Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Yeah, got a genuine 1973 Ric copy the other day (meaning sort of a 73 copy, I have no idea when it was made)
It is a Aria and it is a bit different to the ibanez ones of the time in that the hardware is "almost" identical to the real ones (quite interchangable) and the neck pu is in the sweet spot
Even being a bolt on it still sounds alot like a 70s ric (they even copy the vibe)
They even copied the mistakes
Fretboard liftoff: check
Bridge bend : check
funny resonances that can be really hard to track down: check
Slightly dead E string: check
In the land down under even the nastiest Real Ric will still pull around $1500au so it makes $190au seem pretty good.
I guess the mark of a good design it one that is easily copied, for example even the nastiest strat copy still sounds like a strat. whereas if one copies a Sg(another of my favorites), unless every aspect of the original is reproduced it can miss by a long shot.
This copy makes me appreciate the original Ric design even more!
Yes I will admit that my 64 4001s still smokes the Fake in the feel and vibe department. But I dare not take the 4001 into a rough pub or cramped playing area anymore. So I'm probably going to go with this cheap copy.
I know that this site can at times be a bit puritan, which is fair enough. But does anyone else out there have a good Rickenfaker?
emac.

- Fingerboard delamination is not so much a Rickenbacker "mistake" so much as bad maintenance. It is like driving 100,000 miles without an oil change and blaming the resulting engine failure on the automaker. Bad neck adjustment techinque is nearly always the cause of this problem.

- Tailpiece lift is a real problem but it not consistent. Far more basses without the two extra screws don't exibit this fault than do.

- Resonance issues are also real. All basses have "dead spots" but many older Ricks are "dead" somewhere between the 4th and 6th frets on the G string and/or between the 7th and 9th frets on the D string. I understand this can be minimized with a truss rod adjustment but I am not clear on the how that works.

-The slightly dead E string is a problem with many (most?) 70's 4001's. This problem goes away if you remove the .0047 bass cut capacitor from the circuit. Also, if you swap the pickups with newer ones - 80's, 90's, or current, you will notice your bass suddenly has balls-o-plenty. A cheap solution is to remove the cap and install a helper magnet under the neck pickup. This little fix yields amazing results.

Except for scorn and ridicule, fakers are not often discussed here. Some are good, I'll give you that. You have to understand that members of the Rickenbacker front office, whether apparent or not, frequent this forum. They sometimes chime in on subjects and we enjoy their input. The discussion of fakers (and other trademark issues) has sparked a lot of heated and pointless debate here. I am not saying that you should not bring the subject up but don't expect a warm reception if you do. Now, on the other hand, if you want to discuss that '64 4001S we are all ears but don't forget to post pics!

it is still a free country ... we can talk about fakes here ... this is the kind of fake I like ...

Sweet, I like that kind too. Is that one of yours Jeff?

Hi Eden. Long time no see. Is your 4001 copy like this one?

I wish it was mine ...

Yeah Serg thats the one, mine is fairly close to complete.
And that is a real sweet 5 stringer too Jeff.
When I was "whining" about the Ric mistakes remember that my tounge was firmly planted in my cheek. I do know all the ric niggles and I find them endearing as much as they are a pain.
I have no intention to offend or take anything away from Rickenbacker, afterall they designed the bass that is my favorite. I have owned 6 of them over the years. There was one perhaps I should not have brought and more than a few that I should not have sold. So I live and learn.
I now only have the 64, with it I could not want for more. It sounds wooly and warm, clear bright and twangy all at the same time. 64s (and others of that era) do feel and sound different to any other Ric and the reason is.................

Well, we have to keep the mystery and legend alive
don't we!

And the fake, well its just a pile of cheap fun!
emac.

Understood. I am afraid to admit that I have been tempted now and again to pick one up myself.