Fake Chinese Rickenbackers

[Stumbo]

Anyway... bought it from here The Top Guitars Company - Wholesale Guitars From China. No minimum. Shipped to the uk within a week, cleared customs in a day!

Here's the sales pitch from that website:

Frequently Asked Questions:

Why is the prices of your guitar is very reasonable?

Place of origin: Beijing, China (Factory Capital In the World)

Free Shipping: United Kingdom, United States, Sweden, Switzerland, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Malayasia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Puerto Rico, Spain.

Guitar is packed with Styrofoam (Fully Protected). Hard shell case, straps, tuners, and other accessories are not included in the package.

"Our expertise is to customize guitars according to the specifications of our clients and we have our own factory that recreates all major guitar brands, boutique brands and collectible guitars.

Owning the latest state of the art equipment, craftsmanship and skilled technicians. We take great pride in the quality and designs of our electric guitars and basses. From traditional to unique styles a U.S. Masters instrument rates with the finest in detail, woods, finish, feel, components and consistency.

Our version of Custom Shop Guitars is 95% same as the original in terms of quality and design, the parts are made and imported from China, Japan and Korea in order to manufacture the best musical instruments.

Our designs incorporate some advanced high performance features, some patented, to improve on aspects of sonic response and feel, upper fret access, the ease of playing, comfort and all designed to provide you with one of the finest responding instruments available.

These guitars are of the finest, and yet it is only fraction of the cost that you would normally pay. You may be wondering how such an amazing product could be so cheap, It is possible because it has been manufactured in China, where labor is cheap. Cheap labor does not mean that has been compromised; all parts are of the highest and have been imported from overseas.

When purchasing this guitar you can only stand to win. If you are satisfied, you have just saved yourself hundreds of dollars! So go on, treat yourself to the guitar you have always wanted. Our 100% satisfaction guarantee allows you to buy with confidence!"

 

[bassbenj]

For a Chinese import, these are pretty expensive. You can go to SX/Rondo and pay a quarter of that for known quality.

You have to figure you're paying a premium just for the shape.

As a huge SX fan I totally agree. These basses aren't quite the bargain they seem.

1. I've done business with Chinese direct places before (AK47 joke guitar) where English is definitely broken. HUGE hassle can ensue if slightest thing goes wrong. Yes, we eventually got it straightened out but just sayin'.

2. Yes, SX are only Fender clones, but SX has made an effort to build a bass that actually works. These other ones you may end up with a bass that only LOOKS like the one copied. OK i guess if showbiz is your goal. But as noted by audiomitch you are paying quite a premium for shape and looks.

3. viewed Stingray copies with interest. (Ha, they call them OLP copies...OK) Note facts. My OLP (new demonstrator) $100. Mine has nice real hardwood with maple top. Theirs basswood. Mine one pickup theirs two. (score one for them, but I have a box of fake OLP pickups like I'm sure they use: $20 each) Both basses passive. Theirs about $450. Right now used OLPs are easily going for $200. Double the fake price and you can probably buy a real used stingray.

See what I mean? So if your goal is to stand on stage and look like you are playing a Ric, well this may work out for you. But I know that when I played a Ric at the local shop it was the amazing tone and amazing feel of the instrument in my hands that made me fall in love. You know that is NEVER going to happen with these copies. So the audience won't know the difference, but you sure will.

Personally I don't care that the SX body shape looks like a Fender. I don't care that it says SX on the headstock. I play it for the way it sounds and feels. And I appreciate a bargain.

 

[Conan_Asomvel]

See what I mean? So if your goal is to stand on stage and look like you are playing a Ric, well this may work out for you. But I know that when I played a Ric at the local shop it was the amazing tone and amazing feel of the instrument in my hands that made me fall in love. You know that is NEVER going to happen with these copies. So the audience won't know the difference, but you sure will.

Well yeah, thats obvious. But you cant just go out and buy a lefty ricky, especially here in the UK, Like rocking horse ****. So ya know... what else ya gunna do?

 

[MIJ-VI]

This company is clearly ripping of Rickenbacker by not only copying their design, but by using their name as well. If you want a Rickenbacker, then save up and buy a real one. These companies are clearly engaging in criminal activity, and buying their products only means that you have now sunk to their level. Please support the companies that work so hard to develop the gear you love, by buying their products!

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Or pay for the fakes with counterfeit money.

 

[fenderhutz]

Anyone actually buy one of these? I need a 300 backup bass and just like the look of the Ric body, but I like the copies with the jazz pickups and 5 bolt Fender style bridge. Anyone buy one of these and can tell me if it showed up ok and if it was truly playable?

 

[Batmensch]

The mere fact that they are trying to make you believe these are real Rics is a huge red flag to me. Any company that starts off with such a huge lie, is not going to get my trust or my hard-earned money, no matter if they are decent basses or not.

 

[bassbenj]

Well yeah, thats obvious. But you cant just go out and buy a lefty ricky, especially here in the UK, Like rocking horse ****. So ya know... what else ya gunna do?

Sure, it does depend on the situation. Just like I have no doubt in my mind that if they had a fake 5 string Ric I'd buy one in an instant. Sure I'd probably have to work all over it to get it as decent as I could, but let's face it Ric dropped the ball on that one and I don't have a lot of sympathy for them. I was talking to the local bass shop about ordering a 5 string Ric right before they stopped making them. So yeah, instead of singing praises all over TB I'm a disgruntled customer.

But just buying a fake for a Ric look on stage isn't me.

 

[Chucklace1]

Broke down and got me a 4004LK copy from China...I admit it. With that said, it was the best 400 bucks I have invested. It is gorgeous, it plays magnificently well, it is neck through with a walnut body and maple neck (rosewood fingerboard) and the humbuckers sound amazing. I have two ricks...a 4003 and 4004 and the sound of it is very close to the Rick 4004, but the sound is just as good (and in some ways, better...the pickups are hotter). With that said, if I had gotten a piece of junk, I would have most likely been screwed so it was a risk and I knew that before spending the money. Furthermore, mine was custom built so it took over two months to get it. I needed to raise the bridge just a bit due to some fret buzzing, but now it sounds really good. I will be using this to record some (along with my T-bird and my Peavey Forum AX), but I will be using the fake Rick to play live since I can get any sound that I want from it fairly easily.