The replica or tribute phenomena in music can be taken either way.Some tribute bands are manned by decent musicians, in a few cases probably better than the originals they mimic. That’s almost certainly true with the dozens of Status Quo tribute acts out there!Replica guitars are also a burgeoning music industry business. Some tribute acts take things to the extreme of insisting on using their hero’s original instruments if they’re still available, or getting replicas if they’re not.
Guitars are more than just a musical instrument.They are also cultural symbols, fashion statements and badges of personality.Replica guitars have a mixed reputation and many people don’t want to see further than the logo stamped on the headstock. Cheap Chinese copies have flooded the market and their quality is certainly dubious. However, very high quality replicas of vintage guitars do exist. Fender is a favourite target for these lovingly created copies, based on the 1951 Telecaster (originally called the Broadcaster) and the 1954 Fender Stratocaster.
In its prime, the Strat had a contour body of swamp ash, one piece maple neck and three pickups. In 1960 Fender bodies changed to alder as standard and the slab board necks were manufactured up until mid 1962 when a curved board was offered. In 1964 the curved board was replaced with a veneer when the CBS Corporation purchased the company leading to a well documented decline in quality. So replica Fender guitars made today may actually be better quality than post 1964 originals!
The Tanglewood RVB-2 60s Beatles style violin bass is another good example of just how good replicas can be. Based on Hofner’s 500/1 ‘Beatle Bass’, The RVB-2 recreates a vintage semi-hollow tone ideal for ’60s style pop/ rock, blues and jazz, without breaking the bank! It has the same vintage features as the Hofner: rosewood fingerboard with pearloid dot inlays, maple neck, floating wooden bridge and pearloid pick guard. Of course, the pickups aren’t the Hofner stamped ‘Staple’ humbucking pickups, but the two toaster appearance mini-humbucker pickups work just as well in achieving that Beatles un-EQ’d classic pop sound. So don’t dismiss electric guitars just because they are replicas.Just like the tribute bands, sometimes these guitars can be as good as, if not better than, the original.
