Renaissance/Turner Basses Club

[EdwardofHuncote]

The acousticore strings are slinky and unusual...

They are, indeed. And they do take some getting used to, but they are exactly what the Renaissance basses like to feel. I have described them as giant classical guitar strings.

*I may be wrong about the facts of the matter, but I swear it seems like RT worked with TI to develop the AcoustiCores specifically for the Renaissance line. They used to be pictured on the packaging.

**Here's another tip I got directly from Rick; use a loop of 600-grit sandpaper to smooth the windings out, especially for a fretless Ren. It makes them feel/play like half-rounds, but still slinky.

 

[nmiller]

I don't own it anymore, but I used to have this 1980 Model One. Turner used to sell kits to add a second pickup to your guitar or bass, and I'm pretty sure that's what happened to this bass. (You could order a dual pickup instrument from the factory, but as the bridge pickup on this one was held on with adhesive, I don't think it was originally built that way). The six-position rotary pickup selector (including series/parallel and phase in/out positions) gives quite a range of sounds.

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

I just spent the past hour with @Road Hat 's old Electroline 5 plugged up to the Alembic mini-Wall Of Racket here in my house. I'm taking it, and the Model One along for a rehearsal this afternoon.

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

I don't own it anymore, but I used to have this 1980 Model One. Turner used to sell kits to add a second pickup to your guitar or bass, and I'm pretty sure that's what happened to this bass. (You could order a dual pickup instrument from the factory, but as the bridge pickup on this one was held on with adhesive, I don't think it was originally built that way). The six-position rotary pickup selector (including series/parallel and phase in/out positions) gives quite a range of sounds.

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Ooooh! Ka-boom! There's a rare one. Thanks for posting.

 

[RVBASS]

I don’t really like the feel and string noise of roundwounds. So, I put TI Jazz flats on my Ren 5 bass. I like the sound and feel of flatwounds, but I now think this bass sounds best with the Acousticores. So, I’m putting a new set of Acousticores back on the bass. It’s a very unique and cool sounding bass for sure.

 

[Jeff Scott]

I don’t really like the feel and string noise of roundwounds. So, I put TI Jazz flats on my Ren 5 bass. I like the sound and feel of flatwounds, but I now think this bass sounds best with the Acousticores. So, I’m putting a new set of Acousticores back on the bass. It’s a very unique and cool sounding bass for sure.

Well, IIRC, they were literally made for each other.

 

[RVBASS]

Well, IIRC, they were literally made for each other.

My perception is that this is an acoustic instrument, and when plugged in it is an amplified acoustical instrument rather than an electric bass.

 

[cxcxcx]

I’ve been experimenting with strings on my Renaissance as well. Next will be a set of Acousticores. My Renaissance was bought second hand and did have Acousticores installed, but they were showing their age. Even then, unique qualities exclusive to those strings and those strings only shined through.

My bass has Hipshot Ultralite tuners with the small shafts. It appeared that previous owner wrapped a lot of string on each post, but in the same way you’d wind standard metal electric bass strings. It wasn’t the neatest looking affair but the string seemed to stay in tune well.

Is this the best way to put on a new set of Acousticores? I’ve been watching a number of videos about installing nylon strings on classical guitars. Those techniques don’t seem to apply to the Renaissance bass well. Some caution and concern to avoid damaging a string is in play here because of their higher cost. I’m curious as to how other players here put their Acousticores on.

 

[T-boneParish]

I’ve been experimenting with strings on my Renaissance as well. Next will be a set of Acousticores. My Renaissance was bought second hand and did have Acousticores installed, but they were showing their age. Even then, unique qualities exclusive to those strings and those strings only shined through.

My bass has Hipshot Ultralite tuners with the small shafts. It appeared that previous owner wrapped a lot of string on each post, but in the same way you’d wind standard metal electric bass strings. It wasn’t the neatest looking affair but the string seemed to stay in tune well.

Is this the best way to put on a new set of Acousticores? I’ve been watching a number of videos about installing nylon strings on classical guitars. Those techniques don’t seem to apply to the Renaissance bass well. Some caution and concern to avoid damaging a string is in play here because of their higher cost. I’m curious as to how other players here put their Acousticores on.

I am curious about this as well.

I have flat wound strings that have been on instruments for over a decade, and they may outlive me (which isn't saying very much).

I also have nylon strings that have been on classical guitars that started to unwind after a couple of years. They start wearing where the strings meet the frets.

I am curious, are the Acousticore strings more like flat wound bass strings or nylon classical strings?

 

[cxcxcx]

I am curious about this as well.

I have flat wound strings that have been on instruments for over a decade, and they may outlive me (which isn't saying very much).

