Gust0o

This has occured to me, from time to time. The fact is, there are an awful lot of basses that I would love to try; and the best method of trying, over the longer period it takes to really get to know an instrument, is to own one; thus the collection will change. I've been pretty fortunate in that I've finally managed to work out, from all those basses, what it is that I really want - and thus I suspect I will always have a Stingray in the collection. So I'm a little more whimsical now - everything around the Stingrays will come and go; and at the minute I am considering making a few go

You have to spend time with them; and you can chose bandmates much more readily than you can choose work colleagues. So why not have someone you like?

[quote name='bartelby' timestamp='1369817085' post='2092946'] We were friends before we were in a band... [/quote] This.

Wayne's posted the question on Twitter, and I've Tweeted in reply - all to the official Iron Maiden account, so here's hoping that gets some attention. Definitely contact the PR side of things.

Moved to Gear Porn

Blimey, I had no idea. To be honest, anyone being productive at 91 is awe-inspiring to me.

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1369403745' post='2088848'] EBMM specify using Duracells because , apparently , different makes of batteries are slightly different sizes and the very tight flip -top batterry compartment could get jammed if you used a slightly larger example . I cannot understand why an identical battery wouldn't make proper contact . Have you tried another new Duracell battery to see whether the one you have already tried might be a one - off defective ? [/quote] Seconded. I think it was the Tesco's own brand I tried once, and it didn't fit the flip-up compartment. At least I think it was that way round! Works fine on the screwed-down compartments, mind

"Not a Rickenbacker copy"

The older Epis did tilt like crazy. Worth asking about the Epi pros also - neck-through, different woods, might also tilt less.

[quote name='foxton4001' timestamp='1369324121' post='2087843'] Put yourself in his shoes. [/quote] As a businessman, I think I can - and there's much I could, and would, do better. In short, targeting second-hand sales of older instruments is not preserving his value chain. He's losing that (if he genuinely is - see my comment below) to the current manufacturers, the ones currently going up against his new instruments and possibly impacting his sales and revenue, and that should be the target of his ire - if he can logistically do so. He needs to show willing in respect of defending his rights, and I agree with that. But, again, he's treating the symptoms and not the cause - and I would suggest there are better things a CEO could be doing, instead of personally intervening in rather agressive terms. At the minute his actions are brand impacting. Which is one of this key assets. He's a small manufacturer, possibly even an artisan producer, making a small(ish) number of instruments and selling on the basis of a strong brand - and his personal actions are now impacting that. There's much more he could do. Mid-level instruments, or some other method to engage people with the value chain early and then "grow" them into the genuine Rickenbacker article? Or selling out on the differences of the real thing versus the fake - knowing that the £200 market wasn't his to play in, anyway; I mean, that could be the shock of it all, that actually there's very little impact, as the people spending small amounts on fake instruments were not the people he was selling his to! Sigh. There's a lot I could do his shoes.

[quote name='Billy Apple' timestamp='1369250412' post='2086966'] Can you post pictures of a real Ric that you have scratched the word 'Hondo' on with a compass point? [/quote] Yes. But only on the official Rickenbacker forums.

[quote name='throwoff' timestamp='1369230102' post='2086623'] Has anyone claimed the use of Reichenbacker yet? If not then I want it. [/quote] Would probably appeal to Lemmy.

[quote name='chaypup' timestamp='1369228663' post='2086578'] I just spotted this Rick copy on eBay. [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Collectable-7-Single-Rick-Astley-Never-Gonna-Give-You-Up-good-condition-/390596246973?pt=UK_Records&hash=item5af159bdbd"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Collectable-7-Single-Rick-Astley-Never-Gonna-Give-You-Up-good-condition-/390596246973?pt=UK_Records&hash=item5af159bdbd[/url] But I've been a good boy and emailed the details to: [email="[email protected]"][email protected][/email] I can only advise that if anyone else sees a 'Rick Copy' that they do the same. [/quote] In bizarre twist, I was checking the people directory at work, and we have Rick Copy, Richard Copy and Rick Cope. I assume the last two are cheap knock-offs, but I'm wondering how best to deal with Rick Copy.

