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Ric / Ric clone

M

mr-mungo

Mar 14, 2008
88
3
#1
Hi
I'm wondering whether anyone has encountered a very cheap Ricenbacker, or a Ricenbacker clone (a la early Joy Division) and can tell me what they think? It's always been a dream of mine to own one, but it looks like a poor quality copy is the best I can do... Any ideas on who makes one?
Thanks
MB
 
#2
My opinion: buying a poor quality clone will not cure that GAS. You'll get the look (and sometimes not much of that) and little else.
The copies I've seen (not many), some quite nice, didn't sound the same, and often didn't play all too well, but that by no means is a comprehensive sampling.

A lot of variables come into play, but the best copies seem to be 1970s vintage Ibanez. Not very easy to find, and not that cheap, but very nicely made. They seem to be very nice basses in their own right, and those that own them are usually quite reluctant to sell them.

If you can't afford a real one right now, start saving. There's no quick fix. I've been there myself many years ago.
 
#3
if for some reason you need something that has the "look", hell there are a dozen vendors selling ric copies as cheap as 300 bucks...even the Chinesse junk has a real ric TR cover but if you ever think it will "sound" like a ric? hahaha not a chance, just add a thousand to the price and you got a real looking, real sounding unit!!!
 
#7
Hi.

El-Maya, as said before, Ibanez, Kasuga, Herby, Heerby, etc., the list goes on.

There's one minor problem though. A mint/near mint 70's neck through copy will set You back nearly as much as a beat up or heavily modded "real deal".

I have no idea how the recent copies sound or play, but from what I have read, they're not even close to the Japanese copies from the 70's.

Regards
Sam
 
#8
I currently own a mid 70s, neck through Rick copy, in superb condition. It's got the CMI brand on the truss rod cover. I used to own a 1981 genuine 4001, and I prefer this 'inferior' copy. It nails the 'classic' Rick sound I'm after, probably better than the one I used to own.

I won't say what I paid for it but the guy I bought it from originally found it in a Cash Converters for £120. So they are about.
 
#10
Thanks for your comments, guys. The problem that I have is that it's simply too hard and too expensive to get hold of a good Ric, even second hand. I've been stung before, buying a cheap, second hand bass - I hate to say it, but in my price range, it'd be a lot easier and cheaper in the long run to get hold of a clone, that wouldn't require a lot of fixing. Any ideas there?
 
#11
Hi.
mr-mungo said:
Thanks for your comments, guys. The problem that I have is that it's simply too hard and too expensive to get hold of a good Ric, even second hand. I've been stung before, buying a cheap, second hand bass - I hate to say it, but in my price range, it'd be a lot easier and cheaper in the long run to get hold of a clone, that wouldn't require a lot of fixing. Any ideas there?
Click to expand...

The amount of high quality vintage NT Ric clones that are available gets fewer and fewer all the time. As the owners of such instruments have stated in every Ric clone thread, those are the only ones that come even close to the real deal.

Then again, hacked or modded to hell Rics are not that expensive on evil bay.

~$600 has been the price range on the ones I'd consider. Those deals aren't there every day, or even every month, so You have to be patient about it.


So it seems to me that in Your case it boils down to this: Do You seek the Ric appearance, or the Ric tone/sound?

Regards
Sam
 
#14
My Ric copy is a great playing/sounding bass. Ibanez 2388B, early 70's.

ricksmall.jpg


It has dual humbuckers PU's - some love or hate them. I snagged it for $275 on Craigslist. Cured my Rick gas, since I'm a Fender guy anyways.

Definitely has a unique tone, especially with the bridge PU on full, and tone up 100%, very plucky sounding. Or flip to the PU selector, full neck PU with tone rolled down and this thing is almost inaudibly boomy, in a good way. Sounded great detuned to drop D on some Hip Hop tracks I layed it down on.

IMO, the Ric copies, at least ones from the 70's, are tougher to find than a real Ric. If you wind up paying up to close to $700-$1000 for a copy, just buy the real thing.
 
#16
TMBTC, Nice Univox!

Here are a couple of pics of my '75 Univox Stereo with Bartolinis. I love these basses, no they don't sound or play exactly like a Ric (I have a '73 4001 to compare it too), but they are close.

DSC00052.jpg


DSC00053.jpg


I will also agree with what others have already mentioned, these "copies" are getting harder to find, and carrying a pretty hefty price tag. If you can't find one for under $600, I would reccomend saving up for a used Ric 4001/4003.
 

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