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NBD El Maya Rickenbacker Clone!!!

#21
Gizmot said:
Just because it looks a lot like a Ric doesn't mean it's a substitute for the REAL thing. It's good if you're happy, but you still want the real thing
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Yeah, as everyone's said, I've got 2 of em.

I think if this was my first Ric style bass, I think you're right, I'd want the real thing.

But now that I own both real and a copy, I'd safely say these copies ARE a substitute for the real thing.

Now I've got a Ric for rounds, Ric for flats, and a fretless. Besides buying for looks (would love to have white Ric or pink, etc), I'd like to have one converted to a 5 and call it a day.

Eilif said:
I have never seen a fingerboard that thick before. Reminds me of an upright board and you could almost make 3 standard boards out of it. It looks to be as thick and structural as the neck itself!
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I know! I didn't realize it when I saw pictures of it. It shocked me when I picked it up. I love thick nevks, so it was a pleasant surprise
 
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#25
Love the S copies. Almost bought the 4001/copy in the classifieds for the same price, but this was more my style.

woodyng said:
That is an extremely cool S copy. I am unfamiliar with "el Maya" brand,i take it this was yet another offshoot from the matsuyoku (sp) factory?
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Apparently they're were made by chushin gakki, who later went on to produce guitars for charvel and other brands.

El Maya was the upscale brand, and Maya produced cheaper copies.
 
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#27
primussucks9126 said:
But now that I own both real and a copy, I'd safely say these copies ARE a substitute for the real thing.
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I think this is actually a pretty strong consensus from those that have played the lawsuit basses. Those Japanese factories did a fantastic job with these, and the current values they get on the used market reflect that. I've owned 2 Rics myself, and if I get another it'll be a lawsuit one for sure. Besides, that's what Peter Hook played in Joy Division - a Hondo lawsuit Ric. That is what I'd love! :)
 
#28
blindrabbit said:
I think this is actually a pretty strong consensus from those that have played the lawsuit basses. Those Japanese factories did a fantastic job with these, and the current values they get on the used market reflect that. I've owned 2 Rics myself, and if I get another it'll be a lawsuit one for sure. Besides, that's what Peter Hook played in Joy Division - a Hondo lawsuit Ric. That is what I'd love! :)
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Yeah man! I love Peter Hook. Part of my early obsession with Rics. Don't think I've ever seen a Hondo one for sale.
 
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#29
primussucks9126 said:
Yeah man! I love Peter Hook. Part of my early obsession with Rics. Don't think I've ever seen a Hondo one for sale.
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They are tough to find. You've also got to know where to look, given that the Rickenwaffen puts in massive effort to prevent transactions with these basses on marketplaces like ebay and other. I have stumbled across one, but it was pretty beat. I've come close to grabbing a couple of other lawsuit ones, but nothing yet. Soon, though. Soon. :)
 
#30
I'm a Ric guy, but some of the hatred people get for playing copies is just nuts on this board. I feel that the anger about the counterfeit Chinese copies is justified. The complaints about someone buying a 30yr old clone made by a major manufacturer in a totally different era is absurd. The instinctive "it's not like the real thing" mantra also irritating in these cases. Some of the Japanese made clones are very high quality and are at times pretty damn close to the "real thing". While I wouldn't play one of the modern day counterfeit jobs, I would play a nice Ibanez one if I came across it at a good price. That being said I wouldn't trade my 4003w for anything. If I had the funds, I'd have one in each color:)
 
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#31
leegreenman said:
I'm a Ric guy, but some of the hatred people get for playing copies is just nuts on this board.
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Something that I haven't figured out is this - I understand that RIC has trademark concerns with the shape of their instruments. Fine, whatever. But, it seems to me that the main appeal to the 4001/3 basses is their *sound*, which as I understand comes mostly from the maple through-body neck, the primitive single-coil pickups, and where they're located. Why is it that there don't seem to be any other manufacturers that produce an instrument that offers the same fundamental construction features (consequently giving the instrument a similar timbre), but in a more traditional body/headstock shape to avoid the wrath of John Hall? A Jazz-shaped axe that sounds like a 4003 would be an instrument I'd be interested in checking out, and I can't be the only person that feels that way. Hell, you could go all Dave Meros on it and have an instrument that gives both a 4003 *and* Jazz timbre.

Edit - fixed some grammatical failure on my part
 
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#32
CGremlin said:
Something that I haven't figured out is this - I understand that RIC has trademark concerns with the shape of their instruments. Fine, whatever. But, it seems to me that the main appeal to the 4001/3 basses is their *sound*, which as I understand comes mostly from the maple through-body neck, the primitive single-coil pickups, and where they're located. Why is it that there don't seem to be any other manufacturers that produce an instrument that offers the same fundamental construction features (consequently giving the instrument a similar timbre), but in a more traditional body/headstock shape to avoid the wrath of John Hall? A Jazz-shaped axe that sounds like a 4003 would be an instrument I'd be interested in checking out, and I can't be the only person that feels that way. Hell, you could go all Dave Meros on it and have an instrument that gives both a 4003 *and* Jazz timbre.
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I think there are a few reasons.
1. Advertising could be tricky. I can't imagine that RIC would take "get the Rickenbacker sound without the price/hassle/whatever" ads lying down.
2. There probably isn't a market for high-end versions of this. After all, folks who want a 1.5k American-made bass that sounds like a Ric are just gonna buy a Ric most of the time.
3. I think there could be a market for a good import Ric knockoff sold around $500. However, I don't know that the market is large enough to be worth the attempt, especially given:
A: From what I've seen, a majority of the folks buying the cheap Chinese counterfeits just want them for the appearance, not the sound.
B. Anyone who really wants the Ric sound on the cheap can always buy the pickups and wiring harness and slap them in a cheaper bass.
 
#33
CGremlin said:
Something that I haven't figured out is this - I understand that RIC has trademark concerns with the shape of their instruments. Fine, whatever. But, it seems to me that the main appeal to the 4001/3 basses is their *sound*, which as I understand comes mostly from the maple through-body neck, the primitive single-coil pickups, and where they're located. Why is it that there don't seem to be any other manufacturers that produce an instrument that offers the same fundamental construction features (consequently giving the instrument a similar timbre), but in a more traditional body/headstock shape to avoid the wrath of John Hall? A Jazz-shaped axe that sounds like a 4003 would be an instrument I'd be interested in checking out, and I can't be the only person that feels that way. Hell, you could go all Dave Meros on it and have an instrument that gives both a 4003 *and* Jazz timbre.

Edit - fixed some grammatical failure on my part
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I did that.

PaulP-18.jpg


Custom warmoth Jaguar with maple body, maple neck, ebony board, fralin 51 style humbuckers, assembled/reshaped and finished by John Kallas. 2 front pickups are in the Ric spots.

Judge for yourself if it sounds like one. I'm happy with it.

Paul Paldino's profile - Listen to music

It cost quite a bit more than a Ric, but I'm sure a big company could come up with something similar on a budget. It's also very heavy. Would love to have a revised version made in the future.

Waterstone also makes the lord Kitchener and the MB.
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Pickups look to be in the wrong spots. Odd since they even went as far as to mimic the scale.

And T40s with the pickups flipped are scary close for a standard production bass.
 
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