Unfortunate, absolutely - but such is how John Hall is seemingly wishing to run the brand he inherited, that he leaves people with little option and little overt sympathy, with both the content and manner of his communications.

[quote name='Dave Vader' timestamp='1369213115' post='2086247'] Did this get clarified that we can't post pics of them even if they're not for sale? Cos I think my faker is in the background of some of my cat pics somewhere, or at least the back of the headstock might be... [/quote] Great minds think alike! Sorry, was posting as you were - yes, you can post pics as long as the item is not for sale or hire.

We did have legal advice when John Hall first got in touch, just to clarify - Kiwi would be the person to speak to in respect of that. To clarify a comment above, the issue only relates [b]items for sale or hire[/b] - meaning Rickenfaker porn would be permissible. I like the poll idea. Again, would be worth coordinating with Kiwi or Ped - as the owners/admins, requests would need to go through them.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1369206849' post='2086159'] Bearing in mind that it is impossible to authenticate any instrument from photographs, the only logical action Basschat can take is to ban all images of Rickenbacker shaped instruments. [/quote] I think we'd only do this if the situation deteriorated significantly or the community requested it.

[quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1369144309' post='2085381'] You can ask I have no interest in Rickenbacker, their products or ones that look like them, so their legal bullying is a matter of some irrelevance to me. But thanks for the headsup. [/quote] No worries. We're too pretty for prison

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' timestamp='1369153923' post='2085552'] Ebay policy somehow cover copies of basses that Rickenbacker never even made. Just to clarify, we can post pictures of copies in not for sale places, like porn section and such, its all about advertising? The thread title concerned on that count. [/quote] I'm not sure, buddy - I've asked Hamster to post and confirm, as I wouldn't like to get it wrong

Afternoon all. I come bearing news - and a request for your help. As some will have noticed, Hamster has updated the Sticky thread on the subject of Rickenbacker copies. Unfortunately, it doesn't get a lot of visibility, so I wanted to start this here. We've had some further correspondence from John Hall, who has confirmed that the copyright has been extended from the previous position of copyrighted Headstock and Logo/TRC, to now include the body - with effect from last September. This correspondence took the same form as last time, with a clear indication of Rickenbacker's willingness to pursue legal action against those they perceive as breaching that position. Our stance hasn't changed. Whilst we think it's a shame that it has come to this, we will respect the wishes of the copyright owner. Hamster's [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/173238-notice-for-owners-of-rickenbacker-copies/page__st__100"]original post i[/url]s as follows: [quote] I've been asked to 'Police' the issue of potential copyright infringement of Rickenbacker designs and trademarks. Kiwi has made our position clear. We will respect the wishes of the copyright owner in these cases. Despite this notice being made as public as possible, it seems that some members - new & established have not read it, or have read it and chosen to ignore it. To make the position of the owners of Basschat clear, please take notice that ANY infringement of copyright against Rickenbacker - such as displaying any form of representation of the copyrighted trademarks or designs (which are clearly detailed in the communications from John Hall attached to the first post of this topic, and are pictorially represented below); and/or any reference, either by the topic starter or by any person posting in that topic;[list=1] [*]To any advertised goods being in any way a Rickenbacker product when they are not a genuine product originally manufactured by Rickenbacker or under licence from them; [*]To any such advertised goods bearing any resemblance to any copyrighted design or trademark owned by Rickenbacker; [/list] Will result in:[list] [*]The advert or post being deleted without notice. [*]The offending topic starter or poster will receive a warning and will be banned from that section of the forum where the advert or comment was posted for 14 days. [*]After the 14 day ban, the topic starter or poster will be allowed access to that forum again IF a clear understanding is received by the Moderation team by the topic starter/poster that they will not act in the same or similar way again, and that they fully understand the property rights being owned and exerted by Rickenbacker. [*]If the same person then goes on to commit any other infringement against the designs or copyrights owned by Rickenbacker, they will be banned from the whole forum permanently. [/list] [/quote] I attach the relevant designs below for information. So, sorry it's heavy news, but I need people to bear this in mind - and to begin to spread the word and help us police this. If you spy items which would infringe the above, please do let a member of the team know. Last time we had some grumping about John Hall on a personal level. Seemingly he's active on the forums, so I would ask people to keep maintain decorum with any responses. Ta!