jango Posted September 9, 2008 Share Posted September 9, 2008 Has anyone on the forum any experience of Tokai Rockingbetter basses(a Ricky copy) Seen one for £449 which doesn't seem a bad price compared to the original. I know Tokai's used to be brilliant quality, I had one of their original series basses in the eighties. But are they any good now? I'm also interested in their Love Rock bass, so if anyone has tried one would love to know what they thought. And (god he goes on a bit dunt he) is £350 a good price for a secondhand Tokai Jazz sound fretless? Thanks hopefully Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darkstrike Posted September 9, 2008 Share Posted September 9, 2008 I've tried the Rockingbetter, make sure you try it out first if you go for it, real chunky neck, too much for me, and big necks don't normally bother me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted September 9, 2008 Share Posted September 9, 2008 A lot of people praise these, although a vintage 70s JapCrap Rickenbugger would at least look more accurate. Most modern Tokais are made in Korea, and don't have much relation to the 70s & 80s Japanese ranges, which came predominantly from Tokai Gakki's own factory, and other manufacturers deemed to be of sufficiently high quality. This Rockinbetter's quite interesting, it's always referred to as Tokai Rockinbetter - but funnily enough no matter how hard you look, you won't find a reference to "Rockinbetter" on Tokai's website - or, as far as I can tell - "Tokai" anywhere on the instrument. There was no Tokai Rick bass copy back in the 70s & 80s. I'm not convince there's any connection beyond the mass anecdotal consensus of The Interwebs. Jon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jango Posted September 10, 2008 Author Share Posted September 10, 2008 [quote name='Bassassin' post='280808' date='Sep 10 2008, 12:06 AM']A lot of people praise these, although a vintage 70s JapCrap Rickenbugger would at least look more accurate. Most modern Tokais are made in Korea, and don't have much relation to the 70s & 80s Japanese ranges, which came predominantly from Tokai Gakki's own factory, and other manufacturers deemed to be of sufficiently high quality. This Rockinbetter's quite interesting, it's always referred to as Tokai Rockinbetter - but funnily enough no matter how hard you look, you won't find a reference to "Rockinbetter" on Tokai's website - or, as far as I can tell - "Tokai" anywhere on the instrument. There was no Tokai Rick bass copy back in the 70s & 80s. I'm not convince there's any connection beyond the mass anecdotal consensus of The Interwebs. Jon.[/quote] Cheers for the info, not sure myself why Tokai should leave their logo off this one, they put it on everything else they make seemingly. How about the price for the Jazz Sound anyone? It is a sunburst with lined fingerboard and older (i'm assuming Japanese made) Fender shaped headstock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solo4652 Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 Recently, I bought a new, made in Japan Tokai Hardpuncher P-bass. Fantastic quality. Bob (surname?) at Tokai UK was very helpful with technical specifications, and suggestions of which shops stocked which guitars. I have his email address - PM me if you'd like it (I don't want to post it on a public forum). Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darkstrike Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 [quote name='Bassassin' post='280808' date='Sep 10 2008, 12:06 AM']This Rockinbetter's quite interesting, it's always referred to as Tokai Rockinbetter - but funnily enough no matter how hard you look, you won't find a reference to "Rockinbetter" on Tokai's website - or, as far as I can tell - "Tokai" anywhere on the instrument. There was no Tokai Rick bass copy back in the 70s & 80s. I'm not convince there's any connection beyond the mass anecdotal consensus of The Interwebs. Jon.