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Reverend Sentinel
- Thread starter Terry Farmer
- Start date
Yeah I’ve tried a couple. I really loved it. I’d buy one if I didn’t already have a p type instrument.
Fantastic bass. Got mine last week. More detailed review to come soon.
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There’s enough space by the bridge that part of me would want to add a a reversed p pickup at the bridge.
OK, time for a more detailed account. I had been awaiting the 2020 launch of Reverend basses and soon as I saw the promo stuff Ken put out, I thought I would take a chance on one of these, even though I didn't have the chance to try it out in advance. I was confident I wouldn't be disappointed as I had bought my Mercalli 4 and Decision P without trying them first and I love both of those basses, each of which are fantastic in their own right. However, with the huge increase and interest in short scales, I was curious about trying one myself.
I placed my order through Merchant City Music, Glasgow having had a great experience with the shop when I bought my Decision. Richard there is a pleasure to work with and their customer service, in my experience of buying gear over 25 years, is second to none. The bass arrived in store within the time scale as promised and it was shipped to me very quickly afterwards. This is against the background of a UK wide lockdown due to CV.
I was delighted with the bass when it arrived. Smaller than my other Revs but not substantially so. Light (although I haven't weighed it properly yet) and a joy to play. The body is contoured front and back with a forearm and belly cut. It looks like a smaller Thundergun. The tone knobs and selector seem to be very good quality and there is no noise or hiss when flicking between the 3 positions. The bridge is the standard high mass bridge used on all Revs. Aesthetically, it all just works.
It was set up perfectly and was still in tune after it's travels!! The colour was much nicer that I expected from the promo photos. The Wildwood video at NAMM is probably is the most representative of the actual colour. I haven't played a bass with a painted neck for some years but I don't foresee any problems here. It's great fun to go back songs in our current set and finding them much easier to play.
In terms of tone, it's hard to capture this in words (a bit like trying to describe colour!). I am finding the 3 way pickup selector versatile, along with adjusting the EQ on my amp. It does a P bass tone if that's your thing, but it is more modern sounding to my ears. I can't really see myself using the neck position as it's just too dubby for me. The middle is where it's at. Big big, full, meaty sound and clear as a bell. With the new strings, it does that big piano sound really well. Bridge position is brighter but also very usable.
I use a very simple pedal board in front of my Mesa Subway rig. One pedal, the original VT Bass for a little more tone shaping. I did throw on my bass chorus just for fun earlier and played along to The Cure's Disintegration and is sounded unreal.
All in all, money well spent. It's just a really fun bass to play. I just hope it's not too long before it is safe enough to get out gigging again and see what this 'baby Hulk' can do in a live setting.
Hope this has been helpful.
I placed my order through Merchant City Music, Glasgow having had a great experience with the shop when I bought my Decision. Richard there is a pleasure to work with and their customer service, in my experience of buying gear over 25 years, is second to none. The bass arrived in store within the time scale as promised and it was shipped to me very quickly afterwards. This is against the background of a UK wide lockdown due to CV.
I was delighted with the bass when it arrived. Smaller than my other Revs but not substantially so. Light (although I haven't weighed it properly yet) and a joy to play. The body is contoured front and back with a forearm and belly cut. It looks like a smaller Thundergun. The tone knobs and selector seem to be very good quality and there is no noise or hiss when flicking between the 3 positions. The bridge is the standard high mass bridge used on all Revs. Aesthetically, it all just works.
It was set up perfectly and was still in tune after it's travels!! The colour was much nicer that I expected from the promo photos. The Wildwood video at NAMM is probably is the most representative of the actual colour. I haven't played a bass with a painted neck for some years but I don't foresee any problems here. It's great fun to go back songs in our current set and finding them much easier to play.
In terms of tone, it's hard to capture this in words (a bit like trying to describe colour!). I am finding the 3 way pickup selector versatile, along with adjusting the EQ on my amp. It does a P bass tone if that's your thing, but it is more modern sounding to my ears. I can't really see myself using the neck position as it's just too dubby for me. The middle is where it's at. Big big, full, meaty sound and clear as a bell. With the new strings, it does that big piano sound really well. Bridge position is brighter but also very usable.
I use a very simple pedal board in front of my Mesa Subway rig. One pedal, the original VT Bass for a little more tone shaping. I did throw on my bass chorus just for fun earlier and played along to The Cure's Disintegration and is sounded unreal.
All in all, money well spent. It's just a really fun bass to play. I just hope it's not too long before it is safe enough to get out gigging again and see what this 'baby Hulk' can do in a live setting.
Hope this has been helpful.
Thanks for posting. I’m curious as well about the short scale Revs. Would love to get my hands on a Sentinel and Wattplower to compare.
Great Sentinel review. I'm currently at four basses and my Reverend Watt Plower is by far my favorite and "go to" bass. I love the sound, feel, play ability and weight of the Plower! I too would love to compare the Sentinel to my Watt Plower. I'm thinking the mass, round wounds and three way switch of the Sentinel would compliment my La Bella flats equipped Watt Plower perfectly, with play ability close to the same. Not ready to pull the purchase unseen trigger though. Guess I'll just have to wait til I can get around a Sentinel in person. Thanks for the great info.
