Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hi guys,

How many fake ricks do you think are out there?

Not rockinbetter look-a-like but real fakes. Like below. Real pics or real ricks on the web site then made in china product.


http://www.electricguitardiscount.com/r ... -c-72.html


Are there any real clues when looking at second hand ricks? Im hoping the just the finish and feel and quality will be a big one. Anything else?

Notice the counterfeit "Guitar Center" logo -- this whole store looks like a fake, with stock images.

Cross-reference:
viewtopic.php?f=87&t=410744

Yea, those are real RICs in the photos. Probably a scheme to get your credit card info.

If you want to see what the chinese fakes really look like, try Aliexpress.com and type in "Rick Bass". They are all made to the same pattern by a handful of chinese factories with a glued in set neck, weird pot metal bridge, bad electronics, ****** fret job and blatantly blurred or photoshopped TRC. There is no copyright protection, no better business bureau, and no recourse if you get ripped off. Reading reviews on the Chinese instruments, they range from unplayable garbage to half decent after you sink more time and money into better hardware, electronics, fret work, etc. Even if you managed to receive one, you can never sell it without incurring the Wrath of Ric, so don't bother. I must admit that I was breifly tempted when they first came on the market, but its a pipe dream, and illegal to boot. The sites that use actual Rick images copied off e-bay are the most likely complete scams.

Just for the record, buyers should also understand that customs in the US and the EU are now routinely seizing copies like this as they enter the country. Various remailer services have been targeted more recently and fortunately enforcement is getting better. There's no hope of getting your money back from the seller in this scenario.

One major website/company in particular is being targeted by the musical instrument industry as a group and it's hoped that this one will result in some criminal charges which will send a strong message.

Its symptomatic of the overall level of rampant greed and corruption in China. They have the infrastructure and manufacturing capacity now to produce high quality products, but until they start innovating instead of just copying, they will always be a second rate economic power. Japan went through the same process, but nowhere near as quick.