Cool Ric Bass Copies

damienblair17 · Post by **damienblair17** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 4:15 pm

Saw this on ebay: LONK

It's an el Degas, which from what I've gathered from around here and my own research means it's a pretty solid instrument. Plus it's a set neck, not a bolt on like most copies. I think it looks awesome.

There's another one here: LANK that's all beaten to shit and has seymore duncan humbuckers installed. I like it less 'cause of the 'buckers but the torn up white is pretty sweet. I'd assume it's also an el Degas since it's buy the same seller and it's features are similar to the first one (set neck, same tuners, inlays, etc.).

brandon. · Post by **brandon.** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 5:08 pm

I would kill to have either of those basses. I think the white one is fantastic. They're both within driving distance of me too... I hate this thread.

damienblair17 · Post by **damienblair17** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 5:13 pm

haha oh shit. I am sorry Dude for fueling your GAS.

But if you buy one, keep me in mind if you ever want to sell yeah?

Oh hey, BTW, check out this 51 P-bass copy

brandon. · Post by **brandon.** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 5:53 pm

that's pretty cool looking...
i think it has the same pickup as that sunburst el degas I grabbed. I love how weird these are.

finboy · Post by **finboy** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 8:44 pm

i don't even want to think what the white one will end up going for

fuck school

pumpkin · Post by **pumpkin** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 10:22 pm

I'd buy 'em

Rox · Post by **Rox** » Sun Jul 11, 2010 3:13 pm

Just to think at one time they were considered throwaway basses . 4-500$ starting bids .........Wowsers !

theshadowofseattle · Post by **theshadowofseattle** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 1:46 am

WANT.

That black one is my jam.

Vis · Post by **Vis** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 2:00 am

Rox wrote:Just to think at one time they were considered throwaway basses . 4-500$ starting bids .........Wowsers !

'Tis ever thus, unfortunately. Not that funky old stuff isn't sometimes cool but I regularly see gear that we used to snigger at in pawnshop windows in the 80s going for silly money. Beats me why, really. A cheap guitar made in the last few years beats the living hell out of the appalling cheap crap that Kay and the like were foisting on us back then. When I think of the prices of stuff back then... I remember paying forty quid for a 12w Fender Musicmaster bass combo in 1987. I shudder to think what I'd pay for one of those now.

Also, hello shortscale!

theshadowofseattle · Post by **theshadowofseattle** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 2:05 am

Vis wrote:
Rox wrote:Just to think at one time they were considered throwaway basses . 4-500$ starting bids .........Wowsers !
'Tis ever thus, unfortunately. Not that funky old stuff isn't sometimes cool but I regularly see gear that we used to snigger at in pawnshop windows in the 80s going for silly money. Beats me why, really. A cheap guitar made in the last few years beats the living hell out of the appalling cheap crap that Kay and the like were foisting on us back then. When I think of the prices of stuff back then... I remember paying forty quid for a 12w Fender Musicmaster bass combo in 1987. I shudder to think what I'd pay for one of those now.

Also, hello shortscale!

Solid first post, would read again, A+ noob NOT GIBSON.

ultratwin · Post by **ultratwin** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 2:49 am

Aye. Great debut there, Vis!

Tokai factory stuff of yore is always tempting, although much of me wouldn't mind "predictable" MIK quality of today for a new piece, and I've played the Indies enough to like them as copies. Hard to say which direction I'd jump at, really.

LUNK.

brandon. · Post by **brandon.** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 3:57 am

dillion make a more accurate copy of the headstock. (if you care)
they're even available on the same site...

damienblair17 · Post by **damienblair17** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 8:31 am

It's true that cheap stuff from the past was looked down upon for a reason. That said, I've heard some very positive things about the "el Degas" brand in particular. Brandon has two of their P-bass copies and loves them from what I gather. Sure I wish this stuff was less expensive, but I still really like the idea of a solid looking ric copy going for (or at least starting) way less than a real one.

Vis · Post by **Vis** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 2:40 pm

Id be curious to hear one. The look is easy to copy but they have perhaps the most distinctive tone of any bass and that's a lot harder to capture. Not that I'd expect an exact facsimile but it would be cool to find something that at least "evokes the spirit" of that punchy Rickenbacker sound.

damienblair17 · Post by **damienblair17** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 4:45 pm

Agreed. Now, who has the cash to buy one and do an demo?

SKC Willie · Post by **SKC Willie** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 5:08 pm

The first ad must have had the words Rickenbacker copy because it seems to have been taken down.

These copies can sell for silly money but they usually sound really good. And of course they look super HAWT!

westtexasred · Post by **westtexasred** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 5:14 pm

portugalwillie wrote:The first ad must have had the words Rickenbacker copy because it seems to have been taken down.

How long before the 2nd one disappears too?

Vis · Post by **Vis** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 5:37 pm

If someone buys me one I'll do the demo. Never let it be said that I'm not willing to help out.

SKC Willie · Post by **SKC Willie** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 7:18 pm

And there goes the second one!

Rickenbacker will shut any and every ad that uses their name if it isn't a Rickenbacker.

westtexasred · Post by **westtexasred** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 7:29 pm

It doesn't have use there name. If it copies any part of their "trade dress"(like the examples below) they will shut it down.

"Fakenbackers" past and present.

The Good

The Bad

and the Ugly