Would all of this be a non issue if the word Rickenbacker was not on the headstock?
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It's not an issue for me. I know it's not a real Rickenbacker just by looking at it. I myself am certainly no expert, I have only played one once for about two minutes. But I can see from the pickups and bridge and knobs that it is not a genuine Rickenbacker.
Guess I’ll toss out all my P copies!
Good point about the P bass copies (and teles, strats, LP's, etc) but Japanese makers were sued successfully bank in the 70's. Maybe there are licensing deals in place, maybe those court cases defined examples of too much similarity. Maybe some of these designs were not properly protected by the owners, and the results being with simpler designs it may be more than the body shape.
It plays well. The neck is a bit flat and needs some relief, so it's a bit rattly when I dig in hard with a pick. With fingers, it's nice. I'm waiting a day or so with the strings under tension to acclimatize before I set it up
I just wish these Chinese builders would make some instruments without the blatant counterfeiting. Is this all they make, or are there basses without the fake logos?
Looks like the wood working and finishing isn’t terrible, maybe something a little more generic?
Honestly asking. Not trolling or being a smart butt. Seems all I’ve seen posted are just this style of copies of high end basses.
Looks like the wood working and finishing isn’t terrible, maybe something a little more generic?
Honestly asking. Not trolling or being a smart butt. Seems all I’ve seen posted are just this style of copies of high end basses.
My understanding is that it might be problematic to get this through US Customs, but Canada Customs doesn't care about this type of thing. I was more worried that Customs might be worried about the material of the fretboard (CITES), but they didn't even open it up, or charge me sales tax or duty.
It's tough to tell. On DHGate and AliExpress, the photos of the basses usually don't show the front of the headstock well enough to read the name. Which I think means that it is usually a counterfeit name. In fact, a lot of the photos are photos of the real basses/guitars.
Some of the sellers do offer custom lettering on the TRC/headstock, so you can get something different, if you want.
Folks, before anyone gets more overheated about the implications of this purchase, let me offer some information. The standard for infringement is likelihood of confusion among the buying public. This OP knew going in that he was purchasing a knock off and titled his post "Counterfeit Ric," confirming his lack of confusion. So, no harm to this buyer. Now, the question is whether this product harms the manufacturer or the buying public at large. A new Rick goes for about $2K. Anything new that's represented as genuine but that's priced significantly less than list price is understood not to be genuine. (In court this is sometimes established with survey evidence.) Similarly, when you see a new Rolex sold on the street for $200 you know it's a fake. So, as a rule, only the unjustifiably uninformed buyer would consider this product to be made by Rickenbacker. Other mitigating factors are that this product resembles the genuine article only in shape; other critical elements (pickups, bridge, electronics, tuner, finish etc.) are clearly off the mark. Again, low likelihood of confusion among the purchasing public. But for the superfake TRC this would hardly be an issue.
Now we turn to potential harm to the manufacturer. Does the sale of this product interfere with Rickenbacker's ability to sell its own products? Is there confusion in the marketplace? In this instance I'd argue against it. Everyone knows what Rics cost, and where they come from. Here the product is offered from an overseas vendor. The target purchasers for this vendor are people who might like, but cannot afford, the real item. This suggests that Rickenbacker customers are not going to have their heads turned by this cheaper option. The ONLY issue that would be offensive--which is NOT indicated by the OP's comments-- would be someone importing a number of these knockoffs and trying to sell them in the US as legitimate. This would be pretty hard to do considering how they're configured. I do agree that the "Made in the USA" TRC is clearly trademark infringement but, in the OP's case, he understands he bought a counterfeit item.
As for notifying Rickenbacker; every major company has a staff of in-house attorneys or has a retained one (like me) on speed dial to deal with counterfeits or even gray market goods. This won't come as news to them.
As to the TB member that insulted the OP, you're entitled to your opinion but it's not one that was appropriately expressed, especially where the point you're trying to make is counter-indicated by his posts and the general features of this product.