At one point late last year, I did have a first edition Wattplower in yellow and black in my sights. I couldn't find one anywhere, so I dropped that idea. Then this bad boy appeared.
I'm not sure how they compare as I've never had the chance to try the Wattp, although I think the pickup and neck are the same (profile). Maybe Chris from Rev could answer you questions on how they compare.
I'm not sure how they compare as I've never had the chance to try the Wattp, although I think the pickup and neck are the same (profile). Maybe Chris from Rev could answer you questions on how they compare.
sPiKi, As you said, Tone is kind of hard to describe in words. I'll probably just wait to let my ears make the decision. My Watt weighs in at 6.5 lbs. (one of my favorite things about it). The Sentinel is listed at 7.5 lbs. at Wildwood. USA. I also expect the balance point to be a little different cause the upper horn and strap button extends forward more than the Watt. (I relocated the strap button on my Watt from the center back to the upper horn). I know these details may sound picky, but I like to be comfortable and happy when I play. Stay safe and use the CV lockdown for practicing! Life is but a dream shh boom!
I’ve a watt a couple of times and a couple of sentinels and for all their similarities I much prefer the sentinel for some reason.
- Dec 16, 2002
- 1,012
- 300
- 57
- Disclosures
- Warehouse Manager : Reverend Guitars
Since he asked....
I can't get used to the Wattplower. It just feels like a toy in my hands. The sentinel feels...closer to how I think a bass should feel! lol I've only been playing since 83...old dog, new tricks kind of thing. The sentinel was actually, kind of, the first version of the new Watt bass. Joe was trying to convince Mike to go with that 3 way switch idea, but Mike was insisting on the 3 pickup thing.
If anyone knows (or is willing to measure), what's the string spacing at the bridge? I'm guessing 19mm? I know the wattplower is narrower which is my preference generally, but if the sentinel is similar I would definitely be interested.
I’d like to play the new watt but I can’t help thinking that’s there’s sounds that just aren’t being taken advantage. Neck and middle pickups coexisting! Mass hysteria!Since he asked....
Okay, I pulled the trigger. Here’s a pic.
My curiosity and GAS syndrome got the best of me. Now I can truly “hands on” compare My Reverend Wattplower to the new Reverend Sentinel.
My Watt weighs in at 6.4 lbs. The Sentinel 7.3 lbs. The Watt is super comfortable to wear but there is a trade-off with the weight difference. The Sentinel sustains almost twice as long as the Watt. I attribute this to the difference in body mass but also string choice. The Watt is fitted with La Bella flats, the Sentinel S.I.T. round wounds. Both are strung through the body.
The necks are close, if not exactly the same on both guitars, a little beefier than several other short scales I’ve played. I like this feature a lot. Feels solid in my hands. Nut width is the same. String spacing at the bridge is about 5/8” or 16mm for the Watt. The Sentinel has 3/4” or 19 mm string spacing.
The two sport the same single “Reverend p-blade” pickup. The Sentinel has the addition of the three way switch that adds more tonal possibilities to the mix.
The two guitars are strangely quite similar yet very different. I wouldn’t say one is better than the other. I would say that sonically I think all musical styles are covered with the two. The growl and sparkle of the round-wounds, the smooth thump of the flats, the difference in electronics and the difference in body mass all contribute to musical versatility. I’m happy to have both in my arsenal.
My curiosity and GAS syndrome got the best of me. Now I can truly “hands on” compare My Reverend Wattplower to the new Reverend Sentinel.
My Watt weighs in at 6.4 lbs. The Sentinel 7.3 lbs. The Watt is super comfortable to wear but there is a trade-off with the weight difference. The Sentinel sustains almost twice as long as the Watt. I attribute this to the difference in body mass but also string choice. The Watt is fitted with La Bella flats, the Sentinel S.I.T. round wounds. Both are strung through the body.
The necks are close, if not exactly the same on both guitars, a little beefier than several other short scales I’ve played. I like this feature a lot. Feels solid in my hands. Nut width is the same. String spacing at the bridge is about 5/8” or 16mm for the Watt. The Sentinel has 3/4” or 19 mm string spacing.
The two sport the same single “Reverend p-blade” pickup. The Sentinel has the addition of the three way switch that adds more tonal possibilities to the mix.
The two guitars are strangely quite similar yet very different. I wouldn’t say one is better than the other. I would say that sonically I think all musical styles are covered with the two. The growl and sparkle of the round-wounds, the smooth thump of the flats, the difference in electronics and the difference in body mass all contribute to musical versatility. I’m happy to have both in my arsenal.
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That's great Terry, glad you're happy with it. Lovely bass and hope you get many hours of enjoyment out of it. Mine hasn't hit it's case since I got it. I love it!
This was similar my experience too. Obviously the watt and sentinel are very similar but they feel different. I liked but have never loved a watt. The sentinels however have been way more up my alley.
