Carlo Robelli Club!

[Freakman410]

yeah yeah yeah but I cant find them when it searches my pics lol

 

[GKon]

yeah yeah yeah but I cant find them when it searches my pics lol

Ah. I'm not sure what to say other than I hope you figure it out, because I'd like to see them.

 

[Freakman410]

I am currently prohibited from attachments
It DOES have active ( albeit lazy ) pickups tho

 

[Roscoe East]

I guess I'm a Club Member Emeritus, or whatever former owners are called: Way back in 1975 I had a Carlo Robelli electric guitar. Sold it to my best friend in 1978.

I gotta admit, I'm surprised/impressed that the brand is still around today; there was nothing about that particular guitar (or any of the other 2 or 3 I came across at that time) that suggested they weren't a flash in the pan that would be history as soon as the first low-cost Ibanez or Yamaha instruments made it to these shores. Props to you all, contemporary Carlo owners!

 

[pbass6811]

I really don't know much about the brand, and I don't own one, but I saw one of these hanging in a GC the other day:

and it reminded me of this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41o5QeG-E_Y
or
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKg_3kyIhHc

I LOVE Joe Dart, and it looks like he's killing it on a Carlo Robelli! The brand is alright by me...

 

[GKon]

I am currently prohibited from attachments
It DOES have active ( albeit lazy ) pickups tho

I really don't know why you'd be prohibited. Strange.

Thanks for the info re: pickups.

 

[GKon]

I guess I'm a Club Member Emeritus, or whatever former owners are called: Way back in 1975 I had a Carlo Robelli electric guitar. Sold it to my best friend in 1978.

I gotta admit, I'm surprised/impressed that the brand is still around today; there was nothing about that particular guitar (or any of the other 2 or 3 I came across at that time) that suggested they weren't a flash in the pan that would be history as soon as the first low-cost Ibanez or Yamaha instruments made it to these shores. Props to you all, contemporary Carlo owners!

Back in 1975? SOLD! You are Member #6! And thanks for the support!

Well, I've searched far and wide for any historical info, and mainly I've only found this very small wiki page:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlo_Robelli

"Carlo Robelli is an Italian maker of guitar and other musical instruments. In the 1960s, Carlo Robelli was a maker of inexpensive electric guitars, such as a model based upon the Gibson Les Paul. The company now focuses on acoustic stringed instruments, such as guitars and violins. Most Carlo Robelli modern products are made in China."

Evidently, they used to be considered an instrument with a decent rep, but since moving production to China, many give them a bad rep. It seems, though, that that rep may be partially due to if'y quality control.

I also remember being told from someone at Sam Ash (the were/are the current parent company of Carlo Robelli) that their modern guitars were sort of hit or miss, but that their basses were rather well made. I can't personally vouch for the guitars.

 

[GKon]

I really don't know much about the brand, and I don't own one, but I saw one of these hanging in a GC the other day:

and it reminded me of this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41o5QeG-E_Y
or
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKg_3kyIhHc

I LOVE Joe Dart, and it looks like he's killing it on a Carlo Robelli! The brand is alright by me...

Hey, thanks for the support!
Out of curiosity, did you happen to see how much they were selling that CB bass for?

And thanks for posting these vids!
I remember having watched one of them a while back, but couldn't for the life of me remember the bassists name! You read my mind. Thanks!
And yes, he totally rocks! (or, funks, in this case )

Yes, indeed, he's playing a slightly modified Carlo Robelli bass, and is KILLING it, and has a GREAT tone!
Here's a link to his Facebook page, mentioning it:
https://www.facebook.com/joedartbass/posts/476957772424464

and another:
https://www.facebook.com/joedartbass/posts/327480984038811

There you have it.
Once again, I say Nay to the Nay-sayers!!

 

[GKon]

I just want to say how happy it makes me to find like minded Carlo Robelli enthusiasts.
It's fun knowing there are more people out there that enjoy these basses as much as I do. Seeing the Joe Dart vids really lit me up, too.

