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$340.50 Rickenfaker? (Made in China content)

#41
PazzoBasso said:
Shipping is advertised as FREE...

Taxes (where I live would be $13.00 - on a $100.00 purchase)

And thanks to NAFTA - most things Made is USA are exempt of duties... The "Stingray" clearly states on the back of the headstock "MADE IN SAN LUIS OBISPO CALIFORNIA, USA" - that's usually enough for customs agents...

I can't vouch for the hardware, but I don't think I'd be looking to replace anything - I have a real Ric, two real Rays & an OLP ray - so this would be "for kicks"

I've tossed more than $113.00 away on much more foolish ventures...
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Ah, so you're talking about a non-existent, hypothetical $100 bass. For the record, I paid Samin $150 to ship my purchase to Europe.

I thought the idea of fantasy window shopping was to ogle the good stuff, not the crapola...:rollno:
 
#43
Sorry, but I have to tell you that the nightmare associated with these guitars is actually getting them ( takes forever with zero communication). I have bought a few knock off guitars and for the money they are awesome.

The worse thing about China is they use horrible cheap potentiometers, which is a real easy and cheap fix.

Hell, I usually replace the electronics and wiring in my new american basses too.....

Going to order one of these probably for my kid, got a new set of Bartolini Ric pickups new that I got in trade for doing some work, maybe I'll throw em in.
 
#45
Just want to say one more thing, these guitars are perfect for someone like me because I have tons of extra parts lying around, and do all my own work on my guitars so I love getting cheap guitars and tricking them out. Hell, I have made people flinch when they see me take 2000 guitars and strip the finish off of them and replace stock parts. I have never seen an instrument that I would consider off the shelf for my tastes so frankenbasses are the way to go!!!

By the way, you can score a real rick these days for 500-700 if you look hard enough in pawn shops or craigs list. I saw one here in Connecticut for 500 about a year ago.
 
#46
Sartori said:
What's wrong with the potentiometers, exactly?
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I have been involved in manufacturing for over 10 years and I can tell you companies buy them two ways, on cardboard where each pot is mounted in its own hole of bulk packaging, where a box is filled to the top with loose pots. In the later the pots tend to get dirt or dust down the shaft, which makes the turn less smooth and compromises sound.

Secondly, you can spot a cheap pot a mile away, they are smaller ( because they use a cheaper, thinner wire inside ) and made of lower quality materials, therefore do not sound as good.

Remember that pots are variable resistors, and like all other electronics, it doesn't pay to get cheap ones. Besides, if you skip the guitar parts supplier and go directly to an electronics supplier, you can get top of the line electronic components for pennies and dollars. Just look through the yellow pages, here in Connecticut I go to Park Electronics in Bridgeport.
 
#47
draftsmann said:
Ah, so you're talking about a non-existent, hypothetical $100 bass. For the record, I paid Samin $150 to ship my purchase to Europe.

I thought the idea of fantasy window shopping was to ogle the good stuff, not the crapola...:rollno:
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That's correct sir, if it was $100.00 - it would be worth it just for fun...

I definitely don't need another bass - let alone a poorly made one...

It could be used as a prop or window display - possibly mounted outside a vintage guitar shop with a sign hanging from it's neck (might look especially good once the elements begin to work their magic on the finish)... A practical joke involving a breakaway strap? A door stop at the very least. The star of a youtube video entitled "how not to repaint your Ric"...
 
#48
PazzoBasso said:
It could be used as a prop or window display - possibly mounted outside a vintage guitar shop with a sign hanging from it's neck (might look especially good once the elements begin to work their magic on the finish)...
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Funnily enough in the double bass world I once read about a shop that had done something very like that with a Chinese BSO. The most surprising thing, by all accounts, was its unwillingness to sucumb to the elements. :)
 
#49
smcd said:
Are you the importer? Because I can't think of any other reason to give advice that bad.



You don't have to stick your hand into a hot oven to know it will get burned. Just consider where it's made, how much it costs, what it is, and use your common sense and DON'T buy one.
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You COMPLETELY missed the point of my post.
 
#52
HOLY CRAPPPPPPP!!!!!!

OK, i was wrong. That website has a fireglo one listed as " rickenbacker" and the headstock has the rickenbacker plate with " made in usa" on it!!!!


Holy smoking illegal knock offs batman!!!!

I don't mind something being styled ( the blue bass) but the fireglo one is a clear knock off and that's not right!!
 
#57
Rob Martinez said:
If any of the folks above are really OK with these rip off basses, then BUY one and tell us what kind of quality it has.

I bought a Greco T Bird and can say it is a great bass. But I BOUGHT it and have experience with it.

Instead of criticizing people who think these basses can't compare with a real Rickenbacker, PROVE them WRONG by purchasing one of these Chinese knock offs and reviewing it.

I will wait for a review.
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I would, but frankly I don't want to waste the money. I'd be afraid it wouldn't even be worth the low advertised price.
 
#59
Everyone has some good points, but being in the oversees manufacturing industry for over 10 years it saddens me to say that almost everything is made overseas, and that 90% of " made in the USA" items ( not just guitars) are sometimes items that are manufactured overseas and then assembled in the USA, there should be a law that makes manufacturers say " Thrown together in the USA from cheap Asian parts!" on the box but lets face it, the truth doesn't really have any place in the corporate USA.

I really don't want to go on, I've already said too much and I did sign many papers saying "I would not discuss oversea manufacturing and importing policies" at my job.
 

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