As a ric user all my adult life , i find it a shame it has come to this, politics should never come into this. if i were to listen or pay attention to John Hall's attitude even toward genuine ric users/owners, i would never play a ric again !!!!
i play a ric because i like the style of the bass and the tone that it produces, you either hate them or love them, John Hall cannot stop anyone selling a ric bass or a replica in the uk the only part of the bass that had a patent was the headstock design. and that has probably expired. i think it is all hot air . i don't like the crappy copies around but there were some good copies made of the 4001!! if you are a Bass/Guitar manufacturer, i would say you just have to expect copies of your instruments it is part of the business and rather moaning about copies i would be more concerned about improving the product i have out on the market at the moment . cheers Geo