Chinabacker 4005

[woodyng2]

I can't understand how even at $350 anybody would be interested in the chinabackers.
They look to be of truly poor quality,even just taking a glance at a pic of one.
As someone else mentioned,the Italia Rimini is actually a nicely made product wth quality construction and great components. I've owned the real thing,(a Rick 4005),and the Rimini isn't bad if you don't mind hugenormous frets. (My only real complaint with it).

 

[Pumpkin]

I think that it's important to note that this model is not in production. That seperates it from the majority of copies/ imitations in a very meaningful way. @DigitalMan out of curiosity, how do you feel about pedal clones of in production/ out of production pedals?

 

[electracoyote]

I want a 4005. I cannot afford a 4005. However, this is not a 4005, and buying one would just be stupid

I liked your post, but that's very subjective.

...and vain.

This is almost certainly the case for me. No shame here.

 

[eldoryder]

5 Street Vendors Arrested in One Day in Police Sweep of Sixth Ave: NYPD


VENDORS were arrested, NOT purchasers. Thanks for proving my point!

 

[sing-modulator]

For the record, I also own a genuine 4003. I like the 4005 look, and have wanted to find a non-hofner, non-gibson hollowbody for a while. I personally was interested purely for the look. I didn't know about the italia basses, and they are seriously gorgeous.

 

[eldoryder]

View attachment 926016 I can't understand how even at $350 anybody would be interested in the chinabackers.
They look to be of truly poor quality,even just taking a glance at a pic of one.
As someone else mentioned,the Italia Rimini is actually a nicely made product wth quality construction and great components. I've owned the real thing,(a Rick 4005),and the Rimini isn't bad if you don't mind hugenormous frets. (My only real complaint with it).

Woody, out of curiosity, does Rimini make this bass in any finish OTHER than "Mother of Toilet Seat"? It's not a bad design, but that finish is a real deal-breaker for me.

 

[electracoyote]

American Rick shaped firewood.

View attachment 926016 I can't understand how even at $350 anybody would be interested in the chinabackers.

It is a gamble, no doubt. I've seen some nice Chinese clones, and some real dogs.

My only personal experience is with a white Gibson Les Paul. I stubbornly refused to pay USA prices, so I found a Chinese clone.

It was so bad, my very talented tech and I could not straighten it out and make it playable short of heroic efforts (taking it completely apart and re-assembling it--which we did not waste our time doing).

If you get a dog, forget about a refund. The seller will take you down the rabbit hole and the return shipping is exorbitant. You'll just give up and chalk it up to $350.00 worth of experience.

That's the only thing that would stop me from buying one of these 4005 clones, until a good TB'er buys one and gives us a hands-on review.

 

[DigitalMan]

I think that it's important to note that this model is not in production. That seperates it from the majority of copies/ imitations in a very meaningful way. @DigitalMan out of curiosity, how do you feel about pedal clones of in production/ out of production pedals?

Im not a pedal guy.

But seriously, to me it depends entirely upon the assertion of ownership and copyright, patent, or trademark protection that a company has established.

I freely admit you wont get arrested in the US for buying counterfeit goods, although you certainly can overseas. This has more to do with the DoJ deciding how to best spend their resources more than anything else.

But who among us sets their moral compass along the lines of what we can get away with instead of what is right and wrong? It seems a few do just that.

 

[eldoryder]

That's the only thing that would stop me from buying one of these 4005 clones, until a good TB'er buys one and gives us a hands-on review.

Amen.

 

[Gorn]

That didn't take long...

FLATIRON — Police swept a stretch of Sixth Avenue last week, arresting a handful of unlicensed vendors or those selling counterfeit goods, according to police reports.

Over the course of several hours on April 23 officers arrested five people on Sixth Avenue between West 24th and West 28th streets for either selling merchandise on the sidewalk without a vendor’s license or slinging fake luxury brands, police said.

The arrests, which took place between 12:40 and 3:15 p.m., netted a vendor selling counterfeit Burberry cologne and four merchants selling items like T-shirts, hats and finger puppets, according to police reports.

The vendors, who ranged in age from 18 to 61, were charged with violations under the city’s administrative code and given desk appearance tickets, requiring them to appear in court at a later date, according to police.

5 Street Vendors Arrested in One Day in Police Sweep of Sixth Ave: NYPD

Vendors, sir. Vendors. Not customers.

 

[Gorn]

Actually, you can be arrested for knowingly purchasing counterfiet goods. The crime - theft.

I freely admit you wont get arrested in the US for buying counterfeit goods, although you certainly can overseas. This has more to do with the DoJ deciding how to best spend their resources more than anything else.

So....yeah.

 

[Anachronism]

I think that it's important to note that this model is not in production. That seperates it from the majority of copies/ imitations in a very meaningful way. @DigitalMan out of curiosity, how do you feel about pedal clones of in production/ out of production pedals?

Does anyone know if there are relevant use it or lose it provisions at work here? According to the book, the last 4005 production was in 1983, 33 years ago. At what point, if any, would 4005 features not on current models no longer be protected? I for one would be interested in a legal, quality 4005-inspired bass, rather than this counterfeit junk.

 

[Pumpkin]

But who among us sets their moral compass along the lines of what we can get away with instead of what is right and wrong? It seems a few do just that.

I hear you. The law follows the morality of the culture that births it, not the other way around. I think if this was a rip-off of an in production bass, I'd presonally feel differently.

 

[eldoryder]

Y'all carry on without me for awhile. I'm off for some lunch. I think I'll bring popcorn back with me, though!

 

[electracoyote]

Amen.

Here's your natural 4005 clone. Why don't you be the first to roll the dice and give us a thorough review?

Invalid Link Removed

If you give it a thumbs up, I'll go next

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[woodyng2]

Woody, out of curiosity, does Rimini make this bass in any finish OTHER than "Mother of Toilet Seat"? It's not a bad design, but that finish is a real deal-breaker for me.

I have no idea if they're even still being made,but they came in several nice redbursts,and i seem to remember seeing a black one online once.

 

[Pumpkin]

Does anyone know if there are relevant use it or lose it provisions at work here? According to the book, the last 4005 production was in 1983, 33 years ago. At what point, if any, would 4005 features not on current models no longer be protected? I for one would be interested in a legal, quality 4005-inspired bass, rather than this counterfeit junk.

"U.S. Patents filed after June 8, 1995 expire 20 years from the date of filing. U.S. Patents filed prior to June 8, 1995 expire 17 years from the date of issue, or 20 years from the first non-provisional application in the family - whichever is later." - some patent focused blog. I don't feel like digging up the actual statutes right now, nor do I feel like checking to see Rickenbacker's petent filings, but my guess is that a manufacturer would be in the clear for the body. The headstock would definitely still be off limits.

 

[DigitalMan]

So....yeah.

I'm sorry - is this TB US edition? I'm not in the US at the moment.

 

[Ric5]

Worse, some dipshoot is going to buy it thinking it is a "real" Rickenbacker, then finding out that it is a piece of junk, will equate "Rickenbacker Made in U.S.A." with junk. Results: Ricks are junk. Down goes RIC.

It's no wonder at all that the folks at RIC are so tough on trademark protection.

I think it has more to do with keeping prices high and selling more units

 

[DigitalMan]

I hear you. The law follows the morality of the culture that births it, not the other way around. I think if this was a rip-off of an in production bass, I'd presonally feel differently.

How would you fee if you owned the original (and paid a premium for it) and the market became flooded with cheap knock offs?