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SurfGuitar101 Forums » Gear »

Permalink Chinese Imports - I'm 1 for 2

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I recently scored good luck - then some bad luck with two Chinese copies of a certain type of guitar produced in California in the late 50s/early 60s noted for its "jangle". I'm treading lightly here in the hopes that this thread can stay active.

So - the good luck. My first model came in at $300.000 - with decent HSC that was more than I expected. I reckoned I'd get total firewood and just write it off as a $300.00 gamble/loss.
But I lucked out. The pickups, hardware, and electronics were all total junk as anticipated, but the construction, which featured a set neck and decent finish - was better than expected. I bought correct parts from England and the U.S. and outfitted the guitar correctly. It plays comparable to the $15,000.00+ original - good enough for me.

But - bad luck on the second one. The neck was not set correctly; there was a noticeable tilt in the fretboard; the bridge was over 1/2 inch set back too far (with a ground wire hole under it) making intonation impossible.
It was a $300.00 loss as the Chinese are not keen on refunds. You have to ask for an exchange/refund in 2 weeks or you're stuck with the guitar.

Anyone have similar experiences?
J Mo'

Last edited: Jun 17, 2022 18:59:51

Could you share the models? That may be interesting.

Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine

New Single is out!

https://waikikimakaki.bandcamp.com/album/rhino-blues-full-contact-surf-single

Waikiki Makaki

https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki

Lost Diver

https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin

Samurai,
Since you asked. They are both Rickenbacker 360F copies. Production ceased on them in the US in 1964 and no plans are in the offing for a re-issue - although many have asked. So I took a chance on the Chinese imports available on AliEXPRESS. There's videos on youtube of the guitar.

One panned out as I've stated; the other didn't. The quality difference may well be a function of what slave labor camp produced each model.

BTW - for the "buy American" types out there- I would have gladly gone for a US re-issue but they are just not to be had. And an original (if you could find one) is a $15,000-$25,000 item these days.
I haven't met a guitar yet worth that much. (But I'll sell one if someone "just has to have it")
That's the further info.
J Mo'

Last edited: Jun 17, 2022 17:05:01

360F, is that the single cutaway hollowbody? Probably the best looking guitar Rickenbacker made imo. Too bad they can't/won't make a reissue of some sort like nearly every other manufacturer.

Fritz,
Yes that's the one. It's a great guitar. There are pictures of Jimmy Bryant playing one in the 1950s. There's a video on Youtube of John Hall of Rickenbacker giving a tour of the Rickenbacker factory guitar collection - which he candidly states is really his private collection as Rickenbacker is a family owned company to this day. Several 360Fs are displayed.
I thought, "Why him and not me"? So - I decided to take the plunge on the Asian import. All told, the good one cost about $1200.00-$1500.00 to put together with the correct parts, wiring, and luthier work. That certainly beats the hell out of a $15,000-$25,000.00 price tag for an (unobtainable) original.

So - I'm way ahead $$$-wise - even with the real lemon I got the second time around.
Thinking outside the box...
J Mo'

Last edited: Jun 17, 2022 18:57:16

Is the neck glued or screwed? And where did you source the pickups? Those pickups are quite unique.

http://thewaterboarders.bandcamp.com/

I've had great luck with my Chibsons. The electronics sucked but with some work they play and sound great for less than 10% of the cost. Love playing these through my Marshalls!
image

The Kahuna Kings

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447

https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases

Last edited: Jun 19, 2022 09:30:05

I know I’m new here, but I have to say… in the case of the 360F, I understand. The guitar isn’t made anymore so you find a suitable replication. All good. But the “Chibsons” and the like, that are just copies of readily available guitars, it really just screams that a person has to have the name on the headstock. There are surely legit and similar guitars that would cost maybe more than the fakes a little, but be a better instrument and not contribute to counterfeit instruments that one day when you’re gone be passed off as the real deal. Epiphone comes immediately to mind in the case of the “Chibsons.” But I get it, a guitar that says Epiphone on it isn’t cool. Doesn’t carry the “hey, look I have a Gibson!” effect, does it? Even though the Epiphone is actually more a real Gibson than the fake AliExpress guitar. I don’t know. Just seems lame to me. I apologize if I seem like I’m judging anyone, but I guess in a way I am so there’s that. I’d rather play the Epiphone than pretend to have a Gibson to impress some stranger somewhere.

I love my Chibsons. Don't care what anyone thinks. Amazing instruments. The only one to impressed is me. It's all that matters although my Gibson friends are blown away how great these guitars are and what I paid for them.

The Kahuna Kings

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447

https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases

Last edited: Jun 20, 2022 00:45:30

Daron,
The neck on my 360F import is glued in - just like the original. I took another look at it. The fretboard tilt is obvious. I'm going to look into a luthier who might be able to steam the neck off the body and reset it properly - if not too pricey. We'll see.

