prowla

FYI, this is one I owned (a CMI), next to a real Ric; the ones you've posted have nicer tuners.

Based on the blurry pictures, I'd be happy owning both of those; however, it really comes down to their condition and the price. You can embed links to pictures on other sites (eg. imgur) to get their full resolution.

FYI, The reason I asked if the black one was a bolt-on is because the body looks rather thick. Also, the Fireglo one is showing tail-lift; that's where the bridge tailpiece starts to bend upwards and pull away from the body. It happens on real Rics too, so it's 100% authentic! One thing to beware of these vintage instruments is the converse of tail-lift, neck-lift, which is where the thru-neck starts to bend upwards at the weak point under the Bass/neck pickup due to the pull of the strings; a symptom if this is a high action even though the truss-rods have the neck straight and the the bridge is bottomed out; it is fixable, but requires woodworking skills. Again the authenticity is there because it happens on real Rics too; Rickenbacker used to stipulate as a warranty condition that you had to use their strings. Though the pictures aren't great, it appears that the action is high-ish.

As for the original brand, it’s pretty much impossible to say, as the same instrument came out of factories with different labels on them. I always think it’s a shame when folks swap the TRC for a vanity RIC one.

Cool. Yes, the jack plate would say Stereo-Sound & Standard. Value is dependent upon thru vs bolt on neck; a good thru neck is north of £500.

It’s quite difficult to tell much from those pictures. They look vintage Japanese; I’m thinking Shaftesbury, but they could be other. The tuners look interesting, but can’t see the backs. Is the black one a bolt-on neck?

That white stripe ain’t great, is it.

It's a no from me...

Is £399 a lot for one of those?

Quality work on the neck attachment...

Whilst an odd case here or there may be incidental, if a number collaborate and do the cross-referencing then it can have more of an effect.

I was thinking £80 would be a lot for it.

That's a cheapie (and it's a Precision not a Jazz).

I could smell it a mile away! 🙂

Didn't look, but I'm guessing Cologne? I do wish ebay had an "ignore" feature.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/373984068404

Wouldn't want him to lose his head. OTOH, his gonad-shaped tuners might be more appropriate at the other end of the instrument!

I used to angle my pickups with the Bass one nearer the top strings and the Treble one nearer the lower ones.

Crikey - a v2 bridge/tailpiece on it!

It'd probably give off toxic fumes, so no good for that neither...

FYI, the Joe Bardens require you to re-use your existing Treble/bridge pickup base plate and the Bass/neck pickup clamshell, so you're left with the coil/magnet part and a cut wire on the Treble one.

That is one of the poopiest basses I've ever seen.

I've got a Zenta one.