Rockinbetter

[Baker69]

Here is a photo of my "Rickenbetter" which is a Rockinbetter RG4001 to which have been added the following;

Rickenbacker Toaster Pickup.
Rickenbacker Treble Pickup.
Rickenbacker Wiring Harness & Output.
Rickenbacker Pickguard.
Rickenbacker Vintage Knobs.

The only thing left to mod is the bridge, however some may have seen my postings on this about the incompatibility due to the different string scale. The stock Rockinbetter bridge isn't too bad to be honest but I would like to fit the Ric Bridge (I have bought a generic Ric bridge from the US).

The Rockinbetter does have a reasonable Ric sound as stock despite what some people have said (Ric die-hards), but with the mods I've done I would put it up against any Ric for sound comparison. Ok it hasn't got the quality of the Ric neck and as such it does feel a bit like a P Bass to play, but it has the looks and sound of the real McCoy! The action is very good, and is not too heavy at 9lbs. This particular one has a quilted maple effect body which looks superb (I say effect as I think it is only a maple veneer on basswood).

Looking forward to gigging with it - and turning a few heads!

 

[experimental bassist]

Holy crap!

Nice looking bass.

I can't help to wonder if putting a stock ric bridge on that bass would be a step backwards though.

Any soundclips or recordings with that bass?

Here is a photo of my "Rickenbetter" which is a Rockinbetter RG4001 to which have been added the following;

Rickenbacker Toaster Pickup.
Rickenbacker Treble Pickup.
Rickenbacker Wiring Harness & Output.
Rickenbacker Pickguard.
Rickenbacker Vintage Knobs.

The only thing left to mod is the bridge, however some may have seen my postings on this about the incompatibility due to the different string scale. The stock Rockinbetter bridge isn't too bad to be honest but I would like to fit the Ric Bridge (I have bought a generic Ric bridge from the US).

The Rockinbetter does have a reasonable Ric sound as stock despite what some people have said (Ric die-hards), but with the mods I've done I would put it up against any Ric for sound comparison. Ok it hasn't got the quality of the Ric neck and as such it does feel a bit like a P Bass to play, but it has the looks and sound of the real McCoy! The action is very good, and is not too heavy at 9lbs. This particular one has a quilted maple effect body which looks superb (I say effect as I think it is only a maple veneer on basswood).

Looking forward to gigging with it - and turning a few heads!

 

[Baker69]

No soundclips yet sorry, I've only just completed the upgrade on it.

The genuine Ric pickups have transformed this bass from being a Ric copy that sounds slightly like a Ric to something that sounds exactly like a real Ric so I can't see how that would be a step backwards?

 

[joeyangel]

That bass looks superb, Baker69 - kudos! You've succeeded in whetting my appetite a bit more. Thanks for posting this excellent pic of your instrument.

 

[woodyng]

well,that bass is considerably nicer looking than the previous one. so-just for snits and giggles,with the mods you've done so far,what is your total investment in this creation?

 

[audiomitch]

The Rockinbetter does have a reasonable Ric sound as stock despite what some people have said (Ric die-hards), but with the mods I've done I would put it up against any Ric for sound comparison. Ok it hasn't got the quality of the Ric neck and as such it does feel a bit like a P Bass to play, but it has the looks and sound of the real McCoy! The action is very good, and is not too heavy at 9lbs. This particular one has a quilted maple effect body which looks superb (I say effect as I think it is only a maple veneer on basswood).

Looking forward to gigging with it - and turning a few heads!

Do you own a real Ric to compare the stock sound? Also, how does the total cost of that modded bass compare to the a real Ric?

 

[experimental bassist]

No soundclips yet sorry, I've only just completed the upgrade on it.

The genuine Ric pickups have transformed this bass from being a Ric copy that sounds slightly like a Ric to something that sounds exactly like a real Ric so I can't see how that would be a step backwards?

No, I'm asking about the bridge, not the pickups (I'm sure the pickups sound great and were a worthwhile mod!)

I ask becaues I used to own a 4003 a lifetime ago, and the bridge was not one of my favorite things in the world.

Again, nice job.

 

[Baker69]

Do you own a real Ric to compare the stock sound? Also, how does the total cost of that modded bass compare to the a real Ric?

I've previously owned a 1970's Ric 4001, in my opinion this "Rickenbetter" sounds better than that particular Ric.

