Another Rickenfaker spotted!

[TheDaivisch]

Hmm....

Real one
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOCspuo9lRU&feature=related[/media]

"Career" Rickenfaker

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giQwu7c7mhY[/media]

Sounds pretty good! Im quite tempted - I didn't like the idea of the Nato body wood and glued construction, but it sounds and looks great! All for 450 Euros.

Looks even better with some real Rick bits stuck on -

[url="http://www.e-bass-forum.de/t1659f23-CAREER-RIK-BK.html"]http://www.e-bass-forum.de/t1659f23-CAREER-RIK-BK.html[/url]

[Stacker]

The Rickenwaffen must be loving all this. Well, maybe not! Aside from the stuff on TradeTang, etc. how many rickenfakers are on the market just now? Three, four??

[TheDaivisch]

I've experienced the wrath of the Rickenwaffen on a Rickenbacker fanboy website. Jeeezus they're a bunch of snooty gits. Got all sorts of abuse for posting this in the wrong forum and generally blaspheming the mighty Rickenbacker with my sinful faker-lust.

They need to chill the hell out!

But yeah - there's ony a handful and most are a bit crap, TBH. The Rockinbetters look nice, but play and sound a bit meh, especially for 600 quid. This one looks promising, and has loads of very positive reviews.

Dave

[Stacker]

Aye, don't get me started on those fellas!

Still reckon that the best faker I ever saw was a Greco 4001S on Ishibashi (or Mikki-Gakki) about a year ago and by the time I'd made my mind up about it and emailed them it had been snagged!

[BigRedX]

[quote name='Stacker' timestamp='1323369780' post='1462667']
Still reckon that the best faker I ever saw was a Greco 4001S on Ishibashi (or Mikki-Gakki) about a year ago and by the time I'd made my mind up about it and emailed them it had been snagged!
[/quote]
Really? All the Greco fakers I've seen have very wrong looking pickups and bolt-on necks.

[Stacker]

One like this............

[noelk27]

[quote name='TheDaivisch' timestamp='1323197160' post='1460513']I didn't like the idea of the Nato body wood and glued construction, but it sounds and looks great![/quote]
What's the issue with the wood being nato (mora)? Mora is pretty much indistinguishable from mahogany when used in musical instrument construction. It has similar tonal qualities to mahogany as well as being strong and durable, and unlike many varieties of mahogany is widely available. Would much prefer a bass built with nato than the more commonly used basswood, given how much more resistant to wear and damage nato is.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1323370004' post='1462674']Really? All the Greco fakers I've seen have very wrong looking pickups and bolt-on necks.[/quote]
Depends on which factory was manufacturing under the Greco brand name, as Greco isn't a factory, just a trading name originated by Kanda Shokai. Matsumoku manufactured some very accurate Rickenbacker copies for Greco, that are neck-through, and highly detailed, almost identical to the ones Matsumoku similarly manufactured for Aria. Reason you don't see many of either of those copies is that most are wearing Rickenbacker decals, and fooling the purported experts.

[TheDaivisch]

[quote name='noelk27' timestamp='1323475466' post='1463887']
What's the issue with the wood being nato (mora)? Mora is pretty much indistinguishable from mahogany when used in musical instrument construction. It has similar tonal qualities to mahogany as well as being strong and durable, and unlike many varieties of mahogany is widely available. Would much prefer a bass built with nato than the more commonly used basswood, given how much more resistant to wear and damage nato is.


Depends on which factory was manufacturing under the Greco brand name, as Greco isn't a factory, just a trading name originated by Kanda Shokai. Matsumoku manufactured some very accurate Rickenbacker copies for Greco, that are neck-through, and highly detailed, almost identical to the ones Matsumoku similarly manufactured for Aria. Reason you don't see many of either of those copies is that most are wearing Rickenbacker decals, and fooling the purported experts.
[/quote]


Yes, I heard all that, I was just being slightly snobby because it has a reputation as an almost industrial grade wood which is used in cheap guitars only. The sound of it seems to speak for itself though..so I'm over it, plus it's cheapness has no doubt contributed to this bass only costing 400 quid, so all good with me.

[Musky]

I think that Career is the same as the Shine 'faker. There's quite a few brands out there, but there seems to be relatively few factories making them. When they started popping out of the woodwork a few years ago I was making a mental note of the ones that were identical (or nearly so), but there's getting to be too many for a feeble-brained geriatric like me to keep up!

[TheDaivisch]

[quote name='Musky' timestamp='1323534333' post='1464331']
I think that Career is the same as the Shine 'faker. There's quite a few brands out there, but there seems to be relatively few factories making them. When they started popping out of the woodwork a few years ago I was making a mental note of the ones that were identical (or nearly so), but there's getting to be too many for a feeble-brained geriatric like me to keep up!
[/quote]

I think they might share some parts - bridges and possibly pickup surrounds, but the Shine has different pickups - Seymour Duncans, has a dodgy shaped headstock, no binding and uses different woods. The Shine is all maple and a true through neck, whereas the Career has a Nato body and set neck - but doesnt seem to be any worse for it. Infact the career has the better reviews.

[munkonthehill]

for another 400quid you could get an amazing 2nd hand real Ric, why not just save up and wait like I did.

These discussions remind me of the VW golf adverts,,,,,,,,,,,,sounds like a golf, but its not a golf......looks like a golf, but its not a golf...........feels like a golf, but its not a golf.

