• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Regenerate Guitar Works from Washington state.

#41
I thought I'd add my .02 as well. My avatar is my Regenerator 5 string that you also see on their site. Originally it was fitted with Nordy's, but since it took me so long to actually buy the darn thing they re-fit it with their custom-wound Honey Badger pups just before this past NAMM. (I believe it's also in the big pic.)

I am not a paid endorser, but I can say that I couldn't be happier with this - it was my dream bass and I sound better coming through it. It's super comfortable, and I can dial in any tone I want. I tend to play all over the map, so that's helpful as I can go from 70's funk to tight prog metal with a few quick adjustments. I can confirm (as I've been to their shop) that everything wood is hand made (no kits), and I've seen the pup winder myself. Oh, and did I mention that it's as responsive and wide-ranging as an active pre without pushing the extra 15db through?

The finish is hella tight, and I get compliments from anyone who sees it... folks don't believe it's real wood, but I saw that blanks myself. :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: lowfreqgeek and Selta
#42
As a former Regenerate bass player I can certainly attest that Rod makes great playing and sounding basses - FWIW, I sold a nice NYC Sadowsky 5'er after I bought mine! AND did not regret doing so!! The reason I am no longer a Regenerate owner is that I was on the path to buy a Fodera - GAS hits HARD!

I HIGHLY recommend Regenerate basses!

Dan

PS - sorry for all the !, but his basses more than deserve them.
 
#44
Rod's Honey Badger pick ups are excellent. I have set of early-ish HB prototype single coils in my Jazz bass and Rod is working up a set of split coils for me now to replace them with. I'd put Rod up there with Duke LeJeune at AudioKinesis in terms of being a gem to work with.
 
  • Like
Reactions: XrisThaBassman and Selta
#46
emjazz said:
What happened to Regenerate? They were some of my favorite looking basses. I'm slowly searching for a 5 string for general work and was hoping to check them out.
Click to expand...

It's been a while since I've talked to Rod, but I know he had some serious family emergencies a while back that prevented him from being able to take on new work with RGW. Combined with already low profit margins, Regenerate Guitar Works has closed up shop. That's about as much as I know. I'm bummed, but I was fortunate to get a number of RGW basses, including a one-off 6 string, a couple of killer jazz basses, a sweet prototype P, and an franken-fretless that sounds fantastic.
 
#48
lowfreqgeek said:
It's been a while since I've talked to Rod, but I know he had some serious family emergencies a while back that prevented him from being able to take on new work with RGW. Combined with already low profit margins, Regenerate Guitar Works has closed up shop. That's about as much as I know. I'm bummed, but I was fortunate to get a number of RGW basses, including a one-off 6 string, a couple of killer jazz basses, a sweet prototype P, and an franken-fretless that sounds fantastic.
Click to expand...
Do you have a pic of the 6 string?
 
#49
emjazz said:
Do you have a pic of the 6 string?
Click to expand...

I have some fancy pics somewhere, but this one was most accessible.

The 6 was a one-off prototype that Rod had at the 2013 NAMM show, which I brought home with me. He later modified the lower horn to be longer and destroyed the only other body that matched, which was a 5-string that got the new body shape and sent to another friend in Louisiana. It's just straight-up passive and sounds like a girthy 70's Jazz. It has Honey Badger TFD's in it now, which are a proprietary single coil. I wish I could've gotten the same in a 5, but this is the one and only.

IMG_2807.JPG


The other 2 basses are circa '06/07 alder bodies cut from one board with the very first 2 USAGC necks that Rod commissioned, before he started building his own necks later on. The blue fretless now has a pickguard and East MM preamp, but the P-bass is still the same, sitting right next to me. I gave my 12yr old son a bass lesson with the P this evening... :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: emjazz
#50
emjazz said:
Wow...REALLY sorry to hear that. He seemed to have a large booth at NAMM not that long ago. What a drag. I hope that he's well.
Click to expand...

Last I heard from Marc Miller, Rod's partner in RGW/Honey Badger, Rod was doing well, but taking care of family through some medical issues and a few other things compounded on top of that. I need to reach out to him again soon. It's been a little while since we've talked.
 
  • Like
Reactions: emjazz
#52
Oh, man! I know that bass on Reverb. Didn't know it was there till you mentioned it, but I just might have to pull the trigger. I also need a good 5 string, and that'd be a GREAT one. The neck is really, really nice on that one, and it's one of my favorite body shapes he did. It was originally called the "M-series", before G&L put out the M-2500, which was also called the "M-series", and sort of prompted Rod to change it. One of the "Ms" this bass was named for is my last name... I spent a lot of time working with Rod on some of the details of shape and ergonomics early on.

Hmm... Now I'm feeling the GAS.
 
  • Like
Reactions: emjazz
#53
lowfreqgeek said:
Oh, man! I know that bass on Reverb. Didn't know it was there till you mentioned it, but I just might have to pull the trigger. I also need a good 5 string, and that'd be a GREAT one. The neck is really, really nice on that one, and it's one of my favorite body shapes he did. It was originally called the "M-series", before G&L put out the M-2500, which was also called the "M-series", and sort of prompted Rod to change it. One of the "Ms" this bass was named for is my last name... I spent a lot of time working with Rod on some of the details of shape and ergonomics early on.

Hmm... Now I'm feeling the GAS.
Click to expand...
Hahaha...grab it man! I wish that I could!
 
  • Like
Reactions: lowfreqgeek

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back