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Rogue Viola (VB100) Bass Club

#41
I wish we could use those tuners on the Rogues. The Grovers are real nice. That headstock I showed is the back of my Hofner Ignition Club bass, and the original holes are much smaller. Those Grovers look almost identical to the originals, except they are much better machines.
When I first posted those pictures, I got a lot of flack about them being guitar tuners. Guess what? What is it that you think Hofner has been using for 60 or 70 years? The only thing I changed to use them, was that I opened up the hole in the peg for the E string, and it's never been a problem.

The Rogues start with such large holes, I think that finding a bushing that size would be hard, and would look funny. If we can change the buttons, we'll most likely be doing all we can.
 
#42
Here is the year old VB100. The colors are great, but, never come through very well when posted.
NewVB100_zps28afb7f9.jpg
 
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#44
Interesting thread, didn't expect to see these basses covered as well.
My main basses are Hofner, 61 Cavern, 62 & 63 500/1.
5ad1.jpg

I use the Hofners on all Beatles songs we do, for the rest of the British Invasion Groups I play Rogue's and an Epiphone Viola.
The Rogues.
Roguebasses-1_zps51e64cf8.jpg

Rogue #1 has Hofner parts, complete control panel, pick guard, tailpiece, bridge, upper & lower strap button's, necknut, truss rod cover, open back tuners, head logo.
Roguebasses-2_zps4d9f9285.jpg

Roguebasses-3_zps4f46a87c.jpg

Rogue #2 also has Hofner parts, tailpiece, Tea Cup Knobs, closed back tuners.
Roguebasses-4_zpsb6906b34.jpg

Roguebasses-5_zpsb386f7f1.jpg

On both basses I put on LaBella "Deep Talkin" flat wound strings.
Bass #1 has the large Rogue padded case, #2 has a Jay Turser violin bass case.
Heres also the Epiphone Viola with the Rogues. Only thing I did on it was add a pick guard and button tuners. Also uses the LaBella's.
Roguebasses-6_zps72d0cff6.jpg

Quite a many years back I bought out part of a Hofner Dealers stock. Decided to use some parts on the copy's as well. Now considering replacing the Rogues factory pups to staple ones.
 
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#46
HofnerBass,
Nice collection!
Your pics point out one more difference. The body color on the Rogues is quite yellow.
There's no yellow in Hofner's finish!
I see your Rogues with different bushings for smaller tuners. Is that a purchasable part? And are they available?
 
#47
rfslick said:
I'd be real interested in bushings to fit the Rogue. I still have two, and they would be beautiful with Grovers.
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With all the talk about tuners, I'm wondering since I work in a tool room/machine shop, I can easily make bushings to fit just about any size tuner, not sure how it would look and what size I need to make them to since I don't have another set to go by.
I'd have to take out one of the tuners and see whats there.
 
#49
rfslick said:
I have 2 extra Grover tuners, as I bought a set of 6 when I converted my Club bass. I can measure the shaft and bushing size for you.
Click to expand...

Do you mean two sets or two tuners?

Ok, Are the bushings a press or loose fit in the hole?
And I would think the shaft fits a bit loose into the bushing?
And are the bushings flared or will they go right through the hole?

If there is a way you can sketch and or send me a pic of the bushing you need and give me accurate dimensions I can make you four and mail them to you to see how that works.

For materials I can use stainless steel or something lighter like aluminum or Vespel which is a form of a high tech very strong plastic like material.

Could be a nice project, let me know.
 
#50
I have two tuners left, because they come in a set of six. That doesn't bother me cause next time, I'll buy another set and have enough for two basses.
The bushings are press fit, if the holes are the right size. Given the size of the Rogue holes, they will have to have a pretty good sized flare, the trick being, that the flare be just bigger than the Rogue hole because they are so big already. We want to down play the size of the original hole.
I will make you a dimensioned sketch of the required part. I will remove a tuner from my old bass for hole dimension and mic the Grover tuner so we will have all the correct measurements.
We're not talking about a lot of weight, but, I think it would be best to use aluminum for strength and weight.
 
#51
I understand, the actual flare will be just a bit bigger than the size of the hole on the headstock since the inner hole is small you want to keep what looks like the flare as small as possible.
You're using guitar tuners?
 
