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Eastwood's Rivolta Combinata Bass VII

#21
phillipkregg said:
I’ve got one of these and those pickups are probably the hottest output I’ve ever seen in a bass.
When I got it I had to take a screwdriver and lower both of them to prevent distortion when recording.
Once I got them set to the right height, the bass sounds amazing. One of the best sounding, and playing, basses I own.
Click to expand...

I’m really intrigued by these, but have a couple of questions.
Weight wise,being a semihollow,should be in the 8 pound maximum range?
Also, the frets are listed as “medium-jumbo” (whatever that means). To my eye, those frets look pretty huge. That turned out to be a deal breaker for me with my Italia Rimini bass, and this looks pretty similar for the fretwork. The frets actually protrude over the binding, unlike a bound Rick neck.
I’m very used to playing 33.5 scale Rickenbackers,and actually very interested in trying a 32” scale.
Would you comment on these factors?
Also, does anyone know where these are manufactured?
2B046E2A-5D35-40BD-A990-3756F1524966.jpeg
 
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#22
woodyng2 said:
I’m really intrigued by these, but have a couple of questions.
Weight wise,being a semihollow,should be in the 8 pound maximum range?
Also, the frets are listed as “medium-jumbo” (whatever that means). To my eye, those frets look pretty huge. That turned out to be a deal breaker for me with my Italia Rimini bass, and this looks pretty similar for the fretwork. The frets actually protrude over the binding, unlike a bound Rick neck.
I’m very used to playing 33.5 scale Rickenbackers,and actually very interested in trying a 32” scale.
Would you comment on these factors?
Also, does anyone know where these are manufactured?
View attachment 4098688
Click to expand...
Korea
 
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#24
woodyng2 said:
I’m really intrigued by these, but have a couple of questions.
Weight wise,being a semihollow,should be in the 8 pound maximum range?
Also, the frets are listed as “medium-jumbo” (whatever that means). To my eye, those frets look pretty huge. That turned out to be a deal breaker for me with my Italia Rimini bass, and this looks pretty similar for the fretwork. The frets actually protrude over the binding, unlike a bound Rick neck.
I’m very used to playing 33.5 scale Rickenbackers,and actually very interested in trying a 32” scale.
Would you comment on these factors?
Also, does anyone know where these are manufactured?
View attachment 4098688
Click to expand...

If you check their website, there's a FAQ that says they are made in Korea but QC and Setup are done in Nashville, TN and Liverpool in the UK:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I'm not sure of the exact weight, but I think mine is under 8lbs - would have to weight it to be sure but it's light.

I'm not a Rick player, and I've never played an Italia so I can't compare the instrument to those. Are you familiar with any other short scale basses?

I can compare to these other short-scale basses that I own:
Fender Mustang JMJ
Sandberg Lionel
Serek Midwestern 32"
Nordstrand Acinonyx
Supro Huntington

If you are familiar with any of those, let me know and I can compare them.

Here's a side view of the frets and binding:

IMG-2303-1.jpg


The frets do look large, but they are very comfortable and easy to play on for me.
 
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#25
phillipkregg said:
If you check their website, there's a FAQ that says they are made in Korea but QC and Setup are done in Nashville, TN and Liverpool in the UK:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I'm not sure of the exact weight, but I think mine is under 8lbs - would have to weight it to be sure but it's light.

I'm not a Rick player, and I've never played an Italia so I can't compare the instrument to those. Are you familiar with any other short scale basses?

I can compare to these other short-scale basses that I own:
Fender Mustang JMJ
Sandberg Lionel
Serek Midwestern 32"
Nordstrand Acinonyx
Supro Huntington

If you are familiar with any of those, let me know and I can compare them.

Here's a side view of the frets and binding:

View attachment 4098898

The frets do look large, but they are very comfortable and easy to play on for me.
Click to expand...
More pix more pix more pic :hyper::hyper::hyper::hyper::hyper::hyper::hyper::hyper:
:)
 
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#26
phillipkregg said:
If you check their website, there's a FAQ that says they are made in Korea but QC and Setup are done in Nashville, TN and Liverpool in the UK:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I'm not sure of the exact weight, but I think mine is under 8lbs - would have to weight it to be sure but it's light.

I'm not a Rick player, and I've never played an Italia so I can't compare the instrument to those. Are you familiar with any other short scale basses?

