tauzero

[quote name='spinynorman' timestamp='1347889218' post='1806165'] So, if I want to create a shape to sell as a Rackenbicker, how much does it have to deviate from the original spec to avoid infringing the trademark? Is that why all the effort goes into taking individual sales off eBay, when there doesn't seem to have been as much effort to stop the production at source? [/quote] The notices that RIC sent to Basschat about the Rick trademarks show only the headstock and TRC as being trademarks that they insisted on protecting. Presumably a Rick copy that only had the body the same as a real Rick and where no reference was made to the "R" word wouldn't infringe those trademarks.

[quote name='andydye' timestamp='1347727796' post='1804409'] Maybe someone should do some bass tone sims too, obviously not ricken#@$&er though cos that would be naughty! [/quote] Line 6's Variax bass had Rick sims, and the manual states: [quote] CLANG The Rickenbacker 4001 was first offered in 1961. While the “cresting wave” body certainly stands out on stage, it’s the sustain from the neck-through construction and biting attack from the unique pickups that have made the 4001 a favorite of such diverse artists as Chris Squire, Geddy Lee, and Lemmy. We’ve modeled both the classic 60’s version (Paul McCartney’s “other sound”), with the “horseshoe” pickup and flatwounds, and the hardrockin’ 70’s version, with its brighter bridge pickup and roundwounds. GREEN based on 1971 Rickenbacker 4001. RED based on 1963 Rickenbacker 4001 with flatwound strings. Rickenbacker is a registered trademark of Rickenbacker International Corporation. All product names are trademarks of their respective owners, which are in no way associated or affiliated with Line 6. These product names, descriptions and images are provided for the sole purpose of identifying the specific products that were studied during Line 6’s sound model development. [/quote] For that matter, they've done it with Rickenbacker guitars (my Variax 300 has assorted Ricks in it). It would be very difficult to trademark a guitar or bass sound, especially when you have tone controls on them.

Bought a Hiscox case off Ian - all went very well.

Just to reassure everyone, it's now with me. Just got to read it now...

You can either use a snipe tool yourself or actually bid the maximum amount you're prepared to bid. If that maximum amount is more than the amount that the snipe tool has set, you win.

[quote name='BassTractor' timestamp='1347733446' post='1804486'] I'm also mucho impressionado. How do you even find stuff like that? When I google for "huge bass guitar", I get: [/quote] Memory - I remembered seeing the giant Schack bass on ebay some time back and so I just had to find an appropriate search (schack monster bass, I think).

[quote name='BassTractor' timestamp='1347660692' post='1803886'] Stonehenge the song? Don't know it. [/quote] By Spinal Tap. Here's a picture of them performing it:

[quote name='mushers' timestamp='1347657107' post='1803814'] saw this earlier today and thought the neck seemed pretty standard ... the penny just dropped that is a rather large neck [/quote] Even bigger than this

All you have to do is play one to rid you of these unwanted desires.

[quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1347592601' post='1802866'] I hated Latin in high school... and it was the subject in which I got the highest mark ever. [/quote] I quite liked it, I was just rubbish at it. Finished up getting a grade 6 in it at O level (the equivalent of an A*** at GCSE, I think). Although I did make the sig up all on my own, Mrs Zero is the real Latin expert as she actually did an A-level in it.

[quote name='wishface' timestamp='1347562254' post='1802536'] The problem with the E string isn't just it's disproportionate volume. It's that the entire string just feels disproportionate: heavier, harder to play, higher than the action allows. I can't explain why this is other than the symptoms of a cheap bass.[/quote] You put some photos of you fretting the strings in very early on in this thread. Is that actually how you fret them when playing? I ask because you fret actually on the frets, rather than between them, which is a rather odd technique when playing a fretted bass.

Looks like someone got a bargain. £4650 in 1988 - by comparison, my JD Thumb cost £900 in 1987. I'd have gone for it myself if I'd had a couple of grand to spare...

I notice that he gives an RRP in the auction. Wonder what retailers would sell his works of, er, summat?

[quote name='The Dark Lord' timestamp='1347428833' post='1800594'] Fender USA Precision. Nothing else comes close. Accept no substitute. Strap on. Rock. [/quote] Sold mine in 1987 to get a Warwick. For some reason I later bought a fretless USA Precision, which I sold not long afterwards (it wasn't a patch on the Frontier fretless bass that I traded in for it). Never felt any desire whatsoever to go back to one.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1347358508' post='1799676'] I've been playing for getting on for 40 years (admittedly only originals until recently) and I could only busk Louie Louie and maybe the main riff to Sunshine. I don't even know what Tush is. [/quote] You could probably find your way round a couple of others, Sanctuary is only three chords. As for Tush, it's a ZZ Top song. If you've ever heard a ZZ Top song, you've heard Tush, even if it was called something like "Legs" or "Sharp Dressed Man".

[quote name='ped' timestamp='1347050244' post='1796565'] Argh my internet is being really weird tonight... that's it, I'm spanking the router [/quote] Ah, that'll be what caused the triple posting then. Take care, you might go blind, and then you'd have to start designing reliced Warwick basses.

[quote name='yepmop' timestamp='1347030212' post='1796237'] But hey, I'm no expert, if I paid a lot of dosh for a bass I'd look after it thus making the resale value better than some beat up crap. [/quote] Years ago, when I bought a second-hand Precision (in the days when they were only made in the USA), the one that was the best player was also the tattiest, hence the cheapest. I suppose nowadays it would be the most expensive.

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1347009336' post='1795857'] Does anyone know where I can buy a skunk stripe? [/quote] Iron-on do you? [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MAHOGANY-VENEER-IRON-ON-EDGING-22MM-WIDE-2-7-METRES-/390440578947"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MAHOGANY-VENEER-IRON-ON-EDGING-22MM-WIDE-2-7-METRES-/390440578947[/url] Although you might prefer one of these: [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hand-made-Sexy-Skunk-Faux-Fur-Costume-Full-Set-Corset-Skirt-and-Tail-X1106-/330789525249"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hand-made-Sexy-Skunk-Faux-Fur-Costume-Full-Set-Corset-Skirt-and-Tail-X1106-/330789525249[/url] but you'll have to extract the stripe yourself.

Stevie Wonder may play good keyboards, but he's crap at designing basses.

Bryan Adams on occasion

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