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Renaissance/Turner Basses Club

Actually, Seymour Duncan has absorbed D-TAR back under the one company umbrella, and I sold my shares to Duncan, so while I remain a fan of what we developed and continue to use the products, I've got no business connection to them anymore. The structure of the company was unwieldy, to say the least, and this is best all around.

And thanks for all the comments and support here, folks!

Thanks-a-Bunch for the clarification RT! Drop in here anytime. :thumbsup:
 
There's an older Renaissance 4 for pretty cheap ($500) in the local Craigslist. The description says it "may have cracks" but they don't show up in pictures. I'd bet it's just really dry, and they're superficial.

If anyone's interested, here's the ad: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

*** I have no affiliation with the seller... honestly I've never even seen another Turner around here. Don't really know how this one turned up right underfoot.
 
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Thought I'd share a picture with some Turner content...

New River Bound poses for a photo-op while on break at a contra-dance we played on Saturday night, I've got the Custom fretless RB-5. Bonus - also on that little card table (between the guitar player and fiddler) is a D-Tar Equinox and Solstice Brian uses to tweak and focus the sound of his 1930 C.F. Martin model 0-18 guitar.
 
Not pictured: the fretted RB-5. :whistle: Never leave home without it. :laugh:

Jess' banjo is a late 1800's J.H. Buckbee... IIRC, it was a graduation gift from her parents. I remember reading somewhere RT's first restoration was a Fairbanks Cole banjo, probably very similar in design being from that same time frame.

We're scheduled to finally start tracking our first recording together next month, so hopefully I can share some of that here.
 
I've got a order in for light guage 30" Labella DTFs, I thought I'd have them before my bass was finished but doesn't look that way. I have never tried the white nylons but I did have a set of Labella black nylon tapes on a Lakland Hollowbody 30 and I did not like them at all. I know they are very popular on the Rob Allen basses.

Peter! How did the Labella low tension flats do on the Kinal?? REALLY interested here.
 
Peter! How did the Labella low tension flats do on the Kinal?? REALLY interested here.

I never got them, maybe I still have them on back order with BSO, not sure maybe he cancelled the order. Apparently they are hard to come by and probably better off not falling in love with them.

That being said I did get a set of the white copper nylon strings and absolutely love them. If I still had a short scale with magnetic pickups I'd surely use the DTFs
 
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I never got them, maybe I still have them on back order with BSO, not sure maybe he cancelled the order. Apparently they are hard to come by and probably better off not falling in love with them.

That being said I did get a set of the white copper nylon strings and absolutely love them. If I still had a short scale with magnetic pickups I'd surely use the DTFs

Thanks Peter..another option. So, the LaBellas are still on order after 4 months?
 
I am the proud and happy new owner of a 1998 fretted RB4, walnut body, cedar (oops first thought it was spruce) top, maple neck, pau ferro fingerboard. As far as i know i am the second owner, it apparently "sat in a closet" for most of those years, very excellent condition, a few dings and scratches but no serious player wear and tear. Electronics are 18v (2 x 9v batteries), with gain and bass rolloff adjustment screws. Body edges are sharp so will take some experimenting to cushion my right [playing] arm on the upper bout to not create a trench in my forearm skin; perhaps a washcloth or diaper? Volume and tone knobs are plastic so of course i have to call Mr. Turner's shop next week and see if i can replace with walnut or other hardwood. I was able to get a Dingus strap extender installed at the shop where i found the RB4.

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Me and the RB-5 in downtown Roanoke this evening... staring down the front edge of Hurricane Joachin. :hyper:

Gig is 5:30-7:00, and I'm haulin' outta' here stat. We've been deluged with like 10" of rain for the last five days, and more coming tonight. (ideally, *after* I get loaded out) :laugh:
 
I'm quite fascinated with the Model Ones, and actually talked to the folks at RT about building one in a five-string. There were a couple logistical problems, one being the 32" scale it's designed for, the other major one being the wider neck and having to redo the socket/pocket it fits in on a Model One body.

They offered an interesting compromise though... converting a five-string Electroline to accept the semi-parametric eq and tone circuit. I still might do that if I find a decent buy on another Electroline fiver, maybe a broken or rescue project. I'm pretty happy with my two like they are. ;)
 
Wow, dang - forgot where I put this thread! As we approach 2 years on TalkBass, thought I better bump it up before 2016 set in. :laugh: :facepalm:

It's been a pretty good year for my Turner basses...

Both RB-5's are being used on the neo-oldtyme band's first recording project. We're about 2/3rd's of the way done tracking, with a Spring release planned. I'm gigging the Electrolines regularly too, with another group that does pop/lite rock covers.

One big thing this year, I began playing my basses through a pre-amp/power-amp rig built around an Alembic F-1X, a Crown XLS 2000 "DriveCore", and some Avatar cabs. Being able to set up the crossover so that one cab is assigned only low frequencies (below 99 Hz) has really made a difference in the realization of what these things can really do. It's really something. :thumbsup:

Just wondering what the other RT players are up to?
 

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I used to have a couple of F-1X preamps that I ran through Stewart World 1.2 power amps. Great preamp, wouldn't mind another one if I was gigging, but I am not at the moment.

I sold the RB4-FL earlier this year so I am Rick(Turner) less, now. Glad you, and others, are keeping the flame alive. :)

Happy Holly Daze!
 
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I have been happily playing my RB4 in an "Americana" style group, guitars/mandolin/dobro/no drums. I found a very nice MONO soft case that fits it quite well, and have been using Aguilar amplification though i am in the process of converting to Mesa (at least the amp). I'd like to check out an Electroline one of these days but i don't believe they are made anymore (or could i afford new) and they seem to only very rarely turn up on the used market. Hope everyone has a nice holiday season and the new year gets off to a good start.
Jim