• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Ibanez Ric Clone...worth it?

Flyingfrets

Flyingfrets

Guest
Dec 25, 2011
536
15
#1
Got an option on a '74 2388B Ibanez Ric clone.

Fireglo finish w/checkerboard binding.
Pickups, pickguard, tailpiece & wiring harness replaced with Rickenbacker hardware.
Bone nut.
Bass originally non-stereo, but rewired for it (dual jacks - yes works as expected).

All in all, looks and sounds the part. Not mint condition given its age, but overall, very close. Bass has lots of vintage mojo I can't exactly define, but I'm seriously interested.

Only concern is the bolt-on neck.

Guy's asking $700 firm w/ HS case. Not sure of the value on these, but does this sound reasonable, or a little out there being that it's a lawsuit copy?

Still have a real '77 4001, but getting to the point of paranoia about it traveling anymore (hence the search for a considerably less expensive stand in).

Appreciate the wisdom of the TB community who are always in the know about these things...;)

Thanks for any info...
 
#2
judging that its less than half the price of a new 4003...how could you go wrong if you really like it? Sounds like its the best compromise you can find with all the guts being Ric.

id say if it plays well and sounds the part, youre in good shape. ibanez made some really great instruments during that law-suit era. ive got 2 70s matsumoku made basses and the only real issue they have is electronics, and they are just dated, not that they dont work. the build quality and playability of them is far above most 70s american instruments ive played.

cheers,

-Jeff
 
#4
I wouldn't do it simply based upon it's a bolt-on. Are you going for the Ric look or the Ric sound? If it's just the look, then yeah, this model would work great. the neck thru (IMO) is a big part of the Ric sound and feel. I've got an early '73 that I do bring out of the house (but not on airplanes as my band is local).

If you're worried about bringing yours on the road b/c it's vintage and not the monetary value itself, pick up a 2nd hand 4003 in the $1100 range. They are out there.
 
#9
Been looking for some justification to pull the trigger on this...think you guys have given it to me!

BTW: the bass has the cap bypass (push/pull vintage switch) so I'm guessing the pickups are the hi-gain models for a 4003 so this mod would've been fairly recent, correct?
 
#11
Oddly enough my Ric was the last year before the 4003's got their cosmetic makeovers, so push/pull pot would probably make the guts from anytime after 2006, assuming all the PU's and control harness were sourced from same place/time.

Glad you're leaning toward going for it. You've certainly got me thinking about my old Ibanez - I wish I'd never parted with it!
 
#14
hdracer said:
$700??
No Way!
I bought a very nice '85 4003 for $850
I see 4003's selling for around $1000 all the time.

Get the real thing unless it's under $500
Click to expand...

That was my intial thinking, but having looked up the prices the Ibanez lawsuits have gone for the last few years ($400 - $600 inc. cases with stock hardware) and knowing their quality is a known commodity...and finally knowing what Ric pickups go for, I started thinking $700 w/case was a lot fairer than I originally thought.

Is this the right way to look at it, or am I nuts?
 
#15
Flyingfrets said:
Got an option on a '74 2388B Ibanez Ric clone.

Fireglo finish w/checkerboard binding.
Pickups, pickguard, tailpiece & wiring harness replaced with Rickenbacker hardware.
Bone nut.
Bass originally non-stereo, but rewired for it (dual jacks - yes works as expected).

All in all, looks and sounds the part. Not mint condition given its age, but overall, very close. Bass has lots of vintage mojo I can't exactly define, but I'm seriously interested.

Only concern is the bolt-on neck.

Guy's asking $700 firm w/ HS case. Not sure of the value on these, but does this sound reasonable, or a little out there being that it's a lawsuit copy?

Still have a real '77 4001, but getting to the point of paranoia about it traveling anymore (hence the search for a considerably less expensive stand in).

Appreciate the wisdom of the TB community who are always in the know about these things...;)

Thanks for any info...
Click to expand...

I would not pay $700 for that bass ... There are some neck through clones that are good copies and play nice and cop the Rick tone.
 
#17
Careful. Ibanez made huge jumps in quality between the 1970s and 1980s, when they reacted to Fender and Gibson quality being very low. But some 1970s material is very questionable, including Stratocaster clones with plywood bodies.

At a minimum you want to have high-resolution photos of the neck pocket, that's where most of the dirt is hidden - such as plywood.

On the bright side even worst case you would get better pickups than current Gibson Thunderbirds :D
 
#18
hdracer said:
$700??
No Way!
I bought a very nice '85 4003 for $850
I see 4003's selling for around $1000 all the time.

Get the real thing unless it's under $500
Click to expand...

That's what I thought too, but you gotta take the Ric fanboy into account when running the numbers. Ric fans have been overpaying and tolerating design flaws for years. That is not meant as a slam, but as an observation. As someone who wants to like Rics but never played one I liked the thought of paying 700 for a copy with a bolt on neck seems absurd. That doesn't mean its not a great bass, just overpriced. For a few hundred more a real Ric seems way more appealing.
 
#19
Flyingfrets said:
That was my intial thinking, but having looked up the prices the Ibanez lawsuits have gone for the last few years ($400 - $600 inc. cases with stock hardware) and knowing their quality is a known commodity...and finally knowing what Ric pickups go for, I started thinking $700 w/case was a lot fairer than I originally thought.

Is this the right way to look at it, or am I nuts?
Click to expand...

That's a good way of looking at it, but $700 is still way too high, IMO.

Any vintage bass that's had the electronics and hardware replaced has been devalued, even if it's a clone. If the hardware and electronics are 100% certain Rickenbacker, then there's value there, but if you remove it, the bass loses all its value. And value is something you have to consider if you're paying $700 for a vintage instrument. I'd follow the advice above that suggests you wait for a nice, original neck through clone.
 
#20
It seems a bit high to me, but if you love it then get it. Rick pups and electronics matters WAY more than bolt on versus nt.

Does it have the filter cap etc design uniqueness of a real rick? Does it do mid forward piano grunge yes and rush sounds? Does it do thick wings stuff?

Then get it. But do go over it very carefully and check truss rod ability to turn a tiny speck (not enough to mess up setup though!)
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back