Renaissance/Turner Basses Club

[bherman]

Regarding your Ren4 fretless...remember that I'm still here, waiting in the wings if you decide to sell it.

Don't worry, if I do this club thread would be my first stop. I love the bass but I've always had a thing about "orphan" basses, hanging on a wall not getting played. Time will tell....

 

[Jeff Scott]

Wow! I had not read that doctor thread at all so I didn't know about any of this. All this time you'd been posting photos of you standing, playing your Alembics. Follow your doctor's orders religiously (can I even say that word on TB? ).

In the meantime, to help with your healing process and to ensure you are, indeed, following doctor's orders, I'll be by in the morning to pickup the "Chain" bass for safekeeping (I promise it will stay in its case, occasionally ).

I recommend you get the complete series of Babylon 5 to watch while you are recuperating.

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

Wow! I had not read that doctor thread at all so I didn't know about any of this. All this time you'd been posting photos of you standing, playing your Alembics. Follow your doctor's orders religiously (can I even say that word on TB? ).

In the meantime, to help with your healing process and to ensure you are, indeed, following doctor's orders, I'll be by in the morning to pickup the "Chain" bass for safekeeping (I promise it will stay in its case, occasionally ).

I recommend you get the complete series of Babylon 5 to watch while you are recuperating.

Oh yeah, I played my whole schedule out, almost right to the very end. My last official gig was September 30th, though that was on upright, and unplugged. I played my last gig on bass guitar with Harwell-Grice Band on September 15th, and by the end of two sets, I knew I was basically finished playing music until they could fix me. I dreaded even touching the instrument. It was the worst 2-hour ride home of my life.

Right this moment, the Chain-Links Alembic, its relatives, and all their kissin' cousin Turners are locked in cases with humidifiers. If you were a couple hours closer South, you'd be welcome to him, Jeff... the exercise would do him good!

*I will admit to being very interested in Babylon 5, but for scheduling reasons (2nd shift) never watched it. Hmmm. If this turns into an extended stay, I may have to look into that series again.

 

[Jeff Scott]

I suppose you could open the cases and just strum the strings to make them all feel loved.

As much as I'd love to borrow that bass it probably needs to be close to its caretaker. Once you're all heeled it will be back to taking care of you on the gig.

B5 is a superb series, one that did not shy away from real life situations. Not to mention the many actors that have been involved with the series over its run, like June Lockhart (the other Mrs. Robinson), Billy Mumy (Mrs. Robinson's son as we all know as Will Robinson), Majel Barrett-Roddenberry (no need for mention who she was), Walter Koenig (another no need to mention his previous role), and lots of other excellent actors. In a book I have, Walter even says that, to him, B5 was far superior to Star Trek . I agree.

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

Nice Ren 5 Deluxe fretless in the Classifieds... drool

For Sale - Renaissance Rick Turner 5 String Fretless Bass

 

[WayneDupuis]

The strap buttons on these basses are wide and tight to the body. What strap/straplock systems work?

 

[RVBASS]

Well, it’s not a Renaissance, but check this out...Dark Star Bisonic with Piezo, that’s got to sound good.

Electroline 4 String Bass (Demo) | Heartbreaker Guitars

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

Welcome @RVBASS... I see you found our dusty little corner at TalkBass.

Yeah, that DarkStar'd Electroline made me smile, know RT's history with that particular pickup. Wonder if he slipped some emitter followers in there too?

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

The strap buttons on these basses are wide and tight to the body. What strap/straplock systems work?

Sorry to be no help Wayne... I've got Schaller Straplocks on both of my Electrolines, but have been fine with the oversized strap buttons on my Renaissance basses. I tend to double my strap over on the dingus end anyway, which tightens it more still.

I don't see any reason why you couldn't have straplocks of whatever type installed on your Turner.

 

[porterbass]

Well, it’s not a Renaissance, but check this out...Dark Star Bisonic with Piezo, that’s got to sound good.

Electroline 4 String Bass (Demo) | Heartbreaker Guitars

I have been lusting after that Electroline for over a year. If it were a fretless, I may have purchased it by now. Love that one.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Condition: Brand New (New).

It been around a couple of Hollywierd studios but it's still brand new, eh?

Nice bass, but these days I'd rather put that kind of coin into some more vintage Gustav Stickley pieces, frankly.

