Rondo Short Scale 5 String (Brice) - Page 3

Roadkill · #41 07-01-2012, 08:49 AM

Back in stock!
http://www.rondomusic.com/hxb405natbshort.html

howardcano · #42 12-30-2012, 06:28 AM

Would one of you proud owners of the Brice HXB-405 3/4 scale bass please tell me its total length, body length, and maximum body width, to the nearest 1/8"? They are currently out of stock, and the web site shows incorrect dimensions (it gives the dimensions of the full-scale version). Thanks!

loopee · #43 12-31-2012, 01:20 AM

how heavy is this bass?

Mekanamom · #44 01-03-2013, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by howardcano

Would one of you proud owners of the Brice HXB-405 3/4 scale bass please tell me its total length, body length, and maximum body width, to the nearest 1/8"? They are currently out of stock, and the web site shows incorrect dimensions (it gives the dimensions of the full-scale version). Thanks!

Sorry it took a while to get back to you with this info! This is what I got (measuring with a fabric tape, lol.)

Total length (tip of headstock to bottom strap button): 41.5 in
Body length (top of horn to bottom strap button): 18.5 inches
Body width at widest point: between 12 1/4 and 12 1/2 inches

Mekanamom · #45 01-03-2013, 04:53 PM

Body width photo attached

Mekanamom · #46 01-03-2013, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loopee

how heavy is this bass?

Well, according to my questionable bathroom scale, it comes in at somewhere between 8.5 and 9 lbs.

It doesn't *feel* very heavy to me though... That horn goes right up to the 12th fret and it balances very well, which makes it pretty comfortable.

howardcano · #47 01-04-2013, 05:31 AM

Thanks, Mekanamom!

tuBass · #48 01-04-2013, 05:46 AM

This bass looks great for the money. I'm a short scale fan, and it looks like it would be a great candidate for an active EMG swap.

tuBass · #49 01-04-2013, 05:49 AM

well shoot. I just went to go pull the trigger and they are out of stock again. hope they get more in

LUpton · #50 01-04-2013, 07:00 AM

Sign up for the mailing list from Rondo. That will let you know when they are back in stock, along with other interesting things Rondo gets from time to time. I queried Kurt earlier in November about availability, and he said they would be arriving sometime in Jan/Feb.

I am waiting for one also, and thinking about the EMG or SD pickup mods, too.

**rtav** · #51 01-04-2013, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mekanamom

The Brice arrived today!

Here's a pic of it sitting next to the Birdsong:

Really nice looking basses!

Roadkill · #52 01-05-2013, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tuBass

well shoot. I just went to go pull the trigger and they are out of stock again. hope they get more in

They tend to sell out in a day when they come it - gotta be quick

. Last batch before this one was 1/12 so it looks like you have a year wait ahead

.

LUpton · #53 01-05-2013, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roadkill

They tend to sell out in a day when they come it - gotta be quick

. Last batch before this one was 1/12 so it looks like you have a year wait ahead

.

Uhh... check your calendar again. This is 1/13...

I'll repeat what I said earlier: In November 2012, I queried Kurt at Rondo regarding availability of these basses, he told me he was expecting something in Jan/Feb of next year, that is 2013, which means, IMO, any time now...

Sign up for the mailing list at Rondo, and prepare to pull the trigger quickly when they become available. I know I will.

Larry

tuBass · #54 01-05-2013, 08:49 AM

I'm ready to jump

if I can get the action where I like it, I'm thinking of doing the ultimate hot rod job on it. Flame maple top and headstock, Three color sunburst, and EMG Active pickups

Roadkill · #55 01-06-2013, 09:53 AM

I didn't notice there were two different posters - one asking the dimensions and another saying they went to order one and they were "they are out of stock again". I assumed that latter implied that he saw they were in stock very recently. So they were last "seen" around 7/1/12 ? I'll stand by my statement that they seem to sell out in a day or two so you have to be fast

!

Tvrtko · #56 01-06-2013, 10:22 AM

I have one of these in 35" scale fretless. It's piece of crap. Electronics is pretty much junk all together. So, if you want to buy it, it's up to you. But, beside replacing strings, you need to put in equation, new set of pickups, wiring and everything else... That means about $500 all together and a lot of frustration...

For $500 you can get short (or any other) scale bass to sing, and housekeep kids, vacuum the carpet and make you coffee in the morning...

I made mistake. So, just fair warning.

tuBass · #57 01-06-2013, 10:40 AM

The difference is, show me the other options out there for a 5 string short scale bass. Birdsong? How much are they? A heck of a lot more than $500...

jcorneli · #58 01-06-2013, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tuBass

The difference is, show me the other options out there for a 5 string short scale bass. Birdsong? How much are they? A heck of a lot more than $500...

Ibanez is now making a 5-er Mikro: 28.6 scale.
Look at the forum, starting here "Official" Mikro Bass Club Part 2.

There's a fair amount of discussion, towards the last couple pages. This is a passive, to be sure! But has a very qualified B-string and well worth the investigation.

200 dollars - street price, matched everywhere - is a steal...

LUpton · #59 01-06-2013, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tvrtko

I have one of these in 35" scale fretless. It's piece of crap. Electronics is pretty much junk all together. So, if you want to buy it, it's up to you. But, beside replacing strings, you need to put in equation, new set of pickups, wiring and everything else... That means about $500 all together and a lot of frustration...

For $500 you can get short (or any other) scale bass to sing, and housekeep kids, vacuum the carpet and make you coffee in the morning...

I made mistake. So, just fair warning.

I'm sorry for your experience with the 35" fretless.

I don't want a bass to be a nanny, just a bass...I hope this will be a fun experiment/project. Everyone else here seems to like theirs...

Mekanamom · #60 01-06-2013, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tvrtko

I have one of these in 35" scale fretless. It's piece of crap. Electronics is pretty much junk all together. So, if you want to buy it, it's up to you. But, beside replacing strings, you need to put in equation, new set of pickups, wiring and everything else... That means about $500 all together and a lot of frustration...

For $500 you can get short (or any other) scale bass to sing, and housekeep kids, vacuum the carpet and make you coffee in the morning...

I made mistake. So, just fair warning.

Well, you have a point. I've been playing mine a lot more lately (Birdsong in the shop waiting for a new tone pot) and its got me thinking about at least replacing the preamp.

The big draw is that it is a comfortable 30" scale, has 5 strings, and is less expensive than a boutique/handmade bass, even with electronics upgrades.

However... There are more options now than there were when this thread started. The Ibanez Mikro 5 string (28.5" scale?) seems to be getting some good reviews. I think there is an ESP 5 string shortie that has been spotted in Guitar Centers occasionally. And Warwick is promising a 32" medium scale Corvette Rockbass 5er in the near future.

Anyway- the more I play my Brice, the more I like it, personally. I can see where a few tweaks (like upgrading the electronics & filing the nut slots) would make it a better bass if it were to be used as a main bass. But I like the 30" scale, it's a comfortable (well balanced) bass to play, and the price isn't too bad.

(Birdsong, btw, is a great value for what it is. I sure wish I had the scratch to own two of them! LOL. Maybe someday.)