Rick Turner Renaissance Fretless 5

rstanley · #1 01-06-2012, 08:13 PM

This is a great fretless and has been on TalkBass before. I purchased it from a TalkBass member a couple years ago. The only reason I am selling it is because I am purchasing a Double Bass.

This Rick Turner Renaissance Fretless 5 plays beautifully and is in excellent condition. When I purchased it, it had just visited Mike Lull (Mike Lull Custom Guitars) who did a full setup and adjustment of everything. He set the intonation, adjusted the truss rod, tweaked the bridge, and did some work on the bridge saddle. It plays like butter.

You can check out the Turner basses at: Turner Renaissance Guitars - Hand-Built Guitars, Basses & Ukuleles By Rick Turner.

These basses are what Turner calls "Semi-Hollow Acoustic Chambered Bodies" and weigh in at less that 5.5 lbs. including a piezo bridge pickup with 18V Timberline System.

Here’s a link to some pics: Pictures by Rmark0 - Photobucket

This one has a cedar top, flamed maple back/sides, maple neck and rosewood fingerboard. 35" scale. The bass is in very good condition. There are two "nicks", one at the tip of the headstock (from the previous owner) and the other is a nick below the bridge from when the tip of a cable collided. Other that that, I don't know of any other problems or issues.

New, this would be in the $3,000.00 range.

••••••••REDUCED TO $1500!••••••••

Buyer pays shipping.

The bass will come with:
A hard shell case, purchased from Turner Guitars, made specially for this bass. Tweed finish, very nice, this cost $240 new and is in like new condition.
A Turner Strap "dingus", a device that mounts on the strap button at the heel of the neck. it moves the attachment point away towards the headstock about 6 inches and makes the bass much less head heavy and balances better (than without it).
A "boat load" of strings:

• Thomastik Infeld Acousticore Round wound (new unopened). (These are the strings that Turner had in mind when he designed this bass)
• Elixir Nanowebs (currently on the bass with about 6 months use)
• La Bella Black Nylon Tape Wound (about 6 months use)
• Thomastik Infeld Acousticore Round wound ("newer" as labeled from previous owner)
• Thomastik Infeld Acousticore Round wound ("old" as labeled from previous owner)

This bass responds significantly to different strings as it is very sensitive. I was surprised at the differences in each type of the strings. This bass plays like butter, and has an incredible tonal range. A VERY Dynamic and sensitive instrument.

Thank you for looking...Robert

rstanley · #2 01-07-2012, 02:31 PM

quick weekend bump ;-D
I hate to see this go, but someone is going to be very happy.

Richard_P_Harve · #3 01-07-2012, 03:40 PM

I owned one of these for a few years some time ago, they are very different initially with the acoustic core string but you get past that fast. They sound very warm with tons of MWAH .... Not quiet a Rob Allen but very close... At that asking price this is a great deal.

rstanley · #4 01-07-2012, 04:16 PM

Thank you, Richard. I agree with what you've said. Personally, I was never excited about the acousticore strings. Could be why there is an unopened set included, lol. If I stayed with them longer, I probably would have adjusted and it would have made a difference. However, with the LaBellas and NanoWebs...wow!! Very warm, sensitive and expressive. These basses respond to the slightest changes in hand position and attack. I love this bass, just switchin' to double bass. Thanks for your kind remarks.

basspraiser · #5 01-08-2012, 08:36 PM

again, I am very sad this is NOT a lined fretless...BUT with my lack of cash right now? maybe I m happy....GAS is less painful that way....(i.e. wen you can find somehting "wrong" with a bas).

still...

BUMPAGE for a killer bass!

I played a 4 string over a year ago and it STILL haunts me!!!

rstanley · #6 01-08-2012, 08:52 PM

basspraiser, don't let the lack of lines intimidate you. It's really not that hard to pick it up. Just a bit of work. You'd probably be more satisfied with the unlined after you'd made some progress with it. Besides, there are fret markers on the side of the fingerboard and that's all the "aid" I felt necessary. Thanks for the bump.

Adam Harzuf · #7 01-09-2012, 04:20 PM

Is the neck 34" / 35" ?

rstanley · #8 01-09-2012, 06:07 PM

Oops. Sorry Adam, I meant to include that info. It's 35" scale.
Robert

Richard_P_Harve · #9 01-09-2012, 08:28 PM

I totally agree with the seller on the "no fret lines" idea. I specifically choose mine years ago with no fret lines but just side dots. The dots provide ample quick visual reference but you will find that it's the bass that takes you to the right place, sounds weird I know but play one of these.....really play one. I also think that Rick got it right with the Acousticore strings, stay with them and you will get comfortable with them, it's mostly the roll Vs. bend feeling. I'm GAS prone on this one, TB classifieds overload.

rstanley · #10 01-09-2012, 09:28 PM

Richard, you make a good point about the acousticore strings. I didn't have a good chance to adjust to them. When I received the bass, the LaBella tapewound strings were on it. I really liked the sound but eventually wanted to try something different and heard about the Nanoweb strings. I ordered some and while I was waiting for them to arrive, I put a fairly fresh set of acousticores on to see what I thought. I struggled getting use to the difference in tension. I used them on the bass for one performance and wasn't happy with everything...mostly my lack of adjustment to them. Which was more to do with me than the strings. When the Nanowebs arrived, I put them on and "that was that". Unfortunately, I didn't have the necessary time to make the adjustments to the accousticore, at that time. They are extremely sensitive...which is a good thing...once one gets acclimated. One thing I will say it that this bass sounds very different with each of the strings I tried. Tons of flexibility.

On another note, Richard, the bass comes with a brand new unopened set of Acousticore strings...I know, I'm just throwing more temptation out there. lol

Thanks for your comments,
Robert

Richard_P_Harve · #11 01-10-2012, 07:02 AM

Robert if I had not just purchased an F-Bass AC5 fretless I would be all over this at your asking price......bump

rstanley · #12 01-11-2012, 03:20 PM

Richard, congratulations on the purchase of the AC5. Awesome Bass! I hope you are enjoying it...if you actually have in your hands yet (after the refinish, etc.). I'm sure it is a beauty! Thanks for your comments about the Turner Renaissance.
Robert

PSPookie · #13 01-19-2012, 01:47 PM

Another previous RTR owner here to attest to the awesomeness of these instruments.

rstanley · #14 01-20-2012, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PSPookie

Another previous RTR owner here to attest to the awesomeness of these instruments.

PSPookie, thanks for your comments of confidence and appreciation for these basses...awesome is a good description. I will make someone very happy.

rstanley · #15 01-24-2012, 08:10 AM

I know someone out there needs this.
b u m p

**JoshB** · #16 01-28-2012, 11:24 AM

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