Renaissance/Turner Basses Club

[oreillyreally]

Waiting for my new-to-me RB4 FL to be delivered. Thank you all for your input/sharing your experiences!

 

[RVBASS]

I’m selling some brand new Rick Turner Model 1 pickups and electronics in the for sale section if anyone is interested.

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

I’m selling some brand new Rick Turner Model 1 pickups and electronics in the for sale section if anyone is interested.

Stuff is a little tough to find over there... here's a link to RV's pickup/wiring harness set in case someone is looking for a cool project set.

For sale Rick Turner Model 1 Pickups and Electronics

Rick Turner Model 1 Pickups and Electronics

• RVBASS (+6 /0 /-0)
• Feb 17, 2025
• Views: 126
• Comments: 1
• Category: For Sale: Parts, Strings, and Accessories
• electronics model 1 pickups rick turner

$990.00

 

[oreillyreally]

It's here...and the action is absurd...do people shim these? I would have to completely remove the saddle, and even then it would still be too high...

 

[Jeff Scott]

It's here...and the action is absurd...do people shim these? I would have to completely remove the saddle, and even then it would still be too high...Shimming is not uncommon; IIRC, both of mine were (or I added) shimmed. If you are using the TI Acousticore strings you might want to see how they feel first before lowering the action as they are very flexible and require some height to prevent too much buzzing.

 

[pfschim]

It's here...and the action is absurd...do people shim these? I would have to completely remove the saddle, and even then it would still be too high...

well, given the design, you can shim the neck pocket or shave the bridge saddle, or a bit of both. People do adjust Turner Rens to taste, shims are easy but go slow with the bridge reduction/lowering.

I definitely had mine adjusted. I had the great Gary Brawer do the set up work on my Ren 4 fretless and he did an outstanding job.

good luck

 

[oreillyreally]

They look to be TI (purple thread, bronze string), but they are anything but flexible to me ATM. Any shim material suggestions? Back in the day I used matchbook covers, expired credit cards...

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

They look to be TI (purple thread, bronze string), but they are anything but flexible to me ATM. Any shim material suggestions? Back in the day I used matchbook covers, expired credit cards...

Yes, those are TI AcoustiCores. Shim the neck pocket just like any other bass (I used thin wood veneer in mine) but with these strings you want them a little bit higher. They are very low tension and the travel on them is considerably more than conventional metal core strings.

 

[tombowlus]

Speaking of strings, has anyone had success with thicker-gauge, higher-tension ABG strings on a Renaissance? I don't care for the very soft/loose feel, and I'd like to have it sound/feel more like an ABG. I am concerned about mucking up the action, though (as mentioned herein).

 

[RVBASS]

I have seen some Rens with TI flats.

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

Speaking of strings, has anyone had success with thicker-gauge, higher-tension ABG strings on a Renaissance? I don't care for the very soft/loose feel, and I'd like to have it sound/feel more like an ABG. I am concerned about mucking up the action, though (as mentioned herein).

I've never done it, but given their necks are reinforced with two graphite rods (at least on newer ones) and dual-acting truss rods, I don't see any reason they couldn't be set up with another kind of string. Here's the thing; a lot of the Renaissance' sound has to do with how the string-to-saddle-to-piezo element reaction occurs. The AcoustiCore strings were literally developed with the goal of making this reaction work better. If you change that, you change that effect... and the result might be exactly what you want. Might not. One way to know for sure, and it only costs a set of strings. (or strangs, if you're from here...)

Let us know how it goes for sure... optional string intel would be great to have for reference. I just prefer to let my Renaissance be what it is and do what it does. Nothing else quite sounds like that.

 

[tombowlus]

I've never done it, but given their necks are reinforced with two graphite rods (at least on newer ones) and dual-acting truss rods, I don't see any reason they couldn't be set up with another kind of string. Here's the thing; a lot of the Renaissance' sound has to do with how the string-to-saddle-to-piezo element reaction occurs. The AcoustiCore strings were literally developed with the goal of making this reaction work better. If you change that, you change that effect... and the result might be exactly what you want. Might not. One way to know for sure, and it only costs a set of strings. (or strangs, if you're from here...)

Let us know how it goes for sure... optional string intel would be great to have for reference. I just prefer to let my Renaissance be what it is and do what it does. Nothing else quite sounds like that.

Great response, and great points! I was hoping to use it in an "acoustic" band I play in, where mostly I am playing upright and ABG. For longer shows, though, the thicker bodied ABGs aren't as comfortable on my right forearm, and I was thinking that the Ren would be much less fatiguing, but still (hopefully) have that sound, and it definitely has an appropriate look.

I'll give it a go and report back.

Thanks!

 

[Jeff Scott]

The tone control on the Rens are very useful.

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

Great response, and great points! I was hoping to use it in an "acoustic" band I play in, where mostly I am playing upright and ABG. For longer shows, though, the thicker bodied ABGs aren't as comfortable on my right forearm, and I was thinking that the Ren would be much less fatiguing, but still (hopefully) have that sound, and it definitely has an appropriate look.

I'll give it a go and report back.

