Your Rickenbacker modifications?

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Tue May 30, 2006 11:16 am

I think I would put something different on the TRC. My name, or something else. It would just feel odd to make a copy, but since it is only for personal use & NOT for sale, you're probably safe.
It's quite an accomplishment at any rate, & looks very convincing except for the finish. To us here, that would give it away easily, but to others...

I actually considered making a copy once, then followed the thought through to it's logical conclusion that if you're going to make a copy, why not copy a 4080?
It got as far as drawing out the body shape onto a piece of cardstock & cutting it out before becoming convinced that I didn't have the tools or skills to pull off the job.

I have to congratulate anyone who can accomplish such a task. It's definitely not as easy as one might at first think.

johnhall · Post by **johnhall** » Tue May 30, 2006 12:10 pm

but since it is only for personal use & NOT for sale, you're probably safe.

Actually, there is no provision for this in the counterfeiting statutes in most jurisdictions. If this was a replacement for use on a genuine brand product, this would be ok but to place it on non-genuine goods is not legally acceptable- prosecution civil in some areas, criminal in others.

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Tue May 30, 2006 12:29 pm

Again, that's why I'd be uncomfortable with a copy TRC.
Would a spare, vintage style TRC for personal use only be acceptable?
I do like the look of them, but wouldn't really want to part with my originals.
Of course, if the guitars were to be sold, the vintage style copies would have to be destroyed, but I don't intend to sell any of mine, & probably won't make any TRC's either, but the thought just occurred.

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Tue May 30, 2006 12:30 pm

BTW, it's very nice to have you back posting here again, Mr. Hall!

soundmasterg · Post by **soundmasterg** » Tue May 30, 2006 3:53 pm

hmmm, I didn't realize that RIC could prosecute me for putting a copy TRC on my own personal instrument. I certainly don't want that to happen! I'd take it off if it came to that and put something else on there for sure. I'd think they have bigger fish to fry though with other people trying to make and sell RIC copies.

How would me putting a copy TRC on my copy RIC be any different than me putting a genuine TRC on my copy RIC? People would still think it is a RIC at first look. There is really nothing to stop people from taking the TRC's off their genuine instruments and putting them on anything really, except that a RIC TRC on a Fender would look awfully strange!

So I guess it's ok if I had a real RIC with a broken TRC, and I made myself a replacement TRC to go on it, that is ok, but if I do it with a copy, even if it would never sell that way, that isn't ok? Just want to make sure I know the story.

alanz · Post by **alanz** » Tue May 30, 2006 4:15 pm

I took a basket case ugly-assed red with black trim 4003 and with some help from Paul W turned it into the BronzeGlo MegaMachine UltraAbomination with a Hipshot bridge and originally a toaster up front but now it has a hi-gain (or will, as soon as I get around to drilling out the holes). And some black gnurled knobs. And some Dunlop strap locks.

johnhall · Post by **johnhall** » Tue May 30, 2006 4:44 pm

The issue is creation of a counterfeit plate, not where the plate is attached.

If you have a genuine plate, do with it whatever you will- it's yours.

One thing we've always found to be true: counterfeiters rarely only "make one for their own personal use"- there's always just one more for the friend. And the friend's friend.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Tue May 30, 2006 4:49 pm

didn't Lemmy put a fake trc on one of his basses that said Rickenbastard??? I don't think he got sued ...

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Tue May 30, 2006 5:14 pm

Enjoy the hi-gain Alan (It's from a '99 4003, in case I neglected to mention that). I dig the copperglo finish!

johnhall · Post by **johnhall** » Tue May 30, 2006 5:26 pm

didn't Lemmy put a fake trc on one of his basses that said Rickenbastard???

It wasn't fake nor did it say Rickenbacker.

ben_hall · Post by **ben_hall** » Tue May 30, 2006 5:51 pm

Such a hot button issue recently. Looks like some extra security mods for our nameplates may be in order...

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Tue May 30, 2006 9:31 pm

I bought a Burgandy 81 4003 with Seymore soundterribles in it and bought some 70's 4001 pickups on ebay and restored it to original, I still haven't gotten around to having a new pickguard made for it. (it has a couple of little holes where both the terrible sound and really terrible sound switches were) I have a Blue Boy fretless I just got with which I think I'm going to have the neck stripped, planed and left natural along with changing the side dots to be on the note rather than in the middle. I had Sérgio fix a bridge transition high gain for me a few years ago for my 72 4001FL. Oh yeah, I have a 4001 with a mod I stumbled upon with which I use one of the tone controls as a cap control, it allows you to dial in the amount you want, it's not real practical though for most people because if you put either volume down more than 3/4's you bleed a noticeable amount of treble off to ground. It's good for me though as I always have the bridge full up and neck almost all the way up. I had several of my 4001's like this at one time.

incubus2432 · Post by **incubus2432** » Wed May 31, 2006 5:49 am

"Looks like some extra security mods for our nameplates may be in order..."

Cool....I can't wait to see the new hologram TRC's!

johnhall · Post by **johnhall** » Wed May 31, 2006 6:30 am

Holograms are too easy to duplicate. We actually have an idea for something better and may be used to kill two birds with one stone.

shinynewtoy · Post by **shinynewtoy** » Wed May 31, 2006 6:59 am

...internal circuitry causing it to self destruct when placed on a faker?