Folks, that is an incredible value! Don't think about it, do it. If I'm wrong, you have 30 days to send it back.
I like mine a lot!
I like mine a lot!
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Rogue Viola (VB100) Bass Club
- Thread starter Flyingfrets
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Hope the picture loads; Here is my VB100. Got it from Jerry's Lefty Guitars several years ago. It's a Korean one, and plays and sounds just fine; and the wood is beautiful. I was going to replace it with a Hofner eventually, but can't persuade myself that, for the price, a Hofner sounds 20 times better.
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Hope the picture loads; Here is my VB100. Got it from Jerry's Lefty Guitars several years ago. It's a Korean one, and plays and sounds just fine; and the wood is beautiful. I was going to replace it with a Hofner eventually, but can't persuade myself that, for the price, a Hofner sounds 20 times better.
Nothing wrong with that bass, they sound great. The newer model is fully hollow, and the body shape is closer to the Hofner. The pickups on yours are a little thicker that the new, 3/4 vs 1/2. The colors on the new are really nicely done, in the catalog and on line they look very yellow and are deceiving. The wood in the early one is 1/4 top and back, and about 3/4 on the sides, hence the black finish. On the newer one the wood is 3/16 top back and sides. Looking inside, you see kerfing around all the seams like an acoustic guitar. These are a super buy if you want a violin bass.
This thread prompted me to join TB & post a reply even though I don't qualify to join the 'Rogue Club'. I don't think they are sold here in the UK.
Hofner, Tanglewood, & Vintage seem to be the most commonly available & of course the Epiphone Viola which is the model I have.
I briefly owned a Tokai but was disapointed with the quality which surprised me when compared with my medium-scale EB3 which is excellent.
The Epiphone I find is good value for money, excellent finish & to my ear a nice range of warm tone. Set up with flatwounds it has an "easy feel" to play.
I get on better with the VVT controls rather than the Hofner style & the lack of a scratchplate allows me to see more of that beautiful high-gloss wood.
So, next time I'm over in CT to visit my 3 grandchildren I'll call in at a dealer & try out a 'Rogue' & see how it compares.
Hofner, Tanglewood, & Vintage seem to be the most commonly available & of course the Epiphone Viola which is the model I have.
I briefly owned a Tokai but was disapointed with the quality which surprised me when compared with my medium-scale EB3 which is excellent.
The Epiphone I find is good value for money, excellent finish & to my ear a nice range of warm tone. Set up with flatwounds it has an "easy feel" to play.
I get on better with the VVT controls rather than the Hofner style & the lack of a scratchplate allows me to see more of that beautiful high-gloss wood.
So, next time I'm over in CT to visit my 3 grandchildren I'll call in at a dealer & try out a 'Rogue' & see how it compares.
I just ordered one from MF. Now I need to sell a couple - I'm not even a real bass player. I play sax but am a bass lover.
The only place you can get the Rogue new is Musicians Friend on line. They have a 30 day return policy and probably ship to UK. Give them a call or go online. They are on sail right now for $169.
That block is normal and necessary. it is the sound block, it supports the bridge and also helps to transmit the sound vibrations to the body. My Hofner Ignition Club has the same block. Also notice that while the early models top and back were about 1/4 in thick, on this, the top, back and sides are about 3/16, which accounts for the 1 pound difference. They sound much more acoustic now.
I think they did an amazing job on this one!
I think they did an amazing job on this one!
I always thought the block under the bridge was a cheaper way to give more support.
To correct my previous post, I didn't get one yet, I ordered one today.
At that price you can't go wrong and their return policy is as they mention, 30 days.
The refund took a couple of days since I used PayPal, once the bass arrived at their location, I was refunded fully.
To correct my previous post, I didn't get one yet, I ordered one today.
At that price you can't go wrong and their return policy is as they mention, 30 days.
The refund took a couple of days since I used PayPal, once the bass arrived at their location, I was refunded fully.
Very cool, I don't think you'll be sorry. This has been a great instrument. The only problem I've had, was just this week. The output jack is not strong enough. The center contact bent out and was too thin. Easy fix, I installed a Switchcraft jack. Now the plug snaps into place.
