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Rogue Viola (VB100) Bass Club
- Thread starter Flyingfrets
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In '66, I bought a brand new Hofner 500/1, $435. In '71, I bought a used one $150. I picked up a '65 Jazz bass. Played though the '70s and not much in the '80s. Then I played quite a lot from the '90s on. Hofners were about $2000 and out of the question. I didn't play enough to justify the expense. In the late '90s I picked up a VB100 and liked it well, then finally in the late 2000s the Icon and Ignition came out...ok. But I looked at them very carefully as I could'nt afford much with family and all. During this I noticed a change in the MF catalog. The early models had solid black sides. After the change, the picture they showed was curly maple, top, back and sides. I still watched, then they had a class 3 or what ever they called them, damaged, sold as used, etc. They said it had scratches from playing it, a broken neck and damaged finish. $90. I couldn't help myself! I ordered it. When it arived, two of the tuners were twisted side ways, the screws were sheared off...This bass aparently fell over in the warehouse...The description they gave was to justify their written description condeming the bass. It had no scratches, no cracks, no damage to the finish. Just the two screws which took about 5 minutes to repair.
All that said, I removed the control panel to see the construction. This bass was built totally hollow with kerfing around the edges just like a quality acoustic. Looking at a Hofner Ignition, they are totally hollow with only glued seams around the body. For my money, the Rogue is much stronger. Both basses have a square support peg under the bridge. Otherwise, to me, the VB100 is a far better instrument.
Blastfimer that I am, I installed a German bridge and Tea Cup knobs...
All that said, I removed the control panel to see the construction. This bass was built totally hollow with kerfing around the edges just like a quality acoustic. Looking at a Hofner Ignition, they are totally hollow with only glued seams around the body. For my money, the Rogue is much stronger. Both basses have a square support peg under the bridge. Otherwise, to me, the VB100 is a far better instrument.
Blastfimer that I am, I installed a German bridge and Tea Cup knobs...
I have one of the early (Korean) ones. The sides are indeed black; that's because they're made much like a Danelectro is. The body is a hollow plywood frame, with (in my case) a very nice bookmatched maple top and back. And, yes, the newer, Chinese VB 100s are made in the traditional hollow body manner. I also have a Starfire violin bass from the same factory that makes the Chinese Rogues; it's about a pound lighter than my Korean one (5.4 vs. 6.25), but the Korean one seems to have a little less neck dive because of the heavier body. My Rogue has Roto 88 tapes on it at the moment - sounds just like I want it to. The Starfire has - believe it or not - DR Sunbeams. An interesting, and surprisingly good sound, too... I'm glad you got your VB 100 squared away, and around here? That's not blasphemy; that's just pretty standard modification...
Also for the VB100, there is at Stewart Mackdonald, White Pearl replacement tuner knobs if you so desire. I play everything on any of my basses, and so, use round wound strings on all basses contrary to most other violin bass players.
Rogue vb100 now on sale at guitar center (save25 code) at $172.49. I jumped on one so count me in the club too.
Just in case anyone is wondering the rouge vb100 is pretty well built and a nice bass after some new strings. I put on the labelle beetle bass flat wound 50/100. Well worth the money.
I have 2 Hofner Ignitions and the VB100 is built as nice as they are and with La bella flats the Rogue sunds just as sweet as the Hofners !! I play it almost every day !
I never even looked at the rouge brand for a v bass. I keeped seeing it on talk bass reviews. Looks like they were right. Lots of fun for little bucks.
Beside playing and sounding great, I have an ignition and a VB100. They are both made well, but the VB100 has kerfing all around the inside seams, which makes it about twice as strong.
I started to build a few things to modify my VB100... I'll start by making a wooden pickguard and control panel cover //// i will stain them dark walnut ... Still have a way to go ...
Link Removed
Link Removed
Rouge vb100 on sale now at guitar center $150
JUMP ON IT NOW !!!
JUMP ON IT NOW !!!
I picked up a new one as well but, perhaps for a very different reason.
