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Rogue Viola (VB100) Bass Club

#21
I got mine for $100 used on CL. Not a scratch on it, came with a hard case and LaBella strings. Was looking at the Epiphone too that was at GC but I like the VB100 better in terms of feel and looks. It looks more like a Hofner than the Epi.
Great quality, and from what I understand, a number of the viola basses, including the Epi and Rogue models are actually made in the same factory.
Excellent bass to keep nearby and just jam- very comfortable to play on and complements the other basses I have in my collection.
 

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#22
Got mine used too. Same condition - like brand new, and about half what a new one listed for (which wasn't bad either, but who's gonna turn down a good deal?). Had to put the Labellas on myself, but that wasn't a problem.

Still the best bargain in a musical instrument I've ever found. It's literally paid for itself many times over. And, as you said, I prefer the look of the flamed top (veneer or "photo-flame" not withstanding).

Epi's were made by Saein in Korea, Rogues by Sungbo. Epi's are now made directly by Epiphone in their Chinese facility. I don't know who is making the Rogues these days.

Max, number 7's yours if you want it.
 
#25
Glad to hear it. Really dialing in the action & intonation is kind of "fiddly" on these basses...but well worth the effort if they need it.

After I replaced the fret-wire bridge saddles, I discovered that I can get a whammy bar effect by lightly pushing on the top of the tailpiece. I'm using the LaBella flats though...I think trying it with roundwounds would kinda be like taking a hacksaw to the bridge.

BTW, can't tell from the photo...is the case form fitted to the bass (like the Epiphone case I've got), or just open space?
 
#26
Flyingfrets said:
Glad to hear it. Really dialing in the action & intonation is kind of "fiddly" on these basses...but well worth the effort if they need it.

After I replaced the fret-wire bridge saddles, I discovered that I can get a whammy bar effect by lightly pushing on the top of the tailpiece. I'm using the LaBella flats though...I think trying it with roundwounds would kinda be like taking a hacksaw to the bridge.

BTW, can't tell from the photo...is the case form fitted to the bass (like the Epiphone case I've got), or just open space?
Click to expand...

I have mine strung with roundwounds, I see the wear on the bridge already.
 
#27
Thank you for starting the thread!
I've had a VB100 for about 13 or 14 years.
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I had two Hofner 500/1 basses in the late 60's and early 70's. Couldn't afford to replace them now. I got the Rogue and used it a long time, still have it. In early 2012, I bought a new Hofner Ignition Club bass, and like it a lot.
All this time have been watching the Rogues.
In my early one, and all the other copies, they had solid black sides. Looking inside, you'll find that they are cut from a block of plywood with about 3/16" top and back veneer plywood. The sides are 5/8 to 3/4 inch thick hence the black finish. Watching the pics in MF, a few years ago, I noticed that the sides were now sunburst curly maple as the top and back were. So, I pulled the trigger on one.
Much to my surprise, on removal of the switch plate, the sides, back and top are all made of the same 3/16" ply. Looking further, it had kerfing all around the corners, like an acoustic guitar. This one is fully hollow, excepting the 3/4" by 1" tone block under the bridge. This an incredible value. I use it interchangeably with my Hofner Club. The colors are much closer to the German version as well.
 
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#29
Sure! Number 8 is all yours!

The pic posted above is the older one, correct?

I'm curious to see the newer one. Can't tell how accurate the colors on the MF site are, but didn't care for what I've seen so far.

Is the body shape slightly different as well?
 
#30
That is indeed the older one. The colors on the newer one are really good. That's one of the things I wondered about looking at them on line. They look very yellow online. Not so the brown sunburst is beautiful. The front and back are much more pronounced in their 'bulging' if you will, like an acoustic instrument should be.
I'm glad you pointed out the pearl tuner knobs at SM. I didn't know they were available. Do they stick out too far and still look funny because of that?
The body shape, as far as I can tell is just right.
 
#33
rfslick said:
...
I'm glad you pointed out the pearl tuner knobs at SM. I didn't know they were available. Do they stick out too far and still look funny because of that?
The body shape, as far as I can tell is just right.
Click to expand...

Quick question on the tuners, glad you brought it up because I just noticed the tuners on mine are different from what I see on other stock Rogues. (at least the ones I've seen so far). It has the smaller plastic ones on it, it also doesn't look like it was a modification (at least to the naked eye- I don't see errant screw holes or anything). Did they make a batch with these tuners installed or is it definitely something that was added on later? I have the older model with the black sides.
 
#34
The original keys (at least on the Korean ones) are exactly as seen in the picture rfslick posted.

If you want to use the pearl keys from Stew Mac, here's my experience with them...

They are molded plastic. The set I got was slightly "offset." I had to file & sand them to shape, then polish them till I was satisfied with the appearance.

Removing the set screw along the edge of the keys and putting the new ones on is very easy, but when you replace the set screws, you will need to re-tune, even if you didn't actually turn the key while replacing them. That's normal.

Takes a little work, but looks really sharp and helps with neck dive since the pearls weigh a lot less. If it's done properly, it shouldn't look like they were replaced. No, they don't stick out at all. They look like they belong there.

Max, I doubt yours are original equipment. But it saved you the trouble of installing them :D.

I'd still like to see some more pics of the Series II. Some images I've seen look like the waist cut outs are deeper (more like the Hofner) than the Series I.
 
#35
gip111 said:
Rfslick....
Have you noticed a difference in sound from the older heavier version to the newer VB100?
Here's a pic of mine, it's a Series II.
Click to expand...

I haven't played one of the Series II (yet), but mine does the vintage "thump" no problem, but it actually sustains really well, particularly when it's strung with rounds.
 
#36
Flyingfrets said:
Max, I doubt yours are original equipment. But it saved you the trouble of installing them :D.
Click to expand...

These are the tuners on my Rogue. I don't know what brand they are to be honest with you. Are these from Stew Mac or something else altogether as I don't see an identifying manufacturer's name. I thought all this time it was the stock set. The original owner did admit he was a big Beatles fan after all but couldn't afford a Hofner so perhaps he absolutely had to have the tuners look somewhat like the Hofner's. Works well for me, and glad I didn't have to replace them myself.

Apologies for the blanket in the background. It's our dog's blanket as it's awfully cold right now. lol
 

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#37
Max, Those are some kind of replacement buttons. The originals look like the pics already posted. These tuners, now sold by SM as Gotohs, are copies of German keys made by Shaller, in Germany. I have two sets of them that I bought in about '72.
The original keys used By Hofner in Germany, are three different types. One is an open gear, one is two on a strip open gear, and one is a key that has a cover over the gear.
The Ignitions now use an open gear type tuner, which I didn't like very well and replaced them with Grover Statite tuners. Still an open gear tuner, but much better than the Asian ones used on the Ignitions.
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#38
The bummer with the VB100, is that the shaft hole in the headstock for these Shaller type keys, is about 5/8 inch, and all the open gear guitar type tuners like what Hofner uses are 1/4 to 3/8 inch.
The good news, is that the tuners on the Rogues is probably better than the ones that the Asian Hofners use.
 
#39
Gip111,
You asked about the sound between the two.
Electrically, they sound very similar, but, the later one is completely hollow and as such has a little of that affecting the overall tone. The pickups on the older one are a little thicker. I didn't measure them with a meter though.
 
#40
Thanks for the info about the tuners. Love the open gear ones in your pic rfslick-
So the caps are probably replaced on mine which I'm fine with (or even the original stock ones), as long as they work as they're supposed to, but I have to say open gears look so much better.
 

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