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Fender RBV

ErnieD

ErnieD

Nov 25, 2004
3,205
1,334
68
Atascocita,TX.
#1
I see here alot where we say to try out as many Fenders, usually J's or P's to find the right one. I am looking to buy a RBV used, but it will come to me without a chance to play it first. Is this model one that should be played firsthand like other Fenders to be sure there are no issues or could I pull the trigger knowing the artist models have better QC? And, actually I've never even held one before but I feel what I've read here its the bass for me. Did the same thing with my 55-01 and I guessed right that time.
 
#2
ErnieD said:
I see here alot where we say to try out as many Fenders, usually J's or P's to find the right one. I am looking to buy a RBV used, but it will come to me without a chance to play it first. Is this model one that should be played firsthand like other Fenders to be sure there are no issues or could I pull the trigger knowing the artist models have better QC? And, actually I've never even held one before but I feel what I've read here its the bass for me. Did the same thing with my 55-01 and I guessed right that time.
Click to expand...
FWIW, I have never heard anything bad about a RBV -- ever! It's supposed to be a great bass with LOTS of usable tone options. Some have called it one of the most versatile passive basses available.

The ONLY reason I don't have one is that I am not personally a fan of the Fender 5-string neck but YMMV. I have played more than one and outside of my neck preferences, they were all fantastic players.

I think it's a great instrument!
 
#4
I agree with the above posts. I bought my Roscoe Beck V sight unseen and loved it. If you trust the seller's description, go for it. I only sold it because I wanted an authentic Precision bass.
 
#5
Playing an RB5 convinced me to start playing five string. I now own two of 'em.

The neck is on the beefy side, but the asymmetrical profile makes it very comfy to my smallish hands.

And what's been noted about tones is true: extremely versatile passive bass. You can get J tones, P tones, in between tones.
 
#6
yeah, the pics I've seen look like its pretty mint. And FWIW, I now play as I said, the Skyline 55-01, a KSD j70 fretless 5 and a Peavey Cirrus 6 string and once in awhile my MIM Jazz 4, I have fairly big hands. So is the neck issue some have with this bass that its, Warwick-like, bb-bat or chunky, wrist-pain-soon wide or what? And is it a smooth satin or varnished for lack of a better term? I guess I can see if my GC has one in stock to try out first. If/when I score one, I'll show pics here.
later, ernie
 
#7
I got mine a year ago from musiciansfriend,i was searching for a 5,cause i was picking up the bass again and wanted to get serious,
i went out to bass central,i was going to get a lakland darryl jones 5
they had none until like 3 months,so last minute while i was in the area,i went to guitar center,i was looking for something,i came across a used rbV,i was like,yeah this is what i want,i did not know how much it would be new,anyway i went home, looked on the internet and found one on mf.com,last one,right around christmas,anyway,long story short,the bass is the bomb,i love it.
 
#9
IMO, the best instrument Fender has produced. If you like P and J sounds and want one instrument to encompass all of the possibilities, this is the one.

I got a chance recently to play one with a Pope preamp in it- holy crap!!!
 
#10
ErnieD said:
yeah, the pics I've seen look like its pretty mint. And FWIW, I now play as I said, the Skyline 55-01, a KSD j70 fretless 5 and a Peavey Cirrus 6 string and once in awhile my MIM Jazz 4, I have fairly big hands. So is the neck issue some have with this bass that its, Warwick-like, bb-bat or chunky, wrist-pain-soon wide or what? And is it a smooth satin or varnished for lack of a better term? I guess I can see if my GC has one in stock to try out first. If/when I score one, I'll show pics here.
later, ernie
Click to expand...

The RB5 neck is definitely NOT as beefy as the neck on the Warwick Streamer Stage I fiver I used to own. That SSI5 neck was a monster! (but I still liked it). If you have fairly big hands, I can't imagine that you'll have any trouble on the RB5.

The RB5 neck is finished with gloss poly. I prefer thin satin finishes, but the RB5 neck is nice and smooth and feels great to my hands.
 
#11
IotaNet said:
FWIW, I have never heard anything bad about a RBV -- ever! It's supposed to be a great bass with LOTS of usable tone options. Some have called it one of the most versatile passive basses available.

The ONLY reason I don't have one is that I am not personally a fan of the Fender 5-string neck but YMMV. I have played more than one and outside of my neck preferences, they were all fantastic players.

I think it's a great instrument!
Click to expand...

I thought you dug asymmetrical necks? The RBV is different from other Fender 5's, ain't it?
 

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