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Greco Rickenbackers: Rare as hen's teeth?
- Thread starter iualum
- Start date
I think the lack of discussion is partly due to the lack of civility when if comes to Rickenbacker clones. These discussions almost invariably bring out partisan trolls on both sides of the Copyright/trademark infringement debate. Unfortunately that tends to obscure any rational discussion about their merits as instruments.
IUalum,
I think there are at least a few Greco "Lawsuit" Ric copy bass owners in Club Rickenfaker, check out that forum, at least you will get some opinions without a lot of noise and hyperbole.
I think there are at least a few Greco "Lawsuit" Ric copy bass owners in Club Rickenfaker, check out that forum, at least you will get some opinions without a lot of noise and hyperbole.
Thank you. Will do. Lawsuit or not, most of the (admittedly limited) info I have is that they're pretty nice instruments.
Yes, with a few exceptions, the lawsuit basses are generally quite good, which is one of the reasons why they are starting to appreciate in value. They are NOT at all comparable to the current Rickenfakers that are predominantly made in China, it is like apples and oranges.
Funny enough, there is a Greco lawsuit bass being used in a YT video that is linked to in another current thread at the moment in the amps forum. IMO, it sounds and looks pretty darn good!
Greco branded copies of Fenders and Gibsons get respect because they're solid instruments. There certainly doesn't seem to be as many Ricks, but the market is probably smaller....or at least it was in the 70's and 80's.
Yep. I've seen it, too. Looks pretty fab. Super tone. Great color also. Was the impetus for this thread
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There is a thread for rickenfakers or a club , something like that. Idk if any Grecos are in it.
Price is quite allright in Europe; there are some vintage shops that have them for sale in between 600 € tot 900 € (roughly 650 $ to 1000 $), Rick start about double that price...
I bought a ric for $1200 new from MF 2 years ago. The midnight blue.
Altho it was on sale with a discount coupon.
I see you're Europe though, probably harder to get Rics there.
Used RIC's a very affordable too.
just my opinion.
FWIW, I search for greco's on bEay too....every day.
NBD rare 1980 Clarke Spellbinder...pic heavy. | TalkBass.com
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Rics are harder to find around here : a new one will start at around 2000 € (~ 2200 $) and more, in a sale or with discount, you are able to find them as low as 1700 € ( ~ 1900 $).
The second hand market for Rics is really hard over here; if you can find a used one for 1250 € (~1400 $), you got yourself a bargain...
Rickenbacker is extremely diligent about closing down sales of any clones on E-bay. When they pop up for sale they get yanked really quick, so your chances of scoring one on E-bay are slim. You might have better luck on Craiglist or the TB classifieds, though I don't know what their policy is on Lawsuit basses.
Can confirm. Most Rics I see in Germany that aren't in horrible condition go for about 1300 to 1700€ used, and new for about 2000-2500€. Sometimes accompanied with a 6months (or longer) wait time...
@OP: If you haven't already you could check out this Thread: Club RickenFaker / FakenBacker - Show Your Fake Rics! | TalkBass.com
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I'm very leery of buying a Ric bass sight-unseen. The idea of Ric copies (not fakes) is intriguing to me, as there are some things I'd like to be different on the basses. Similar or same pickups, thinner neck, different bridge, no stereo output, and lack of body binding would all be appealing to me. I'd like to see somebody like Ibanez do their version of one. However, I'd want it to be passive and not active. Ibanez does love their active basses quite a bit 
Leaving aside discussion of "lawsuit" Rics, in general, Greco copies (of several companies' wares including Fender) are, in my experience, generally top-notch and on par with old Tokais, etc.
As with Tokais, many of the Greco Fender clones I've played have come really goshdarn close to some of the better Fenders I've played.
As with Tokais, many of the Greco Fender clones I've played have come really goshdarn close to some of the better Fenders I've played.
