Nipponbacker

[Rick557]

That's really cool to land a good quality copy without the binding and inlays. How does it play/sound?
Was there ever a set neck 2 pickup version from RIC?

I don't think many were made like it. It's considered a McCartney tribute. Like most Rics, this one is neck through, as opposed to a set neck.

 

[rickwebb]

Score!! I myself always preferred the "dots and no binding" 4001S.

 

[Rick557]

Score!! I myself always preferred the "dots and no binding" 4001S.

Me too!

 

[Pdaddy1978]

First off, congrats on your cool new bass. It looks great.
Still trying to fully understand one question tho. Does an "old" Ric copy help you skirt the "fake Ric" police? Would this be a pre "lawsuit " example?
In the eyes of the Rickenbacker consigniera does age of instrument give a person more...leeway ?
As long as said instrument isn't trying to identify as a real Ric of course.

 

[Rick557]

First off, congrats on your cool new bass. It looks great.
Still trying to fully understand one question tho. Does an "old" Ric copy help you skirt the "fake Ric" police? Would this be a pre "lawsuit " example?
In the eyes of the Rickenbacker consigniera does age of instrument give a person more...leeway ?
As long as said instrument isn't trying to identify as a real Ric of course.

There were for sure, many lawsuits from this era against companies that didn't label their instruments with counterfeit logos. It was still considered patent infringement. Some of these still successful companies, such as Ibanez and Aria Pro primarily produced knockoffs prior to coming up with their own designs. The big difference between these instruments and blatenty counterfeit Chinese versions is that they weren't misrepresented as something they're not on the headstock and in many cases, they were made with equal, if not superior workmanship.

 

[Rick557]

I don't think many were made like it. It's considered a McCartney tribute. Like most Rics, this one is neck through, as opposed to a set neck.

And I had to do a little adjusting on the neck but it plays and soubds great!

 

[Relsom]

I believe there was a set neck Ric version, but it's a pretty limited run. They never did a bolt on 4001 style, so that's a pretty quick "tell" on copies. The Japanese copies are usually very well made, nice score.

Yeah, I thought the single pickup 4000 was the only set neck unless some of the early 60s models were that way. Those early McCartney and Squire models were neck through, right?

 

[kodiakblair]

There were for sure, many lawsuits from this era against companies that didn't label their instruments with counterfeit logos.

Was there ?

I've only ever heard of one actual lawsuit, with papers served; Gibson vs Ibanez. It was settled before the court date.

 

[Rick557]

Was there ?

I've only ever heard of one actual lawsuit, with papers served; Gibson vs Ibanez. It was settled before the court date.

I don't actually know the answer to that. I guess a better way to say it was that the manufacturers weren't happy and I'm sure threats were at least made. You have to wonder why the Japanese companies wouldn't have continued to do it on a large scale...

 

[kodiakblair]

You have to wonder why the Japanese companies wouldn't have continued to do it on a large scale...

Confidence.

By the mid to late 70's most of the Japanese guitar factories had been running for 15 or more years. They had proficient workers and skilled experienced engineers/designers. Folk like Aria Pro and Ibanez could remain known only for copycat guitars or compete as actual brands.

They decided to compete, with $700 - $800 basses


Aria Pro's SB-1000 and Ibanez's Musician really moved the goalposts, no longer was Japan the land of cheap guitars