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Any love for Rogue basses?

#61
When I transferred back the the states from Hong Kong I quickly found that new music was being written for a 5-stg. My P-bass was a 4. So I ordered the Rogue 5-stg to learn and actually used it for over a year. The body is half the weight of the neck so if you let go it spins and your neck is pointing straight down. Stay seated and that won't happen. Stay seated and no one will see it either.
 
#63
I have a Rogue AEB fretless that works just fine. Build quality and materials are what you would expect for this level of instrument. It did need a bit of setup work when I first got it, but that's not uncommon for any instrument. The electronics are workable, but not the greatest, but again, for a functioning bass that cost $149 new, again not a huge challenge to work with.

Biggest thing I did with it is to put TI Acousticores on it, really made a big difference. It has been used on gigs when appropriate and it really gets a prefectly useable URB tone.

not bad at all for the money. I would, and have, recommended them (with appropriate qualification) to other players looking for that kind of instrument.
 
#65
I kept a Rogue 5 string for a year or so as a backup to my Conklin 5. Of course, there was no real comparison between the two, but the I found the Rogue to be worth the money for its price.

I did find it necessary to file the fret ends a bit as they stuck out, and I needed to do an annual neck adjustment.

The MM style pickups were good and I liked the pull-pot active/passive option. I think I paid $200 shipped from MF. Given the price, a very good value. I sold it for $200 to a young player who's gigged it for three years with no issues.

On a side note, I bought a Rogue electro-acoustic for a friends birthday and was very pleasantly surprised by its playability and tone.
 
#66
I've had a VB100 for about 10 years, and recently came by another of about the same age. Never had a problem, round wounds, great tone. The second one had a bad rhythm/solo switch which I fixed, and now is fine. About '04, I bought an LX205 which played great with no problems for a couple of years. I upgraded to an LX405pro which I still have, gigged it regularly and picked up a second one from a friend got gas for a Peavey Grind. Both great playing basses.
What is occurring to me, is, that all of mine have been what would have been called 'series 1', that is, made in Korea, versus made in China. The quality problems seem to have been with instruments made in China. Which is disappointing as you like to think that later production methods and quallity would improve.
Side point. The body of the early VB100 basses were cut from a block of plywood. If you look inside, the wall thickness is around 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick. That is why the early ones were solid black on the sides. The later ones if you notice have sunburst maple on the sides, indicating that the sides are made of the same 1/4 inch veneer as the top and back. I haven't been able to investigate personally, but I imagine that the newer are probably lighter with this construction change.
 
#68
I have a Rogue SS. I doubt many, if any, have seen one of these. Only thing I did to it was put in a DiMarzio and tapewounds on it. Plays well, neck straight, tuners worked as wanted, pots are perfect,

Right now it's at a friend's house and his 9 year old is using it. I think with the pickup and the strings I have about $100 in it.
 
#70
rfslick said:
I've had a VB100 for about 10 years, and recently came by another of about the same age. Never had a problem, round wounds, great tone. The second one had a bad rhythm/solo switch which I fixed, and now is fine. About '04, I bought an LX205 which played great with no problems for a couple of years. I upgraded to an LX405pro which I still have, gigged it regularly and picked up a second one from a friend got gas for a Peavey Grind. Both great playing basses.
What is occurring to me, is, that all of mine have been what would have been called 'series 1', that is, made in Korea, versus made in China. The quality problems seem to have been with instruments made in China. Which is disappointing as you like to think that later production methods and quallity would improve.
Side point. The body of the early VB100 basses were cut from a block of plywood. If you look inside, the wall thickness is around 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick. That is why the early ones were solid black on the sides. The later ones if you notice have sunburst maple on the sides, indicating that the sides are made of the same 1/4 inch veneer as the top and back. I haven't been able to investigate personally, but I imagine that the newer are probably lighter with this construction change.
Click to expand...

This pretty much confirms my own suspicion about the difference in the Korean/Chinese models. Still wondering if the Korean models were outsourced (to Samick maybe?).

FWIW, my understanding of the maple veneers is that they're almost paper thin and laminated to the top of the structural wood underneath. They're for appearance only and not intended to bear structural loads, so I doubt that the sides are made of it. A given block of flamed maple will yield a lot more veneers than using it to build an instrument, so in the end, it's a cost saving measure. Hell, for all I know, they might even be "photo-flame" (literally - a photo of flamed maple laminated to the top and/or sides).

Either way, it doesn't change the fact that it looks decent and IMO, the Korean VB100 is a rockin' little bass and far exceeded my expectations...especially at their price point.
 
#71
I recently played a rogue fretless.. it was set up quite nice to be honest.. it had some emg pickups precision/jazz config... flatwound strings.. but personally I would have put either the Seymour Duncan antiquity pups or some bartolini's..

I was surprised at the sound.. played great.. not one complaint.. just get a FULL set up done... fret inspection.. action adjustment.. EVERYTHING...

just like all basses.. or guitars.. if they are setup properly.. by someone that knows what the hell they are doing.. youll have a great playin instrument..

I will be getting a couple of them to use different tunings

alexander g
twitter: @alexander_gbass
facebook: www.facebook.com/officialgbassmusic
 
#75
I agree that the entry level Rogues are pretty bad, but their upper tier stuff is decent and a great value per dollar.
Like someone mentioned earlier, the 8-string is almost a dead ringer for Rondo's Brice 8 except the Rogue has a 6-bolt neck attachment instead of 5, plus a few other minor changes:
kaktexrogue4.jpg

When I bought this one at a pawn shop for under $200 in almost new condition, I didn't know anything about the brand. Just wanted an 8, and the price was crazy good. Gave it a serious inspection and found no flaws--still happy with it. Going to replace the J pickup with a humbucker eventually.

kaktexrogue3.jpg

Those are Grovers, and the Gotohs or copies on my LX400 are every bit as nice.


Then I found myself in need of a 4-string for home practice and as a spare. Bought this LX400 for $200 new at MF and liked it better than the MIM Jazz it replaced. The neck is Jazz-like in size and solid, perfect frets, pretty maple veneer over a light and resonant basswood body, flawless finish, decent but not exceptional electronics:
keithalanknbd.jpg


Both are active, and the preamps aren't great but they don't suck, either. Everything works as it should and it's easy to get great tones.

Threads like this full of bashing make me want to try one of their $99 beginner basses again just to see what the deal really is. I won't be surprised if they stink, but what do you expect at that price? A decent pickup costs that much!
Both of mine impress every bassist who plays or hears them, and I feel like I got my money's worth and then some. You can't deny that they look pretty nice.

Slamming ANY brand based on their entry-level stuff is silly. I've never liked Ibanez's GIO line, even though it's better than others and I'm an Ibanez slut.
 
#76
I don't know much about the first series of rogues but My LX200B series 2 works great for me and I've never modified it. I haven't even changed the factory strings yet.I have used this thing daily for at least 4-5 years and I still don't see a problem.
 
#77
I bought a Rogue last year, the LX205B Series III. For some reason, the Series III was supposed to be way better than other Rogue instruments, and I'd passed on Rogue before. But this bass does well. Good intonation, no problems with the frets like many have said here. But I read several places that the Series III was the exception rather than the rule. In the stores its $199, I got it from Amazon for $150 or so. This is passive Pups, but they're plenty hot, not like the reviews I'd read for some other models.
I can get the tones I want, and I like the high-mass bridge - something I hadn't used before.
 

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