RB-style bass, Rocktile Pro RB 400

[Nohrellas]

I found these interesting RB-style basses, it seems that some companies are selling them as DIY kit guitars, but you can also get them from Amazon and from a German shop fully assembled.



The body looks almost like an exact copy, but it's a 34'' scale length with a musicman-style bridge and a JB pickup and pickupcover (lol). The neck pickup is a mini humbucker and they changed the headstock. The neck is set-in instead of going all the way through, there is no stereo output or any fancy stuff, just a 3-way switch and 2 volume and 2 tone controls.

I'm considering getting one since I'll never get a real Ric anyway and because it should be an interesting project bass. I like the aesthetic and it should yield some interesting sounds with a neck pickup in that position.

I fully expect it to need a lot of attention, including a fretjob and a new nut, but this seems to be the only alternative in that pricerange that I don't need to import from China myself (and that is not claiming to be an actual RB).

 

[kodiakblair]

@Nohrellas

For more info you could post in the TB Rickenfaker thread or there's a Rickenfaker page on FB.
The folks on FB are kinda militant and I fear the Rocktile won't be "fake" enough for them

 

[Axstar]

It is just an assembled version of Pit Bull Guitars' RCA-4 kit. Such a weird mismatch of hardware. If it wasn't Rickenbacker shaped then probably nobody would be discussing it.

The Rickenfakers FB page is getting more militant, ironically enough, but it is worth recognising that '70s Japanese Rickenfakers are far higher quality instruments than modern Chinese bootleg Rickenbackers or these 'Rocktile' basses.

 

[Nohrellas]

@Nohrellas

For more info you could post in the TB Rickenfaker thread or there's a Rickenfaker page on FB.
The folks on FB are kinda militant and I fear the Rocktile won't be "fake" enough for them

It is just an assembled version of Pit Bull Guitars' RCA-4 kit. Such a weird mismatch of hardware. If it wasn't Rickenbacker shaped then probably nobody would be discussing it.

The Rickenfakers FB page is getting more militant, ironically enough, but it is worth recognising that '70s Japanese Rickenfakers are far higher quality instruments than modern Chinese bootleg Rickenbackers or these 'Rocktile' basses.

Ah, thanks I'll check it out. I know that there are far better RB-style copys out there but they are rare and even if they come up used somewhere they usually sell within a day or two and they cost quite a lot more than this Rocktile bass. I also don't really care about the weird mismatched hardware, I don't want to fool people into believing it is a real RB or that it looks exactly like one from afar, I just want a bass with that kind of aesthetic, and this Rocktile bass seems to be the cheapest and easiest way (not having to import them from China myself) that I can find.

 

[kodiakblair]

@Nohrellas

Don't forget the Bach River Boat basses from the Czech Rep.
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[Nohrellas]

@Nohrellas

Don't forget the Bach River Boat basses from the Czech Rep.
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Oh, very interesting! Thanks for the tip, I might need to reconsider this.

 

[Eli_Kyiv]

While you've mentioned the Czech Republic, let's remember Jolana D-Bass, made in Czechoslovakia in early 80's.

Sorry for the necroposting.

 

[Paulabass]

I found these interesting RB-style basses, it seems that some companies are selling them as DIY kit guitars, but you can also get them from Amazon and from a German shop fully assembled.

View attachment 2803675

The body looks almost like an exact copy, but it's a 34'' scale length with a musicman-style bridge and a JB pickup and pickupcover (lol). The neck pickup is a mini humbucker and they changed the headstock. The neck is set-in instead of going all the way through, there is no stereo output or any fancy stuff, just a 3-way switch and 2 volume and 2 tone controls.

I'm considering getting one since I'll never get a real Ric anyway and because it should be an interesting project bass. I like the aesthetic and it should yield some interesting sounds with a neck pickup in that position.

I fully expect it to need a lot of attention, including a fretjob and a new nut, but this seems to be the only alternative in that pricerange that I don't need to import from China myself (and that is not claiming to be an actual RB).

Hard to say 'copy' when apperantly the manufacturer has never seen a Rickenbacker.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

If it’s actually an assembled Pitbull bass, I’d avoid it. Looks like set neck in the photo, which is the weak point on these clones. They rely on a neck tenon into the body for strength, and then hog away half the tenon for the neck pup route. Meh. The Harley Benton clone looks like a better bass all around, with just enough difference to prevent counterfeit status. There just isn’t any substitute for a real Ric, although the “lawsuit” Japanese clones like the Fernandes, Univox or Ibanez were the best of the lot. As to the ban on “praising” counterfeits, it only seems to apply to Ric fakers, other obviously copied bass designs and IP are ignored on TB. If the moderators applied that standard more evenly, they’d be stomping on threads all day long. Ric blatantly ripped off the Tubeampology Treble Bezel, as Clear a case of IP theft as I can think of, yet it’s apparently ok to “praise” how the Ric counterfeit Treble Bezel looks on the Ric threads. Strange. No "praise" on this video. He just plays it. Draw your own conclusions.

 

[Koshchei]

If it’s actually an assembled Pitbull bass, I’d avoid it. Looks like set neck in the photo, which is the weak point on these clones. They rely on a neck tenon into the body for strength, and then hog away half the tenon for the neck pup route. Meh. The Harley Benton clone looks like a better bass all around, with just enough difference to prevent counterfeit status. There just isn’t any substitute for a real Ric, although the “lawsuit” Japanese clones like the Fernandes, Univox or Ibanez were the best of the lot. As to the ban on “praising” counterfeits, it only seems to apply to Ric fakers, other obviously copied bass designs and IP are ignored on TB. If the moderators applied that standard more evenly, they’d be stomping on threads all day long. Ric blatantly ripped off the Tubeampology Treble Bezel, as Clear a case of IP theft as I can think of, yet it’s apparently ok to “praise” how the Ric counterfeit Treble Bezel looks on the Ric threads. Strange. No "praise" on this video. He just plays it. Draw your own conclusions.

It does a pretty credible job of sounding like a Rickenbacker too.