$340.50 Rickenfaker? (Made in China content)

[Rob Martinez]

To answer the OP, YES, we have all SEEN these in photos. Whether they really are "all that bad" can only be answered by you. None of us is going to buy one and try it out so you don't have to take that risk. Buy one and let US know if they are "all that bad."

 

[tat2jim]

Beware of The 'Bait and Switch' my friends.

 

[Porkbun]

Ive seen other Chinese basses in person. It was a $130 J bass hanging from the wall of a value store. From far away, I nearly pooped my pants because it looked awesome. Upon closer inspection, the paint job was horrible and it seemed as if they didnt spray sealer on the particle board or cardboard it was probably made from. I tapped it with my finger and it made the softest wimpiest sound.

If you want to get what you pay for, buy used. You have to think that they are making a decent profit by selling to you ( like how the old iPhone cost like $10 to make) so you are going to be getting a bass worth significantly less than what you paid. If they dont care about stealing a reputable companies name, they probably wont mind stealing your money, or if you do eventually get it 3 years later, they wont care what you think and you probably wnot get a refund.

 

[BlueTalon]

OK, the question I sent to the seller was:

The description says "If you are dissatisfied with the , look or sound of this guitar you will receive full refund."

But it also says "We will offer you full refunds only the item you received is different with the description."

Which is it?

The response:

Hi!My friend;
My item and picture are completely consistent,
If you receive a different guitar with the item picture,
I can send back your all payments,
Are you understand?
Thanks

 

[michael_atw]

A rick for $900-$1000?, on ebay? I haven't seen one that cheap in a long time....

They aren't impossible to find, but when they come up they are almost never original. I bought a '74 4001 for $950 w/case last year, with an altered bridge and nut and some other mess-arounds that harmed the finish; I also had one I got an '84 4003 for $1150 w/case that had aftermarket bridge and Bartolinis.

 

[michael_atw]

All of the images say made in China. And they tell you in the description too. I don't think they're trying to pull one over on anyone.

Not that I'd buy one.

That's not the point. The point is the mere fact they are doing that should be unethical to the average human being.

 

[michael_atw]

OK, the question I sent to the seller was:

The description says "If you are dissatisfied with the , look or sound of this guitar you will receive full refund."

But it also says "We will offer you full refunds only the item you received is different with the description."

Which is it?

The response:

Hi!My friend;
My item and picture are completely consistent,
If you receive a different guitar with the item picture,
I can send back your all payments,
Are you understand?
Thanks

It means they don't know how to mail the correct item. However, they can afford to constantly screw up because they pay people $50 to make each of the guitars.

 

[jdthebassman]

you could use this bass in a who tribute band smash it on stage the people would think it was a real ric lol

 

[Mr wiggl3s]

That's not the point. The point is the mere fact they are doing that should be unethical to the average human being.

What breed is your high horse sir?

Just kidding man, elitism and bass go together like 2 things that go really well together.

They aren't impossible to find, but when they come up they are almost never original. I bought a '74 4001 for $950 w/case last year, with an altered bridge and nut and some other mess-arounds that harmed the finish; I also had one I got an '84 4003 for $1150 w/case that had aftermarket bridge and Bartolinis.

I've been looking for a good while on ebay and here for a rickenbacker to go less than 1,500. I haven't seen one. I have heard of sub-$1000 rickenbackers but i don't think they exist anymore.

OK, the question I sent to the seller was:

The description says "If you are dissatisfied with the , look or sound of this guitar you will receive full refund."

But it also says "We will offer you full refunds only the item you received is different with the description."

Which is it?

The response:

Hi!My friend;
My item and picture are completely consistent,
If you receive a different guitar with the item picture,
I can send back your all payments,
Are you understand?
Thanks

SO ARE YOU UNDERSTAND?!

 

[skwee]

You know, American businesses work hard to be successful and build products that they are proud of and people want.

Then some A--hole takes one to China and gets them to copy the look, but not the soul, quality or anything else.

I'd say the overwhelming majority of American companies have outsourced themselves to China and other places.

 

[cassanova]

It's quite interesting to me that so many of the Japanese copies, Greco, Fernandes, Hondo, and so forth are rather well regarded as legitimate in their own counterfeit way, but the same doesn't seem to follow for Chinese companies. (Not that I can name too many.)

Most experienced players I know consider the aforementioned brands you mentioned, as crap.

 

[Rob Martinez]

Isn't it strange the OP hasn't posted since the first two or three posts? I suspect these are "sales pitches" that show up every week or so asking something like, "Has anyone tried these China made Ricks?" It is free promotion that is probably a rule breaker around here.

