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Talk to me about Reverend Basses

strost

strost

Oct 2, 2008
960
1,908
Madison, WI
#1
So our guitar player just picked up a new Reverend and loves it. It got me looking at their basses.

Not having a dealer near me I was hoping to get some info on these from the talkbass hivemind.

Since my J needs are satisfied, I was thinking of one of the models with the "half-brick/full brick" setup (P/MM) which means the Mercalli, Thundergun, and Dub King. I was wondering if anyone could speak to the difference in tone/playability between these three basses.

I know the Thundergun is set-neck and the Dub King is demi-hollow and short scale but I am not sure how that makes them sound compared to the bolt-on Mercalli.

And of course any recommendations would be appreciated.

Thanks!
 
#2
I can't speak for the current ones, though I hear good things. I have 3 of the last "closeout" batch of original USA made Reverend Rumblefish XL 5s, though. ;) I was thinking maybe "investment" when I got them, then I played them. Nope, not gonna sell unless I'm broke and starving. :)
 
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#4
The few new Reverends I've played have been nicely made basses, and interesting twists on the semi-hollow theme, but nothing terribly special.

They unfortunately bear no resemblance at all to the original USA made Reverends which I recall being both unique and great-playing. Sort of a wonderful and possibly unholy melding of Danelectro and Fender.
 
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#5
Eilif said:
the original USA made Reverends which I recall being both unique and great-playing. Sort of a wonderful and possibly unholy melding of Danelectro and Fender.
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Indeed, how can they be made of (or even with) what amounts to masonite, and still sound like that? They have growl, but with good rounds, they also do "liquid steel piano tone" like nobody's business, great sustain. How they got that, I haven't a clue.
 
#6
bholder said:
Indeed, how can they be made of (or even with) what amounts to masonite, and still sound like that? They have growl, but with good rounds, they also do "liquid steel piano tone" like nobody's business, great sustain. How they got that, I haven't a clue.
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The block in the middle is solid korina iirc. I have one of the MIA guitars, and it is killer
 
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#8
bholder said:
Ah, the magic is inside! :thumbsup: They really are amazing, like a solid body combined with a semi-hollow somehow. :)
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Well, that's because they kind of split the difference between a hollow and solid :). Iirc, the block was like 6 inches wide and ran from the neck joint to the butt end. Years ago, they had a cutaway pic on the site (like in 2001). There is no way to see it on the actual instrument though
 
#10
Eilif said:
That would explain it. I recall playing a few back in the late 90's and early 00's. Really neat instruments.
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I really wish they still made that style. I've not had a chance to play any of the MIK models, but I hear good stuff about them. But the old ones were magic, and a steal. I think my slingshot with added fancy top, case, and bigsby was still 50'cheapernthan an American standard strat at the time
 
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#11
MobileHolmes said:
I really wish they still made that style. I've not had a chance to play any of the MIK models, but I hear good stuff about them. But the old ones were magic, and a steal. I think my slingshot with added fancy top, case, and bigsby was still 50'cheapernthan an American standard strat at the time
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They were a deal to begin with, and I literally got mine on closeout just after they stopped making them. :( But :) that I managed to score them! Not sure what they'd be worth now.
 
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#12
I've never played one of the USA-made ones, but I spent some time with the Meshell model and really liked it. Strangely, despite being 34" scale, it felt like a short scale and was very comfortable to play.
 
#14
Marial said:
I've never played one of the USA-made ones, but I spent some time with the Meshell model and really liked it. Strangely, despite being 34" scale, it felt like a short scale and was very comfortable to play.
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Does it have the rolled edges? That's what makes the Rumblefish XL so comfy even at 35" scale. The rolled edge and angled fret edges are perfectly smooth to the hand. I wish more manufacturers used it.
 
#16
Had a Thundergun for a while. Nicely made, light weight Korina bass, sweet natural vintage-tinted finish, played nicely. But....the pickups left me cold, thought the bass sounded bland, lifeless. The reverse headstock seemed kinda silly, but it appears the new ones have a normal headstock. Didn't bother with the other models, lost interest. I expected to like the new Revs, but I guess I'm spoiled by the sound of the Rumblefish, which is magical.
 
#17
bholder said:
Indeed, how can they be made of (or even with) what amounts to masonite, and still sound like that? They have growl, but with good rounds, they also do "liquid steel piano tone" like nobody's business, great sustain. How they got that, I haven't a clue.
Click to expand...

The center block inside the USA Revs is "white mahogany", which is not very hard and looks like a pine 2X6 from the lumber yard. There is a square-ish chunk of steel screwed into the butt end of the center block, Rev called it a "tone block". You can see all this through the control cavity area.
 
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#18
I like them. I bought a Brand new Rumblefish back in the day and it was great. Bought a brand new Decision and it was great too. The bridge pickup was a little weak compared to the brick so I replaced it. Also ended up wiring it Volume/volume/tone just because thats what I prefer.

The decision brick P pickup nailed a P bass sound.

The Rumblefish had a jazz neck. More jazz than a lot of jazz basses IMO. The newer models have more of a wide oval. Kind of between a Modern Fender P and a Carvin. Not giant but not tiny either. I prefer the newer necks myself.
If I bought a newer one it would be the Mercalli 4 in Alpine green. Been waiting for one to show up at more places online. I like the dual brick configuration and love the color.

I had a newer one and I'd buy one again.
 

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