Rick, is it fake?

[benneburg]

Hey, again, here on TB.

Been offered a cheap Rickenbacker (copy?), and I'm very tempted to buy it.
Seller say it's made the same place as all Ricks are, but under the brand "Electro String Instrument Corporation" (ES) back in the 70's.
Truss-rod cover say "ES-S".
Single truss-rod.

Pictures say more than words, and just got some while I was typing the above, so here is a few pics.
(thumbnails)

Haven't seen any Ricks (or copies) around here for a very long time, talking years here guys, so might aswell just take it no matter what. Just want to hear your opinion.


benne^

 

[danomite64]

Fake.

 

[john_g]

Rics are made in the US and as far as I know they never made a knock-off version, so I think that is bogus. And it obviously is a copy, but I seriously doubt it was made "in the same place as Ric's".

 

[benneburg]

Yeah, thought so.
It's fairly cheap though (not America cheap, everything is expensive here compared to there), guess I have to check it out, might actually sound good.


benne^

 

[RCCollins]

Yeah, thought so.
It's fairly cheap though (not America cheap, everything is expensive here compared to there), guess I have to check it out, might actually sound good.


benne^

i wouldn't buy it unless it's REALLY cheap

 

[phatbass]

Seller say it's made the same place as all Ricks are, but under the brand "Electro String Instrument Corporation" (ES) back in the 70's.
(thumbnails)

Haven't seen any Ricks (or copies) around here for a very long time, talking years here guys, so might aswell just take it no matter what. Just want to hear your opinion.


benne^

Well, the same spiral arm of the Milky Way Galaxy, anyway...

 

[benneburg]

Will just continue waiting then, must be someone with a real Ric or Thunderbird in this country.

Thanks for the quick answers.


benne^

 

[lupien]

Check out this fake : Link Removed

Someone could get fooled pretty easily...

 

[David Jayne]

My guess is it was made by a short guy with dark hair.

 

[john_g]

i wouldn't buy it unless it's REALLY cheap

Unfortunately, even those Ric copies are not cheap (in comparison to other knock offs) But, if you could afford it, try it out. It could sound just like a Ric for alot less money.

 

[benneburg]

He want around $1200 for it, will try and get it down to $1000 or less, after I've tried it.


benne^

 

[Rumblefisher]

I wouldn't pay $1000 for it.

 

[triarii117]

Tuners give it away...

 

[bongomania]

In the US a really good vintage Ric copy will sell for around $600-$800 depending on condition.

 

[thedude77md]

Check out this fake : Link Removed

Someone could get fooled pretty easily...

Best one I've seen!

 

[Tegzsa]

This is in "The Illustrated Directory of Guitars", just to muddy the waters a little.

Electro String was Rickenbacker's original manufacturer and the brand was kept for instruments sold directly to teaching studios as a beginners outfit with amp and case.

Quoting from J. C Hall himself:

"Electro guitars were made in the same factory as Rickenbackers, and a lot of the models are the same [as] Rickenbacker models - except that they were not buffed out and polished to the same degree, in order to keep cost down."

The article goes on to say that if they ran out of Electro's for a particular order, then they would take a Rickenbacker, replace the logo and send it out as an Electro. I've seen pics of Electro guitars, but never a 4001.

 

[Mr. Mig]

$1200 for a ric fake that you haven't yet heard? It is not worth it.

 

[mkrtu9]

Check out this fake : Link Removed

Someone could get fooled pretty easily...

man that looks good

 

[benneburg]

Mr. Mig, can try it when I find someone with a car, seller is only around 1½ hours away. Wouldn't buy it without playing/hearing it first.

Tegzsa, interesting. Tried to google up some info, but didn't find any. Thanks for sharing.


benne^

 

[john_g]

This is in "The Illustrated Directory of Guitars", just to muddy the waters a little.

Electro String was Rickenbacker's original manufacturer and the brand was kept for instruments sold directly to teaching studios as a beginners outfit with amp and case.

Quoting from J. C Hall himself:

"Electro guitars were made in the same factory as Rickenbackers, and a lot of the models are the same [as] Rickenbacker models - except that they were not buffed out and polished to the same degree, in order to keep cost down."

The article goes on to say that if they ran out of Electro's for a particular order, then they would take a Rickenbacker, replace the logo and send it out as an Electro. I've seen pics of Electro guitars, but never a 4001.

Interesting...I did not know that.