Pic below but here is the back story:
Is Nostalgia a good reason to buy a bass?
Pic below but here is the back story:
Is Nostalgia a good reason to buy a bass?
Attachments
Yes, well built bass. You have to take care of a few sharp edges and stock strings are not good.
True on the strings ... replaced them first thing .... and added tea-cups ... did the same on my Hofner Ignitions too... love the sound on all my Beatle basses ....
A belated thanks to you @Bass Man Stan, your post saved me an additional $30 on my recent purchase!
Got mine from the local Guitar Center almost a week ago. When I first saw it I thought that it was a used bass at the $150 price. I didn't even pick it up, since I went in shopping for a MicroKorg synth with a gift certificate in hand. I didn't buy a synth and went home from GC.
The bass was stuck in my mind, since my first instrument approaching any kind of quality was an old Japanese unbranded violin bass.
Last week I went in and sat down and plugged it into the Ampeg BA-210 they had on display. Immediately realized that the VB100 was light years ahead of my first bass. Also realized that the bass was brand new on sale, not used... Just for the heck of it, I tuned the bass down to low B, since I usually play a 5. It actually did a passable job, but was pretty clanky sounding. After it (kinda) passed that test, the next step was to take it up to the counter to give the woman my money because I knew that the bass was going home with me.
I did a (very) little set up work, mainly intonation and truss rod adjustments. The neck was a little too flat, buzzing on the A and D strings on the first and second fret. I slid the bridge back a bit to get the best average intonation for all the strings. I have not yet moved any of the bridges fret wire for more approximately precise intonation.
I played it at church yesterday through my Zoom MS 60B pedal into the PA. Fit into the mix perfectly with the drums, acoustic guitar, keys and three vocalists. Still getting used to only four strings, so a couple of times I initially grabbed a note on the A string instead of the E, but was able to correct nearly immediately.
All in all, I really like this bass. I have a set of my go-to strings, Dunlop Super Bright Nickel 45 to 105 coming in the mail for it. After those, I'll experiment with some flats for it.
Do you think I'll have any problems getting the heavier than stock strings to fit the tailpiece?
The bass was stuck in my mind, since my first instrument approaching any kind of quality was an old Japanese unbranded violin bass.
Last week I went in and sat down and plugged it into the Ampeg BA-210 they had on display. Immediately realized that the VB100 was light years ahead of my first bass. Also realized that the bass was brand new on sale, not used... Just for the heck of it, I tuned the bass down to low B, since I usually play a 5. It actually did a passable job, but was pretty clanky sounding. After it (kinda) passed that test, the next step was to take it up to the counter to give the woman my money because I knew that the bass was going home with me.
I did a (very) little set up work, mainly intonation and truss rod adjustments. The neck was a little too flat, buzzing on the A and D strings on the first and second fret. I slid the bridge back a bit to get the best average intonation for all the strings. I have not yet moved any of the bridges fret wire for more approximately precise intonation.
I played it at church yesterday through my Zoom MS 60B pedal into the PA. Fit into the mix perfectly with the drums, acoustic guitar, keys and three vocalists. Still getting used to only four strings, so a couple of times I initially grabbed a note on the A string instead of the E, but was able to correct nearly immediately.
All in all, I really like this bass. I have a set of my go-to strings, Dunlop Super Bright Nickel 45 to 105 coming in the mail for it. After those, I'll experiment with some flats for it.
Do you think I'll have any problems getting the heavier than stock strings to fit the tailpiece?
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I have my bridge lowered all the way and labella beatle bass flats. I'm a novice bass player and this set up makes very little finger noise or fret clank etc. The pick-ups are very responsive to pick playing. I practice on a large amp and when I think I've got it down pretty good I plug into a really large amp to hear what it really sounds like. Sometimes this little bass makes even me sound good. Try the isolated bass and tabs for the Beatles Something, very moving piece for the violin bass.
So speaking of Beatles bass, I just tried some string stuff someone gave me called Dunlop 65 string cleaner and conditioner. Wow it sure makes sliding super slick on these flats.