[/quote] Indeed there is no mention of the Tokai name on the bass, but the shops are getting them off of Tokai. If the neck was smaller, I'da probably bought the one I played, and bought a Hipshot Ric bridge, and a propper bridge pickup cover for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cytania Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 As far as I can figure it Tokai only made Rick copies in the 70s. The new Rockinbetter basses you see in shops today are made for Indie in China and do not related to Tokai in anyway. So if that is a Tokai expect it to show plenty of wear. Beware the new Rockinbetter's because their 'fireglow' paint looks more like a 'fadedglow'. When I first saw one for a few minutes I entertained the fantasy that they had been in shop window for decades and could be mine for a 70s price... Neckwise my humble fingers found them tiring, very like a new issue Burns Bison bass. Nothing like a real Rick neck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 [quote name='cytania' post='280951' date='Sep 10 2008, 10:27 AM']As far as I can figure it Tokai only made Rick copies in the 70s. The new Rockinbetter basses you see in shops today are made for Indie in China and do not related to Tokai in anyway. So if that is a Tokai expect it to show plenty of wear. Beware the new Rockinbetter's because their 'fireglow' paint looks more like a 'fadedglow'. When I first saw one for a few minutes I entertained the fantasy that they had been in shop window for decades and could be mine for a 70s price... Neckwise my humble fingers found them tiring, very like a new issue Burns Bison bass. Nothing like a real Rick neck.[/quote] As far as I know, Tokai [i]never[/i] made a Rickenbacker bass copy in the 70s. I've never seen one, and it does not feature in any vintage Tokai catalogue. The current Rockinbetter & Indie basses are quite different - the Indie is set-neck, not through-neck, and does not have a Rickenbacker-shaped headstock. The one I played had different hardware too. According to the main man at Indie, it's made in Korea. The most accurate modern 4001/4003 copy is the Shine - I don't know if it's imported to the UK, but is available elsewhere in Europe - in a variety of attractive colours, too: [url="http://www.tiptop.se/cgi-bin/multipage.cgi?id=2525"]http://www.tiptop.se/cgi-bin/multipage.cgi?id=2525[/url] [url="http://www.tiptop.se/cgi-bin/multipage.cgi?id=2523"]http://www.tiptop.se/cgi-bin/multipage.cgi?id=2523[/url] [url="http://www.tiptop.se/cgi-bin/multipage.cgi?id=2522"]http://www.tiptop.se/cgi-bin/multipage.cgi?id=2522[/url] [url="http://www.tiptop.se/cgi-bin/multipage.cgi?id=2524"]http://www.tiptop.se/cgi-bin/multipage.cgi?id=2524[/url] There are some nice Chinese-made 4004 copies knocking around too - Bach Guitars, based in the Czech Republic import some quite stunning ones: [url="http://www.bachmusik.com/en/c100208/model-rbb/"]http://www.bachmusik.com/en/c100208/model-rbb/[/url] Don't know how easy/what it would cost to import one of these - but the most expensive version is £230. J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darkstrike Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 The Indie Ric copy is different again, but does look very close to the Rockinbetter, its got no bridge pickup cover, and a fender style bridge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 [quote name='Darkstrike' post='281011' date='Sep 10 2008, 11:54 AM']The Indie Ric copy is different again, but does look very close to the Rockinbetter, its got no bridge pickup cover, and a fender style bridge. [/quote] '+--> QUOTE ('Me - half an hour ago ') The current Rockinbetter & Indie basses are quite different - the Indie is set-neck, not through-neck, and does not have a Rickenbacker-shaped headstock. The one I played had different hardware too. According to the main man at Indie, it's made in Korea.[/quote] Although the one I played/examined did have a bridge pup cover - with a Jazz pickup under it. J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darkstrike Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 [quote name='Bassassin' post='281050' date='Sep 10 2008, 12:56 PM']'+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE ('Me - half an hour ago ')</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->The current Rockinbetter & Indie basses are quite different - the Indie is set-neck, not through-neck, and does not have a Rickenbacker-shaped headstock. The one I played had different hardware too. According to the main man at Indie, it's made in Korea. Although the one I played/examined did have a bridge pup cover - with a Jazz pickup under it. J.[/quote] Only a five min difference! I had the reply box open as I searched for the pic! Anyway, the one you played, you could call it the "Cliff Burton Special" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 [quote name='Darkstrike' post='281068' date='Sep 10 2008, 01:12 PM']Only a five min difference! I had the reply box open as I searched for the pic! Anyway, the one you played, you could call it the "Cliff Burton Special" [/quote] For years I though Cliff played an Ibanez copy - because of the big Gibson mudbucker in the neck position. J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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