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RickenFakers

Happy Jack

By Happy Jack,
in Bass Guitars

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pete.young Veteran

pete.young

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[quote name='thedarxide' post='144283' date='Feb 21 2008, 11:39 AM']John Birch: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Rare-John-Birch-bass-guitar-in-Sunburst-finish_W0QQitemZ320220265627QQihZ011QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Rare-John-Birch-bass...1QQcmdZViewItem[/url][/quote]
That one was up to £310 before it got pulled, and still hadn't made reserve.

It's in Ipswich so I can go and have a look at it if any of you dudes are seriously interested in it.

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Bassassin Grand Master

Bassassin

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A Shaftesbury neckthrough, with a few been-chucked-down-the-stairs type issues:

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250222341521"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=250222341521[/url]

I do think the seller's playing dumb. :)

J

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nick Proficient

nick

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[quote name='Bassassin' post='151788' date='Mar 5 2008, 03:18 PM']I do think the seller's playing dumb. :huh:
J[/quote]

Possibly.
I emailed him asking if he would consider an offer or BIN, it's quite local to me.
Response was along the lines of he didn't what it was worth due to damage etc. ;)
Maybe he doesn't.
Sniped it anyway - though I'm not sure I need another!

Will also be interesting to see how long it stays on before removal by Rickenwaffen, now it's been posted here :)

Edited by nick
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Bassassin Grand Master

Bassassin

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[quote name='nick' post='151836' date='Mar 5 2008, 04:28 PM']Will also be interesting to see how long it stays on before removal by Rickenwaffen, now it's been posted here :)[/quote]
Hmm - you suspect a spy in our midst? :ph34r:


J.

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nick Proficient

nick

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[quote name='Bassassin' post='151890' date='Mar 5 2008, 05:34 PM']Hmm - you suspect a spy in our midst? :ph34r:
J.[/quote]

You never know.
Even though this & Japcrap are my own personal favourites on BC, I don't post any Rickenfaker sightings myself now, whether I'm interested or not.

Like you I have a large watch list, spend time scouring Ebay for anything of interest. However, one thing I have noticed is that Rick copy listings generally do tend to get removed shortly after getting posted here.

Could be coincidence...possibly paranoia.
I dunno

If I was Rickenwaffen, I would certainly subscribe to this forum. :ph34r:

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OldGit Mentor

OldGit

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Well if the FBI monitor us still* I suspect the Ric monitors may, just in case their autosearches on Ebay miss something cunningly worded to not contravene their precious trademarks ...


* Way back in the mists of time the FBI shut down the forum that preceded BassChat i don't remember why - it was before my time ...

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thedarxide Explorer

thedarxide

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[quote name='OldGit' post='152356' date='Mar 6 2008, 01:21 PM']Well if the FBI monitor us still* I suspect the Ric monitors may, just in case their autosearches on Ebay miss something cunningly worded to not contravene their precious trademarks ...


* Way back in the mists of time the FBI shut down the forum that preceded BassChat i don't remember why - it was before my time ...[/quote]

Was that this:
[url="http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=540393"]http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=540393[/url]

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OldGit Mentor

OldGit

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[quote name='thedarxide' post='152381' date='Mar 6 2008, 01:59 PM']Was that this:
[url="http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=540393"]http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=540393[/url][/quote]

Yeah :)
I'd comment but when I go to Cuba I want to wear my usual Hawaiian shirt and shorts rather than an orange jump suit ... and come home again ....

What was that later in the thread about Steve Lawson painting his nails still? is that his secret?

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nick Proficient

nick

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For your delectation

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1970s-lawsuit-Ibanez-Cimar-Bass-Guitar_W0QQitemZ330218521656QQihZ014QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1970s-lawsuit-Ibanez...1QQcmdZViewItem[/url]

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nick Proficient

nick

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An Indie
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/INDIE-RICKENBACKER-COPY-BASS-BRAND-NEW_W0QQitemZ170201555961QQihZ007QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/INDIE-RICKENBACKER-C...1QQcmdZViewItem[/url]

Might get pulled....

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thedarxide Explorer

thedarxide

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[quote name='nick' post='157046' date='Mar 13 2008, 10:10 PM']An Indie
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/INDIE-RICKENBACKER-COPY-BASS-BRAND-NEW_W0QQitemZ170201555961QQihZ007QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/INDIE-RICKENBACKER-C...1QQcmdZViewItem[/url]

Might get pulled....[/quote]

You can see this in one of the background pictures on their website, I've been meaning to email them and ask them about it.

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Bassassin Grand Master

Bassassin

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A very tidy-looking Ibanez 2388B/DX - and it bloody well should be for that price:

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=280209699962"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=280209699962[/url]

A very florid description - "elm body, mother of pearl/ebony binding & nickel silver tuners"? :)

J.

