Regenerate Guitar Works from Washington state.

[elkkid2]

Does anyone know about this Brand?
Better yet, has anyone actually played one? --Hopefully a 5 String?
Thanks.
Are these really Hand made...or a "Parts" Bass?
Any info would be great. How much are they worth?

 

[preside]

He's on this website and you can find him in the luthier's section. Nice basses but I have not played one

 

[Chef]

I might have been his first real project?
A super early build for Rod, anyway.
He's a nice guy, doing good work.
I'm pretty sure he cnc cuts his own bodies and necks now.
Call him and talk to him.

this is what he built for me, 10 or more years ago I'd think:

 

[Dan Knowlton]

I have one of his M5's (check out my avatar!) and it is a wonderful bass. I actually liked the sound/feel/looks enough that I sold my NYC Sadowsky when I bought the Regenerate. Rod does great work and his attention to detail is second to none. Too bad Rio Vista is not in So Cal so that you could try out mine...I think you would like it.

Based on checking out multiple basses at last year's NAMM show and conversations with Rod, these are NOT "parts basses." As he is an engineer by training, I'm sure he uses equipment that results in consistent cuts and feel. I vaguely remember discussion of a CNC machine being used but that is fine by me. If they have it programmed well and the wood is excellent it does not matter how it was cut - you will have a excellent part. On my bass, the core is flamed maple with facings of burled redwood under a gloss finish. It is an impressive piece of a luthier's art.

I HIGHLY recommend Rod's work and it got great reviews in Bass Gear magazine.

Dan K.

 

[bhunt1]

I have one and it's great. They are custom made. He does his own CNCing. Really great guy and easy to work with. Here's the build thread on mine:

http://www.leftybassist.com/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=1473

 

[bdgotoh]

10 or more years ago I'd think:

Jeez, has it been that long?

 

[Chef]

I'm bad at time; (ask any drummer!) but, it's been a minute....

 

[Selta]

He's here on TB (@Rodent). I've met him several times, and have played several of his basses at the annual GTG that I host.
Rod is a great guy. Just enjoyable to be around, and every bass I've played of his has been very well crafted.

 

[Rodent]

Does anyone know about this Brand?
Better yet, has anyone actually played one? --Hopefully a 5 String?
Thanks.
Are these really Hand made...or a "Parts" Bass?
Any info would be great. How much are they worth?

I know just a bit about this guy ;-) A lot has changed since the early days when Chef's bass was birthed from custom ordered parts, and then modified to suit at our original shop (ok .. it was really just one of the open areas in the garage way back then in 2004-2007 )

We make our own 4/5/6-string bodies and necks right here in our shop that's about 30 minutes north of downtown Seattle. Most lumber is hand selected at one of several wood yards, and arrives here in 8'-12' planks with the exception being some of the highly figured woods which may arrive in billets or bookmatched top sets depending on availability. Sometimes (like Western Maple burl) the wood may arrive as a huge 4" thick by +4' diameter slabs. The wood is allowed to season as needed, and once ready it only then begins the transformation process.

We utilize our own CNC to do the majority of repetitive grunt work type rough carving, and for accurately machining interface surfaces to tight tolerance. All of the custom CAD/CAM design and CNC tool path programming is done in-house as well, giving us total control of every detail for each part we make. Once the parts are rough cut at the CNC they are then pampered by hand until each nuance is just the way we like the instruments we play to feel and function. All of us are players - if it's not a bass we'd take to a session or gig, it's not a bass that leaves the shop

As a commercial user, I believe it's against TB policy for me to comment on value/pricing.

If there's anything further I can answer for you (within the TB confines for commercial users), let me know.

 

[elkkid2]

Thanks for getting back to me. Thanks for the Info! And do you hand-wire the Pickups, or, what?

 

[Rodent]

Thanks for getting back to me. Thanks for the Info! And do you hand-wire the Pickups, or, what?

You're most welcome

Depending on the model and customer sonic preferences, we utilize either Nordstrand pickups or pickup sets we custom wind here at our shop.

 

[MarcMiller]

Hey, TB'ers- I'm Marc Miller, and I'm the Artist Relations Manager for Regenerate Guitar Works. Thought I would drop a line here and answer a few questions.

First off, yes- we do hand-wire our own pickups. This is a relatively new thing for us, and we are in the process of updating our website to reflect new items. We're building 4, 5 and 6 string pickups- the 4's and 5's are direct Fender replacement shapes that you all know and love, and we've gotten some really good feedback and reviews of them.

