NBD times three, including a Fakenbacker

[BassikLee]

Local once a month musician's swap meet. I haven't been in a while. Anyway, I show up early, walk thru the partially set up booths, and see this decent looking fake Ric. Neck thru, binding, shark tooth, toaster looking neck pickup, marked at $299. Walk past it. There really isn't much else to look at in the other booths, so I strike up a conversation with the guy with the Fakenbacker. He's got that, and a Yamaha BB300, and a Tobias 4 string. Possibly Toby, definitely Korean. He's dealing more in guitar stuff and parts than bass stuff. I make him an offer on all three basses, he accepts, and I brought them home.

All three are surprisingly decent basses. The "Ric" looks close enough that it gets the idea across. I can flip the Yamaha and the Tobias (even with custom weight relief) for more than I paid for all three. Sunday morning score.

 

[Lance Bunyon]

Cool bases! In In before the bootleg Ric crowd ruins the thread...

 

[elgranluis]

Love the ric. The price was great too ! Congrats ! Is it Chinese ?

 

[Bassbeater]

I used to have a BB300, it was easy to play and had a nice punchy sound. The Fric looks pretty decent. Good score!

 

[Rib 13]

congrats.....all three of those used to be mine/ part of my beater collection (jam around the house)......The Ric clone is a Chinese copy, very very well made but the electronics suck (Swap the pickups and it should be stellar).....The Tobias was sold to me by a friend in not working condition - I fixed it. The Tobias has some amazing growl...The Yamaha I found at a Pawn Shop (there were paint speckles on the finish when I got it...are they still there?)......I had roughly what you paid for them in them...I sold them because I didnt need a bunch of beaters hanging around the house (The Ric copy isnt a beater)...glad you said they were all decent because I do my own setups (granted, I dont put a whole lot into setups in beater basses...just enough for me to play).

 

[JW56789]

It's sad somehow that even fake Rics have a more decent bridge than that . . . . . thing . . . . . . the real ones come with. Somehow it's like new Fords would still have flathead v8's . . . .

 

[Lance Bunyon]

It's sad somehow that even fake Rics have a more decent bridge than that . . . . . thing . . . . . . the real ones come with. Somehow it's like new Fords would still have flathead v8's . . . .

I lost count how many times I cut my hand on the Rickenbacker Bridge.

 

[kodiakblair]

Great find there Lee

 

[Gilmourisgod]

I haven’t cut my hand, but I have jabbed it a few times on the bridge height screws. Been looking for a hex or round head replacement screw to remove that annoyance. Nice score on the Faker, you can reduce stank received by losing the fake Ric TRC, or put a sticker over it. That’s what riles people up most. The Yamaha looks the best of the lot, nice score.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Question on the Faker bridge, are the saddles individually height adjustable, and do the “knobs” do anything, or are they just for show?

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

Love the ric. The price was great too ! Congrats ! Is it Chinese ?

We're talking mass-produced Chinese counterfeits here. The OP could have bought a new one from China for less than $299.

Wholesale Factory 22 frets 4 strings cream coloured Model 4003 electric bass with white pickguard,2 pickups,can add hardcase-in Guitar from Sports & Entertainment on Aliexpress.com | Alibaba Group

It's sad somehow that even fake Rics have a more decent bridge than that . . . . . thing . . . . . . the real ones come with. Somehow it's like new Fords would still have flathead v8's . . . .

Unless they have changed something, the bridge on a Chinabacker is flat and impossible to do a proper setup on. I have a friend with one and I had to help him make some saddle shims to get it setup properly. This one looks the same. That being said, it still might be an improvement.

 

[Lance Bunyon]

And so it begins!

 

[Rib 13]

We're talking mass-produced Chinese counterfeits here. The OP could have bought a new one from China for less than $299.

Wholesale Factory 22 frets 4 strings cream coloured Model 4003 electric bass with white pickguard,2 pickups,can add hardcase-in Guitar from Sports & Entertainment on Aliexpress.com | Alibaba Group



Unless they have changed something, the bridge on a Chinabacker is flat and impossible to do a proper setup on. I have a friend with one and I had to help him make some saddle shims to get it setup properly. This one looks the same. That being said, it still might be an improvement.

a few differences in that one you posted....First thing is that the one I had/the OP bought was a thru body neck...the other (and main difference) is the frets -- the one you posted (like many Chinese copies - not all, tho) have one extra fret. .Its one of the things to look for in a fake. However, This one has the right amount of frets......The difference in the one I had/OP has now is the headstock - its tilted and Rics dont have tilted headstocks

 

[Gilmourisgod]

The Hipshot Ric bridges will fit the Fakers AFAIK, they are both flat bottom bridges, with no routed recess like the real ones. I’ve read the same about these bridges, no good way to adjust to match the FB radius, but if you can shim it, it would be set and forget it anyway.

 

[Deleted member 165050]

In one deal you bought more basses than I own! Enjoy the new ones

 

[troy mcclure]

But Lee they only have 4 strings.... I guess you will have to trade them to me for something....

 

[JRA]

1. congratulations on your new instrument!

2. congratulations on your other new instrument!

3. congratulations on your other new instrument!

 

[Jscriv]

You could sell that truss rod cover and make a good chunk back! I sold a Korean Tobias 6 back in the day. They sound great for what they are. Sweet score

 

[NOVAX]

I love how people pile on the rick bridge. It's like shooting fish in a barrel. Doesn't the lawn need mowing?

 

[NOVAX]

The difference in the one I had/OP has now is the headstock - its tilted and Rics dont have tilted headstocks

My 4001 and 4003 both have subtle tilts in the headstock. Granted not 45 degrees, but slanted nonetheless. Am I seeing things? I'll admit I used to think that they were flat until I actually examined the situation a little bit closer.