I can compare to these other short-scale basses that I own:
Fender Mustang JMJ
Sandberg Lionel
Serek Midwestern 32"
Nordstrand Acinonyx
Supro Huntington

If you are familiar with any of those, let me know and I can compare them.

Here's a side view of the frets and binding:

View attachment 4098898

The frets do look large, but they are very comfortable and easy to play on for me.
Click to expand...
I’ve played a few short scale basses, notably Hofner and the Fender Mustang. I find 30” scale a bit too small for my liking, so the 32” scale looks interesting,but I’ve never come across one in person to try.
Thank you for that closeup photo. The frets don’t seem quite as humongous looking as the ones on the Italia.
Another thing I’m not crazy about on both the Italia and the Rivolta are the flat/bound rear body edges.
(Copied from the Rickenbacker 4005, another bass I’ve owned in the past.)
The Rick and the Italia were 9+ pounds, so maybe the flat edge wouldn’t be as bothersome on the lighter Rivolta.
 
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#27
Can you please compare the Fender Mustang JMJ and the Nordstrand Acinonyx? Thanks.

phillipkregg said:
If you check their website, there's a FAQ that says they are made in Korea but QC and Setup are done in Nashville, TN and Liverpool in the UK:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I'm not sure of the exact weight, but I think mine is under 8lbs - would have to weight it to be sure but it's light.

I'm not a Rick player, and I've never played an Italia so I can't compare the instrument to those. Are you familiar with any other short scale basses?

I can compare to these other short-scale basses that I own:
Fender Mustang JMJ
Sandberg Lionel
Serek Midwestern 32"
Nordstrand Acinonyx
Supro Huntington

If you are familiar with any of those, let me know and I can compare them.

Here's a side view of the frets and binding:

View attachment 4098898

The frets do look large, but they are very comfortable and easy to play on for me.
Click to expand...
 
#33
StudioGC said:
Jaysuz, call me intrigued....and I thought I was just bonding with my Ruby Red 4003!
View attachment 4119710
Click to expand...
That’s the color of the one i just ordered. :hyper:
I love the look of it, but have a fair amount of skepticism about how I will feel about playing it.
I went through a brief love/hate affair with an Italia Rimini bass a few years back, and this bass has what looks to be a few similarities that drove me away from the other...but also some differences.
Fortunately, they have a 45 day trial period, so we shall see......
 
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#34
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#35
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#37
msb said:
Gunga Din , when I first got my first Ric about fifteen years ago I read about bypassing a cap they have on the bridge pickup that removes much of the bottom end from the pickup . I went of the Ric Resource forum to ask about it . Some guy named John Hall took the time to explain the bypass . I didn't realize until about two weeks later that he owned the company . And I believe Rickenbacker should try and protect their designs . They have always done their manufacturing at home , they do not license third world knockoffs . And they have zealously protected their product . That said , this instrument is an interesting take on a couple of Ric shapes . And yet is not a direct copy of any Ric instrument .
Click to expand...


I've always liked JH and believe he gets a bad rap, he protects his company and too bad Fender and Gibson hadn't have done the same thing.
 
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#38
woodyng2 said:
That’s the color of the one i just ordered. :hyper:
I love the look of it, but have a fair amount of skepticism about how I will feel about playing it.
I went through a brief love/hate affair with an Italia Rimini bass a few years back, and this bass has what looks to be a few similarities that drove me away from the other...but also some differences.
Fortunately, they have a 45 day trial period, so we shall see......
Click to expand...
What didn’t you like about the Italia bass?
 
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#39
StudioGC said:
What didn’t you like about the Italia bass?
Click to expand...
It has a big body with a completely flat and bound rear edge. It was very similar to the 4005 in this regard.
But the thing that i could not get used to is the giant frets,and the way the ends stuck out over the binding.
(Unlike Bound Rickenbacker necks.) I even had a friend try to grind down the fret ends,but my left hand just could not handle the feel,like running over speed bumps. The Rimini had hb pickups,and the Combinata has very hot p90 single coils,which i think i will like. I plan to try white labella tapewounds on it,which worked really well with the Rimini.
Or maybe i will try my first set of TI flats. I have an old set of Rick/maxima flats that might work too.
I’ve seen several demo videos,and the hot pickups sound a bit harsh with steel rw strings to my ears.
Here’s the Rimini, resplendent in mother of toilet set finish!:D
80C6949B-93F8-4EAD-AC39-678A93B47A76.jpeg
 
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