RKM Bass thread

[AngelCrusher]

I had been looking at stingray specials and nothing totally grabbed me, but I really wanted a Ray to join my j and p.

I know Gwiz is playing their double P and that bass is sick. And apparently Scott Devine just got one too. So I was on their site and saw they made a music man style but it has more of a p bass body like that Fender flea that came out, I have one coming with EMG MMC pickup. They say it's a warmer version of a ray, so sign me up. The necks look awesome,, really nice shape on the back heel. Looks very easy to rip up and down on.

Anyway this seems like a quickly growing brand that is making some creative basses. Their double reverse P may be the one that puts them on the map.

Anyone playing these? I'll post my thoughts once I get it in my hand. For now, here are some videos. Their channel has a lot of good ones.

 

[teopatl]

Been watching Reverb for a Gwiz signature. No dice yet but there is a MM 5er if you haven't already pulled the trigger

 

[AngelCrusher]

Been watching Reverb for a Gwiz signature. No dice yet but there is a MM 5er if you haven't already pulled the trigger

If you reach out to RKM they currently have a double P that looks just like the Gwiz one and probably is the same model. Same color, just a little different relic on it.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

RKM looks really cool. What are their prices like?

 

[SeaDunk]

That Double P on SBL video sounds killer! neck pickup looks more forward to the neck. The Sadowsky pre really suits it from what I can hear!

 

[sears]

I love their looks

 

[AngelCrusher]

RKM looks really cool. What are their prices like?

Used ones are looking like 2k+. They quoted me $4100 in the builtJanek Gwiz model they have in the shop.

I'm thinking if these catch on like other small brands the used price will climb closer to 3k at some point. I can speak to quality once I get mine.

I suspect the double p is going to keep climbing since they seem to have put their stamp on that design.

 

[Fender_Bender]

That Double P on SBL video sounds killer! neck pickup looks more forward to the neck. The Sadowsky pre really suits it from what I can hear!

Looks to be about an inch further forward.

 

[AngelCrusher]

Received my RKM, pics to come. Wanted to give you all some impressions.

Build quality is on par or better than a Sadowsky NYC. The neck is super strength and very, very fast. I think where it beats the Sadowsky is the knobs are far better. The plastic knobs on the Sadowsky got loose on me a lot, these are very smooth and solid metal with very defined detents. Sadowsky has a very cool compact design, where the bass neck feels shorter, and the chambered bodies make it lighter than the RKM. The RKM is a little under 9 pounds.

The neck has no markers, but has luminlay on the side. It's an awesome system, and comes with a small keychain LED light which activates the dots if you are in a very dark environment. I tested it in pitch black settings and could play the bass with 100% comfort, was sliding up and around and never missed a note. Super cool. Don't even need to activate the dots to see clearly in most situations, but its a cool option.

The neck itself is figured maple and the fingerboard looks great. Frets are perfectly rolled, high attention to detail. Its a very fast neck, very easy access to all 22 frets, the neck heel on the back has contours so your hand has nothing impeding it. I have the neck set for the lowest relief because I have thinner strings and it still feels super straight. Warp speed neck, makes sense why Gwizdala likes it. Super easy to play chords, etc.

Bridge is a bad ass bridge and feels incredibly solid. Bad ass tuners as well, super smooth, very accurate.

Mine is a Fender P style body but is a Stingray build. The pickup is the EMG stingray pickup. I have never used EMG before but I have owned Rays before in the past, and this pickup nails the sound. The difference is RKM placed the pickup a little closer to the neck, and it warms up the sound a bit, while retaining the punchiness. The controls are treble and bass (boost cut), but the interesting thing here is that there is a tone knob as well. Having a tone knob on a stingray is quite cool. Different sound than just cutting the treble.

This is a modern bass but it sounds like a classic Ray. It's hi-fi but in that old school Stingray way, not like a coffee table compressed sound. All their basses are active (i think), but the P's Js and Rays retain their classic sound which I really love. I am thinking about getting a custom build one day. Very impressed.

Any questions, feel free to ask.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Received my RKM, pics to come. Wanted to give you all some impressions.

Build quality is on par or better than a Sadowsky NYC. The neck is super strength and very, very fast. I think where it beats the Sadowsky is the knobs are far better. The plastic knobs on the Sadowsky got loose on me a lot, these are very smooth and solid metal with very defined detents. Sadowsky has a very cool compact design, where the bass neck feels shorter, and the chambered bodies make it lighter than the RKM. The RKM is a little under 9 pounds.

The neck has no markers, but has luminlay on the side. It's an awesome system, and comes with a small keychain LED light which activates the dots if you are in a very dark environment. I tested it in pitch black settings and could play the bass with 100% comfort, was sliding up and around and never missed a note. Super cool. Don't even need to activate the dots to see clearly in most situations, but its a cool option.

The neck itself is figured maple and the fingerboard looks great. Frets are perfectly rolled, high attention to detail. Its a very fast neck, very easy access to all 22 frets, the neck heel on the back has contours so your hand has nothing impeding it. I have the neck set for the lowest relief because I have thinner strings and it still feels super straight. Warp speed neck, makes sense why Gwizdala likes it. Super easy to play chords, etc.

Bridge is a bad ass bridge and feels incredibly solid. Bad ass tuners as well, super smooth, very accurate.

Mine is a Fender P style body but is a Stingray build. The pickup is the EMG stingray pickup. I have never used EMG before but I have owned Rays before in the past, and this pickup nails the sound. The difference is RKM placed the pickup a little closer to the neck, and it warms up the sound a bit, while retaining the punchiness. The controls are treble and bass (boost cut), but the interesting thing here is that there is a tone knob as well. Having a tone knob on a stingray is quite cool. Different sound than just cutting the treble.

