I pulled the trigger also and ordered one today. Also ordered one of their cases that holds up to 8 basses.
I'll post a review here after I get the bass.
I'll post a review here after I get the bass.
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Rondo Douglas Violin Bass
- Thread starter TheSuzie
- Start date
I've heard the strings that come with this bass are not so good. Those of you who have experience with this type of bass, what strings would you recommend?
- Feb 24, 2004
- 4,103
- 643
- 68
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Phantom Guitars, Eastwood Guitars
Well, UPS.com says it's been delivered to my front door, so I'll soon have a review! Still waiting to hear from the other guy in this thread who ordered one.
The appearance is attractive, no noticeable flaws, and the lacquer finish is gorgeous. Pictures soon to follow.
It's very light, and small. The neck feels tiny even compared to my other short scale basses. But to me that makes it feel fast, not awkward.
It's got two knobs labeled VOLUME and one TONE; it doesn't have the switches that a Hofner has. The pickups sound clean.
Tuners seem fine. The strings are atrocious chicken wire, so that's a little distracting. But the tone is fantastic! It's very full and boomy (but NOT ugly or indistinct). Even around the 12th fret, where some short scales really fall off in tone, it sounds good.
Setup is VERY low, and there was minor fret buzz here and there, but nothing that can't be adjusted. The bridge is funky Beatle-bass style, and there is some annoying buzz there at certain frequencies, but it doesn't come through the amp.
For the price, this thing is SWEET SWEET SWEET.
It's very light, and small. The neck feels tiny even compared to my other short scale basses. But to me that makes it feel fast, not awkward.
It's got two knobs labeled VOLUME and one TONE; it doesn't have the switches that a Hofner has. The pickups sound clean.
Tuners seem fine. The strings are atrocious chicken wire, so that's a little distracting. But the tone is fantastic! It's very full and boomy (but NOT ugly or indistinct). Even around the 12th fret, where some short scales really fall off in tone, it sounds good.
Setup is VERY low, and there was minor fret buzz here and there, but nothing that can't be adjusted. The bridge is funky Beatle-bass style, and there is some annoying buzz there at certain frequencies, but it doesn't come through the amp.
For the price, this thing is SWEET SWEET SWEET.
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Thanks for the review on yours.
bobbykokinos said:
Yes, I'll do that, in the next few days.
This bass would be great for someone with very small hands. I have average size hands for a man, and have no problem with it, but I'm used to short scales.
These strings are SO AWFULLY HORRIBLE.
The "volume" knobs work together in some strange way in conjunction with the tone knob. They do seem to be linked to the pups, but the loudest volume is not with both of them all the way up.
But no matter, I really like this bass.
Thanks, I was a pro photographer for a few years, but now I'm back to slinging code (programmer).
The top of that bass looks gorgeous.
And, yeah, you shoot a mighty fine pic. Beautiful color saturation.
I guess I'm glad they don't make a 34" scale version of it, because I'd be GASing.
And, yeah, you shoot a mighty fine pic. Beautiful color saturation.
I guess I'm glad they don't make a 34" scale version of it, because I'd be GASing.
I have ordered some Labella strings to put on it, when I receive them, I will do some sound samples.
So, anyone care to venture a guess as to why no one has built a 34" inch version of a hollow/beatle-bass design?
SBassman said:
When you play this, it just feels like it should be small. And I think that whoever designed it originally hit on a great formula.
But given the impressive resonance unamplified for a body this small, I do think it would be interesting to hear one built with a much larger body, like two and half times as big.
BobWestbrook said:
Exactly.
I could envision a 34", larger body version, with the right pickup selected, and maybe fretless, could coax some closer-to-legitimate upright tone.
SBassman said:
Perhaps, but it's my understanding that for a bass to have sufficient unamplified projection, a very large body is needed. I've played some acoustic/electric basses, and have been not impressed with the volume level of any of them.
Still, it would be interesting to hear a larger version of this.
Chef
In Memoriam
More comments: The tone on this thing is outstanding. I'm wondering, how does this little thing do it? On low G, for example, it is a very full tone.
The tonal variety between the two pickups is excellent. The neck pickup by itself gives a boomy sound, but still distinct. The bridge pickup is quite different: clear, edgy.
But I must warn anyone thinking about getting this - the neck feels VERY small. Even though I'm accustomed to short scale basses, this is taking some getting used to. The analogy I would use is if a standard bass neck feels like a man's wrist, this feels like the wrist of a ten-year-old girl.
The tonal variety between the two pickups is excellent. The neck pickup by itself gives a boomy sound, but still distinct. The bridge pickup is quite different: clear, edgy.
But I must warn anyone thinking about getting this - the neck feels VERY small. Even though I'm accustomed to short scale basses, this is taking some getting used to. The analogy I would use is if a standard bass neck feels like a man's wrist, this feels like the wrist of a ten-year-old girl.