[Stacker]

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1323370004' post='1462674']
Really? All the Greco fakers I've seen have very wrong looking pickups and bolt-on necks.
[/quote]

Yes, really. I was referring to the Greco 4001S, the pic of which I posted. Here's a link to another Greco 4001; what's wrong with that one?
[url="http://www.guitarsjapan.com/1978_Greco_RB-80_Ric_4001_Bass_Clone.html"]http://www.guitarsjapan.com/1978_Greco_RB-80_Ric_4001_Bass_Clone.html[/url]

[BigRedX]

I've been looking through DigiMart over the last few months for a nice Thunderbird copy and came across loads of Greco Fakers most of which were as unconvincing as [url=http://www.digimart.net/bass/inst_detail.do?instrument_id=DS01379821]this one[/url] - although the tail-lift looks pretty authentic...

Edited December 11, 2011 by BigRedX

[Stacker]

You never came across anything like the ones I posted?

[url="http://www.digimart.net/bass/inst_detail.do?instrument_id=DS01486916"]http://www.digimart.net/bass/inst_detail.do?instrument_id=DS01486916[/url]

Edited December 11, 2011 by Stacker

[Happy Jack]

[quote name='munkonthehill' timestamp='1323593178' post='1464715']
for another 400quid you could get an amazing 2nd hand real Ric, why not just save up and wait like I did.

[/quote]

Not convinced, I'm afraid. This Career sells for roughly £400, so another £400 would take you up to £800.

See how far you get on the second-hand Rik market if you're only waving £800 about.

As I write this, the [i][b]cheapest [/b][/i]second-hand Rik on eBay UK is £1200.

[TheDaivisch]

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1323604205' post='1464828']


Not convinced, I'm afraid. This Career sells for roughly £400, so another £400 would take you up to £800.

See how far you get on the second-hand Rik market if you're only waving £800 about.

As I write this, the [i][b]cheapest [/b][/i]second-hand Rik on eBay UK is £1200.
[/quote]

Agreed! An 800 quid 4003 would either be grosdly underpriced or just complete pile of old driftwood

[munkonthehill]

sorry folks I dont know where I got that initital figure from.....a grand WILL get you a 2nd hand ric.

I know its more than double this knockoffs value, but you will have a real ric at the end of the venture.

[munkonthehill]

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1323604205' post='1464828']
Not convinced, I'm afraid. This Career sells for roughly £400, so another £400 would take you up to £800.

See how far you get on the second-hand Rik market if you're only waving £800 about.

As I write this, the [i][b]cheapest [/b][/i]second-hand Rik on eBay UK is £1200.
[/quote]

and there we go Jack, a quick search on [b]this[/b]forum gets you a Ric 2nd hand for a grand. I was a bit out on the 800quid granted as I got my figures mixed up but still cheaper than 1200 as quoted.

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/161710-for-saletrade-1981-rickenbacker-4003-l1000ono/page__p__1462604__hl__rickenbacker__fromsearch__1#entry1462604"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/161710-for-saletrade-1981-rickenbacker-4003-l1000ono/page__p__1462604__hl__rickenbacker__fromsearch__1#entry1462604[/url]

[TheDaivisch]

[quote name='munkonthehill' timestamp='1323606498' post='1464868']


and there we go Jack, a quick search on [b]this[/b]forum gets you a Ric 2nd hand for a grand. I was a bit out on the 800quid granted as I got my figures mixed up but still cheaper than 1200 as quoted.

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/161710-for-saletrade-1981-rickenbacker-4003-l1000ono/page__p__1462604__hl__rickenbacker__fromsearch__1#entry1462604"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/161710-for-saletrade-1981-rickenbacker-4003-l1000ono/page__p__1462604__hl__rickenbacker__fromsearch__1#entry1462604[/url]
[/quote]

Yeah and look at the state of it Id rather have an immaculate 400 quid copy and have bit of fun upgrading it. Also, I quite like the idea of 22 frets. I can see the argument, if a roadworn Rick floats your boat, but Id rather not spend anymore than 400 at this stage

[munkonthehill]

[quote name='TheDaivisch' timestamp='1323607836' post='1464906']
Yeah and look at the state of it Id rather have an immaculate 400 quid copy and have bit of fun upgrading it. Also, I quite like the idea of 22 frets. I can see the argument, if a roadworn Rick floats your boat, but Id rather not spend anymore than 400 at this stage
[/quote]

fair point buddy.

Edited December 11, 2011 by munkonthehill

[BigRedX]

[quote name='Stacker' timestamp='1323603614' post='1464823']
You never came across anything like the ones I posted?

[url="http://www.digimart.net/bass/inst_detail.do?instrument_id=DS01486916"]http://www.digimart....t_id=DS01486916[/url]
[/quote]
Yes, but most of the one's I've seen recently were more like the one I posted. As neolk27 says Grecos come from several different factories. The name on the headstock doesn't guarantee it's going to be an authentic-looking copy.

[Musky]

[quote name='TheDaivisch' timestamp='1323535498' post='1464349']
I think they might share some parts - bridges and possibly pickup surrounds, but the Shine has different pickups - Seymour Duncans, has a dodgy shaped headstock, no binding and uses different woods. The Shine is all maple and a true through neck, whereas the Career has a Nato body and set neck - but doesnt seem to be any worse for it. Infact the career has the better reviews.
[/quote]
You're right - not the same at all!

It is the same as the Anniversarys/Jayros though. What was that I said about being feeble-brained?