Are Bossa Tributes Unlicensed Knockoffs ?

[ddnidd1]

Bossa Tributes are all over EBay.

AFAIK they are unlicensed knockoffs. Does anyone have any concrete information?

The ad copy means nothing.

 

[Mark76]

Who's Bossa and why has he got a tribute bass?

 

[Wisebass]

Hi Mark76

Who's Bossa

I have an idea….

but maybe I' m wrong?

may the bass be with you

Wise(b)ass

 

[stark william]

Bossa Tributes are all over EBay.

AFAIK they are unlicensed knockoffs. Does anyone have any concrete information?

The ad copy means nothing.

The Mid range Bossa are made in Korea. I think with a few upgrades they are fantastic value.

 

[ddnidd1]

But have nothing to do with actual Bossa basses.

 

[stark william]

But have nothing to do with actual Bossa basses.

The Bossa co...had the cheaper basses made in Korea. They were part of the Bossa line.

 

[Afc70]

Bossa tributes are not affiliated with Bossa basses at all- (later called Real Bossa design) To my knowledge, the “Bossa tribute” basses were indeed unlicensed copies & were fakes- Genuine Bossa’s are on par with many boutiques as far as build quality/ tone.

 

[stark william]

Bossa tributes are not affiliated with Bossa basses at all- (later called Real Bossa design) To my knowledge, the “Bossa tribute” basses were indeed unlicensed copies & were fakes- Genuine Bossa’s are on par with many boutiques as far as build quality/ tone.

Not exactly...the Bossa logos came from the Bossa co..in Osaka. They can't sell fakes in Japan from Korea with the factory in downtown Osaka.

 

[Afc70]

Not exactly...the Bossa logos came from the Bossa co..in Osaka. They can't sell fakes in Japan from Korea with the factory in downtown Osaka.

My understanding is that Toshio from Bossa never authorized the Bossa Tributes. Anyhow- I’ve owned 3 genuine Bossa’s & they are amazing basses! Recently acquired a Bossa 6’er & it’s the best Bossa I’ve owned.

 

[stark william]

My understanding is that Toshio from Bossa never authorized the Bossa Tributes. Anyhow- I’ve owned 3 genuine Bossa’s & they are amazing basses! Recently acquired a Bossa 6’er & it’s the best Bossa I’ve owned.

Yes, the basses are amazing...I worked with Toshio from the beginning and marketed them for years in the early 90's...He knew about those Tribute basses, but I think the deal was shady. He may have disapproved at a later time with the maker in Korea. I'm not sure. But I do know they were selling in stores in Osaka, I live near there. So I guess he could have had them confiscated and removed if in fact, the maker in Korea didn't have any agreement to make them. But it's a moot point now. The Bossa co is kaput, there are still some good deals on Bossa basses to be had...bossa bassの検索結果【楽器検索デジマート】

 

[ddnidd1]

Yes, the basses are amazing...I worked with Toshio from the beginning and marketed them for years in the early 90's...He knew about those Tribute basses, but I think the deal was shady. He may have disapproved at a later time with the maker in Korea. I'm not sure. But I do know they were selling in stores in Osaka, I live near there. So I guess he could have had them confiscated and removed if in fact, the maker in Korea didn't have any agreement to make them. But it's a moot point now. The Bossa co is kaput, there are still some good deals on Bossa basses to be had...bossa bassの検索結果【楽器検索デジマート】

Interesting info. I never saw a Tribute until after Bossa had stopped production and closed.

 

[stark william]

Interesting info. I never saw a Tribute until after Bossa had stopped production and closed.

You are lucky to have that 6 string...they are rare!

 

[Afc70]

View attachment 3796936
You are lucky to have that 6 string...they are rare!

I’ve got a Bossa 6 string, & it sounds incredible... beefier & more aggressive sounding than any of my previous Bossa 5’s.. Perhaps the added mass of the 6 contributes to this, regardless, it’s an amazing bass. Very true, 6 string Bossa’s don’t pop up very often.