NBD: Rogue VB100 Violin Beatle Bass

[Williethump]

My brand new (floor sample) Rogue VB100 violin bass, aka Beatle Bass, before I put it in the Strum Shop for setup and new flatwound strings.

I’m not particulary a Sir Paul fanatic or a pick player, but I like the VB100’s 31″ (787.4 mm) scale, light weight, price and woody rich tone.

Bad fret buzz and a too flat neck meant a setup was indicated. And since Sir Paul used flatwound strings, I thought I might as well try them despite the cost. They are said to last for years though.
Thin, 10 ft (3 m) cable was included.

It came double boxed, padded and undamaged, and shipping was FREE from Musician’s Friend.

The stock roundwound strings sounded OK, nicely warm and punchy- when I could hear the tone over the fret buzz. I’ll save them in case I hate the new flatties.

Didn’t try playing it sitting down-which with my new chrome steel right hip I can’t do anyway.

Fit and finish was better than I expected. Cheesy pearloid pick guard will be ditched. Unlike Sir Paul I use no pick. I made no attempt to adjust tone using the famously obscure Beatle Bass controls. Love the traditional ‘burst finish, my first.

Confirmed that these instruments really are neck-divers, I’ll need to buy a wide suede or neoprene strap despite the wonderful light weight.

I’m pretty happy with it so far, despite the need for setup which I expected for a cheap Chinese Rogue display model with $20 discount.

The only flaw I’ve found so far is a minute glue smear near the bridge. I’m sure I’ll soon disfigure it a lot more than that.

Absolutely love the looks, light weight, short scale and warm tone. Also the price: $160 USD including California tax and FREE shipping. Flatties and setup will be ~$50.

If it sounds as good as it looks with the new D’Adderio flatwound strings and pro setup then I will be a happy student electric bassist.
WT
[todgermanica]

 

[fermata]

Groovy. Don't forget to make those medium scale D'Addarios; the bass is short scale, but the distance between the tailpiece and bridge adds a few inches to the winding length needed. Rounds on a violin bass is a cool sound, too, though. To set intonation, the little saddles in the bridge can be moved to different slots, and the bridge can be angled. Pretty spot-on intonation is possible; it's just a bit tedious getting there.

As for the controls, they're arcane but simple. Each pickup has a volume control; the best blending happens when you dial the dominant pickup back to about 7 or 8.

The switches are as follows: Solo is full volume output; Rhythm drops the output volume to 70%. Bass On switches in a treble cut capacitor for a dark and dubby neck pickup tone; it also takes the bridge pickup out of the circuit; the up position is a bright neck pickup sound which can be blended with the bridge pickup. Treble On switches in a bass cut capacitor for a very bright bridge pickup sound (mainly useful for tic-tac tones, harmonics, or AM radio impersonations); it also takes the neck pickup out of the circuit; the up position is the slightly less bright bridge pickup sound which can be blended with the neck pickup.

I think the best/most useful tones are bright neck pickup (with or without some bridge pickup blended in) and Bass On. It's not a huge palette, but there are several good tones there, suitable for a variety of situations.

Enjoy!

 

[Stumbo]

My brand new (floor sample) Rogue VB100 violin bass, aka Beatle Bass, before I put it in the Strum Shop for setup and new flatwound strings.

I’m not particulary a Sir Paul fanatic or a pick player, but I like the VB100’s 31″ (787.4 mm) scale, light weight, price and woody rich tone.

Bad fret buzz and a too flat neck meant a setup was indicated. And since Sir Paul used flatwound strings, I thought I might as well try them despite the cost. They are said to last for years though.
Thin, 10 ft (3 m) cable was included.
View attachment 3119915

It came double boxed, padded and undamaged, and shipping was FREE from Musician’s Friend.
View attachment 3119916
The stock roundwound strings sounded OK, nicely warm and punchy- when I could hear the tone over the fret buzz. I’ll save them in case I hate the new flatties.

Didn’t try playing it sitting down-which with my new chrome steel right hip I can’t do anyway.

View attachment 3119917
Fit and finish was better than I expected. Cheesy pearloid pick guard will be ditched. Unlike Sir Paul I use no pick. I made no attempt to adjust tone using the famously obscure Beatle Bass controls. Love the traditional ‘burst finish, my first.

View attachment 3119918

Confirmed that these instruments really are neck-divers, I’ll need to buy a wide suede or neoprene strap despite the wonderful light weight.

I’m pretty happy with it so far, despite the need for setup which I expected for a cheap Chinese Rogue display model with $20 discount.

The only flaw I’ve found so far is a minute glue smear near the bridge. I’m sure I’ll soon disfigure it a lot more than that.
View attachment 3119921
Absolutely love the looks, light weight, short scale and warm tone. Also the price: $160 USD including California tax and FREE shipping. Flatties and setup will be ~$50.

If it sounds as good as it looks with the new D’Adderio flatwound strings and pro setup then I will be a happy student electric bassist.
WT
[todgermanica]

Cool bass!

Flats will become more thuddy over time. And, last many, many years.

I suggest learning to play with a pick.

