Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hi everyone. I found a bass with a rickenbacker logo on it. It has not been used over ten years. I spoke to the owner of the bass and he said that it has been purchased in the late 70's.

Now I'm trying to find out if it is even a real Rickenbacker or just some copy. Here are some pictures from it. It has a lack finish on the fret board. I havent found any serial numbers etc. from it.

Help if u can. Do you need more photos?

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj70 ... sso007.jpg
http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj70 ... sso006.jpg
http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj70 ... sso005.jpg
http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj70 ... sso004.jpg
http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj70 ... sso003.jpg
http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj70 ... sso002.jpg
http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj70 ... sso001.jpg

-Tuomo-

I'm no expert, they will surely chime in..

No serial # on the jack input plate?
Funny "Rickenbacker" font on truss rod cover, should also say "model 4001 made in the u.s.a.", shouldn't it?
Should have the closed Grover tuners??
Should have horseshoe bridge pickup??

I have realised all of those things you wrote. I just wonder that is it possible that it could be a real thing?

Like you can see in the pictures it has thru body neck and checker pattern on the body. Does copies have these?

This is a hard one... I remember it being played in the year 1997. Before that it had been in the closet for 18 years and after 1997 it hasn't been played until yesterday. I just feel that it is a waste of that instrument if it's the real thing and just sits in the closet...

Looks dodgy to me.
The trc is a fake for sure and it looks like a single jack socket where there should be two.
Headstock shape is strange.
Can anyone remember whether Ibanez did any copies with check binding?
It looks like an Ibanez to me.

Welcome tuomo!

Sorry, but that is a faker.

That is a faker. It is one of the better ones but a faker nonetheless.

Definitely a faker, sorry Tuomo.

Fake!

Welcome Tuomo....

Mono input...the trc is laughable...but other than that...one of the better fakers I've seen.

What do you think about it's value? Is it worth anything? It's 30 years old. So could it have any vintage value?

Not much I'm afraid.. It will probably fetch between 250 and 500 dollar.
Don't try to sell it on Ebay.

Could it be sold on ebay under the " Lawsuit " bass listing ?

Nope. It's a conterfeit and not allowed. RIC will get it pulled and your Ebay account may get suspended.

...then RIC goons will come to your home and break your knee caps.

I can't recall that any of my RIC basses have binding at the body end of the fretboard.