Rickenbacker imitation

[dkelley]

We are aloud to discuss just not praise, promote, or NBD them. Asking what one is I don’t think counts as any of those things especially being that one isn’t claiming to be a Ric.

Which never made any sense to me.... just thinking out loud here....

I try to follow the rules of the forum of course, so I'm not disagreeing with the rule per se, but if Rickenbacker's rules makes the forum operators have to not allow anyone to rave about or say anything at all about Rickenbacker fakes, to me that feels like being in the 1950s and having to pretend you're not gay, or have a black half brother, or so on. Rickenbacker has their rules, their lawsuits. But praising or saying NBD on a rickenbacker fake is, possibly, embarassing... possibly could put the poster in the line of fire from Rickenbacker, and possibly even saying I just bought something illegal.... but in a public forum, is perfectly legal to post that and to talk about it. I suppose maybe the rule of the forum for this stuff is to protect us bass players from accidentally getting in big trouble with Rick, or whatever.... so if that's the reasoning, then it's at least done with good intentions to protect members of the forum.

It's too bad that Rickenbacker's rules affect free speech.... not saying I disagree with Rick about their copyright infringement laws.... I agree with them of course. I just think it's sad that it's enforced in such a way that the forum operators are afraid to let their members talk freely about any basses, whoever made them, whatever they look like.

I do recall there was a reason why due to someone semi-marketing rick copies on here... but that felt at the time like the start of a slippery slope in forum rules, and sure enough, it went a lot further in what we're allowed to talk about. It's just wrong feeling, to me.

I do, of course, not mod this or any current forum, so again I fully respect their rules and their reasons. I'm only looking at it from the point of view of, well, free speech... even if it's self incriminating.

But imagine if I had just murdered someone. Is it illegal for me to post about it on facebook? No, actually.... oddly. I can't post porn on it, etc, I can't post threatening messages about or to someone else..... but I can post that I just murdered someone.... because it isn't a crime to post about doing something illegal - it's just really really stupid

By the way - feel free to delete this post LoL, I feel much better now

 

[dkelley]

Anyhoo LoL, I really like that rickenbacker styles bass! looks beautiful. Please do post a pic of the inside of the wiring area.... and more details please!

 

[LoTone]

Probably some Chinese guy paid minimum wage in China.

 

[slowburnaz]

Probably some Chinese guy paid minimum wage in China.

Does China even have a minimum wage?

 

[JohnnyChatter]

Which never made any sense to me.... just thinking out loud here....

I try to follow the rules of the forum of course, so I'm not disagreeing with the rule per se, but if Rickenbacker's rules makes the forum operators have to not allow anyone to rave about or say anything at all about Rickenbacker fakes, to me that feels like being in the 1950s and having to pretend you're not gay, or have a black half brother, or so on. Rickenbacker has their rules, their lawsuits. But praising or saying NBD on a rickenbacker fake is, possibly, embarassing... possibly could put the poster in the line of fire from Rickenbacker, and possibly even saying I just bought something illegal.... but in a public forum, is perfectly legal to post that and to talk about it. I suppose maybe the rule of the forum for this stuff is to protect us bass players from accidentally getting in big trouble with Rick, or whatever.... so if that's the reasoning, then it's at least done with good intentions to protect members of the forum.

It's too bad that Rickenbacker's rules affect free speech.... not saying I disagree with Rick about their copyright infringement laws.... I agree with them of course. I just think it's sad that it's enforced in such a way that the forum operators are afraid to let their members talk freely about any basses, whoever made them, whatever they look like.

I do recall there was a reason why due to someone semi-marketing rick copies on here... but that felt at the time like the start of a slippery slope in forum rules, and sure enough, it went a lot further in what we're allowed to talk about. It's just wrong feeling, to me.

I do, of course, not mod this or any current forum, so again I fully respect their rules and their reasons. I'm only looking at it from the point of view of, well, free speech... even if it's self incriminating.

But imagine if I had just murdered someone. Is it illegal for me to post about it on facebook? No, actually.... oddly. I can't post porn on it, etc, I can't post threatening messages about or to someone else..... but I can post that I just murdered someone.... because it isn't a crime to post about doing something illegal - it's just really really stupid

By the way - feel free to delete this post LoL, I feel much better now

Oi, I almost afraid to respond to this post and that seems crazy to me.... I agree with you... I also don't think its illegal to buy a fake Rick from a different country. Do i think buying one and selling it as a real scummy. OF COURSE! I've never played a Ric copy so i cant comment but I have known for years if im buying a Ric I have to play it first because they aren't consistent. Maybe they should spend money and time making sure they are making a superior product? I'm not bashing or comparing just stating an opinion.

 

[vid1900]

Does China even have a minimum wage?

Your iPhone says no.

 

[Carl Hillman]

I just think it's sad that it's enforced in such a way that the forum operators are afraid to let their members talk freely about any basses.

Are you sure that TalkBass made this rule based on any potential legal jeopardy, or was it simply an ethical decision?

(BTW, using Facebook in your analogy comparing how social media platforms operate is really setting the bar at its lowest point.)

 

[Gilmourisgod]

AFAIK, it’s legal to buy (1) known counterfeit and bring it into the country in your possession. That doesn't mean it wouldn’t be seized by customs if they recognize is as counterfeit, but unlikely. As a Non Saint, I take no moral/ethical position on this, but having played a Chinabacker, my review is: Meh, save your money for the real deal. There is no substitute.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Are you sure that TalkBass made this rule based on any potential legal jeopardy, or was it simply an ethical decision?