Ricky-sounds in England has accurate wiring harnesses and correct tailpieces. Gemini pickups at www.geminipickups.com has great toaster style pickups.
Hope this helps
J Mo'

stratdancer wrote:

I love my Chibsons. Don't care what anyone thinks. Amazing instruments. The only one to impressed is me. It's all that matters although my Gibson friends are blown away how great these guitars are and what I paid for them.

I desperately want an explorer-shaped guitar, but I have zero love for gibson and would be totally happy going with an import (which is a huge deal to me). those look great!

cosmonaut wrote:

stratdancer wrote:

I love my Chibsons. Don't care what anyone thinks. Amazing instruments. The only one to impressed is me. It's all that matters although my Gibson friends are blown away how great these guitars are and what I paid for them.

I desperately want an explorer-shaped guitar, but I have zero love for gibson and would be totally happy going with an import (which is a huge deal to me). those look great!

Thanks! I have spent a fortune on my stratocasters and all the gear to play surf. I think of these knockoffs as a cheap way to play gibson style guitars. I'd feel guilty spending the type of money it would take to buy gibson as a surf guitarist. Collectively, these guitars would be $20,000.00 if bought new from Gibson. I love the Black Beauty Custom Collection from Gibson. These cost me a total of 1200.00 after all the mods and electronics. I don't mind doing the work to make them play and sound great. All my guitar friends that I get together with own vintage Gibson guitars and none of them are offended by these and are just blown away at how great they are for the money. They just can't believe how great they are!

The Kahuna Kings

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447

https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases

I’m not offended by your Chibsons. I just wonder why someone buys them when there are other “Gibson style” guitars available. Epiphone being the closest one. I meant no offense. It’s a legit question on my end.

M74

mugen74 wrote:

I’m not offended by your Chibsons. I just wonder why someone buys them when there are other “Gibson style” guitars available. Epiphone being the closest one. I meant no offense. It’s a legit question on my end.

I would have taken an Epi V or Explorer but they were more expensive and I couldn't find any in black and gold with a bound fretboard. The guitars are part artwork to me. Plus they play so good!

The Kahuna Kings

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447

https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases

Last edited: Jun 21, 2022 17:03:11

All,
This second 360F that has its defects has been a lesson - in luthiers.
I've contacted several. They all tout their skills, restoration prowess, blah, blah blah.
One even specializes in building and restoring old Ricks - in worse shape than my import from what I've seen and read.
They were all full of hot air - even with my willingness to pay whatever costs were involved in getting the guitar straightened out. They didn't want to take on the job.

Leave it to me to find out the real skill limits in professional services.
J Mo'

Last edited: Jun 21, 2022 06:26:13

JohnnyMosrite wrote:

... Leave it to me to find out the real skill limits in professional services.

Could it be that these luthiers are busy working on vintage guitars and would rather not work on an inexpensive import?

If I'd stop buying old guitars to fix, I might actually learn to play.
Bringing instruments back to life since 2013.

IDK,
Yeah.. could be.
But how then did I happen on luthiers who worked on several of my "inexpensive"-in-relative-terms Harmony Meteor guitars?
And perhaps we might define "inexpensive". Might you have a $$ figure in mind? I'm always looking to learn.
J Mo'

Last edited: Jun 21, 2022 15:30:21

Johnny, can you dispute the defect and get most of your money back? I had a Les Paul come in once with exact same problem. I disputed and got 200.00 taken off the price. It's 100.00 wall art now.

The Kahuna Kings

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447

https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases

Well, it's certainly inexpensive relative to the real thing, as you documented.

Luthiers have a sense of the quality of known guitar brands and so know what they're getting into. With your knockoff they did not. They didn't have the confidence that their efforts would make you a happy customer and so they declined the work. That's my guess.

If I'd stop buying old guitars to fix, I might actually learn to play.
Bringing instruments back to life since 2013.

IDK,
I would like to think a luthier works on what a client brings him. If it's only to be (relatively) high end, then I'm thinking he may not be around long. (Sucessful) car mechanics work on low end Volkswagens as well as BMWs.
So - it can't all be erector-set type of guitars like many Fender models for a successful luthier.

As for the confidence factor in their efforts, I have to agree. It's just a bit uncanny how I find those limits in service people. And that's after I read and quote the bluster they post on their website.

So - are you telling me no luthier will want to touch a cheap Danelectro, Zim-gar, Teisco, Samick, Hondo, etc.?
Hmm. I happened on a cheap brand of guitar - the Vantage line - Japanese made back in the day. They play and sound great. Haven't had a luthier turn down working on one of them yet.
J Mo'

Last edited: Jun 21, 2022 20:03:06

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