Any experiences with Pitbull guitars bass kits?

[scourgeofgod]

Hmmm, random thought, but since my knock on 30'a is the e string sound, maybe I'll build that violin, but set it up for strings to support an A D G C tuning

Here's that kit completed:

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On a side note, are you using short scale strings on your current 30"?

 

[buldog5151bass]

So is it ok to buy one of the kits if you already own a genuine Ric?

No.

 

[Aceonbass]

I too am having some nerve issues in my left hand, and find a narrower nut and shorter scale to be easier, but changing the reach of my arm doesn't address the problem. It's how far I have to stretch my fingers and open my hand that causes pain.

 

[scourgeofgod]

No.

If I buy a genuine Ric can I use it as a template to build a Ric from scratch?

 

[buldog5151bass]

What's there to justify ?

Have Ric suddenly started selling un-finished basses in kit form ? Cause if they ain't there's nothing to say.

Just like someone could not make a Corvette "kit" without permission of Chevy. Nice try though.

 

[buldog5151bass]

If I buy a genuine Ric can I use it as a template to build a Ric from scratch?

Yes, I believe so, but you couldn't sell it.

 

[pie_man_25]

as unfortunate as it is/may seem, I'd say that bholder was kinda right on the subject - if it's illegal then it's illegal. Perhaps talking about it with the manufacturer themselves first could be a bit more neighbourly I suppose, but laws are laws, and infringement - whether overt and clearly wrong or a bit more of a grey/seemingly innocent area like we see here - can carry negative consequences regardless of a benign/innocent intention. I personally would love to see these kits succeed and continue to be made, and I also agree that it might not be counterfeit in the sense that it's not advertised as a "rickenbacker" but rather "rickenbacker-styled", so there is that. I'm neither familiar with US nor Australian copyright law nor with the precedent in either nation (or even if they have a similar british-style common law to the Canadian system), so there is that.

 

[buldog5151bass]

GS - never said anyone (least of all myself. I sped home from band rehearsal). But:

1 two wrongs don't make a right
2 you can't equate a single person doing something to a company actively marketing mnufacturing and selling.

 

[Gully Foyle]

Here's that kit completed:

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On a side note, are you using short scale strings on your current 30"?

Yes, Labella 110 deep talkin rounds. I've tried 4-5 varieties, these are the best so far. Might go up to crazy gauges and see how that is, like 130's

 

[SteveV74]

I'm getting kind of sick of people sitting around watching (apparent) crimes being committed and not doing anything about it.

Unfortunately they dont play by the same rules as us, I quit smoking about 5 months ago with the use of a vapor mod(E-cig), there are a TON of manufacturers that clone just about every product out there, including names and logos, you have to be real careful when ordering anything "authentic"

 

[Gully Foyle]

I too am having some nerve issues in my left hand, and find a narrower nut and shorter scale to be easier, but changing the reach of my arm doesn't address the problem. It's how far I have to stretch my fingers and open my hand that causes pain.

I thought that too, but my pain is ulnar tunnel, not carpal, and that nerve runs over my elbow badly, as it does for lots of people, and shorter reach helps me, didn't even realize it, all interconnected

 

[scourgeofgod]

Yes, Labella 110 deep talkin rounds. I've tried 4-5 varieties, these are the best so far. Might go up to crazy gauges and see how that is, like 130's

Yeah I was going to suggest that next, I play a 30" longhorn, don't know what the strings are but I've never had a problem. Something to keep in mind with that violin kit is that because it uses a trapeze tailpiece the string travel is longer than that of a normal bass bridge, which may result in better tension, not 100% about that though.

 

[SteveV74]

Kinda glad they dont make Pedulla copies.

 

[Gully Foyle]

Here's that kit completed:

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On a side note, are you using short scale strings on your current 30"?

looking at that completed one, if i build it, i think i'll make it into some sort of weird upright

and yeah the violins need 32" or even 34" strings because of the saddle/ball end distance

 

[scourgeofgod]

looking at that completed one, if i build it, i think i'll make it into some sort of weird upright

and yeah the violins need 32" or even 34" strings because of the saddle/ball end distance

Ha, I started to suggest playing upright when I read this:

"but my pain is ulnar tunnel, not carpal, and that nerve runs over my elbow badly, as it does for lots of people, and shorter reach helps me, didn't even realize it, all interconnected"

Hope you find something that works for you

 

[fdorn]

I thought that too, but my pain is ulnar tunnel, not carpal, and that nerve runs over my elbow badly, as it does for lots of people, and shorter reach helps me, didn't even realize it, all interconnected

I've had ulnar transposition surgery and now my playing is pain free.

 

[Down_Low]

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For anyone interested. This is a website about Australian IP and trademarks. It looks like Rickenbacker forgot to renew the trademark back in 2007, and as a result the trademarks have been removed from the register. So these kits, which only have a resemblance to Rickenbacker, are legal anyway because Rickenbacker's IP has not been protected in Australia for the past 7 years.

Furthermore, as this company is producing a kit which is not an exact copy of a Rickenbacker trademark, a local trademark could then be registered in Australia for this design, guaranteeing the legality of this production.

Glad someone looked into this. People need to realise that just because an American company holds trademarks in America, does not mean it's trademarked around the world.

 

[groucho]

Which is a trademark violation. Plain and simple.

If it was "plain and simple" a whole lot of lawyers would be out of work ....Like patent law, it ain't "plain and simple"
and ends up often hinging on arcane technicalities (hence the $$$ to lawyers)

I have a USA Custom Guitars 1962 Jazz neck. It showed up with an extra "dimple" of wood on the end of the headstock to
circumnavigate Fender licensing issues (they didn't want to pay ???) and came with instructions on how to cut it back
to "Fender specs" plain and simple

 

[PortlandBass77]

It's not called "stigma", it's called "illegal". I somehow doubt that Rickenbacker is just A-ok with these, since they have (edit) not licensed their trademarks to anyone else ever. I personally find these less objectionable than the finished fake products, but that makes no difference legally.

I would not be at all surprised if someone trying to import one of these into the US found the item confiscated by Customs (and the money paid lost).

Dude you're being way too uptight. There are blatant copies being crafted in China and imported to the US daily, while Pit Bull actually uses different pickups and placement of the pickups. Not to mention it is not neck through, AND unlike the copies these have no Rickenbacker or Rickenbacker look alike logo. On top of this they actually give credit to Rickenbacker calling it "Inspired by the Rickenbacker 4001". So with your logic Only Fender should be allowed to make P and J basses and Strats and Teles, and only Gibson would be able to craft SG and Les Paul style guitars. This idea is absurd as it would be 3 companies controlling the market so very little price competition, so people without the big $$$ would find it much harder to buy instruments. You should also face that the 4001 design is no longer produced by Rickenbacker, AND it's been around for almost 50 years.

 

[gfen]

Rickenbacker should welcome clones so people can decide if they like the shape and feel before they lay down $2000 on a brand new instrument.

If they're not buying clones, they're saving up for pristine used examples, and that's no money at all in the Hall coffers. If a clone passes the sniff test, they save for the real deal. Works for Fender, doesn't it?