 

[bherman]

The strap buttons on these basses are wide and tight to the body. What strap/straplock systems work?

I use Schallers on mine and they work fine; because of the way the strap mounts on the back of the body it works best to install the lock on the strap end backwards from the usual way you attach Schallers to your strap. If not clear, pm me and I'll send you a photo.

 

[WayneDupuis]

I use Schallers on mine and they work fine; because of the way the strap mounts on the back of the body it works best to install the lock on the strap end backwards from the usual way you attach Schallers to your strap. If not clear, pm me and I'll send you a photo.

 

[WayneDupuis]

Thanks. I get that...

 

[RVBASS]

I bought a used 2005 Renaissance 5-string, received it today. Top, back, and sides all flamed maple, very nice looking and solid construction (as would be expected from Mr. Turner). It’s a nice bass (needs a good cleaning), but will take some getting used to (I’ve been playing Alembics only for a while now). I do appreciate the light weight! I’m not too keen on the TI acousticores, I ordered some TI Jazz flats JF365, I think I’ll like those a little better. Very easy bass to play and sounds great. I look forward to trying it out with my jazz band this week.

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

Let me know if you need a strap extension for it @RVBASS... I've made a few of them. Just need a measurement between the two neck mounting screws.

 

[RVBASS]

Thanks, E of H, I’ll check out the balance and let you know.

 

[bherman]

I bought a used 2005 Renaissance 5-string, received it today. Top, back, and sides all flamed maple, very nice looking and solid construction (as would be expected from Mr. Turner). It’s a nice bass (needs a good cleaning), but will take some getting used to (I’ve been playing Alembics only for a while now). I do appreciate the light weight! I’m not too keen on the TI acousticores, I ordered some TI Jazz flats JF365, I think I’ll like those a little better. Very easy bass to play and sounds great. I look forward to trying it out with my jazz band this week.

Good choice - I have been using TIs on my 4 string, they sound and feel great. Like you I didnt like the sound or feel of the acousticores. I also play jazz (guitar trio) and the bass works very well for it.

 

[mtb777]

I bought a used 2005 Renaissance 5-string, received it today. Top, back, and sides all flamed maple, very nice looking and solid construction (as would be expected from Mr. Turner). It’s a nice bass (needs a good cleaning), but will take some getting used to (I’ve been playing Alembics only for a while now). I do appreciate the light weight! I’m not too keen on the TI acousticores, I ordered some TI Jazz flats JF365, I think I’ll like those a little better. Very easy bass to play and sounds great. I look forward to trying it out with my jazz band this week.

Give the Acoustcores a little bit of time. They feel and play differently for sure but they can be amazing when digging in some.

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

You won't find a much bigger proponent of T-I Jazz Flats than me in these pages... I pretty much use them exclusively on every bass I have, except for the two Turner Renaissances. I love 'em, they're great at what they do, Alembics, Turners, Guilds, Gibsons, name it.

There's just something about the T-I AcoustiCores that is very hard to describe, that when used on those Renaissance basses is magic. It's not the fabled 'upright bass' sound... and as a hard-headed old upright bass player, I'll go ahead and tell you there ain't any such thing. The closest I've been able to call it is like giant classical guitar strings. And it's so open to interpretation, you can do so much with it. There is a huge frequency response there. For what I do, most of the high end isn't really that useful, so I've actually started running through a resonant low-pass filter en route to the amp.

But I digress...

I think what throws most guys is the feel. The nylon core makes them super-spongy-feeling if you're accustomed to steel, which 99.99% of us are. And the bronze roundwounds are abrasive if you're used to, or just prefer flatwounds. (like me)

I got used to the non-existent tension easily, (and got so I kinda' like it to tell you the truth...) and Rick Turner himself gave me the best advice on the windings one time while I was b!tchin' about the sizzly bronze windings. [posted this before, but it's been a while] One at a time, loosen each string a couple turns. Then, using a loop of 600-grit sandpaper, polish the windings down until they smooth out. You now have half-round AcoustiCores. I follow with some FastFret cleaner/lube and wipe down. They are extremely fast and smooth on both my Renaissance basses.

All that said - if AcoustiCores aren't your thing, they just aren't... nothing wrong with that. Jazz Flats are highly recommended too, and in the earlier pages of this thread there were some guys trying tapes and other strings out too.