Second- yes, we make it all, except the hardware of course. No "parts" basses here. Everything is designed, shaped and cut in our shop just outside of Seattle, Washington. Yes, we do use a CNC machine, but only for the rough cutting to make sure we can ensure good, solid fits every single time. Once their cut on the CNC, it all becomes a hand effort- both Rod and I have the sawdust in our nostrils and callouses on our knuckles from Sure-Forms to prove it!

We are specializing in hand-made, passive basses, too. We do have active models, too- but we've noticed a big up-turn in interest around passive instruments that seems to go largely ignored these days, and we've got a couple of things that we are now offering that make the passive bassist have some more options for tone. We call that the DuoTone® circuit, and you can check out a video on our Facebook page that I did a few weeks ago where I recorded a Lakland Bob Glaub with a DuoTone® freshly installed.

So, yeah- we're small. We like it that way. We like to work with folks to get them an instrument that not only sounds good, but feels good all the time. We're also players- I, myself, and am active player in the Seattle area and have logged almost 43 of my 50 years on this particular planet behind a bass (in fact, my avatar here is our marketing photo, and that's my fat hand on an RGW M5)- Rod plays, too. Since we're both active players, we feel like we can serve our customers in a real and meaningful way. Feel free to hit us up on Facebook or at our Link Removed (soon to be updated) or message either Rod or myself here if you have any questions!

 

[elkkid2]

I might have been his first real project?
A super early build for Rod, anyway.
He's a nice guy, doing good work.
I'm pretty sure he cnc cuts his own bodies and necks now.
Call him and talk to him.

this is what he built for me, 10 or more years ago I'd think:

I might have been his first real project?
A super early build for Rod, anyway.
He's a nice guy, doing good work.
I'm pretty sure he cnc cuts his own bodies and necks now.
Call him and talk to him.

this is what he built for me, 10 or more years ago I'd think:

I wish I knew how much that's worth! I'm doing a lot of Country, and it sure looks great...love the Pickup...wonder if they sorta match, in terms of output.

 

[Chef]

I think that bass is for sale here right now. They matched well. Nordstrand custom wound the 51P to meet SD SCPB3 specs, and then wound the Big Single to match that.

Rod: didn't know you were doing pickups now too. Excellent.

 

[BigDaddyB]

I think that bass is for sale here right now. They matched well. Nordstrand custom wound the 51P to meet SD SCPB3 specs, and then wound the Big Single to match that.

Rod: didn't know you were doing pickups now too. Excellent.

Oh yea!! His pickups are UNBELIEVABLE!!!

Let me get this out of the way. I'm an RGW endorser. I also own Yamaha, MTD, Devon, Epiphone, and Kala basses.

That being said, I play basses that deliver the goods. Period. I have 3 RGW basses. These are AMAZINGLY well built basses. All RGW basses deliver a consistent quality, fit and finish, and tone, regardless of their "pretty factor". My fretted 5 (the Seafoam Green, maple board 5 in the NAMM 2014 booth pic) has no upgrades at all. It is a 100% "base model". Folks couldn't put it down. She wasn't the prettiest belle at the ball, but everyone wanted to dance with her.

That bass has been to the UK and back with me with zero neck adjustments (I live in Louisiana). I went from playing indoor and outdoor gigs in the 50's in Southern Wales, to playing in 104 degree Louisiana heat the day after I returned. Zero neck issues. The action didn't change. No indication that the bass had covered half the planet and a 50 degree swing in performance environment.

The studio I record in LOVES RGW basses. There are two of us here who play them. They sit in the track with minimal effort and have VERY true intonation.

I'll gladly answer any questions either in the public forum, or via private message.

 

[BigDaddyB]

Interestingly enough, 2 of my basses are in that pic. The red P down front is also one of mine.

 

[lowfreqgeek]

Another Regenerate Guitar Works artist here (I am NOT paid).

I've been playing my RGW VRB-P for nearly 7 years. Mine came from a transitional period, before Rod had his own CNC, when Rod hand-made the body and fitted a custom made neck (custom CNC program to his design specifications) made by a reputable supplier. In fact, I have 2 sister bodies made from the same NW Alder blank, each with the first necks built to Rod's specifications - one fretted (Pbass) and one fretless (P-bass body, MM pickup). I've been around long enough to see Rod get his own CNC, learn how to set it up and program it himself, and now build all of his own bodies and necks to his own specifications in house. ABSOLUTELY no "parts basses" here.

