Rickenbacker style

Hamer_SS_guy

Hamer_SS_guy

New member
I always liked the sound and looks of a Rickenbacker 4001. And I love the looks of the 4004. But the playability is nothing for me. I wish I could get a "Rickenbacker influenced" Hamer bass (I just don't know how it would sound with the following pickup combination) that plays like a Hamer (I really love the neck profile of my Chaparral Bass).



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what's wrong with the playability of an unbound ric.. they're a fuckin joy to play, for me at least.

 
I've heard that RIC is exceptionally litigious when it comes down to any instrument that comes close to being 'Rickenbacker influenced'. Which is why you can get a clone 330 overseas (I think they go by the moniker 'RockNRoller' in the UK), where the copyright lawyers have a tough time getting through various countries' legal systems, but NOT in the US. Edited to add: It makes me wonder how the old Charvel Surfcaster managed to stay in the US market for a couple of years. Or maybe that's why it went away? /emoticons/default_biggrin.png

I'm not enthused by RIC's way of having instruments (4003, 620) in a bound version, but NOT in a unbound version (4003S, 610)...and yet raised prices a few years ago and supposedly have a production backlog partly because of how labor intensive their instruments are. Would it kill 'em to skip the binding and inlays, like they do on the 330? Of course, that would kill the profit margin and demand on the 4001S RI now, wouldn't it? /emoticons/default_laugh.png

 
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Well, two people in my band each own some Ric's. What makes them not good for me is mainly their neck profile. My bass design is similar to a Ric but no copy. I compared the dimensions and they are quite different (at least the lower part of the body). In fact, the only thing that is similar to a Ric is the cutaway design (but even the dimensions are different). My design is also influenced by Guild and Spector designs. Sure, it is nothing new, but many companies try to get out "retro" stuff (see Fender's Pawn shop series), this bass would still be a Hamer bass. And Hamer taking custom orders this would be a one-off anyway and I am in Europe. So what could John Hall do against this? /emoticons/default_laugh.png

 
I think Ric also pursues foreign made copies as well.

Your bass design is cool, but the body is clearly a 4001/4003. The headstock is too close to Ric's cresting wave.

I'd like to find a 70's to early 80's Ric bass and compare the neck with my '08. It's been a long time since I've had an old one... but I seem to recall the necks being more comfortable to play. Had an '09 with a neck I could not stand, and have read that Ric did something in early '09, then changed the neck back. I'm not totally in line with the '08 neck profile, but if you need a Ric tone, nothing else really nails it.

 
Schecter got away with this one.......pretty obvious what the influence was.

Schecter2009DIAMONDSERIESSTARGAZER-4CrimsonGhost4-StringElectricBass.jpg


I hear you on the Ricky protection of their trademark. I have a 1965 model 420 and while they make replacement parts, they will not sell me a bridge OR truss rod cover without providing the original parts as proof of need for replacement. Wankers.

 
Being similar and being a copy are two different things. My design is clearly no copy of the 4001/4003. Of course, the design was made that you instantly think of the Ric when seeing it, but electronics, body and headstock design, hardware, inlays all are different. No violation against any Ric trademark. I played a late 60's 4003, a 70's 4003 and a 90's 4001 but neither played as nice as my Hamer Chap.

 
Hamer didn't seem to mind making a Ricky-styled bass for the guy in Lauren Harris' band...

 
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