Need Help. Fake Rik Bass?

[Zooberwerx]

Fake but a nice trip down memory lane. Everybody down here remembers The Candy Snatchers.

Riis

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Yeah, that’s recent Chickenbacker vintage, probably less than 6 years or so, which is about how long that specific version has been selling on Aliexpress and others. I’ve played one, not as bad as you might think, but didn’t sound much like a Ric. The fretwork on the one I played was horrendous, but the quality varies wildly depending which of many factories that make these cranked it out. Take the fake Ric TRC off it, and nobody’s going to hassle you about it. With a little work and parts upgrades, it could be a decent player. One easy upgrade is the electronics, the pots are cheap mini alpha type, thin gauge wiring, no shielding, etc. It would be a fun project, or just keep it as a beater.

 

[Gunga Din]

The profile of the neck on that thing!

 

[smtp4me]

Hello my name is nate and my uncle willy gave me a Rickenbacker 4 string bass last year. My uncle Willy played In The Candy Snatchers back in the early to late 90s Harcore VA beach Punk scene. He has always given me guitars and bass guitars. Hell when I was 15 he gave me his Gibson Grabber.
Anyways. I was just looking at it and I noticed I couldn't find a Stamp or Logo on it other than at the head of the Guitar where the normal White Name plate is and the black RickenBacker letters. At first the letters looked Funny. Like it had been partially scratched off in one part. And then I noticed the Size of the whole Rickenbacker name plate. It didnt extend at the bass to the full width of the fret. And that's when I saw it. On both sides of the white plate it looked Rough with little jagged Mark's like someone took the plate and rubbed it on cement on the sides or its Cut Mark's from a tool. Lemme upload some pics.
The input plate is definitely not original but I think willy said he got it without one and had to put that one on. He might of not even noticed the logo. He always gives me Guitars so its normal. See the jagged Mark's on the side of the rickenbacker logo?

As others have mentioned - it is a fake, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Just in case you are interested to know how to spot a fake in the future: compare the bridge and the neck pickup cover of this bass to a real Ric. You will immediately see differences. For example this bass is missing the string mute on the bridge, and it just looks different; count the number of frets - from the photos it looks like this bass has at least one fret too many. As you noticed and mentioned, the name plate is also not standard.

 

[40Hz]

 

[Guzzi Toad]

Oddly, they got the general contour of the "Double-Hump" pickguard correct. And as a bonus, they added a little bit of tail-lift.

 

[jamro217]

Thoughtful gift, but not a Rickenbacker.

 

[Planespotter]

I love the Candy Snatchers! Was the Gibson he gave you the one he toured with in the late 90s?

 

[Wesley R]

For the non Ric addicts: what are the three first or biggest tells that it is a fake?

 

[JohnnyBottom]

Uncle Willy live...woudlve been cool if he was playing the Chick.

 

[lug]

For the non Ric addicts: what are the three first or biggest tells that it is a fake?

Neck inlays look terrible, Bridge pup cover wrong, the binding extends all the way around the bottom of the body, output jack, several others.

 

[deff]

This entire thread seems really weird to me, like an elaborate bad troll that doesn't really have a point. The Candy Snatchers were one of the best live bands of that genre and era. Certainly they were right in line with bands like The Supersuckers and Zeke, Hot Snakes, Riverboat Gamblers, NBT, etc. Basically the best rock bands in America at that time.

 

[LoTone]

Your Uncle must be a guitar player by the way the strings are setup on the head stock.

 

[Gringo Basso]

OP - are you for real, or just bored? If not, I'll get you a great deal on beachfront real estate in Bombay Beach, California.
Cheaper than a real Ric for a beachfront lot - lemme know and I'll hook you up dude.

 

[Guzzi Toad]

This entire thread seems really weird to me, like an elaborate bad troll that doesn't really have a point.

OP - are you for real, or just bored?

These threads do seem to pop up on a regular frequency.
ie: OP has never posted before. Has been gifted a rare or valuable sumthin-sumthin and wants to know if it's real or alternatively, and in a round about way, its value. OP posts 2 or 3 replies - maybe up to a half a dozen, then Poof. Never to be heard from again.

In all fairness, I guess he never did actually say that Uncle Willy played the guitar either back in the day or even yesterday for that matter.

I watched as much of that YouTube clip as I could stomach. It made me feel better about my playing abilities and the musicianship of my band back in '78 thru '82 or so. Geez, we were 14 or 15 years old in 1978 when we started.

 

[Wesley R]

Neck inlays look terrible, Bridge pup cover wrong, the binding extends all the way around the bottom of the body, output jack, several others.

OK, Thanks

 

[Ric5]

Hello my name is nate and my uncle willy gave me a Rickenbacker 4 string bass last year. My uncle Willy played In The Candy Snatchers back in the early to late 90s Harcore VA beach Punk scene. He has always given me guitars and bass guitars. Hell when I was 15 he gave me his Gibson Grabber.
Anyways. I was just looking at it and I noticed I couldn't find a Stamp or Logo on it other than at the head of the Guitar where the normal White Name plate is and the black RickenBacker letters. At first the letters looked Funny. Like it had been partially scratched off in one part. And then I noticed the Size of the whole Rickenbacker name plate. It didnt extend at the bass to the full width of the fret. And that's when I saw it. On both sides of the white plate it looked Rough with little jagged Mark's like someone took the plate and rubbed it on cement on the sides or its Cut Mark's from a tool. Lemme upload some pics.
The input plate is definitely not original but I think willy said he got it without one and had to put that one on. He might of not even noticed the logo. He always gives me Guitars so its normal. See the jagged Mark's on the side of the rickenbacker logo?

That bass is a new Chinese fake Rickenbacker … This is a modern fake and not a 90s bass … it is not worth much … if you like it then play it and have fun

 

[JeroB666]

These threads do seem to pop up on a regular frequency.
ie: OP has never posted before. Has been gifted a rare or valuable sumthin-sumthin and wants to know if it's real or alternatively, and in a round about way, its value. OP posts 2 or 3 replies - maybe up to a half a dozen, then Poof. Never to be heard from again.

I was just going to say the same. Seems to me they are trying to see what makes it an obvious fake and change it and try selling it to an unsuspecting victim... Same M.O for most of the threads, new user, awesome back story, fake bass...

 

[bolophonic]

Definitely a copy. I grew up in VA Beach and definitely saw your uncle’s band play more than once. Those were good times, the 757 hardcore/posthardcore scene was pretty great. Got to see & play a ton of fantastic shows.. thanks for the nostalgia trip (for real) lol

I went to high school with Larry May.

 

[zombywoof5050]

Regardless of what it is, at least put on an E string that's the correct length.