In addition to my two 4 strings, I have a Malibu 6 from NAMM'13. It's a simple passive bass with 19mm spacing, Nordstrand Big Singles, a Pau Ferro fingerboard, and a plain white finish, but it is a FANTASTIC instrument. I've rarely had to touch the truss rod here in the Southwest desert. Every note is clear and even, from the lowest to the highest. It plays with ease and sounds like a big, gnarly Jazz Bass. Click the Right About Now link in my signature for a sample.

I'm also using RGW P and J pickups. The P replaced the Nordstrand NP4 that shipped in my VRB-P 7 years ago; it was so good that I sold the Nordstrand. It's thick and meaty, with a very clear, but not metallic, top end. No mud, but lots of well defined booty. The J pickups replaced a 15yr old set of Duncan Antiquity II pickups that I put into a Warmoth jazz in '99. The Duncans were my "go-to" standard, and still a favorite, but the RGW Js have a depth and mid-range thickness that the Duncans lacked, and they are darn near noiseless when soloed. Much like the RGW P pickup, the lows are big and warm and round, but the highs are clear and defined. Rod really nailed the balance between the neck and bridge pickups, too.

Besides the RGWs, I regularly play EBMM Stingray 5 and Bongo 5, G&L L2500 USA, Rick Turner Electroline 5, Warmoth Gecko 5, Warmoth Jazz, and an old Greco short-scale hollowbody.

I'm happy to answer any questions, as well.

 

[Chef]

Rod was really great to work with on my build.

 

[bholder]

I know just a bit about this guy ;-) A lot has changed since the early days when Chef's bass was birthed from custom ordered parts, and then modified to suit at our original shop (ok .. it was really just one of the open areas in the garage way back then in 2004-2007 )

We make our own 4/5/6-string bodies and necks right here in our shop that's about 30 minutes north of downtown Seattle. Most lumber is hand selected at one of several wood yards, and arrives here in 8'-12' planks with the exception being some of the highly figured woods which may arrive in billets or bookmatched top sets depending on availability. Sometimes (like Western Maple burl) the wood may arrive as a huge 4" thick by +4' diameter slabs. The wood is allowed to season as needed, and once ready it only then begins the transformation process.

We utilize our own CNC to do the majority of repetitive grunt work type rough carving, and for accurately machining interface surfaces to tight tolerance. All of the custom CAD/CAM design and CNC tool path programming is done in-house as well, giving us total control of every detail for each part we make. Once the parts are rough cut at the CNC they are then pampered by hand until each nuance is just the way we like the instruments we play to feel and function. All of us are players - if it's not a bass we'd take to a session or gig, it's not a bass that leaves the shop

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As a commercial user, I believe it's against TB policy for me to comment on value/pricing.

If there's anything further I can answer for you (within the TB confines for commercial users), let me know.

I love the "standing on neck to prove a point" pic!

 

[Rodent]

I think that bass is for sale here right now. They matched well. Nordstrand custom wound the 51P to meet SD SCPB3 specs, and then wound the Big Single to match that.

Coop @ Nordstrand paired that custom SCP5 + BigSingle perfectly. In hindsight, I think I would prefer the more traditional look of a J5 in the bridge position ... but using BigSingle was totally BA on an otherwise very traditional looking bass.

In the country genre, a sister to Alan/Chef's bass was a mainstay of Mo Levone as he toured around the globe with Neil McCoy, and a 35" cousin is a regular booty shaker with Moe Monsarrat down in Austin, TX

Rod: didn't know you were doing pickups now too. Excellent.

Been quietly rolling pickups for about 2-1/2 years now. If you visited our 2013 NAMM booth and played one of these basses, you had opportunity to give our home-spun goods a test drive

RWRP single-coil set:

Custom P4 + split-coil J4 set and DuoTone™ controls:

If you didn't get to play one, you may have seen Bill Clements playing his signature model at the 2014 NAMM Show with his new custom PJs4BC set:

To date, with the exception of a couple very targeted prototype offerings, the only way to obtain a set of our pickups was to have them installed as original equipment in one of our basses. We've been getting a lot of requests to offer pickups as replacements for other basses, we're thinking this over and may make these available as a direct sale item sometime in the not too distant future.