What is this bass a copy of?

[The Robman]

Going on the assumption that most cheap guitars from China are copies of something, rather than being an original design, I ask the experts here, what is this one a copy of? (Just FYI, the bass is a Kapok KB5-200F )

5 String Electric Bass Bolt_On Maple Neck Rosewood Fingerboard KB5-200F-White | eBay

The closest that I have found is an Ibanez GSR205, but they're often copies of things too.

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[The Robman]

Ah, I think it's the Dean Edge
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[Gaolee]

They may be at the stage where they are beginning to do whatever they think works. That's a good sign. If that's what that thing is. I don't know. They will be the next who complain about being ripped off.

 

[Slater]

Looks like a Schecter body shape.

 

[hypercarrots]

Schecter Stiletto Extreme-5

 

[hypercarrots]

That Ibanez gsr is not a copy of anything else.

 

[Maxdusty]

I agree with the comment above, closer to the Schecter Stiletto Extreme but it looks like they just used the body blank without shaping and rounding the edges of the body.

 

[The Robman]

Thanks guys, I think the Schecter Stiletto Extreme-5 is the winner.

 

[JIO]

That Ibanez gsr is not a copy of anything else.

I agree, in fact all SR series Ibanez basses are clearly an Ibanez design, much like a P or J are a Fender design.

 

[The Robman]

I agree, in fact all SR series Ibanez basses are clearly an Ibanez design, much like a P or J are a Fender design.

But you have to admit that all the guitars mentioned in this thread, the original one, the Ibanez, the Dean and the Schecter all look kinda similar, and here's another one, a Rogue LX205B...

 

[JIO]

But you have to admit that all the guitars mentioned in this thread, the original one, the Ibanez, the Dean and the Schecter all look kinda similar, and here's another one, a Rogue LX205B...

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Similar yes, but the Ibanez SR style/shape has stayed consistent since it's inception and pre-dates the other similar styles. Just like there are Fender clones, there are many Ibanez SR clones.

 

[bholder]

Also a bit similar to the original Tune Bass Maniac, which itself has spawned several copies. But I think it predates even the SR shape.

 

[The Robman]

Yeah, that one shares the similarities too!

 

[hypercarrots]

But you have to admit that all the guitars mentioned in this thread, the original one, the Ibanez, the Dean and the Schecter all look kinda similar, and here's another one, a Rogue LX205B...

after seeing enough basses over time, they tend to look less similar to me. each individual has a different gauge for grouping similar and dissimilar objects so some people will agree with you and some won't.

a 95 plymouth voyager and a 95 dodge caravan may look the same to the average person but i see several differences

 

[BurnOut]

Thanks guys, I think the Schecter Stiletto Extreme-5 is the winner.

I have a no name 5er, the neck is very Schecter

 

[kodiakblair]

The Tune Bass Maniac first showed up in 1982. Kinda predates most of these.

 

[Skeptismo]

That Ibanez gsr is not a copy of anything else.

Soundgears could easily be straight up copies of the Tune Bass Maniac, and many people have thought so for years. You can look it up if you like, I think about 87 or 88 it when Soundgear series basses came out. Before them, Ibanez had the Musician (which looked suspiciously Wal like), and the Roadstar, which started out very Fender-esque. Doesn't really matter either way I guess.

 

[JIO]

Soundgears could easily be straight up copies of the Tune Bass Maniac, and many people have thought so for years. You can look it up if you like, I think about 87 or 88 it when Soundgear series basses came out. Before them, Ibanez had the Musician (which looked suspiciously Wal like), and the Roadstar, which started out very Fender-esque. Doesn't really matter either way I guess.

I wouldn't say straight-up copies but as you have pointed out, considering the Tune Bass came first then Soundgears are indeed similar. I mean, they all are basically similar but the contour details are all different.

 

[petrus61]

We're getting to a point in the history of our chosen instrument where there's only so many practical ways the darn thing can be built and still be...practical? By the time Ibanez had started r&d'ing their own designs, it had to be pretty tough to come up with an acceptable, aesthetically pleasing, yet wieldly body design. I wouldn't want to be the guy tasked with coming up with a body design to go against the likes of proven winners such as Gibson, Fender, Ric, or anyone else that's been around even half as long as those guys.

 

[JIO]

We're getting to a point in the history of our chosen instrument where there's only so many practical ways the darn thing can be built and still be...practical? By the time Ibanez had started r&d'ing their own designs, it had to be pretty tough to come up with an acceptable, aesthetically pleasing, yet wieldly body design. I wouldn't want to be the guy tasked with coming up with a body design to go against the likes of proven winners such as Gibson, Fender, Ric, or anyone else that's been around even half as long as those guys.

Oh I would, and do accept that challenge! There are many decades old iconic designs out there but not all are what I'd call a perfect marriage of form & function. I think there is still a lot of space for a better mousetrap.