I also have nylon strings that have been on classical guitars that started to unwind after a couple of years. They start wearing where the strings meet the frets.

I am curious, are the Acousticore strings more like flat wound bass strings or nylon classical strings?

Acousticores won’t work with magnetic pickups as flats can and do. Piezo only. They’re more like the bass strings in nylon classical guitar string sets, even though they have ball ends and finished silk wraps like most electric flats do.

Both Acousticores and nylon classical strings have a metal wrap that’s seemingly softer than what’s seen on standard rounds, and have cores made of nylon strands. Very soft and pliable, due to the lack of metal content.

 

[Jeff Scott]

...Acousticores.

My bass has Hipshot Ultralite tuners with the small shafts. It appeared that previous owner wrapped a lot of string on each post, but in the same way you’d wind standard metal electric bass strings. It wasn’t the neatest looking affair but the string seemed to stay in tune well.

Is this the best way to put on a new set of Acousticores? I’ve been watching a number of videos about installing nylon strings on classical guitars. Those techniques don’t seem to apply to the Renaissance bass well. Some caution and concern to avoid damaging a string is in play here because of their higher cost. I’m curious as to how other players here put their Acousticores on.

My experience with Acousticores is that they do have a tendency to slip, so I did a "double-back" on the strings when first installing them to prevent that. It's been a few years so I don't recall exactly what it is that I did but here is a photo of the headstock of the last Ren I owned ('05 RB4-FL).

These are with the, as purchased new bass, Gotohs, and it does seem that I didn't have to do anything special with those, but when I had Ultralites on it, and with my previous '01 RB5-FL, I did have to do some magic to make the strings stay put.

 

[RVBASS]

I stick the tip in the hole in the center if the tuning peg and wrap top to bottom like Jeff did in his photo and have not had any slipping problems. New acousticores need a week or so to stretch and settle, so expect to have to tighten the strings for a week or so after installing new ones.

As for flatwounds, note that the B string for TI flats are thick and I have had a hard time installing and removing them, the body-through hole in Renaissance basses are a smaller diameter than standard TI flatwound B strings.

 

[Deleted member 165050]

I don’t really like the feel and string noise of roundwounds. So, I put TI Jazz flats on my Ren 5 bass. I like the sound and feel of flatwounds, but I now think this bass sounds best with the Acousticores. So, I’m putting a new set of Acousticores back on the bass. It’s a very unique and cool sounding bass for sure.

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The action on my Renaissance is a little on the high side, I don't notice this with Acousticores but it was very obvious with TIJFs when I tried them. I guess I could shim the neck a little but I went back to Acousticores.

 

[RVBASS]

The action on my Renaissance is a little on the high side, I don't notice this with Acousticores but it was very obvious with TIJFs when I tried them. I guess I could shim the neck a little but I went back to Acousticores.

The TI jazz flats are higher tension than the Acousticores, so you may have to adjust the truss rod to compensate. But note the issue with the B string diameter I mentioned above, I have encountered this with a couple Rens and different sets of TI flats.

 

[RVBASS]

Well, although the Renaissance Bass sounds great with Acousticore strings, I just can’t deal with round wounds. So, I’m back to flats. I bought a set of flats, which sound and feel great, but it turns out the neck is 35” scale and the strings are long scale at 34”…..rrrrrrrrrr! So, the B and E silk overlaps the nut. So, I ordered a set of 36” LaBella low tension flats with a .118 B that will fit through the body hole. Should be delivered next week and I’ll see how they work. The bass is fantastic though!

 

[RVBASS]

These strings sound amazing on my Renaissance bass, but be sure to get the extra long size

 

[T-boneParish]

Just want to make sure others are aware of this Ren4 fretted neck for sale. It's not mine, but I thought I would share the info...

For Sale Rick Turner Renaissance RB-4 (Standard) Fretted Neck!!

 

[Shedua511]

Brand new Ren player here.
I just got this beautiful fretted six string second hand in Oslo, Norway.
The previous owner had it in a case for years, the batteries had spilled… I had it cleaned up and now it only needs the Acousticore strings I received today.
There was a note in the case, probably by Mr. Turner, suggesting a shim be installed. The action is a bit high, so I will do that as well.
Really looking forward to having the nylon strings off, especially the low B is really awful.
What woods do you reckon these are? Koa perhaps?

 

[RVBASS]

Beautiful bass, congratulations! Kind of looks like koa, but hard to tell from your photos. Maybe the Turner shop keeps build records on file, maybe send them an email with the serial number and a couple if photos and see what they say. RENs are wonderful basses, enjoy!

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

Welcome, Congratulations & Compliments on your new-to-you Renaissance bass. That is an RB-5 Special. All mahogany, very much like mine.