Fakenbackers (can) rule!
Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2003 10:43 am
No, this is not a troll, honest!
On saturday night, I saw a band from Portland, the Mega Hertz, at the local punk rock dive (Kimo's, San Francisco). Their bassist was playing one of the stranger Ric copies I've seen - maple fretboard with *black* inlays, T-bird-like pickups in both positions, "********" nameplate/truss rod cover, dark wood body (walnut?!?), bolt-on neck, and a few other subtle differences that most people would miss, but the regulars here would immediately notice. The thing is, the bass sounded *great* - with the thick bottom and punchy, cutting mids that I love about the Ric bass sound. When I spoke with the bassist after their set, he said he wished he could afford the "real thing", but that he'd compared his with some, and his copy played just as nicely (but he had no idea who manufactured it). I would have liked to have tried it out for myself, but I'm not about to pester a touring band THAT much.
It's always nice to be reminded that, while a nice instrument is a great thing (and I've never encountered a Ric that wasn't a NICE instrument), when it comes to making music, it's the player, not the name brand, that makes the difference.
On saturday night, I saw a band from Portland, the Mega Hertz, at the local punk rock dive (Kimo's, San Francisco). Their bassist was playing one of the stranger Ric copies I've seen - maple fretboard with *black* inlays, T-bird-like pickups in both positions, "********" nameplate/truss rod cover, dark wood body (walnut?!?), bolt-on neck, and a few other subtle differences that most people would miss, but the regulars here would immediately notice. The thing is, the bass sounded *great* - with the thick bottom and punchy, cutting mids that I love about the Ric bass sound. When I spoke with the bassist after their set, he said he wished he could afford the "real thing", but that he'd compared his with some, and his copy played just as nicely (but he had no idea who manufactured it). I would have liked to have tried it out for myself, but I'm not about to pester a touring band THAT much.
It's always nice to be reminded that, while a nice instrument is a great thing (and I've never encountered a Ric that wasn't a NICE instrument), when it comes to making music, it's the player, not the name brand, that makes the difference.