we will sell and only we prosper or wither as a result of our calculated actions.

I have one question: why in the world would anyone want a Fakenbacker in the first place?

Also I have a 72 4001FL with a screw top high gain in it and three hole tailpiece. I'm glad Ric hasn't reissued these, because if you see one for sale you KNOW it's a real one. Anyone here ever check out old Fenders? It's gotten to the point where you REALLY have to be careful if you buy a vintage Fender to make sure that it's all original, it's really easy to get screwed with Fenders as there are so many parts all over the place made in Korea, Japan, Mexico, US and God knows where else and they all look the same at least to untrained eyes. Rics are going steadily up in value and I believe a BIG part of the reason is the owner's integrity. I am not trying to KA here, I'm waiting for a bass too and when I get it I get it, but this is the way I see it and firmly believe it. Integrity is in short supply today and we should be glad that JH has some and is proud enough of his company that he doesn't give in to pressure and the whims of the fickle public.

Well guys, the man has spoken. Thanks John for weighing in on this issue. We all appreciate your participation here on the board even when we don't like the answer sometimes.

Some of us do.

Boy,Bob you took the words right out of my mouth when i was reading your post i was thinking he's kissing a___!

haha! Nope I just agree with him that's all.

Rory, you have mail? You're address in your profile doesn't work.

"A rick is a rick ! anyone can figure that out a soon as you put it in your hands."

Really? Even someone who has never had one in his hands before?

Good point!

You know it seems like every few months a thread starts up where someone complains about RIC not selling certain parts and John usually comes on and explains his company's policy. John can do whatever he wants with his company and complaining about it here isn't going to change his mind.

come on gentleman ! are you that clueless to the issue here ? anyone who has had a rick in his hands knows its a rick ! I have played a few fakers And they were shoddy in workmanship, finish, weight, feel,anybody could figure it out .Lets not stray from the facts here kiddies ."Thats nit pickin init"

It is completely irrelevant whether a fake Rickenbacker is passed as genuine or admitted as a fake. The problem is that it is still stolen property either way. The trademark was stolen, and then used to market a product without paying what Rickenbacker had to (originally in the 1950s) to produce the design, and what they've paid since to keep the design their own. Those saying that a fake is okay as long as you don't pass it off as real do not understand the issue at all. If you own a Rickenfaker, you are handling stolen goods, regardless of how you obtained it, and regardless of how you try to justify it. Do you own the rights to someone else's song, just because you sing it yourself?

True, but you still cant get parts for real vintage ricks can you ?its a moot point !

"I have one question: why in the world would anyone want a Fakenbacker in the first place?"

Bob, read my earlier post as to my own reasons for having one.

Nate, that address is now dead and I can't seem to change it- try [email protected], that's my main one now.

Come on guy's we all know if you could get all the hardware and trc's you wanted from Ric there would be fake basses popping up all over the place,you can tell a Ric if you have had one before or you have seen one up close,there are guys passing stuff off on ebay all the time in mint condition with the wrong date in the description,can you imagine the rare models popping up on ebay if Ric released there trc's and hardware to anyone. Its a good thing trust me .