Now we turn to potential harm to the manufacturer. Does the sale of this product interfere with Rickenbacker's ability to sell its own products? Is there confusion in the marketplace? In this instance I'd argue against it. Everyone knows what Rics cost, and where they come from. Here the product is offered from an overseas vendor. The target purchasers for this vendor are people who might like, but cannot afford, the real item. This suggests that Rickenbacker customers are not going to have their heads turned by this cheaper option. The ONLY issue that would be offensive--which is NOT indicated by the OP's comments-- would be someone importing a number of these knockoffs and trying to sell them in the US as legitimate. This would be pretty hard to do considering how they're configured. I do agree that the "Made in the USA" TRC is clearly trademark infringement but, in the OP's case, he understands he bought a counterfeit item.
As for notifying Rickenbacker; every major company has a staff of in-house attorneys or has a retained one (like me) on speed dial to deal with counterfeits or even gray market goods. This won't come as news to them.
As to the TB member that insulted the OP, you're entitled to your opinion but it's not one that was appropriately expressed, especially where the point you're trying to make is counter-indicated by his posts and the general features of this product.
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Guess you lucked out then.
The problem with a lot of US customs enforcement is that it tends to be arbitrary and capricious. There's only so many inspectors. And they have far bigger worries than to be overly concerned about things like rosewood - unless they have the time, or it's the latest restriction du jour.
I just had a fret flushing-beveling file I ordered from a company in Athens Greece sit in US customs for close to a month before it sat for another five weeks with the USPS. In the end I had to bring the shipment traking info to my local postmaster and ask what the issue was. She said it didn't make any sense and had me fill out a form.
I got the package two days after that.
Wanted to get my comment in before this gets locked (because it probably will)
The people crapping over this NBD thread need to grow up.
The OP isn't the one stealing from Rickenbacker, and if Rickenbacker was so concerned about Rick copies they probably would've had this company cease production before the OP got one.
OP, enjoy your new bass. Apologies so many people are being unnecessarily rude about such a non-issue. Some people in this world just suck.
The people crapping over this NBD thread need to grow up.
The OP isn't the one stealing from Rickenbacker, and if Rickenbacker was so concerned about Rick copies they probably would've had this company cease production before the OP got one.
OP, enjoy your new bass. Apologies so many people are being unnecessarily rude about such a non-issue. Some people in this world just suck.
There was only ever one "lawsuit" and it was Gibson v. Ibanez on the basis of headstock shape only. (As already mentioned, I think this particular instrument gets a pass on that detail!)
The lawsuit was settled out of court, so there is no judicial precedent in these matters.
China does not recognize US (or international for that matter) copyright law.
Until some precedent is set, (i.e., Ric takes someone to court who has enough money to fight them, and wins) it's safe to assume these copies are as legal as P copies.
What would you think if a Chinese business sued an American company for not following obtuse Chinese business laws?
Pet Politics
My real name is Michael, but how exciting is that?
Reminds me of this cuckoo clock my parents have, which I have already declared (to my sister) mine.. someday. I'm not some weirdo Menendez brother type. I swear. I just really like the cuckoo clock. I don't wish any harm to anyone, including the OP. Enjoy your bass.
Hooooboy. Some of you good folks in this thread seem to need a hug. Or a Snickers bar. Or both mebbe. Please read or reread post #50 a take a moment before hitting the "enter" button. Really no need to get icky about this.
To the Op I honestly have never been a fan of the R********r shape or ornate carving but I gotta say that bass is interesting! Hope you enjoy it!
To the Op I honestly have never been a fan of the R********r shape or ornate carving but I gotta say that bass is interesting! Hope you enjoy it!
I don't know, but I've had 2 of those and would love to find another!
Bryan R. Tyler
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And as for official TB policy, discussing counterfeit items is allowed. Owning them and posting a NBD thread about them is allowed. We don’t allow them to be sold through our classifieds, but that’s the only restriction.
What we do not allow is disrespectful or insulting comments towards other members. Keep those to yourself.
Thank you
So i bought a 1994 Ford Explorer in 1994. I paid 6k more than the Mazda Navajo with the same options because i didnt want a foreign car. Guess what, most of my explorer was mazda. I dont have ptsd over this but i learned right then, that brand loyalty, was created by and only benefits the brand. Not you. Gig that bass!!!
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