Hello- I've just ordered one of these. I like everything about it- although I'd prefer an ebony fingerboard- and the design appears unchanged since around 2010. Anybody own one and care to post a review ?
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Human Base Roxy 5
- Thread starter colan
- Start date
Haha, complain about the design being unchanged for 10 years in a forum full of P-bass nerds ;-)
I've played a few Human Base basses and quite liked each and every one of them. They were out of my league, though. When I was able to afford one, I bought a Le Fay instead.
I've played a few Human Base basses and quite liked each and every one of them. They were out of my league, though. When I was able to afford one, I bought a Le Fay instead.
Nice purchase, sounds great and not that expensive as well.
My P-bass is the American Elite variety. That's where I came in and that's very likely where I'll stay, with Fenders .It's good that the Roxy has remained unchanged- although there really isn't much to change. Some of the other Human Base basses are expensive but the Roxy B5 is mid-priced ( for me ) and I need a fretted 5-string . Never tried a Le Fay.
Yes, good price. I've got a couple of months to wait for delivery- due to the pandemic and the Suez blockage backlog.
It's good that the Roxy has remained unchanged- although there really isn't much to change. Some of the other Human Base basses are expensive but the Roxy B5 is mid-priced ( for me ) and I need a fretted 5-string . Never tried a Le Fay.
A okay, these are mass produced. I never realized they did that. The models I touched were German handmade ones - where build and quality left nothing to be desired. I always felt the Roxy is something of a modern take on the P bass. One pickup in the sweet spot is all you need
Yes- but they're setup in the USA after production- so the 2010 video states.A okay, these are mass produced. I never realized they did that. The models I touched were German handmade ones - where build and quality left nothing to be desired. I always felt the Roxy is something of a modern take on the P bass. One pickup in the sweet spot is all you need
The ' mass production ' debate is a bit of a minefield. I've got a Chinese 'Strat ' that I wouldn't part with- and nobody is too fussed that most of their modern kit is made by robots. Also- it must be difficult to produce a lemon with a swamp-ash body and a bolt-on maple neck- and I get 30 days trial to find anything I can't live with .
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“Dee-tahnt”?
Have I been saying this word wrong for decades?
Have I been saying this word wrong for decades?
Not a full fledged review, but I can add a bit - I'm playing one for about 3 years now.
The Roxy B5 is a solid instrument. Small and well thought out details gave it the edge above other basses back then: rolled fingerboard edges, recessed tuning pegs (as mentioned in the post above), the low porfile bridge (3d adjustable!) and the preamp is great. There is no discernible volume difference between active mode (with all knobs at center detent) and passive mode. And barely any sound difference, maybe it is a tad more focused in the lowend with the preamp engaged, but that may as well be my imagination.
The overall workmanship on my Bass is solid. The fretwork is not super top notch, but good enough. As there are no sharp fret ends it makes no difference to me if the fret ends are perfectly rounded off or not. The finish is a very thin clear coat layer - you can feel the grain of the wood, which I like very much. The body wood is not sanded down to a mirror smooth surface, but pretty "rough", as in you can trace the texture of the grain with your fingers. Again: I like it.
The neck profile gradually changes from a D shape on the upper frets (up to about fifth to seventh fret) to a C shape. On the upper frets the fretboard is "integrated" in the neck shape, you will see what I mean when you hold your bass in your hands.
Another big plus are the included tools. Instead of maybe one allen wrench of questionable quality you get a phillips screw driver (for pickguard screws, pickup adjustment and truss-rod cover), small allen screw driver (for bridge adjustment) and bigger allen wrench (for truss-rod adjustment), all from german tool manufacturer "Wera Werkzeuge GmbH", which are known for producing high quality tools. The included gig bag is not as great as the tools, but at least sufficient. I dislike the rat fur on the inside of the gig bag.
Be prepared to lower the gain on your amp - the pickup on this bass is hot! I mostly play it in parallel mode instead of series, as its too much for me. The sound is rather present, even with TI flats (which I have on my bass). Realy, it is obnoxious with anything other than flats in my opinion.
That are my 2 cents.
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Haha, wild. German company producing overseas (to the east) and then setting up in the US. You'll get a global bass
The key is choosing the raw material (wood) and the quality control. I've owned and played basses from cheap Chinese mass production for around a hundred bucks up to German hand craft that costs Fodera money.
On my Indonesian Ibanez, I could issue two complaints. The woods used were a bit too fresh from the tree and the pickups were not the best around. The rest of the bass was WELL above what you'd expect for a three figure price tag.
My guess is that with the Human Base you'll get proper woods and if I remember correctly, the Roxy uses a Delano pickup.
I'm quite sure, Siggi( a nice guy!) could make you one with an ebony board?( I think that might mean going 'Roxy de Luxe')
I really like humanbase!
The design not having changed for a while just speaks to the bass having been well designed in the first place, I recon.
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I totally get that and am unsure as to how much of a difference an Ebony board would make anyways.
Thanks, rowsi, nice review. I'm currently playing an Ibanez Gary Willis 205 and I wanted something not dissimilar , but fretted- and the Roxy 5 ticked lots of boxes.
I totally get that and am unsure as to how much of a difference an Ebony board would make anyways.
It's not an easy preference to define. I like maple on my Fender and ebony on my Ibanez fretless. They're easy to maintain and the durability is comforting.
