Is this a Ric?

[robd]

Some guy emailed me some pictures of a bass he's selling. Looks like a Ric but it has a Miller Beer Logo where the Ric logo should be.

You hardly see any Ric clones so I'm thinking maybe this is the real deal but some drunk put a beer logo on the headstock.

anyway, I dont know enough about Rics to know if it's for real or not. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Invalid Link Removed

Invalid Link Removed

Invalid Link Removed

 

[manbass]

Not

 

[robd]

heres the head

 

[robd]

ok that was quick...how can you tell?

 

[moomoocajoo]

Tuners are not orig but everything else looks very rick to me.

BUT to say there aren't many rick clones isn't quite right! Lots of copies were made in the 70s now the so called lawsuit basses. I think you can guess why.

My bet that if it isn't an actual rick its probably a very good clone. But then, I'm no expert

 

[Geddyfleaharris]

I am not real great at spotting fakes but the tuners and the headstock just don't look right to me. It could be the pictures though. Is there an extra strap holder on the bottom horn?

But if it isn't real then it looks like a pretty solid clone.

 

[Wwolof]

Clone.

 

[robd]

"Is there an extra strap holder on the bottom horn?"

Looks that way to me but I have not seen the bass in person, all I have seen are the pics I posted here.

I only play 5er's but figured if I could pick up a Ric for a few hundred bucks it would be worth it but if it's a clone I may not even be able to sell it for that

 

[robd]

Cmon guys, tell us why it's not real - besides the miller label and the tuners...share your knowledge

 

[moomoocajoo]

You may not even be able to sell it, full stop if it is!

 

[SirCanealot]

I thought Rickenbacker was fine on building your own Ric clone, or the small trading of Ric clones? It's the companies making them that they go after?

Anyway, how much are you getting offered for it? If it's cheap, you might wanna go for it. Ric or not, it looks like a stylish bass!

 

[moomoocajoo]

I think rick make ebay pull US auctions on any rick clones don't they?

Maybe not, I just was under the impression they pretty much try to stop anyone selling the things

 

[thehangingmist]

yeah the tunes look different but check it out even if its not a ric you never know what it might sound/feel like

 

[RickenBoogie]

The body and everything on it looks like the real deal, but the headstock and tuners are not. So, it's gotta be a fake, but a good one. Personally, I'd pass, but if you can get it cheap enough, and don't plan on selling it on Ebay, go for it. If nothing else, it's a great conversation peice. (and, you can sell them, just not publicly)

 

[Phantopeth]

If you compare the headstock photo the the one I've attached of the headstock of my Rickenbacker, you can see that the pointed corners on the suspect bass appear far too rounded. The difference in the tuning machine pegs are obvious.

It's really tough to tell with the body. If that's also cloned, they appear to have done a real good job of it, even the bridge looks genuine. Any better close-ups of the body?