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Chinese knock-off basses

#261
T MOST makes a good point. The briefest study of the size and history of China reveals the naivety of lumping everything Chinese together and pronouncing an ill-informed opinion. For anyone interested in understanding the next global empire, Lin Yutang's book "My Country and My People" is an excellent source.
It's been said before, but if you want your children to have a sitting down job, they should learn to drive a tractor, and speak Mandarin Chinese.
 
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#262
ERIC31 said:
View attachment 3057262 I’m liking this one that is a Bongo.....at least that’s what it says on the headstock. I have no idea how a “real” EB Bongo 5er could go for $228 shipped though.....

There are a ton of very nice looking basses on AliExpress for Rondo Music/SX prices.

To buy or not to buy....that is the question....
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:rollno:
 
#264
Agni said:
T MOST makes a good point. The briefest study of the size and history of China reveals the naivety of lumping everything Chinese together and pronouncing an ill-informed opinion. For anyone interested in understanding the next global empire, Lin Yutang's book "My Country and My People" is an excellent source.
It's been said before, but if you want your children to have a sitting down job, they should learn to drive a tractor, and speak Mandarin Chinese.
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The comments here are not about the nationality. It's the fact that these are obvious counterfeits.
 
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#265
Phlipper said:
+1

I've seen some amazing stuff and some crap from China. And Mexico. And California. :laugh: But the logo thing is bad juju for me, personally.

I want a light-ish, , neck-thru, active 3 band, P/J, string-thru, unlined fretless 5er. But I don't have $5000 - $10,000 to have it made here. China is my only option. But I definitely don't want Fender or whatever on the headstock. If I ever get the balls to order it built.
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I can't imagine it would cost quite that much to have one made in the USA. If it was a bolt on you wanted you could assemble it from Warmoth parts
 
#266
ERIC31 said:
View attachment 3057262 I’m liking this one that is a Bongo.....at least that’s what it says on the headstock. I have no idea how a “real” EB Bongo 5er could go for $228 shipped though.....

There are a ton of very nice looking basses on AliExpress for Rondo Music/SX prices.

To buy or not to buy....that is the question....
Click to expand...

The pick guard is incorrect and having the Bongo decal on the head is deception. The builder could've rounded the two cutaways, left it nameless and presented it for sale as a dual hum cancelling bass and sell it on it's own merit. They can do some good work but spend too much time deliberately trying to sell others proprietary constructs instead of just labelling it or leaving it blank and just let a prospective buyer make a decision to buy because they find it appealing. Too many fake this and that, their reputation would be better if they found another way to affect the market. Personally I find it fishy they never copy any of the basses that Asian artists play (think HJ Freaks and those boys) that are manufactured in Japan and Korea. That's targeting:cool:
/rant, my $.02, ymmv
 
#267
I've nothing against what you refer to as counterfeits Buldog5151bass, and contrary to your comment the subject here is Chinese basses, so nationality does seem to figure.
I judge an instrument by the sound it makes, it's appearance and playability.
Quality is not defined by the writing on the headstock, or the label inside.
If you shell out for a modern 'genuine' Rolex Swiss watch, it will have Chinese internals - is that counterfeit?
When my work as a blacksmith was copied, I thought it a compliment.
Your reaction to copies is your own affair.
 
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#268
It's all about quality of construction and the ability of the manufacturer to stand behind their work and their products. Licensed manufacturers do have a reputation to uphold, or the license is revoked by the company they represent. Asia manufactured Spectors are good instruments as they have to maintain quality standards and are contracted to do so.

If it is a knock off copy with no arrangement with real instrument company, no telling what you'll get.Like I say, pay your money and take your chances. Personally, I'd say save up a little more and not take a chance on getting something that is worthless.
 
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#269
Agni said:
I've nothing against what you refer to as counterfeits Buldog5151bass, and contrary to your comment the subject here is Chinese basses, so nationality does seem to figure.
I judge an instrument by the sound it makes, it's appearance and playability.
Quality is not defined by the writing on the headstock, or the label inside.
If you shell out for a modern 'genuine' Rolex Swiss watch, it will have Chinese internals - is that counterfeit?
When my work as a blacksmith was copied, I thought it a compliment.
Your reaction to copies is your own affair.
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I am guessing your work as a blacksmith was not trademarked. We are talking legally protected intellectual property. It also gives rise to the almost daily "is this a real Fender" thread. I don't care if it was made in China or New Jersey. If it is an illegal counterfeit, it is wrong.

The subject here is not Chinese basses. It is Chinese knockoff basses, and the bass in question was an illegal counterfeit. If you buy a Squier or other legal bass made in China (or anywhere else), I have no issue.
 