 

[Williethump]

Fermata, Stumbo, great info! Can't wait to get it back with flats and setup.
The arthritis makes pinching tiny objects fiddly, tedious and painful so I doubt I'll pick the bass like Sir Paul. Plus I'm a tactile guy and prefer stroking vibrating metal strings over painfully pinching a plastic pick. How's that for alliteration?
Thanks for the comments.
WT

 

[Eilif]

Very cool. Can you tell if it's a full hollow or Semihollow? I played an older on that I think was full hollow and it sounded quite good.

 

[Stumbo]

Fermata, Stumbo, great info! Can't wait to get it back with flats and setup.
The arthritis makes pinching tiny objects fiddly, tedious and painful so I doubt I'll pick the bass like Sir Paul. Plus I'm a tactile guy and prefer stroking vibrating metal strings over painfully pinching a plastic pick. How's that for alliteration?
Thanks for the comments.
WT

Sorry to hear about your arthritis.

Maybe A thumb pick will get you there.

I played a '63 Hofner for several years(see avatar pic). Yeah, the neck dive got the better of me and I moved on to a '64 Fender Jazz.

Maybe some Velcro on the underside of the strap might help.

 

[Williethump]

I thought about a thumb pick. Maybe try it some time for a different tone.
I had a 2001 MIM Jazz bass last year but as I'm an old student, it was too complex. And as an old person, it was too heavy for my deteriorating (then) hip. Best sounding bass I've owned though.
I don't know many bassists so I appreciate the ideas and tips.

 

[Stumbo]

I thought about a thumb pick. Maybe try it some time for a different tone.
I had a 2001 MIM Jazz bass last year but as I'm an old student, it was too complex. And as an old person, it was too heavy for my deteriorating (then) hip. Best sounding bass I've owned though.
I don't know many bassists so I appreciate the ideas and tips.

We're here for you, brother!

 

[Bill Whitehurst]

Congrats on the new bass.
It seems like someone gets one of those around here every couple of weeks.
Everyone seems to like them.

Yes, flats do last a long time.
Eventually one of them will sound different from the others and it will be time for new ones.
Figure about ten years, give or take 20.

Love it for what it does well and don't expect it to do anything it can't and you'll get along just fine.

 

[JimmyM]

Throw the stock strings away, bro. They're crap. If you decide you don't like Flats on it, just get it a good set of medium-scale roundwounds.

 

[jmlee]

I’ve got one of these. Great little bass and a remarkable value. Mine’s got short scale D’Addario Chromes on it and some foam between the bridge and the bridge pickup. Sounds delightfully woody and thumpy. You’re gonna have some fun!

[BTW: Alain Johannes who recorded and toured with Them Crooked Vultures (JPJ) Invalid Link Removed.]

 

[Mannyinnewyork]

It’s a nice bass. Used mine for years. Eventually gave it to my friends son. Looks good, sounds good and is very easy to play. Enjoy !

 

[Williethump]

Eilif, it seems fully hollow. I think maybe the Epiphone clone was partly solid.

JimmyM, sound advice. I've used D'Addario roundwounds and like them.

All, thanks for the encouragement. I've streamlined down to only this bass and a Yamaha RBX-170EW in dark polished mango wood. So light, pretty and versatile.
But in the weeks I've played it I've dialed it usually to zero neck pup and 100% bridge pup while playing close to the bridge. So honking funky. Could never get that sound with my old P-bass clones.
My amp is the tiny Roland Micro Cube Rx, sounding like your choice of historic amp models, built in tuner, rhythms, and with fab effects like flanging, delay, reverb...so fun!
And they ALL serve to mask my poor student playing! Win/win.
Thanks all.

 

[TDR1138]

Nice! I myself am only a casual Sir Paul fan, but really keep thinking of picking one of these up, too. Seems like they get plenty of praise for being great basses for not a lot of coin. Hope you enjoy it.

 

[JRA]

looks cool: hope it hits the right 'note' for you! congratulations on your new instrument!

 

[fermata]

Paul’s not the only violin bass game in town—check out Chris Wood (with Medeski, Martin & Wood and the Wood Brothers) and Snarky Puppy (Michael League) with Tony Scherr.

And if you’re digging the bridge pickup, dial it back a few notches and blend in a touch of neck pickup. It’s a great tight sound.

 

[nerkoids]

Get some nice foam. It cuts the mud down a bit.

Also, if you want something with a bit more top end than the Chromes (they will have plenty of top end for the next month or two), yet still retain the thump and fat bottom bloom, I would suggest some GHS Pressurewounds, medium scale.

 

[REV]

I saw a Beatles tribute band once and the bass player used this very same bass and a small Peavey amp. He got the greatest sound. Two weeks later I played the same club and it turned out that the Peavey amp was the house amp, so I was looking forward to using it. With me and my Jazz bass it sounded like crap.

 

[Copperhead]

These are surprisingly nice sounding instruments, as are many of the low priced violin basses. If you put in a new control set of V-V-T, it will really shine. I have done this, Epi's come that way stock.
I have always toyed with the idea of doing something really wacked, like putting in an onboard pre.

 

[Williethump]

Copperhead, sounds like a good idea, better sound with simpler controls. I'll see how convoluted the stock BB controls are and consider it if I love the basic sound enough to tweak it-something I do to most basses mas o menos. Especially since Rogue basses are so cheap with no special resale value.
Thanks all for the comments, encouragement, tips and anecdotes. Can't wait to get it back from setup.