I've also A/B'd it against various You Tube sound & video clips.

 

[slug]

...and it's economical.

 

[cassius987]

Rickenbacker Toaster Pickup.
Rickenbacker Treble Pickup.
Rickenbacker Wiring Harness & Output.
Rickenbacker Pickguard.
Rickenbacker Vintage Knobs.

How much was all that? About the cost of the faker?

 

[Arnie]

I found a lefty on flebay...not sure where the skunk stripe went....oh ya that didn't start till 72



VINTAGE 1971 RICKENBACKER 4001 MAPLEGLO BASS LEFT HANDED CHECKERBOARD BOUND OHSC | eBay

WOW $8500. for that bass...

 

[Rob Martinez]

OP, seems like you should just buy the Rickenfaker and let US know what you think. These threads pop up almost every day, surely there is enough info out there for you to think about. Buy it today!

 

[joeyangel]

Thanks, Rob, that's what I'd like to try to do, assuming I can find one for a reasonable price.

My original question was to find out how forum members living in the U.S. managed to track one of these down.

I'd still be very interested in input from anyone who might be able to provide some information to that effect.

 

[Jay2U]

Check Invalid Link Removed They ship to the US for £90 extra. I don't know them, so I can't tell from experience how reliable they are.

 

[Johnston]

It's partly because RIC has defended their trademarks from the beginning, and so whether you agree with it or not, the law is completely on their side. (In contrast to famous cases involving Fender, Gibson, etc.) Many people who love Rics can probably sympathize with the company that makes their gear which explains the outcry against copies, even though it's really not doing the players a lot of outright harm.

Whether someone wants to play an illegal mass-produced Rickenbacker bass copy or not is none of my business and I do not cast judgement... but as for myself, I would not waste my time on one or support the unethical, unsustainable, cut-rate practices used to make them.

That is not entirely true.

In the US it may be protected. But seemingly they haven't protected the 4001/3 outside the US. Contrary to what Americains think. Their laws do not extend outside their shores.

That makes the 2nd statment false too. Because if the design is not protected outside the US then they are not illegally manufactured. They are only illegal on US soil.

 

[Baker69]

How much was all that? About the cost of the faker?

Bearing in mind that genuine Ric components are quite a lot more expensive here in the UK than in the US, the total cost of the components (which included the full wiring harness, pots, output socket etc etc, screws and all), amounted to about £425. Add that to the cost of the Rockinbetter (used) at £300 = £725

Quite a lot of money a lot will say for what is still a copy but I now have a quality looking and sounding bass at a quarter of the price of a left hand Ric here in the UK (if, and it is a big IF) you can find one.

Ok it's still got Rockinbetter on the headstock but what the heck.

As good as it now is, if I do ever manage to drop on a new or fairly recent LH Maplego Ric 4003 (and I have the cash) I'd buy it in a heartbeat as nothing really beats the satisfaction of having the genuine article.

 

[cassius987]

That is not entirely true.

In the US it may be protected. But seemingly they haven't protected the 4001/3 outside the US. Contrary to what Americains think. Their laws do not extend outside their shores.

That makes the 2nd statment false too. Because if the design is not protected outside the US then they are not illegally manufactured. They are only illegal on US soil.

Source? You and John Hall don't seem to agree on this, as he seems to think his company's trademarks are indeed protected in Europe and other countries. As far as which one of you I think is more likely to be knowledgeable on the subject I'd have to side with him.

 

[maxschrek]

Source? You and John Hall don't seem to agree on this, as he seems to think his company's trademarks are indeed protected in Europe and other countries. As far as which one of you I think is more likely to be knowledgeable on the subject I'd have to side with him.

Then why hasn't he shut them down yet?

Edited to add: That's a very nice looking bass, Baker69!



T

 

[experimental bassist]

Thanks, Rob, that's what I'd like to try to do, assuming I can find one for a reasonable price.

My original question was to find out how forum members living in the U.S. managed to track one of these down.

I'd still be very interested in input from anyone who might be able to provide some information to that effect.

I thought I did, post 15.

Although I didn't make an actual purchase as I was merely researching prices on Ric copies for an old TB thread, I would have had no trouble buying any number of copy-rics from many overseas distributors as long as I paid shipping.

 

[Rob Martinez]

Sometimes you have to purchase sight unseen. I have before. Doesn't seem these are widely distributed basses, mainly are for mail order. That's how the dice rolls!