 

[Duke21]

I don't really see a problem with these "Ricks" from China. They are no real Rick and nobody that really consider a Rick is going to buy one of these! So I dought Rickenbacker is loosing money on these bass's.
I'm saving for a real 4003, yes it is going to cost 1800$ or so, but it will be a real one, not a fake one. I could not care if it cost 10$.

 

[Duke21]

it's likely hit or miss w/ the $300 Chickenbacker.

unless you travel to china(or elsewhere where sold) to play it
first , it would be a coin-toss to buy one sight unseen.
the pics in the ad could be stock photos of the model you'll
get .
I noticed one site had "Music Man Stingray" and OLP Stingrays on the same page ... likely the same bass w/ a
different logo, the MM's logo being $50 more to paint.

same goes for "epiphone Les Paul" and "Gibson Les Paul"
guitars (it'll cost you $60 more for the gibson logo and headstock)
a gibson has a 1/2" carved maple top.....the budget EPI
gets about a 1/8" maple veneer for its archtop.....
i wonder which one it really copies ....?

i guess the cool thing is that afaik, there are no
econo-Rickenbacker = Squiers /Epiphones/Madieras/sterlings
sold in usa that are true to the stalwarts they emulate .

- could they be like Tokais and ESP's from the "80s?????

if $300 is chump change- go for it . try it as -is , but the
electronics are likely to just look the part . you'll have to decide if they work for your needs.
but thats cool- you can customize it for nothing , and have a potentionally great bass....

(or it could go horribly wrong....and NOTHING will help the
AKA bass sound to your liking....but you could always take
it to a flea market and sell it for $300 , next to the guy
selling "Dunacell" batteries , "Sharkie" felt pens , fake
handbags , and chinese "raybans" .

You can buy a new Rockinbetter in London for 600-700 pounds, but still, just a fake copy.

 

[sanchorb]

The simple fact is, if they manufacture something good, why don´t they offer it with a trademark of their own? Because they need the leverage of a good trademark such as Rickenbacker or MusicMan to sell these POS firelogs and make someone go for them so they can say they have the real thing. The only reason a person would buy this is because later they can say "look, I have the real thing" to unsuspecting people. If they didn´t had the trademark copied they would surely loose attraction to many people. Am I a snob for the real thing? Yes I am, but I feel proud when I can put effort by working and after some time afford the real thing, in which a company who knows what they are doing profits from their experience and research.

No, I don´t think they are any good, and I don´t think they look cool because they are plain and simple forgeries, and I don´t like when someone steals effort and property from someone else. These companies in China are shameless, and the point is simply: this is not correct, this is dishonest. Hope these assh...have no success, and don´t promote their dishonesty by sending them your money, which equals to flushing it down the toilet.

 

[bassplayer8953]

I'd say the overwhelming majority of American companies have outsourced themselves to China and other places.

...but Rickenbacker has not. They have remained true to their product and have not diluted its value by outsourcing a knock-off. This is not a knock-off of a knock-off...this is outright theft of a company's design & reputation (not to mention it's name), and should be viewed as such.

 

[leonche64]

The simple fact is, if they manufacture something good, why don´t they offer it with a trademark of their own? Because they need the leverage of a good trademark such as Rickenbacker or MusicMan to sell these POS firelogs and make someone go for them so they can say they have the real thing. The only reason a person would buy this is because later they can say "look, I have the real thing" to unsuspecting people. If they didn´t had the trademark copied they would surely loose attraction to many people. Am I a snob for the real thing? Yes I am, but I feel proud when I can put effort by working and after some time afford the real thing, in which a company who knows what they are doing profits from their experience and research.

No, I don´t think they are any good, and I don´t think they look cool because they are plain and simple forgeries, and I don´t like when someone steals effort and property from someone else. These companies in China are shameless, and the point is simply: this is not correct, this is dishonest. Hope these assh...have no success, and don´t promote their dishonesty by sending them your money, which equals to flushing it down the toilet.

You seem to be taking this particular issue way personal.

 

[Crazyeelboy]

you could use this bass in a who tribute band smash it on stage the people would think it was a real ric lol

Here's the right answer!

 

[tabdog]

If you buy it, you cannot return it for a refund.

If you read the return policy, you will see that
it is slipperier than a banana peal. Besides, how
are you going to deal with an eMail address in
China?

But, it may be alright for the price. Who know's.

Who's gonna be our first genie pig?

Tabdog

 

[Freez]

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.

I call balls on that; I check Craigs regularly and haven't seen a Rick for less than $1000 in over 3 years. As far as pawn shops go, they are trying to sell $100-$300 instruments for $500-$800, so you ain't gonna find a REAL Rick there for a reasonable price either.