Thanks!

Yessir, and I'd love to hear more about that gig... my main use for the Renaissance was with a neo-oldtyme ensemble... kind of an Appalachian String Quartet. That thing has gone dormant, but we still play 3-4 gigs a year. The Renaissance still gets called up to sub with some other semi-acoustic things. I often wondered what RT would have thought about his basses in this application...

 

[Jeff Scott]

View attachment 7157171

What slot-head guitar is that?

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

What slot-head guitar is that?

That is a 1930 0-18; it used to be mine... I loaned it to that feller with the silly grin there one time and he kinda' got attached to it. He still has it, still plays it. Since sometime in 2012 I think.

This may be the only existing picture of me with that old guitar. It was one of two small prewar Martins I used interchangeably with this duo. The other was a 1927 2-17. I sold it to a blues-picker in South Texas on Mandolin Cafe. No pics of it that I know of, just lots of good memories.

[sigh] I sold those two guitars, and had the Custom Shop build me a 00-18 with pre-1932 specs. If they thought I was nuts, they were at least polite about it.

Shortly afterward, the fine folks in Nazareth, PA debuted a short run of 1931 00-18 "Authentic Series" guitars. They are somewhat sought-after now. I got in before the rush.

*you still got your Custom Martin with that double cutaway and Stauffer-style pyramid bridge? That thing was so badass... had a buncha' GE-spec innit too, IIRC.

 

[Jeff Scott]

That is a 1930 0-18; it used to be mine... I loaned it to that feller with the silly grin there one time and he kinda' got attached to it. He still has it, still plays it. Since sometime in 2012 I think.

This may be the only existing picture of me with that old guitar. It was one of two small prewar Martins I used interchangeably with this duo. The other was a 1927 2-17. I sold it to a blues-picker in South Texas on Mandolin Cafe. No pics of it that I know of, just lots of good memories. View attachment 7157406

So, your friend still has it on "loan"?

[sigh] I sold those two guitars, and had the Custom Shop build me a 00-18 with pre-1932 specs. If they thought I was nuts, they were at least polite about it. View attachment 7157413

Shortly afterward, the fine folks in Nazareth, PA debuted a short run of 1931 00-18 "Authentic Series" guitars. They are somewhat sought-after now. I got in before the rush.

*you still got your Custom Martin with that double cutaway and Stauffer-style pyramid bridge? That thing was so badass... had a buncha' GE-spec innit too, IIRC.

It's good to be the first!

And yes, I still have that custom OM-18.

I really should make some new photos of it.

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

So, your friend still has it on "loan"?

It's good to be the first!

And yes, I still have that custom OM-18.

I really should make some new photos of it.

View attachment 7157436

There just ain't enough like buttons for that thing! When I turned in my retirement notice to the State last Summer (on my 55th birthday) I ordered myself another guitar from the C.F. Martin & Co. Custom Shop. The music store I do repair work for is a dealer, and a pretty good one, so I got to just pick up the phone, call our rep and make it happen. I signed the quote that weekend, the boss ordered my guitar first thing Monday morning, July 1st. I retired on December 1st, and two weeks later, (three months earlier than expected) the guys called me from the store one morning... there was a Martin box came in, and they didn't recognize it. It had a 0000 12-fret Custom guitar... East Indian Rosewood, 3-piece back. Nobody knew what it was. They were about to return it. They called the boss. He told them to call me...

This was inside...

I've had a couple months to break-in and bond with my Custom 0000-36/38. We're good.
Oh yeah... the bridge... may be your fault!

I'll be loading up the Renaissance RB-5 fretless for this evening. May take the Electroline for backup. It just kinda' feels like a Turner type of day.

 

[Jeff Scott]

There just ain't enough like buttons for that thing! When I turned in my retirement notice to the State last Summer (on my 55th birthday) I ordered myself another guitar from the C.F. Martin & Co. Custom Shop. The music store I do repair work for is a dealer, and a pretty good one, so I got to just pick up the phone, call our rep and make it happen. I signed the quote that weekend, the boss ordered my guitar first thing Monday morning, July 1st. I retired on December 1st, and two weeks later, (three months earlier than expected) the guys called me from the store one morning... there was a Martin box came in, and they didn't recognize it. It had a 0000 12-fret Custom guitar... East Indian Rosewood, 3-piece back. Nobody knew what it was. They were about to return it. They called the boss. He told them to call me... View attachment 7158441

This was inside...
View attachment 7158446View attachment 7158447View attachment 7158448

I've had a couple months to break-in and bond with my Custom 0000-36/38. We're good.
Oh yeah... the bridge... may be your fault! View attachment 7158449

I'll be loading up the Renaissance RB-5 fretless for this evening. May take the Electroline for backup. It just kinda' feels like a Turner type of day.

Wowzer!!!!! That is the best looking bridge Martin has ever created!

The whole guitar looks amazing.

Nice to see the long diamond volute, too.

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

Me and the Buzzards played for a wild game dinner yesterday evening. I had the Model One bass along for backup, but never got it out, just rode the RB-5 fretless for both sets.