#52
They're about the same thing Hofner has been using for decades. There's never been a beefy tuner on a Hofner.
Hopefully, the headstock hasn't been damaged too badly by the original tuners. There will be a circle compressed into the surface, but if we're careful about how we remove the existing bushing, it should come out ok. There's always Paktra Black enamel, or black Sharpies for touch up....
 
#54
HofnerBass,

Damn fine collection you've got there! I'd almost consider robbing a bank for that one!!:eek:

rfslick,

Thanks for the pictures of the newer VB100. Looks as though the shape has gotten closer to the Hofner, but whew, the color does nothing for me. Not a fan of 3-tome 'bursts at all. Wonder if they offer the new model with the older style burst? Have to look into it after the Holidays (HUGE family & I'd get shot if I bought ANYTHING for myself right now - "whaddya mean you just bought a bass? WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL SOMEBODY YOU WANTED THAT???") Not a bad thing, I just have to wait till the dust settles...
 
#55
Flyingfrets,
That new one is not 3 tone. The big problem is that the body is too yellow. They don't take pics well, color wise to start with. If you look at the Hofners above, there's no yellow at all, the bodies are a shade of brown that gets darker as you go to the edge. The yellow is just not the same.
The brown at the edge is much better than the older ones. It's just that damn yellow!
 
#56
Thought I post a picture of my newly acquired Rogue. Musician's Friend had it on my door 3 days after ordering, the packing leaves a lot to be desired but it arrived alive.
On the picture I have the new one on the left next to the older Series II, not sure how old, I'm thinking 2-3 years old? Some differences, new one is lighter by one whole pound coming in at 5.5 lbs ,body is narrower by an inch and slightly deeper by almost 1/4" and the neck is narrower and thinner measuring one and a half inches at the nut. Looking inside looks exactly as rfslick mentioned, kerfing all around the sides much thinner, top and back same 3/16" plywood. Haven't changed the strings yet so I can't gauge the sound when compared to the older one but it does sound a bit more tubby acoustic like as is, hard to tell with the factory strings. After looking at a Hofner HI BB series today, I'm not sorry I got this newer Rogue.
I didn't know there were so many variants of the Rogues.
 

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#57
gip111 said:
Thought I post a picture of my newly acquired Rogue. Musician's Friend had it on my door 3 days after ordering, the packing leaves a lot to be desired but it arrived alive.
On the picture I have the new one on the left next to the older Series II, not sure how old, I'm thinking 2-3 years old? Some differences, new one is lighter by one whole pound coming in at 5.5 lbs ,body is narrower by an inch and slightly deeper by almost 1/4" and the neck is narrower and thinner measuring one and a half inches at the nut. Looking inside looks exactly as rfslick mentioned, kerfing all around the sides much thinner, top and back same 3/16" plywood. Haven't changed the strings yet so I can't gauge the sound when compared to the older one but it does sound a bit more tubby acoustic like as is, hard to tell with the factory strings. After looking at a Hofner HI BB series today, I'm not sorry I got this newer Rogue.
I didn't know there were so many variants of the Rogues.
Click to expand...

The 'burst on this one is more my taste. I'll be looking into one of these to drop the AllParts staple pickups in, probably late winter. My back will be sending a "thank you" to Musicians' Friend for the lower weight too! :D
 
#58
Just picked up one of these at a pawn shop - looks like new but missing pickguard, but has LaBella Deep Talkin' strings and pearl tuner buttons. How do I know what version it is? The rhythm solo switch is a bit sloppy and noisy but I think I can replace that if contact cleaner does not work. Anyone have info on how they set theirs up in terms of relief, action and pickup height?

Thanks!
 

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#59
Nice bass. I've had one for about 12 years. It's hard to say how old it is as they were the same till about 3 years ago. That one is made the same as the Epi, Jay Turser and several others. The newer one from Musicians Friend is fully hollow. The top, back and sides are all about 3/16 thick. The top and back of yours is about 1/4 and the sides are more like 3/4. The ones like yours are solid black on the sides because that's easier than finishing the edge of the plywood. They sound fine, the newer ones are more hollow and about a pound lighter.
 
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