Anyone have knowledge on these Iron Label Ripper style basses?

[Mr Joshua]

There's no reason people in Vietnam couldn't make instruments as well as people anywhere else. Of course, most of us know that by now and those who refuse to accept that won't be convinced by me or anyone else rambling on about it.

As I said previously, without having tried one I think the price is a little too much for me personally, as I'd want to change a lot of components to turn it into a more accurate Ripper-clone (or something else entirely...). Still, I'm curious to hear @GodlessMolecule opinion of it once he receives his! For all we know, it may be of superior quality and then the price may not be so steep after all, even for someone with the intention to mod it.

My plan is to modify it. Right now I'm thinking Hipshot Supertone bridge, although I'd prefer the 2-piece D-Style I don't think it would cover the 5 holes from the bent metal bridge it comes with. Once I determine the tuner type I'll swap those for whatever hipshot fits without drilling new holes if possible. I'm not expecting much of the pickups so I'm prepared to put a set of Nordstrand Big Splits in there because I already own them and they fit, but might opt for something new if need be. Swap the toggle for a rotary and should be good.

 

[Mr Joshua]

Came in today. Initial impressions:

1. It's not garbage. So that's a relief.
2. The bridge is more a high-mass style than I thought from looking at pics.
3. The tuners are not bad. They seem a notch above some of the Squier tuners I've encountered, though they don't seem to match any Hipshot directly so replacing them may require some filling and drilling if I'm going to go that route.
4. Neck is a little thinner than I prefer, but I think I can get used to it.
5. No neck dive, but weighs 10.25lb
6. no sprouting frets, no buzzing or uneven frets that I've encountered, no dead spots.
7. Finish looks good, don't see any drip marks or bad spots.
8. Pickups sound fine, I don't think I would rave about them, but if I didn't already have some Nordstrands in a drawer I would be OK with using these.

Issues:

1. I see are a little bit of a rough spot in the neck pocket
2. some imperfection on the headstock where the paint meets the edge

All in all I think for the ebony board, SS frets and the block inlays I'm OK with what i paid for it. I wouldn't have minded a little more for the money, but i know it could have been a lot worse.

Attached some more photos since what's online is limited.

 

[ravelax]

Thanks for the detailed pics! It does look decent, though I think they maybe could've done a bit better than those finish flaws you point out. Still, it's cosmetic and nothing serious. Those tuners are typically pretty good, I have them on two of my Epiphones and have been happy with them. I'd rather buy this than the new Epiphone Grabber (granted, this aims more at the Ripper but similar enough if the intention is to mod).

 

[definenredefine]

The bridge looks like a Gotoh 201 copy, which I would be happy with...