I seriously doubt you will. I've been dealing with them for about 15 years and they are a very stand up outfit.
They are getting more and more accurate, I'm surprised they haven't gone to open gear tuners. They probably have a thousand of these already made.
Any suggestions on a gig bag for the VB100? I see that there's a Rogue one at MF that seems to be pretty lightweight and there's one by World Tour that's a bit more $$$ that seems to be a bit more substantial.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Happy to find this thread.
I picked up a Rogue Viola bass last November in the hopes it would help inspire me to play again after many years away. It has! It has also fast become my favorite instrument to play.
I put LaBella flats on mine, sounds great. I had to replace the input jack as well when mine broke, the replacement switchcraft jack is far better. I'm going to replace the tuner knobs soon.
I generally don't like shiny stuff. One weekend I felt compelled to take 0000 steel wool to the entire bass to give it a vintage look and feel. While I would not recommend this to anyone else I think it looks fantastic. Others seem to think so as well.
I paid full price for mine. At $169 I am tempted to pick up another . . . .
May I have a number please?
I picked up a Rogue Viola bass last November in the hopes it would help inspire me to play again after many years away. It has! It has also fast become my favorite instrument to play.
I put LaBella flats on mine, sounds great. I had to replace the input jack as well when mine broke, the replacement switchcraft jack is far better. I'm going to replace the tuner knobs soon.
I generally don't like shiny stuff. One weekend I felt compelled to take 0000 steel wool to the entire bass to give it a vintage look and feel. While I would not recommend this to anyone else I think it looks fantastic. Others seem to think so as well.
I paid full price for mine. At $169 I am tempted to pick up another . . . .
May I have a number please?
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I actually did something similar but not as aggressive.
What was bugging me was the shiny chrome hardware, I took a piece of scotch brite and buffed everything chrome, just enough to get some of the shine out.
The guitar, I couldn't bring myself to take out all the shine but did use something called "mr clean Magic eraser" which took off very little shine without leaving any scuff marks.
What was bugging me was the shiny chrome hardware, I took a piece of scotch brite and buffed everything chrome, just enough to get some of the shine out.
The guitar, I couldn't bring myself to take out all the shine but did use something called "mr clean Magic eraser" which took off very little shine without leaving any scuff marks.
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I just ordered a new Rogue VB100 (the hard case is backordered) from MF yesterday. I spent most of Saturday pouring over various "best violin bass" threads here on TB from 2004 forward, and ultimately decided on the Rogue for the best value of build for the price and closeness in appearance to the original Hofner. I am glad to have found this club which deals with the VB100 exlusively, as it is likely that I'd like to do some modifications down the road.
Of special interest to me is the "pearloid" tuner buttons. I'm a little confused.....do you have to replace the entire tuners to get these, or are you able to remove the stock paddles and replace them with the pearloid buttons? I have already ordered some "teacup" knobs from fleaBay, and placed my order with Jason at BSO for some La Bella Deep Talkin' Flats for "Beatle Bass". How are the volume pots holding up for those of you who have had the newer VB100s for awhile? Is there a significant benefit to replacing the originals? I see where a couple members have done the Switchcraft replacement for the output plug switch.
How about the pickups? Is everyone fairly happy with the originals? Do they give the "thump" that this style of bass is famous for or is there a compelling reason to look for replacements? If so, which type seems to be the best sound and fit? I have a spare NOS Squier Precision "Cabronita" pickup, and the idea of a twin "Cabronita"-equipped violin bass does have some appeal to me! If anyone has the dimensions for the stock pickups, that would be really useful for me.
I will give this bass a really good workout after I restring it with the La Bella flats before I do any major tonal changes to it. I'm not going to replace everything just for drill. It's just hard not to imagine doing upgrades to something this affordable, much like I've done with my Squiers. If the collected wisdom (and my ears) tell me that this Rogue sounds fine out of the box, so be it.
In the meantime, I'd really like to hear about everyone's experience doing their own personal "upgrades" to this really neat little bass!
