I got this from the kotzman about 3 months ago, and found that a solid traditional body works out better for me insofar as standing playing position. That being said.....

This is probably the best fretless I"ve had the pleasure to play/own. The natural tone is punchy and authorative from the Low B up until the high E on the G string. Absolute clarity of pitch and balance of timbre with each single note!!! Then only other bass that I've owned that had that kind of accuracy with each note was a Graphite-Necked Modulus Q5.
Except add in the warm lows of an all-koa body with the attack of the ebony board.

The versatility of tones is completely dependant on two simple things: the active tone knob and your hands. With the tone knob set at about 50-70%, the harmonic detail and growl of this thing is downright vicious. But yet, it retains the musical highs of a real acoustic instrument, rather than the (to my ears) 'quacky' piercing hi's of most piezo pickup designs. For my needs, I left it completely off.

The instrument shines with the tone off as well. It's not a traditional tone knob that gives you sonic 'mud' when turned off. All the mids and highs are still there and I had no problem cutting through at all. It was all up to the hands at that point. Played closer to the bridge, you can easily nail 'that jaco tone' if that's your thing. Instant punchy latin tone as well. I generally plucked exactly in the middle of the bridge and neck block, and the notes had both swell and punch in equal measure. Played directly over the neck, I even nailed a reggae-dub tone on a song. But even played over neck with no highs added with the tone knob, there was nero mud, even from the low Eb to the low C.

This instrument is ultimately hard to describe, but the above should give you an idea. If you've ever played a standard model Ren, with the spruce top and rosewood board, as I have many a time before owning this one, this is NOT the same thing!. Now, I like the standard model just fine, and had GAS'ed for one each time I played/heard one. But this instrument surpasses them all.

Here is a quote on the specs, directly from the original owner, kotzman:

The flamed koa wood on the body is just off the charts! It was a complete custom order, from the woods used to the satin finish. The fingerboard is a lovely dark ebony, over a gorgeous flamed maple neck. There is a matching koa veneer on the the headstock, and a very nice tortoise and mother of perl binding on the body.

Also, let me mention that the kotzman is an amazing photographer as well. Here are some pics of this instrument that I couldn't even dream of approaching. Enjoy!


Thanks for looking!



http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n236/LucasHoldren/th_front.jpg (http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n236/LucasHoldren/front.jpg)
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n236/LucasHoldren/th_frontclose.jpg (http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n236/LucasHoldren/frontclose.jpg)
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n236/LucasHoldren/th_frontback.jpg (http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n236/LucasHoldren/frontback.jpg)
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n236/LucasHoldren/th_bout-eq.jpg (http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n236/LucasHoldren/bout-eq.jpg)
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n236/LucasHoldren/th_back.jpg (http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n236/LucasHoldren/back.jpg)


Price is $2400 Shipped and Paypal LOWERED TO $1900 SHIPPED anywhere in the Continental US. Comes with a serious, heavy-duty case that is literally 10lbs heavier than the actual bass, which is right at 5.5 lbs.

Also, I should add that I'm looking towards another TB'ers Fretless Roscoe with an unlined board. If I can't move this in time, I'll entertain trades on other Fretless Roscoe's with unlined fretboards in a 5 string.

What a nice looking bass! (and such nice photos too) This bass really is fantastic. The tonal variety is in fact hard to describe, and it feels great to play. Light as a feather too. It really is in its own legue and not at all like the other Turners. This price is a steal, I paid $3K for it from the original owner. My mon ELmon is a straight up guy, and this is a GREAT instrument. Peace.

Thank ya kindly!!!

Trades+Cash considered for any unlined fretless 4 or 5, preferably either a Nash J, a Roscoe, etc.

What a nice looking bass! (and such nice photos too) This bass really is fantastic. The tonal variety is in fact hard to describe, and it feels great to play. Light as a feather too. It really is in its own legue and not at all like the other Turners. This price is a steal, I paid $3K for it from the original owner. My mon ELmon is a straight up guy, and this is a GREAT instrument. Peace.



Huh, how did that part get bolded? :hiding:

free bump for a cool bass :)

I forgot to mention that the bass is currently strung with the Thomastik Nylon Core strings that are a standard set for this instrument. More roundwound-like growl with these over the labella tapewounds, but no wear on the fretboard. If you've never played them, they're unlike any other string i"ve come across. Pliable with some roll to it, like a classical guitar. Remarkable mid-punch that IMO all TI strings have.