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#270
buldog5151bass said:
The subject here is not Chinese basses. It is Chinese knockoff basses, and the bass in question was an illegal counterfeit. If you buy a Squier or other legal bass made in China (or anywhere else), I have no issue.
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This brings up something that never seems to get addressed in these threads: To those of you raising hell about decals and "deception," where do you draw the line? I see tons of local modders and plenty of posters here who build partscasters, modify Squiers, etc. and then slap "Fender" waterslide decals on the headstocks. Nobody ever calls them liars or thieves, even when they try to sell those instruments. Why not? Is a Squier with a Fender sticker on it no longer "deception" because our buddy XxBaSs-BoNg-LoRdxX on a forum did it?

This comes from a personal place of anguish because I'm currently trying to consign a partscaster for a customer who is trying to get $1500 for it and I've had to deal with hundreds of righteous "That aint a Fender" comments and it's really irritating. Just leave the sticker off, folks. For all of our sakes. Let the instrument speak for itself!
 
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#271
I bought a Chinese bass that's a counterfeit. i wish it didnt have a mother of pearl butterfly on the headstock, but it does..
the original company's name would have appeared on the truss rod cover and it doesn't on mine.
the electronics came basic (made to upgrade), but the body/neck etc is excellent and played as good as anything out of the box.
I paid $163 for it and the original would have been close to $9k.
it's going in for a fret dress and setup ($300). I already had an Aggie OBP-3 waiting for it, and will replace the pups when i figure out what i want.

factoring in what I've spent and will spend, this counterfeit knockoff will cost me $800, under a grand with a hardcase.

I went looking for a PJ cos I dont have one, and lefty's choices are limited. I found a PJ for $163, just happens to be a blatant copy of a signature model.

i dont feel as if i have sinned
 
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#272
creaturegods said:
This brings up something that never seems to get addressed in these threads: To those of you raising hell about decals and "deception," where do you draw the line? I see tons of local modders and plenty of posters here who build partscasters, modify Squiers, etc. and then slap "Fender" waterslide decals on the headstocks. Nobody ever calls them liars or thieves, even when they try to sell those instruments. Why not? Is a Squier with a Fender sticker on it no longer "deception" because our buddy XxBaSs-BoNg-LoRdxX on a forum did it?

This comes from a personal place of anguish because I'm currently trying to consign a partscaster for a customer who is trying to get $1500 for it and I've had to deal with hundreds of righteous "That aint a Fender" comments and it's really irritating. Just leave the sticker off, folks. For all of our sakes. Let the instrument speak for itself!
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I don't know what you are reading. People here get just as upset here when people put a Fender sticker on a Squier or parts bass - it's exactly as bad. It's also counterfeiting

FWIW, mine says "Bulldog Bat Company".
 
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#273
I put a 'Fender' decal I made on some of my parts basses. It says Fender Parts Bass. The little button decal at the tip of the headstock says Ripoff Contour Copy. Even though I matched the fonts pretty closely, I don't think I'm fooling anyone.
 
#274
few are outraged when they buy a product with a transistor or opamp for example that was ripped off of an american company if they can still get their electronics cheap. Someone here cares about the name on a basses headstock, someone else cares about a bit of software code, others a tee shirt label.
If we cared about the good of humanity, we'd just let the cheapest and most ecologically sound mfgr. make it for everyone.
 
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#277
wizard65 said:
While I agree these Chinese fakes are morally wrong, I’m not sure why we feel the need to be self appointed guardians of the Major guitar company’s bottom line.
I’m pretty sure if you or I went broke they couldn’t care less.
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y

Because wrong is wrong. Never mind many people here have IRAs, 401Ks, and maybe pensions invested in companies who hold intellectual property.

If you are willing to do the right thing, don't be upset if a bar owner refuses to pay you, or someone else screws you in a deal. After all, they are just trying to save money.
 
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#278
wizard65 said:
While I agree these Chinese fakes are morally wrong, I’m not sure why we feel the need to be self appointed guardians of the Major guitar company’s bottom line.
I’m pretty sure if you or I went broke they couldn’t care less.
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I essentially agree with this. I honestly don't think morality comes into play at all here because of the sizes of the companies involved, but I also don't think it's morally acceptable for anybody to be a millionaire, no matter how successful your brand is. But that's a whole other can of worms. ;)
People work for money. People can spend that money how they want to. That's the long and short of it, IMO.
 
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#279
creaturegods said:
I essentially agree with this. I honestly don't think morality comes into play at all here because of the sizes of the companies involved, but I also don't think it's morally acceptable for anybody to be a millionaire, no matter how successful your brand is. But that's a whole other can of worms. ;)
People work for money. People can spend that money how they want to. That's the long and short of it, IMO.
Click to expand...

If people work for money, and can spend it how they want, why is it immoral for them to be successful, as long as they do it in an ethical manner?
 
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