This is a modern bass but it sounds like a classic Ray. It's hi-fi but in that old school Stingray way, not like a coffee table compressed sound. All their basses are active (i think), but the P's Js and Rays retain their classic sound which I really love. I am thinking about getting a custom build one day. Very impressed.

Any questions, feel free to ask.

I believe Sadowsky knobs are aluminum. Not trying to argue Sadowsky vs RKM or anything, but for five years from now when someone reads this.

 

[AngelCrusher]

I believe Sadowsky knobs are aluminum. Not trying to argue Sadowsky vs RKM or anything, but for five years from now when someone reads this.

They may be. Felt plasticy but regardless mine spun a lot and RKM has the best ones I have used on any bass. That's what I wanted to illustrate. I hold sadowsky high as a quality builder.

 

[SlackerJ_87]

RKM looks really cool. What are their prices like?

2500 to 5000 depending on what you're looking for. I'm about to put a deposit down on one tbh.

 

[nonohmic]

Received my RKM, pics to come. Wanted to give you all some impressions.

Build quality is on par or better than a Sadowsky NYC. The neck is super strength and very, very fast. I think where it beats the Sadowsky is the knobs are far better. The plastic knobs on the Sadowsky got loose on me a lot, these are very smooth and solid metal with very defined detents. Sadowsky has a very cool compact design, where the bass neck feels shorter, and the chambered bodies make it lighter than the RKM. The RKM is a little under 9 pounds.

The neck has no markers, but has luminlay on the side. It's an awesome system, and comes with a small keychain LED light which activates the dots if you are in a very dark environment. I tested it in pitch black settings and could play the bass with 100% comfort, was sliding up and around and never missed a note. Super cool. Don't even need to activate the dots to see clearly in most situations, but its a cool option.

The neck itself is figured maple and the fingerboard looks great. Frets are perfectly rolled, high attention to detail. Its a very fast neck, very easy access to all 22 frets, the neck heel on the back has contours so your hand has nothing impeding it. I have the neck set for the lowest relief because I have thinner strings and it still feels super straight. Warp speed neck, makes sense why Gwizdala likes it. Super easy to play chords, etc.

Bridge is a bad ass bridge and feels incredibly solid. Bad ass tuners as well, super smooth, very accurate.

Mine is a Fender P style body but is a Stingray build. The pickup is the EMG stingray pickup. I have never used EMG before but I have owned Rays before in the past, and this pickup nails the sound. The difference is RKM placed the pickup a little closer to the neck, and it warms up the sound a bit, while retaining the punchiness. The controls are treble and bass (boost cut), but the interesting thing here is that there is a tone knob as well. Having a tone knob on a stingray is quite cool. Different sound than just cutting the treble.

This is a modern bass but it sounds like a classic Ray. It's hi-fi but in that old school Stingray way, not like a coffee table compressed sound. All their basses are active (i think), but the P's Js and Rays retain their classic sound which I really love. I am thinking about getting a custom build one day. Very impressed.

Any questions, feel free to ask.

Yeah I have a question. Why would you write all that and not post a picture?

 

[SlackerJ_87]

That Double P on SBL video sounds killer! neck pickup looks more forward to the neck. The Sadowsky pre really suits it from what I can hear!

If they were smart imo they'd mass produce that double P in like three core colorways. There are hundreds of bassists drooling over it. If they could produce it at 3500. Not having dealers in the US is holding them back too. Doing much better thanks to Janek at least on the word of mouth front. Great basses. Gonna go to NAMM this year hoping to snag one.

 

[AngelCrusher]

If they were smart imo they'd mass produce that double P in like three core colorways. There are hundreds of bassists drooling over it. If they could produce it at 3500. Not having dealers in the US is holding them back too. Doing much better thanks to Janek at least on the word of mouth front. Great basses. Gonna go to NAMM this year hoping to snag one.

They are starting to get US dealers. I think they have 2-3 already. Smaller ones, not chains. Which I like.

 

[markbmbass]

These are awesome basses. Does anyone know the string spacing at the bridge by chance?

 

[AngelCrusher]

These are awesome basses. Does anyone know the string spacing at the bridge by chance?

Good question, I think mine is 19mm. It is a 4 string with 1 1/2 nut width.

 

[n30g30]

I have the janek version and I love it. I'm seriously thinking of asking them to make me the same bass with an harder wood fretboard and make it fretless

I will say, my one issue (which I didn't realize I would be bugged by) is the placement of the jack

 

[AngelCrusher]

We are now building a DS model of the double P on 4 and 5 strings. These basses sell for 2900/3000USD and they feel and sound really cool!

I will try to post some photos of this basses!!

Yes please. That sounds awesome.

 

[crustychef]

So I was perusing the good old Reverb site for 1976 Japanese Jazz bass of sorts as an upcoming 50th birthday present for myself and I somehow came across this lovely unicorn.
RKM Janek Gwizdala Double reverse P 5 string from the first run.

I did what any responsible adult who stumbled upon a shiny object 3 times the budget I was originally shopping for. I charged that sucker on my Affirm account!

Happy very early birthday to me

I put some new nickel DR Low Beams on it, adjusted the neck and gave it a set up to my liking. If I go from my 35 inch to the 33 inch it takes a minute for me to adjust but I'm sure it will become second nature after a few months.

Holy hell this thing is wonderful. The variety of tones it produces is staggering.

I'm not going to lie. I miss the B string but it's also kind of nice not having it I'm forced to think and play a little differently.

That being said I already hit up RKM custom shop and got a quote for 6 string single cut 33" with trickfish IPA preamp and two Nordstrom's Big Singles. I'm half tempted to go with EMG P6 pickups and just have a fancy monster reverse double P. I'll be placing that order as soon as I sell my Streamer 6 string.