Trades+Cash considered for any unlined fretless 4 or 5, preferably either a Nash J, a Roscoe, etc.



Still looking for trades + cash money (or the paypal variety). Hit me up, show me what you got!

This bass is even better in person!!!!!!!!!!
This Bass plays like melted butter, on hot teflon in zero gravity!!!

ElMon is a very stand up guy..... BUMP!

This bass is even better in person!!!!!!!!!!
This Bass plays like melted butter, on hot teflon in zero gravity!!!

ElMon is a very stand up guy..... BUMP!

Thank you El Philippo.

bass porn.

Somebody buy this thing!!! It makes sounds that you have only dreamed about, and the Koa on the thing has real soul... Did I mention what nice photos those are?:D

Somebody buy this thing!!! It makes sounds that you have only dreamed about, and the Koa on the thing has real soul... Did I mention what nice photos those are?:D

Actually, there are pics of mine that were posted side by side with the Kotzman's, but somehow they faded into obscurity beneath the awesomeness of his original photos. In fact, if you look real close, you can see my pics with their tails tucked between their legs!!!! :hiding:

This bass is a piece of art, it just looks amazing (looked all of those pictures like 20 times or so:hiding:)

I bet it plays and sounds fantastic too

This bass is a piece of art, it just looks amazing (looked all of those pictures like 20 times or so:hiding:)

I bet it plays and sounds fantastic too

Its quite the bass for sure. If you have a sloppy left hand, it will let you know. For my needs though, a good ol fretless Jbass with single coils will work perfectly in the groups I play in. I'm also contemplating getting back into a tony franklin fretless. It would give me another reason to post in the 'show your Pbass' threads. :D

Its quite the bass for sure. If you have a sloppy left hand, it will let you know. For my needs though, a good ol fretless Jbass with single coils will work perfectly in the groups I play in. I'm also contemplating getting back into a tony franklin fretless. It would give me another reason to post in the 'show your Pbass' threads. :DI think a fretless Roscoe would suit your needs very well ;)

Kidding aside, my fretted Roscoe does the best "P bass" tone I've heard from any bass without a P pickup. The neck pickup is in almost the perfect spot on Roscoes.

Good luck with the Turner - I'd buy it if I could (one of many on the market I can say that about right now).

I think a fretless Roscoe would suit your needs very well ;)

Kidding aside, my fretted Roscoe does the best "P bass" tone I've heard from any bass without a P pickup. The neck pickup is in almost the perfect spot on Roscoes.

Good luck with the Turner - I'd buy it if I could (one of many on the market I can say that about right now).

You're not helping things!!!! :D Serious GAS pains for your Roscoe.

I wanted to find out how much one of these bad boys would cost new, so here ya go, direct from the source:

Hi Luke,
This is an RB5FL-Hi Renaissance acoustic-electric bass. It is a custom
instrument with the addition of the Abalone purfling around the body
along with the extreme high flame koa used to build this instrument.

The current retail MSRP on this model is $2915. The added appointments
mentioned above($1000. for the extreme Koa front & Back, $575. for the
abalone purfle) add $1575 to the price for a whopping total of $4490.
This is a state of the art bass guitar.

I hope this is helpful.
Regards,
Barry Pearlman

Barry Pearlman

General Manager

The Renaissance Guitar Company

815 Almar Avenue

Santa Cruz, CA 95060

831-460-9144

Barry is a great guy and this is a wonderful instrument. Renaissance basses are amazing, and I can't imagine a nicer one.

Marshall

Yeah, I was amazed to have a response within the same hour that I sent the email.

I can't believe nobody has picked this one up. Sure, it's a high ticket item, but appears to be more than worth the asking price.

Bump. Already taking a $200 hit on a one of a kind instrument, but tis the season!!

Bump. Price Lowered to $2100 shipped to the cont'l US. Ouch.

Sending it off to Evilbay. *sigh*

Bumpage. Still open to trades + cash for a fretless 4banger with an unlined board. 5's will work as well.

PRICE LOWERED AGAIN!!!! $1900 SHIPPED/INSURED

Bump.

Wow, what a great deal on a flabberghastingly gorgeous instrument!

Whats the dealie? This shouldn't be here still.......

You and me both brother. I blame Global Warming and Satan, not to mention the economy. Global conspiracy against Koa, once again rearing its ugly head!

Bump.

On hold pending Ebay sale. I actually got more than a few nibbles. I just might have a trout on the line.

Sold on the Bay!!! Some lucky bassist in Springfield Missouri will be very happy this Season!! Thanks for looking!