It was on the for sale forum the other week, pm him, it might not be sold yet.When you get tired of that Tobacco Burst ...you just let me know.I have 3 of the real deals but that Tobacco is the one copy I would buy in a heart beat!
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Rickenbacker 4001 copies
- Thread starter mcbrat
- Start date
Unless he just listed it Hemiton just bought the bass 2 or 3 weeks ago. Haven't tried to pry it out of his hands yet. lol
Quadzilla
Supporting Member
Well if any of you are interested in a real Ric 4001 (maple glow w a Birdseye maple body), I'm going to list mine for sale, as I got laid off @ work (along w 449 other people where I work) and need the cash. Pictures and ad coming tomorrow, but you can PM me until then...
Surprise! (panda)
Link Removed
This is my new rickencopy. I just picked it up yesterday, secondhand, for €400,-. Man, it was shot to sh*t, I almost wound up not buying it. But alas, in the end I couldn't resist.
It's a shame I didn't make any pictures before cleaning and stuff, as it was in a really bad shape. It cleaned up very nicely though (with some help from my dad).
For one thing, the whachamacallit, you know, the thing that covers the bridge PU and most people take off (Horseshoe cover?) was on top of the bridge PU bracket, instead of coming up from under it, you know what I mean? I've never seen that before. It's like the dude I bought it from took it off once and put it back later when he couldn't remember how. This caused the bridge PU to be heightened (Because the PU and coverthing are both attached with the same screws, having the cover on top it acted like a spacer). This was so bad that at it's lowest point, the PU still touched the strings when fretted. I've no idea how the guy played this thing. Probably without the cover and he wanted to put the cover back for the sale. It's fixed now at any rate.
By the way, the horseshoethingy is plastic. I know, right?
Anyhoo, this baby has one trussrod and the scale length is about 33,25 methinks. I have no idea what brand it is. I was told it was an Ibanez, but I was under the impression that Ibanez didn't put "Rickenbacker" on the headstock, did they?
Link Removed
And that's another thing, the headstock logo has this weird font. Not sure what to think of it.
Moving on, we have the huuuuuge 'bucker between the neck and bridge PU. Believe it or not, that's not stock. Hehe. The dude I bought the bass from didn't put it in, he bought the bass with it already installed. He knew it was a Dimarzio however. From looking around on the web, I came to the conclusion it's probably a DP120. I know jack sh*t about these PU's, do any of you? It sounds real muddy an' big an' round 'n' stuff. Like yo momma.
Link Removed
And rounding off this little tour we have the electronics department. These are a bit suspect. Obviously, the guy who put "yo momma" in had to throw some controls in there.
He did.
Link Removed
Now. If I had my way, I'd have knob B be the volume for yo momma, and switch A the on/off switch. That way, all PU combinations are possible, because you control the other two PU's with the main PU selector. Maybe I'd make switch C a coil split switch or something.
However, I never had my way with yo momma.
As it turns out, I'm not sure how it's wired now. As of yet I haven't had the chance to open her up and check. What I've found without opening her up:
- I can't for the life of me get the neck PU to work;
- Knob B is indeed yo momma's volume;
- Switch A switches between the bridge PU and yo momma (mutually exclusive);
- The switch C! It does NOTHING! (Nothing apparent anyway).
- It does have the double outputs (one says "standard" and the other one says "Stereo-sound"). When I use the "stereo-sound" output, I only get the bridge PU though. Not sure what the skinny is on this.
Strange, no? I'm probably gonna take it to see the bassguitardoctor for this. I'm not that handy with a soldering iron, so...
So, anyone wanna tell me what brand of bass this is? And update my kudos-o-meter for having the baddest bass in town?
OMG, I'm so calling this axe Leroy Brown...
Ibanez. Bolt-on. 33.25" scale, to my knowledge. I think at least the bridge pickup is an actual Ric one, too (at least, it fit with the Ric pickup cover I bought), though it is upside down.
Since I took these pictures, I put a hipshot bridge one, which looks somewhat different.
Since I took these pictures, I put a hipshot bridge one, which looks somewhat different.
It's a DiMarzio Model I, switchable to single coil. They're junk, well made & all that but no character. Made as a replacement for the Gibson EB basses Mudbucker (why anyone would do that is beyond me!)
Had one in an EB3 when I bought it, & got rid of it pronto!
When you get tired of that Tobacco Burst ...you just let me know.
