prowla

I usually take at least one to a BC Bass Bash. @cetera had a go on mine at the last one and said he doesn't normally like Rics but liked mine (slight paraphrasing there...). As for sound, they are quite versatile, but the neck pickup location adds a depth and authority of sound that you don't get on all of the Fender derivatives (except the Billy Sheehan Yammy). As far as quality and finish goes, they are at least as good as any other mass-produced bass (better, IMHO). I'm not sure if there are any in-depth threads on Rics.

I think it's about protecting IP, not customer confusion... RIC do have elements of their design registered as trademarks.

We've had shops and dealers selling Chickenbackers as real Rics. In the past year one shop got flamed for lauding the repair they had done to a lovely Ric, which was in fact a Chickenbacker. There's a counterfeit on ebay at the moment which was priced at double its purchase price. So yes, whilst there are people who can spot them, there are many who would not.

You can trademark a shape, ie. a design; there is no doubt that the headstock and TRC shape of a Ric are fundamentally characteristic of the product. The issue with the current counterfeits is that they also copy the brand logo.

Nope - discussions are within the site rules, just not sales. BC decided to just ban all Ric and faker sales, to avoid any hassle from RIC, including any links to for sale items from other sites. As far as legalities go: It is perfectly legal to own one of these vintage Japanese ones. The new counterfeit ones are illegal to sell.

Cheers - I bought it for the colour (which I call "avocadoglo"!). It's a Matsumoku, branded Vorg (by Pearl) and has a bolt-on neck, 34" scale, wavy waffle tuners.

Yep - that's too much for one of them. OTOH, I have one, so it's good to know... The outer two in the pic are Hondos which I used for projects and they're now gone, the middle one has someone in Scotland interested, the 2nd left is a basket case, and I'm in no rush to lose the CMI (2nd right).

I was visualising one of these...

What’s a carnet?

A faker sold for £700 (well, £699 + £25 p&p) today. Real Rics can be had for £1000.

I’ve got real Ric and fakers, no problem.

There are some Ric-centric groups on Facebook. otherwise try trawling the ads on ebay, gumtree, and other sites.

Maybe they should've used different tuners for that headstock...

I haven't bought a guitar for a couple of weeks now... ...and I've finished and nearly finished two projects.

Maybe the tools available to imprisoned luthiers aren't so great...

Definitely a keeper... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HAND-MADE-ELECTEIC-GUITAR-HAND-MADE-LES-PAUL-ELECTRIC-GUITAR-PROJECT-WOODEN/324008736773

The output focused into a super-beam which could destroy death stars!

I reckon it's covered in boot polish.

I take your point on the low start - I guess folks pay what they will, then...

There's a picture of Bill Wyman playing one too. Sadly mine needs serious work to get it going, probably more than the value of the instrument...

Yep - the gold paint "Fender" logo was a special touch. I'm looking to get it back to as near to original as I can. On the plus side, I bought it at a car boot for a fiver!

I've got a couple of basses which I expect to be in the "thuddy" domain once they're brought back to life. One is a Vox Clubman. And the other is a Shaftesbury Ric(-ish) semi copy. Both need extensive work; the Vox is nearest, as I've nearly sanded the body down.

Can anybody help me on this: I need a set of machines for a Levinson Blade neck it's a Japanese Texas model. I've finished a couple of projects, so I'd like to get the guitar I've built around this finished... I'd like to do it without drilling new holes. Thanks!

My scepticism is tangible...

A hacked Squier (though it has got CTS pots and a Sprague cap, which add gazillions to the value!). Oh, but the bridge & pickup covers aren't included... But then again it's got a hardwood thumb pull.