Please share any and all info you can think of, regarding these basses (and guitars).

So far, our official group is:

Mr. Carlo Robelli #1
GKon #2
Boom762 #3
JustForSport #4
Freakman410 #5
Roscoe East #6

 

[Maxdusty]

Had one about a year and a half ago. Same one you have, the flame 4 string bass. I thought it played decently but I had to cut down on my collection and it didn't survive the cut.
Again, it played pretty decently - nothing bad, nothing outstanding either. Kind of like the look but I needed the room though.
I saw it for sale here where I live not too long ago, I think the guy's selling it for $140. Haven't seen it as of late though, perhaps it sold?

 

[BlountEdge]

It's very cool to see a Carlo Robelli Club. Count me in!

My knowledge of the brand dates back to the early-mid 70's, when they had a line of Japanese-made "lawsuit" instruments that were a nice, affordable alternative to Fenders and Gibsons. If you didn't have money for the "real thing", the Carlo Robelli "copies" were reasonably priced and very well-made.

Here's my 1975 Carlo Robelli P/J. It has a few bruises, but it plays and sounds great. I found it in a Pawn Shop in 2004 and paid $80 to take it home!

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[GKon]

Had one about a year and a half ago. Same one you have, the flame 4 string bass. I thought it played decently but I had to cut down on my collection and it didn't survive the cut.
Again, it played pretty decently - nothing bad, nothing outstanding either. Kind of like the look but I needed the room though.
I saw it for sale here where I live not too long ago, I think the guy's selling it for $140. Haven't seen it as of late though, perhaps it sold?

Hi Maxdusty,

Let's make you member #7. Welcome!

Thanks for the share.
I just saw two of these for sale on craiglist NY, if you were interested in getting another one.

As I mentioned earlier, I sold mine while still in NY, moved to Greece, then bought another one off of craigslist and had it shipped to me. I often wonder if any of those for sale happened to be my old one. No way to know, as I didn't mark it in some way, to be able to distinguish it from any other.

I've found mine easy to play. I like the neck profile. It feel "right" in my hands.

 

[GKon]

It's very cool to see a Carlo Robelli Club. Count me in!

My knowledge of the brand dates back to the early-mid 70's, when they had a line of Japanese-made "lawsuit" instruments that were a nice, affordable alternative to Fenders and Gibsons. If you didn't have money for the "real thing", the Carlo Robelli "copies" were reasonably priced and very well-made.

Here's my 1975 Carlo Robelli P/J. It has a few bruises, but it plays and sounds great. I found it in a Pawn Shop in 2004 and paid $80 to take it home!

[/URL][/IMG]

Hi Blountedge! You are most welcome to join us! You have #8 as your member number. Wear it proudly!

Thanks for the info! I had not known about the "lawsuit" instrument line. Very cool information, indeed.

Your looks awesome! And for $80!! Dang! That's what I'm talking about!
I especially like the block inlays in black. It sets of the color of the neck very nicely.

I'm assuming it's passive?
Have you done/had to do any work to it after you bought it or was it ready to play? How's the action?

 

[c10]

I got my Carlo Robelli Beatle bass around 15 years ago (?), gigging with it in my current and previous Hawaiian bands.
I've had the fret ends filed a couple of times (Chicago winters are a little drier than wherever this was made), and repaired a cracked nut with JB Weld, other than that it's stock. I use flats on it (LaBella's ?), it's really loud and bassy. I almost always just use the neck pickup and the 'solo' switch.

Link Removed

 

[BlountEdge]

Hi Blountedge! You are most welcome to join us! You have lucky #7 as your member number. Wear it proudly!



Thanks for the info! I had not known about the "lawsuit" instrument line. Very cool information, indeed.



Your looks awesome! And for $80!! Dang! That's what I'm talking about!

