Rockinbetter

[joeyangel]

Thanks, DogBone, I followed through with a couple of the links you posted. I was really wondering whether there was any kind of reliable source on this side of the Atlantic that others had dealt with - it does seem that the Rockinbetter basses are a potential pig in a poke, to some degree.

That being said, you'll all be happy to know (and especially the vocal defenders of RIC) that I happened upon a used Fireglo 4003S today for a very reasonable price. Of course, having had the Rockinbetter facsimile on my mind for a bit, I took the plunge - that should satisfy my BAS for a bit.

Still, if I came across a used Rockinbetter for a decent price, I'd still be mightily tempted, especially after seeing the impressive results Baker69's efforts have yielded.

 

[cassius987]

I'm surprised Joey, but I'm glad you found a Ric... personally I think you're better off, but I won't argue with those who say they love their copies. And I have to repeat that I can really sympathize with a lefty in this case.

Then why hasn't he shut them down yet?

Who does the enforcing of infringers over here in the USA, while we're at it? It doesn't happen much, mostly RIC just has their legal team contact people with C&D orders and largely they tend to comply. But if it were to continue to happen, RIC would not shut anyone down, it would be the government. Similarly this is how it would have to go down overseas but as you can understand it seems to be more difficult to motivate the enforcers, whatever the de jure law may be. The only enforcement I've ever heard of is seizure of counterfeit property, typically at customs.

Even my co-workers who still enjoy Chinese citizenship are adamant that the culture of copying in China is rampant and the government will do nothing to stop it. This goes for just about everything, and as it applies to me, scientific ideas and software.

 

[audiomitch]

That being said, you'll all be happy to know (and especially the vocal defenders of RIC) that I happened upon a used Fireglo 4003S today for a very reasonable price.

I'm happy you found the bass you want, but it wouldn't have made difference to me if you bought the counterfeit. Whatever people want to spend their money on doesn't keep me up at night.

 

[joeyangel]

Thanks, Mitch - agreed, and point taken. I'm happy either way, as well.

 

[Johnston]

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.

It quite simple.

Copyrights and trademarks are now on a handy searchable Database online.

Look through you will find RICs TM and Copyrights. Mostly for the name, the TRC and head stock shapes. No 4001/4003 body shapes. Find one and you can see the rest registered to that owner.

I had a look recently too when the whole ritter thingwas kicking off. Couldn't find any for him but there are a **** load of ritters with protection of all sorts of things europe wide so didn't dig too deep there. Not as many RIC Registered.

Funnily I've noticed a few things. The companies that stop dealing are the small ones that couldn't afford a court battle even if they were in the right. The ones that do carry on are the ones that ignore the letters and would be more willing to go to court.

Also from what I gather the only way he has rights to get them pulled off Ebay is using the "Servers on US soil" routine so the picture infringe RIC copyright.

Basic consensus on this side of the shore from those in the know with legal backgrounds is. His C&Ds are baseless and not worth postage stamp.

Hell I even thought of getting a load made up myself to flog on. They are sought after if done right.

 

[cassius987]

A lot of RICs trademarks aren't under RIC. I think several are under Roger Rossmeisl, Adolph Rickenbacker, and other guys who ran the biz before it was sold to F.C. Hall.

I didn't know they had any copyrights whatsoever.

 

[Musky]

Nothing turns up under Rossmeisl. Rickenbacker just throws up the ones Johnston mentions. Until 6 months ago even the headstock and TRC weren't registered.

That doesn't mean that the rest of the designs aren't covered by trademark law though. As I understand things (and I'm not a lawyer) marks may, under some circumstances, be held to be a trademark even if they're not registered. But that would take a very costly court case to decide, which is probably why RIC have now registered the headstock and TRC.

 

[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!

Hi guys,
I'm getting rid of a few of my basses and I've decided to sell this particular bass, if anyone is interested in buying it can they please PM me?
There are 2 options, it can be bought as it is with all the Ric components or I can revert it back to being a stock Rockinbetter.
Cheers.

 

[Carl Harwood]

Agreed, guys - I wouldn't expect this to sound, play or feel like a real Rickenbacker. I harbor no illusions as to what this bass is - a knockoff.

Also, I wouldn't gig with it - and I have gigged with Squiers, no offense taken. My main bass is - pregnant pause - a Daisy Rock Retro H. I love it. I've taken plenty of nice basses for session work (you never know what you'll need). Often as not, the DR is the bass the artists and engineers choose tonally. Maybe it's just how I play, or my rig, or perhaps I only get hired by tone-deaf hacks (ahem), but the DR seems to fit the bill, beating out everything from my Hofner to my EB2D. Go figure.

So I'm cool with the cheap; I can get a decent sound out of the iffiest of gear. I just want to be able to look down when I'm playing and see that unbound fireglo; I'll let my fingers do the rest of the work.

What a jumped up tosser, I wonder where your fingers do the rest of their work as obviously your brain doesn't work on the choice or regard to basses

 

[willsellout]

LOL. RRRRRIIIIIIIIISE ZOMBIE THREAD FOR INSULTS!!!