Excuse me, but I believe I was in line ahead of you.
Just kidding.
It is a nice looking bass.
I would chuck that mudbucker, clean the bass up, get a new guard, and rewire it, but that's just me.
Trademark detail: it's illegal to sell a copy, not to own one. As long as you don't make it too publicly obvious you shouldn't have any trouble.
RIC stamps these sales out as soon as they can find 'em, otherwise they lose precedent and can find it difficult to keep enforcing their trademarks, that's why they're so diligent.
If Fender and Gibson had taken the same steps back in the day, there would be far fewer clones around.
I always wondered if the copies had the bas cut cap in the treble pup circuit like Ricks do.
Anyone know?
Trademark detail: it's illegal to sell a copy, not to own one. As long as you don't make it too publicly obvious you shouldn't have any trouble.
RIC stamps these sales out as soon as they can find 'em, otherwise they lose precedent and can find it difficult to keep enforcing their trademarks, that's why they're so diligent.
If Fender and Gibson had taken the same steps back in the day, there would be far fewer clones around.
I always wondered if the copies had the bas cut cap in the treble pup circuit like Ricks do.
Anyone know?
here's mine:
I got it on ebay for $600. a little steep, but I really wanted it! its a Matsumoku/Westone from 74, I think. plays amazing. I really like the maple fretboard. the action is phenomenal. I installed a bone nut, as I use 130/100/80/60 strings on it and its got a great, punch to it!
I got it on ebay for $600. a little steep, but I really wanted it! its a Matsumoku/Westone from 74, I think. plays amazing. I really like the maple fretboard. the action is phenomenal. I installed a bone nut, as I use 130/100/80/60 strings on it and its got a great, punch to it!
Quadzilla
Supporting Member
Why can't Rickenbacker get with whoever in China is making the G&L Tributes (Cort?) and make a "Tribute" line of Rics?
Obviously, there's SOME market for a budget Ric.
Obviously, there's SOME market for a budget Ric.
Doing Chinese manufacture would be a mistake of olympic proportions as it would kill generations of brand building. Part of the Rickenbacker brand is that they are all made in the same California factory - switching to contract manufacture in China would kill that part of the brand.
They used to have a budget line with the 3000 series and the 2000 series back in the 70s and 80s. I guess that didn't work out.
Wow! Send in the(mighty cool lookin`) clones. 
These Ric copies are much nicer looking than I would have imagined.How would you rate the overall sound? the feel and workmanship?...(ok "factorymanship"?)Are they hard to come by? Of course I`d rather have the real thing but a bonafide Rickenbacker is just not in the stars for me at present. Has anyone 'hotrodded' their RickenFaker with actual Ric hardware(bridge,tuning pegs) and/or electronics?(pickups,capacitor,input jack,pots) Would still be a copy but might get it to sound and handle a wee bit closer to the real McCoy.Just a thought.
The Rickenbacker Clonewars...*sorry,sorry* Rickie 4001/4003 copies were made and marketed from ca."insert date until ca.insert date,right? Main manufacturers: HONDO, GRECO, UNIVOX, MATSUMOKU/WESTONE, IBANEZ(?) and others?
Cool thread and "mum`s the word!"
HosMan
These Ric copies are much nicer looking than I would have imagined.How would you rate the overall sound? the feel and workmanship?...(ok "factorymanship"?)Are they hard to come by? Of course I`d rather have the real thing but a bonafide Rickenbacker is just not in the stars for me at present. Has anyone 'hotrodded' their RickenFaker with actual Ric hardware(bridge,tuning pegs) and/or electronics?(pickups,capacitor,input jack,pots) Would still be a copy but might get it to sound and handle a wee bit closer to the real McCoy.Just a thought.
The Rickenbacker Clonewars...*sorry,sorry* Rickie 4001/4003 copies were made and marketed from ca."insert date until ca.insert date,right? Main manufacturers: HONDO, GRECO, UNIVOX, MATSUMOKU/WESTONE, IBANEZ(?) and others?
Cool thread and "mum`s the word!"
HosMan
I'm sorry for reposting such a long post...but it made me laugh uncontrollably...especially the "yo momma" bit. Sweet bass! I'd say, take advantage of the humbucker route and put a gibby mudbucker in there....cliff burton, anyone?
hay this showed up on trademe (new zealands ebay) its got no headstock logo, would anyone have the skill to take a guess on the brand by eye
Invalid Link Removed
Invalid Link Removed