I especially like the block inlays in black. It sets of the color of the neck very nicely.



I'm assuming it's passive?

Have you done/had to do any work to it after you bought it or was it ready to play? How's the action?

I will gladly take #7! I can use a bit of luck right now!

Thanks for your comments! I dig the black blocks too. Overall, it looks pretty good, despite a few blemishes. You can't see it in the photo, but there's a small chunk of wood missing from the heel of the body, which probably resulted from a fall. It was there when I found it, so I just consider it part of its "character"

Yes, it's a passive bass and as far as I know it's totally stock. I had to re-solder the wire to the tone pot, but otherwise, I have not altered it in any way. The action is great. I've never even had to make a seasonal truss rod adjustment, so it's always ready to play!

 

[GKon]

I got my Carlo Robelli Beatle bass around 15 years ago (?), gigging with it in my current and previous Hawaiian bands.
I've had the fret ends filed a couple of times (Chicago winters are a little drier than wherever this was made), and repaired a cracked nut with JB Weld, other than that it's stock. I use flats on it (LaBella's ?), it's really loud and bassy. I almost always just use the neck pickup and the 'solo' switch.

Link Removed

Hi c10! That's a nice looking bass! It's the first Beatles style Carlo Robelli bass I've seen. I'm realizing, as more folks post to this thread, that Carlo Robelli made many varying styles of basses that I was not aware of. I'm so happy to be learning more about these.

I like knowing that you use it as your gigging bass. I use mine as my full time bass, as well.

Is that the original color? Can you see the wood grain through the paint (I can't quite tell from the pic). Also, is it active or passive?

Welcome to the club and please accept Member #9

 

[ajish4]

My first ever bass was a Carlo Robeli Ric copy. This is @1981

And mine was a Carlo Robelli Ripper somewhere around 1977/78.

.....and I am STILL LOOKING to get one again to this day! I somehow found a fellow here on TB years ago who had a blonde or maple one (same color I had) and I'd LOVE to find him and try to land it again.

 

[Sickman]

Hello from Moscow! I'd like to join the club with a 4-stringed active CR Fretless bass which I've bought just today.
The guy told me he was no longer playing and wanted to find someone to be nice to it
This is my first fretless bass and it's awesome.
The best thing about it is that this guy had fingerboard polished on an aircraft factory, that's some serious soviet engineering, it's ideally smooth.
And he parted with it for symbolic $100.
Sorry for the photo, I don't have a decent camera.

 

[GKon]

And mine was a Carlo Robelli Ripper somewhere around 1977/78.

.....and I am STILL LOOKING to get one again to this day! I somehow found a fellow here on TB years ago who had a blonde or maple one (same color I had) and I'd LOVE to find him and try to land it again.

Patience, ajish4. I'm sure you'll eventually find another.
Until such a time, would you like a member #, to help ease your pain?

After I sold my 8-string and moved to Greece, I just couldn't find one for the longest time. I eventually found one for sale here on TB, from a member. I had not yet heard of TB.
He was kind enough to sell it to me, even though I didn't have any history here AND I had asked him to send it to my family in NY, and then I had them send it to me in Greece.

Good Robellis come to those who wait

 

[GKon]

Hello from Moscow! I'd like to join the club with a 4-stringed active CR Fretless bass which I've bought just today.
The guy told me he was no longer playing and wanted to find someone to be nice to it
This is my first fretless bass and it's awesome.
The best thing about it is that this guy had fingerboard polished on an aircraft factory, that's some serious soviet engineering, it's ideally smooth.
And he parted with it for symbolic $100.
Sorry for the photo, I don't have a decent camera.

Hi there Sickman! Welcome to the club! You are illustrious Member #10!

Congratulations on the new bass! It looks good. Thanks for the info about it. It sounds like it was well taken care of and has, indeed, found a good new home. All that for $100. AWESOME!
What kind of strings are on it? Flats?