Japanese RD anyone?

Freuds_Cat · August 17, 2010, 03:51:49 AM

From the files of "feel free but I wouldn't" we have a genuine Japanese RD guitar and bass. Minimum of 5 (?)

http://www.alibaba.com/product-free/110328005/GIBSON_RD_CUSTOM_GUITAR_RD_STANDARD.html

uwe · August 17, 2010, 07:34:54 AM

Me no get it?

What's special about a natural RD Standard (certainly the most common variation) and why are as many as five available paired with an RD Custom?

dadagoboi · August 17, 2010, 11:52:30 AM

Quote from: uwe on August 17, 2010, 07:34:54 AM
Me no get it? What's special about a natural RD Standard (certainly the most common variation) and why are as many as five available paired with an RD Custom?

Not Japanese! That's the minimum you can buy, 5 of each and I'm pretty positive that's the price for the whole lot of 10. Interesting they are supposedly coming from Singapore. No forests and no wood industry there, all hi tech stuff, very small place. Possibly Malaysian or Indonesian. 350 per week is very small output for a China factory but that's also an outside possibility. S. China is about 3,000 miles from Singapore. The port is Changi...Anybody remember 'King Rat?'

Dave W · August 17, 2010, 12:52:15 PM

This does say Japan as the place of origin. If it's really $1200 wholesale per piece (or per 2 instruments), it's at least possible these are legitimate Gibsons issued for the Asian market. But if so, why would they be advertising production capacity?

Maybe somebody ought to call "Mr. Joanna Pretty" and get the scoop. I'm sure you'll get a straight answer.

uwe · August 17, 2010, 12:54:59 PM

I still don't get it. These are meant to be modern day replicas/rip-offs you mean to say then?

Dave W · August 17, 2010, 01:11:50 PM

I don't know, it's just not clear. I suspect they're counterfeits but there's really not enough info to tell.

dadagoboi · August 17, 2010, 01:16:56 PM

Did you see the other stuff they supposedly have? Mesa, Fender amps? Again Japan origin.

If somebody in Asia WAS making knock off RDs in quantity I still maintain the price would be $120 F.O.B. And the quality wouldn't be bad.

Of course it has absolutely nothing to do with this suspect product.

Dave W · August 17, 2010, 01:28:18 PM

No matter what it says, there are no Japanese Mesas. Those seem to be used amps anyway. And even the vintage ES-330 TD says Japan.

Maybe these (including the RDs) are a few real vintage items he's selling. The minimum order, country of origin and production capacity might be something that's in all his listings.

dadagoboi · August 17, 2010, 02:32:04 PM

I'm going to ask for a quote on a mixed 20' container with cu ft per item and lead time to Oakland, CA. That should quickly clear up the situation! How many ES-330's do you want?

Dear Sirs,
I would like a quote on a mixed 20 foot container. 25% RD artist bass, 25% RD Artist Guitar, 25% Les Paul guitar and 25% ES 330 guitar. Shipping to Oakland, CA. Please provide cubic ft and packing/master carton info. Also ship date.

I'm very interested to have for Christmas season.

Best Regards,

XXXXX XXXXX

Dave W · August 17, 2010, 04:20:28 PM

No Mesas? Shame on you!

Aussie Mark · August 17, 2010, 04:54:37 PM

They're very bad Chineses copies. There is an eBay seller who is the agent for all of the fake Gibbys, Fenders, Ricks etc that they source. A friend bought one of the $250 Les Pauls and it was total rubbish.

dadagoboi · August 17, 2010, 05:12:25 PM

Is the Ebay seller out of Singapore? There are a LOT of factories in China copying each other for every product imaginable. Some good, most bad. The game is finding the right one. Not saying this is a good one but email is cheap and I have connections in Singapore and China so who knows?

Freuds_Cat · August 17, 2010, 08:32:22 PM

I think the word that would cover everyones concerns would be "Dodgy".

dadagoboi · August 17, 2010, 08:46:55 PM

Quote from: Freuds_Cat on August 17, 2010, 08:32:22 PM
I think the word that would cover everyones concerns would be "Dodgy".

As opposed to the music business?

Seriously, it's easy to slag merchants but some of them ARE legit. What's that saying about kissing frogs? I am one old b$#$%&^d and I KNOW dodgy. On the lottery odds scale of posibility of this being a legit something or other, I'd GO to Singapore or have someone I trust check it out if I actually get a response. This thing is so wrong it could be right.

Freuds_Cat · August 17, 2010, 09:27:00 PM

I too have been in and around the music business for a very long time (30 years) but I still work on the simple method that if it smells like poo it probably is poo. The Cheech and Chong skit comes to mind.

"Looks like dog $h!t, smells like dog $h!t, feels like dog $h!t, tastes like dog $h!t. Must be dog $h!t.
Good thing we didn't step in it!"