Calling all Pedulla Rapture SINGLE-SOAPBAR-4 owners: A Discussion.

[creativitis]

Recently acquired a 1995 Rapture RBSB-4 (well-loved and played by a couple of TB'ers) in a swap for my 1997 Fender Jazz. My first trade, and a great decision.

From what i've read on the very few recent threads on this instrument, I know that the SB sound isn't for everyone, and i know the JJ-4s and 5s are far more popular, preferred and easier to find overall...but I for one love the soapbar Rapture (priced as Pedulla's entry-level model, pssh) to death: the versatility from the soap Bart and the mid-cut switch: surprising control over my tone. Can't match the beastly P growl from it either, IMO.

So! just curious as to the others out there who have an RBSB-4 as their main player or owned/loved one in the past: how do you have your Rapture dialed in (specific pot settings, switch on or off), and what sort of tones are you working with?

Call this thread a survey, sounding board, and an act of solidarity for the owners of this amazing, underrated version of the even more amazing, underrated Pedulla Rapture line. Fire away.

 

[12bass]

Bit of an old thread..... but these basses deserve more discussion, IMO.

My main bass is a single soapbar pickup Rapture 5 with a Q-tuner BL-5 instead of the original Bartolini humbucker. It still has the NTBT with low-mid cut, along with a pull-passive volume control and a series/single/parallel switch. Although it only has one pickup, it is difficult to find a bad sound and I'd say that it is a surprisingly versatile instrument. I liked the inherent voice of the instrument as built, although I found the stock Bartolini pickup was a bit on the veiled/muffled side. The addition of the Q-tuner pickup opened up the sound of the bass considerably, while retaining the same basic character.

Sometimes I use the low-mid cut to create a "subbier" tone, though most of the time I prefer the mix-cutting ability with the low midrange left intact. Bass and treble are generally somewhere between 2/3 and 3/4, set to taste. Even though mine has coil switching, I use series most of the time, which is the same wiring configuration as the original Bartolini pickup. Parallel is a bit thinner/brighter/clearer/quieter, and good for a more "hi-fi" type sound.

 

[kaputsport]

I have a JJ and a single rapture. Settings are all the way up, mid engaged...

Sounds like heaven. Need to get a single rapture 5 string.

 

[Kink Rimson]

Can't match the beastly P growl from it either, IMO.

Sounds amazing! I assumed it would have more of a Stingray tone, considering the pickup placement. Sadly I have never had a chance to try one of these beauties. Never even seen one! Don't see many Pedullas round here.

Any chance of a soundclip of the beastly P growl?

 

[12bass]

From what I recall, the location of the single pickup is very close to the StingRay position, but moved just a bit toward the P-position. Several years ago I made a direct comparison between a StingRay 5 and my Rapture 5 and found that the characteristic midrange "voice" of both basses was very similar, though the Rapture sounded smoother and more refined, while the StingRay had more of a raw edge to it, likely in part due to the different pickups/electronics. I've since swapped out the somewhat dark/murky sounding Bartolini for a Q-tuner BL-5 and that opened up the tone considerably, though it still retains the basic refined Pedulla character. Neck/body construction and woods are pretty different as well. IMO, the Rapture is more like a sports car, while the StingRay is more like a pickup truck.

 

[bdplaid]

I agree, the Rapture 5 single pickup gets no respect, but it should.

I have had one since about 1996. Natural finish (which is really golden in color) with a tortoiseshell pickguard. The maple body of mine has a flame figure in it. I think it's very retro-looking, but, like Pedulla's sound, with a refinement to it.

I really bought it for the neck - it's wildly fast. Thin as a blade, so if you're a P-bass, baseball-bat-neck-liking kind of player, you won't like any Pedulla. But it's very, very comfortable.

Electronics in mine are stock. I usually run the bass and treble about 3/4 + of the way up, with the mid-cut off. It seems punchier this way. Overall, I'm not nuts about the electronics, and this I find true of all Pedullas. I had a ThunderBolt which didn't sound good until I replaced all the electronics with EMGs - particularly replacing the neck p/u with a P-bass. The ThunderBolt sounded great then.

This Rapture has a MUCH better sounding B string than the more expensive ThunderBolt. And for a 34" bass, the B - even though a bit soft feeling - sounds good.

I find the Rapture's sound to be it's own thing. Even though the pickup is in the "sweet spot," it's not like a MM. The sound is very much Pedulla - smooth and refined, but punchy. Unfortunately, this makes it not the best rock bass, but decent for fingerstyle funk. But the Rapture can definitely get the job done for rock with judicious EQ-ing.

It slaps really well, too.

Mine is stock, except for a mod I made to the bridge making it quick-change for the strings. I like the bass a lot. I've considered selling it occasionally, but I never do. It's just too cool.

 

[T-Dirty Ragz]

Hello,
Does anyone happen to know if the thread size for the saddle length (intonation) screws on a Rapture 4 bridge are #6-32 or #6-40, x 1.5"?
Thank you!

 

[KotBasses]

I had a mid-90's Rapture 4-string single pickup in teal in high school, I really took off with that bass. Of all the basses, that's the one I regret selling. Love to find one again. Superb build quality, amazing action. While it had less bells than other Pedulla models, it was of the same quality. There's a certain purity to no laminations, no top, one-piece neck, and so forth, and in this case one pickup. I think the pickup and electronics were all custom for Pedulla.