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Bassassin Grand Master

Bassassin

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Very nice through-neck Jetglo, CMI branded:

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=300208944075"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=300208944075[/url]

Still trying to get the seller to tell me whether it has twin rods & stereo outs, so I can guess who made it.

He's insisting it's an Ibanez, made for Chicago Musical Instruments (who once owned Gibson, don'cha know) and obviously, he's completely wrong on both counts.

I think it might not even be JapCrap... :)

J.

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Happy Jack Grand Master

Happy Jack

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And the prices just get higher and higher ...

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1977-GRECO-Japan-custom-shop-PROJECT-SERIES_W0QQitemZ330221590497QQihZ014QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1977-GRECO-Japan-cus...1QQcmdZViewItem[/url]

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Bassassin Grand Master

Bassassin

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[quote name='Happy Jack' post='161487' date='Mar 21 2008, 04:26 PM']And the prices just get higher and higher ...

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1977-GRECO-Japan-custom-shop-PROJECT-SERIES_W0QQitemZ330221590497QQihZ014QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1977-GRECO-Japan-cus...1QQcmdZViewItem[/url][/quote]

:huh:

That's just outrageous! Can't see him getting many bids, but I've been wrong before...

In fairness, it looks in ridiculously good nick for a 1977 bass - if he's honest about how original everything is - but I'd bet any money he imported this from Japan & likely paid about £200 for it.

Rickenbacker's price hikes won't exactly be helping to keep vintage JapCrap affordable, and I have an unpleasant feeling there'll be more turning up with shonky Rick trcs on, ripping off the unwary. :)

J.

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Jono Bolton Mentor

Jono Bolton

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Think Jon posted [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vintage-Ibanez-Bass_W0QQitemZ280211041730QQihZ018QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]this one[/url] before it was taken down. Still, it's back up, and it's pricey.

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Musky Proficient

Musky

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[quote name='Bassassin' post='161319' date='Mar 21 2008, 10:53 AM']Very nice through-neck Jetglo, CMI branded:

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=300208944075"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=300208944075[/url]

Still trying to get the seller to tell me whether it has twin rods & stereo outs, so I can guess who made it.

J.[/quote]
Can't help with either the TR or outputs, but I've seen a CMI rick with a maple neck. I don't think too many rickenfakers had maple necks, so it might narrow things down a little.

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Happy Jack Grand Master

Happy Jack

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[quote name='jono b' post='161788' date='Mar 22 2008, 01:20 PM']Think Jon posted [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vintage-Ibanez-Bass_W0QQitemZ280211041730QQihZ018QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]this one[/url] before it was taken down. Still, it's back up, and it's pricey.[/quote]

Jon's post was in JapCrap, and he pointed out the risk that the neck might be warped and beyond adjustment.

I emailed the vendor. His reply: [i]Neck is pulled forward slightly - action is 2mm at 3rd fret, 4mm at 12th. No further play in truss rod.[/i]

Fair play to the vendor. I asked some pretty specific questions, and he's given what appear to be very honest answers. But he's clearly operating the [i]caveat emptor[/i] policy ... if you don't ask the question, he ain't gonna tell you.

Good call, Jon. As usual.

:)

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Bassassin Grand Master

Bassassin

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[quote name='Musky' post='162748' date='Mar 24 2008, 05:58 PM']Can't help with either the TR or outputs, but I've seen a CMI rick with a maple neck. I don't think too many rickenfakers had maple necks, so it might narrow things down a little.[/quote]
You'd be surprised! My Rickenbugger - made by Kasuga - has a maple board (they also did it with black inlays too), I've seen Electra branded copies from three different makers (I know a guy in the US who collects them!) with maple necks - these are Fujigen, Matsumoku & Kasuga. I've also seen a surprisingly nice Hondo, all maple (not ply for a change) with a maple board, black binding, inlays & scratchplate! I'd actually say most of the factories made a maple one at one point or another.

CMI is tricky - they didn't source from a particular factory - the very first CMI instruments were British - rebranded Ned Callans, made by Peter Cook. These were all original-ish designs & weren't available for long. They definitely sourced Jap copies from Moridaira (6-bolt necks) & Rokkomann, and I think some were Fujigen. It was doubtless down to who was offering the best deal at the time - I've seen a bolt-neck CMI Rick copy I'm sure is a Matsumoku.

I'm confused by this bass, though, the seller hasn't answered my questions, so I'm stumped! I'd guess Fujigen - but would expect to see checker binding. Tuners, bridge pup & scratchplate are wrong for a Matsumoku or a Rokkomann - although they could have been changed.

The wild card here is that it might not even be JapCrap - those Brazilian Gianninis are a lot like this...

J.

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