(BTW, using Facebook in your analogy comparing how social media platforms operate is really setting the bar at its lowest point.)

I suspect that the TB moderators received an evil letter from somebody (coughRickenbackercough) at some point. When it first came up as a new rule I expressed my concern that it would be applied pretty selectively, with a heavy emphasis on Ric clones, and I thinks that's how it been. I can't think of a discussion about fake Sadowsky's or Fender rip-offs that's been shut down lately, but maybe I just missed it. The whole thing is a little McCarthy-esque, IMO, but the Moderators make the rules, it's take it or leave it.

 

[iiipopes]

We are aloud to discuss just not praise, promote, or NBD them. Asking what one is I don’t think counts as any of those things especially being that one isn’t claiming to be a Ric.

Yes, we are allowed to talk about things aloud.

 

[iiipopes]

It's too bad that Rickenbacker's rules affect free speech.... not saying I disagree with Rick about their copyright infringement laws.... I agree with them of course. I just think it's sad that it's enforced in such a way that the forum operators are afraid to let their members talk freely about any basses, whoever made them, whatever they look like.

Remember, "free speech" only applies to telling anything to anybody in government what you don't like. "Free speech" does not apply to RIC, a private company, who can set their rules as they see fit. They have chosen an aggressive enforcement of intellectual property laws, which they are entitled to do. "Free speech" also does not apply to this forum. All of us are here by permission, which can be revoked at any time for any reason or no reason at all.

 

[Carl Hillman]

I suspect that the TB moderators received an evil letter from somebody (coughRickenbackercough) at some point.

I suppose hosting a web site in which members talk up their counterfeit goods could be (very) loosely defined as "promoting" fakes, but is there a law that prohibits that? Manufacturing, selling, or transporting fakes is highly illegal, but I doubt a post fanning over them is.

Heck, some people actually sell counterfeit goods on some commerce sites, but online companies were given “safe harbor” immunity from copyright-infringement liability for their users’ actions in 1998 as part of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

If Rickenbacker found a TB classified of someone trying to sell a fake and sent a letter about that, they might have a potential lawsuit depending on whether the site removed the post or not, but that's very different from "Hey, look at this no-name Chinabacker I bought!".

This leads me to believe that TB's decision is based on the promotion of fakes as unethical, not because Ric's lawyers leaned on them.

 

[WBloemen]

Ok... some pictures...

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Whatever the moderators motivation, and I’ll assume it was arrived at fairly, the seemingly random and inconsistent application of the Ban leaves some feeling like it was a solution in search of a problem. No worries, I have no skin in this game. I was originally concerned it would apply to the numerous “tribute” style builds (like my Ric clones) on display in Luthiers Corner, but since nobody false- brands these builds, it doesn’t apply.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Ok!
Based on the config of the trussrods alone, I doubt that’s a genuine Ric. Looks like two aftermarket single action rods. The headstock looks off too, but that’s less conclusive. Ric changed them a lot over time, but the horns also look a little odd. The bridge is a Hipshot replacement, some kind of no-name pup.s with a Jazz bass ashtray cover. I see the band of darker wood under the binding, I was reading that as a shadow of missing binding on the first blurry photo. Interestingly, that wiring harness is Ric standard, right down to the wire color and caps. I’m gonna guess this is either a heavily modded “Lawsuit” bass, or a one off amateur clone build, pretty nicely done too. Make up a bass company name (Mine is Hossenfeffer Guitars) and put in on the TRC, and nobody will hassle you. Somebody on the Rickenbacker Club can probably diagnose the wiring issue, most likely a bad solder joint someplace. What’s the symptom of the problem?

Edit:
Just noticed the control cavity route, that doesn’t remotely match Lawsuit or Genuine Ric, I’m gonna call it: Nice amateur Clone Build.

 

[Ric5]

I bought a Rickenbacker imitation bass. Just because I like the way it sounds. Now I was wondering who made it. Anyone here who has an idea?

it almost looks like a seriously modified 4003 bass

 

[Gringo Basso]

I've seen those pups somewhere before - it looks like when GG said. Someone put a lot of work into "creating" this, and although I doubt it sounds like a 4003, I bet it's a pretty cool bass.
Surely Mr. Hall can't berate someone for making a "tribute". I'd make a cool truss-rod cover like "Hossenfeffer" does - his basses are outstanding and off the cool charts.
The spirit of the ban is on these damned counterfeits that have the Ric "Made in the USA" TRC's and I'd never support that - I'd most definitely rock your bass onstage!

 

[WBloemen]

The trc that came with the bass

 

[Ric5]

The Chinese models always use the same odd bridge. Post a couple closeups and it should be obvious. Double truss rods would be unusual on a Chinabacker, haven't seen one with two rods. The Chinese electronics are usually very low quality, but decent CTS pots and wiring are relatively cheap if you can solder. There isn't that much that can go wrong on the wiring. What's the issue?

The bridge on this one has a hipshot bridge and the wiring harness looks genuine and the tuners look genuine … the pickups are Chinese and the pickguard looks chinese

 

[GBBSbassist]

I don't have much to add except that it looks really cool as is, but a wood veneer on the headstock matching the body grain would be super swell.