• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

CheapGuitarStores.com "replica Chinese basses"

Genuine or replica?

  • Genuine - The fake will fall apart.

    Votes: 85 72.0%
  • Replica - A worthy budget-wise alternative.

    Votes: 33 28.0%

  • Total voters
    118
Even Nico can spot the real thing.
downloadfile-2.jpeg
 
Hi,
I was looking to buy a rather pretty Schecter Guitar Research Stiletto Custom-5 Bass.
but unfortunately the company that deals genuine basses does not ship to the uk. However I found on the internet a vastly cheaper replica bass that does.

Does anyone have any experience with this company? Are they as true to original as they claim? Should I just wait and find a genuine Schecter on Ebay?

Genuine Schecter: Schecter Guitar Research Stiletto Custom-5 Bass

Replica Schecter: Link Removed

Thanks in advance!

It all depends if the Schecter company has licensed the overseas company to build their product. A lot of major brands use Indonesia, China, Mexico, and other overseas builders to make their economy, and high end basses. And IME, the higher end or mid priced imports are very high quality. They use good materials, good craftsmanship, good hardware, and good detail work like fret jobs. In some cases, these licensed overseas companies use the same hardware and electronics as the major companies. For example, the G&L Tribute is a line of basses made made in Indonesia, and licensed by G&L. And they use the same pickups, electronics, and bridge from the US company.

Some other major brands that outsource Bass guitars:
Sterling by MusicMan, Fender, G&L, Warwick, Lakland, and others.

Not everyone can afford, or want's to pay premium price for a high quality instrument. Having overseas manufacturers produce high quality instruments is a way which the consumer can own a high quality instrument. Anyway, that's the major reason the major brands say they outsource.
 
I can understand the motivation behind someone buying a replica of a Rick, or other high $ instrument, but these guys are also selling replicas of basses that you could buy for close to the same money.

And what is that? Not only are taking money away from the money who deserve it, but you have no idea what you are getting, other than something that looks something like the original.
 
I have the Schecter Custom-5. I paid $300 used local private sale. Get the real thing, they are actually quite good and their resale is quite poor...which is a great reason to buy them used.

I have the identical Custom-4 and I paid $230 I think. Guy wanted $300 and could not find a buyer. He accepted my offer.
 
  • Like
Reactions: matty1039
Lots of opinions but if Matsumoku was making them everybody would swipe right:rolleyes:

Not sure your point here. Matsumoku was well known for quality instruments that were made legally. I don't remember them making basses with counterfeit labels on them. Many Fender lawsuit basses were extremely well made and also were not sold with the Fender logo.

Additionally, Matsumoku is in Japan and we are talking about China.
 
Not sure your point here. Matsumoku was well known for quality instruments that were made legally. I don't remember them making basses with counterfeit labels on them. Many Fender lawsuit basses were extremely well made and also were not sold with the Fender logo.

Additionally, Matsumoku is in Japan and we are talking about China.

Some China, some Korea.
My Matsumoku point is they along with Ibanez
gave birth to the phrase
lawsuit
On this side of the IDL we know
where most manufacturing occurs
yet lots of it is Indonesian and
Japanese but can we be entirely certain?
One of our members went on Alibaba and contacted one of the Chinese outfits and he got a stunner, wood work was impeccable.
He may have replaced the pup's and some hardware but the fret work and wood work was on point!
I was looking for a 75 Jazz back before RI's and Relics and Custom shop existed
now I could care less because CBS has pimped Leo to the point if he was still around
he'd be walking the strip in a worn out camisole snaggle toothed
can't wait to see what follows Masterbilt
I like quality but I'm frugal.
 
Buy someone else's version of a Schecter Diamond Series if you like but DON'T buy a counterfeit. It may or may not sound like a Schecter and you won't know until it arrives months after you've paid for it. and if it sucks, good luck getting your money back.

You can get some well made things in China for low prices because labor is super cheap there. But you can also get crap. Now you're thinking about buying a bass from a company who is trying to pass it off as the real thing and makes no bones about it being counterfeit. Do you really think they'll have any trouble lying to you?

Sad thing is that unless Schecter has some operations in China, trying to pursue something like this is iffy at best. About the time you nail down who to sue, they've closed up shop and re-opened under another name somewhere else. It's a money pit trying to follow up on counterfeiting. I was in Shanghai and Beijing visiting my son prior to the Olympic Games that were held there. The government was in a big push to close down counterfeiting in all the shopping bazaars before the games because China had such a bad rep (and well deserved) about counterfeiting and not paying attention to patents. The games are over now and they're not nearly as concerned as they were.

The upshot is that counterfeiters can put a legitimate company out of business. The legitimate company does the R&D, the design work, and comes up with a unique product they have identified a market for. The counterfeiter imitates this successful product with substandard product, sells it at a "super-sale" price, and pretty soon the legit company starts to get a bad rep for poor product that the counterfeiter is making because people think it's theirs. It can drive a legit company out of business because it causes their sales to tank.

Just stay away from counterfeiters.
 
Lots of opinions but if Matsumoku was making them everybody would swipe right:rolleyes:
Incorrect, if Matsumoku was making them, I would lose all respect for Matsumoku. Of course, they don't exist any more. But even the worse of the Japanese "Lawsuit Era" copies didn't try to fake the brand name.
 
  • Like
Reactions: AngelCrusher
Incorrect, if Matsumoku was making them, I would lose all respect for Matsumoku. Of course, they don't exist any more. But even the worse of the Japanese "Lawsuit Era" copies didn't try to fake the brand name.

you would lose respect but like most
would admire/respect the quality

I'm not arguing
pointing out factoids
the fake water transfer folks need scolding too
it's not right to use anothers brand I agree
I'm just not knocking all the workmanship because some of it is
quite good.