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Yet another - but modern - R...faker-thread

KF2B

KF2B

Jan 28, 2013
400
267
Finland
#1
Howdy,

to put a long story short I´ve been spending way too much time lately looking at the various vintage mij as well as the modern (China, mostly Korea) made copies. Or, should I rather say, homages.

As the homage/copy/original discussion has been held countless times lets please not go there but instead answer the question which of the modern rickenfackers listed below give you the most bang for the buck?

  • Tokai´s Rockinbetter, Korea (the 22 fret model), circa 500€.
  • CAREER CB-RIK-400, Korea, circa 500€
  • Shine RK2000NT (Seymour Duncan pic ups), Korea, circa 800€

I live in Europe so acquisition is not a problem. I´ve heard the Shine is good but given the fact that it has a way higher price point I am not sure whether it would be that good...

So, anyone has had any experience on a couple or all of these?

Thanks,

J.
 
#2
Personally I wouldnt go for Shine, because of that damn ugly headstock. Also a SD addition is mostly to increase the price - first check out if you are REALLY into SD, not only if lots of people tells ya so ... Its not the thing its a bad bass, but for that much money I'd expect more ...

I played those, but if I have to be honest - having that amount of money I'd be up to risk and buy something directly from China (services like aliexpress or dhgate) - you'd spend less, and at least have the color scheme you want. A friend of mine has done the same operation, but he bought himself an Les Paul, and he is very satisfied.

But thats just me, I dont know how the things goes in Finland, maybe you'd have to pay an additional tax or something.
 
#3
Howdy,

no taxes if I buy within EU. If I import... that´s another (bad) story :mad:

I´ve been criscrossing between these but am probably going to wait until a vintage mij ric comes along. Problem when buying "blind" of course is that you cannot try. I find the flat neck profile on my Kawai to be a gift of the Japanese Bass Gods of yesteryear so would really hate to get something with a round thick neck - just not my cup of tea :bassist:

J.
 
#6
KF2B said:
How can it be much money if it is a cheap copy?

Anyways, each to his own. We are all entitled to our opinions.

Cheers,
Click to expand...

Personally I cant afford even a copy, so I decided to build a copy myself ...
Got a neck, pickups, pots, bridge (everything not original, but I think it'll match Ric body well), mostly I'll have to work with the body. Got a big piece of wood already, maybe during the summer I'll do something with it.

Peace !
 
#7
KF2B said:
How can it be much money if it is a cheap copy?

Anyways, each to his own. We are all entitled to our opinions.

Cheers,
Click to expand...

A cursory search of the Shine was showing me ~£500, which is right around $775 US. Maybe "overpriced" is the word I was looking for. They might be very nice instruments, but I would never pay that much for a fake Ric with a Soundgear headstock.
 
#8
bolophonic said:
A cursory search of the Shine was showing me ~£500, which is right around $775 US. Maybe "overpriced" is the word I was looking for. They might be very nice instruments, but I would never pay that much for a fake Ric with a Soundgear headstock.
Click to expand...

Nothing against Soundgear basses but it might sound closer to one as well if it's different woods, pickups, construction, etc.
 
#9
The next time I go to Japan, I am going to hunt one of these down and bring it back with me:

kb_simony_wh.jpg
 
#12
dminer said:
I've been wanting to give one of these a try but I'm worried about ordering from tradetang...but where else you gonna find a 4005 copy?Invalid Link Removed
Click to expand...

The Italia Rimini is not a carbon copy,but it gets a lot of the 4005 vibe right. I had one for about 8 monthes,gigged with it,and it is a great little bass for the $. It does have some really huge frets,which turned out to be a deal breaker for me.
 
#16
bolophonic said:
A cursory search of the Shine was showing me ~£500, which is right around $775 US. Maybe "overpriced" is the word I was looking for. They might be very nice instruments, but I would never pay that much for a fake Ric with a Soundgear headstock.
Click to expand...

I hear you. However, you cannot look at just the Shine or Career price without judging it against what the genuine thing sells for in Europe.

An example from a local guitar shop herein - and mind you the price is on reduction:

Invalid Link Removed (I dare put that link as I hardly can imagine anyone of you guys thinking this as a commercial of any sort).

That´ll be $2750 on today´s exchange rate. The regular price way over $3K...
 
#17
dminer said:
I've been wanting to give one of these a try but I'm worried about ordering from tradetang...but where else you gonna find a 4005 copy?Invalid Link Removed
Click to expand...


Tradetang has a bad rep for being scammers galore. If nothing else, you will be buying an instrument made in terrible conditions for the workers, made in a way that does not adhere to any environmental regulations worth a damn. If you think it is unfair that Gibson and Fender have to be careful sourcing wood, or what paint they use, or how they they dispose of their waste, don't support an industry that flaunts all of this stuff.

I'm not a "buy USA" type, and I'm not a Rick defender. I do, however, try and buy stuff that is made with some sort of ethical concern.
 
#18
bolophonic said:
The next time I go to Japan, I am going to hunt one of these down and bring it back with me:

kb_simony_wh.jpg
Click to expand...

Got one of these, can recommend it. Very nice bass, kind of like a Ric modernized by a fashion designer. I think they can be imported via Ishibashi for about $1000, though I got lucky and found one used the UK. And I play it upside down.

Link Removed

Might be too far from a Ric for the OP, though.
 
#19
pklima said:
Got one of these, can recommend it. Very nice bass, kind of like a Ric modernized by a fashion designer. I think they can be imported via Ishibashi for about $1000, though I got lucky and found one used the UK. And I play it upside down.

Link Removed

Might be too far from a Ric for the OP, though.
Click to expand...

Not at all too far from as I am not looking for a copy really but rather a homage - this thing does not miss the target! :)

A couple of questions on that Killer if you will...
  • how is the overall fit, finish and quality?
  • how would you describe the neck?
  • anything in particular that you like/dislike on it?
:hyper:
 
#20
I've owned two Career CB-RIK basses (one is still my main gigging bass!)

@OP: Well, do you just want the look (with differenct pickups, like a SHINE) or do you want the tone of a RIC?

I'm very pleased with my Career, but the Tokai's seem to be slightly better than the Careers (based on comments, haven't palyed a Rockinbetter myself).
I can recommend the Career nonetheless.

I tried the Seymour Duncan Bridge-replacement and didn't really like it. It's good, but it's not the RIC-tone.

Do you know a place inside EU where to get a (new) Tokai?
 

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