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Talk to me about Reverend Basses

I forget what's special about those - are they the ones with 2 "dual J" humbuckers?

And 19mm string spacing on a totally different neck. Also 3-position coil tap switches with V/V/T pots.

The regular 5-string model has been referred to incorrectly in this thread as the "5XL". It is R5L or Rumblefish 5L. There is a Rumblefish XL (RXL) which is a 4-string PJ.
 
And 19mm string spacing on a totally different neck. Also 3-position coil tap switches with V/V/T pots.

The regular 5-string model has been referred to incorrectly in this thread as the "5XL". It is R5L or Rumblefish 5L. There is a Rumblefish XL (RXL) which is a 4-string PJ.
Ah sorry, that's me, my bad. Been 10+ years, forgot the specifics. R5L it is. :)
 
And 19mm string spacing on a totally different neck. Also 3-position coil tap switches with V/V/T pots.

The regular 5-string model has been referred to incorrectly in this thread as the "5XL". It is R5L or Rumblefish 5L. There is a Rumblefish XL (RXL) which is a 4-string PJ.

Not to add to the confusion, but the original Rumblefish XL was a JJ. The earliest XL's still had the thinner body and the skunk-stripe neck. The PJ version came later.

100_1204.gif
 
Not to add to the confusion, but the original Rumblefish XL was a JJ. The earliest XL's still had the thinner body and the skunk-stripe neck. The PJ version came later.

100_1204.gif
Looks almost just like my 5ers. I guess I thought "XL" because it's 35" scale, thought it was a reference to that. Anway, I stand corrected and informed. :thumbsup:
 
Not to add to the confusion, but the original Rumblefish XL was a JJ. The earliest XL's still had the thinner body and the skunk-stripe neck. The PJ version came later.

100_1204.gif


You brought to my attention that I was completely mistaken about the 4-strings' names. The original 4-string was simply the Rumblefish. The XL added the voicing switch and was never made as a PJ. The PJ was called.....wait for it.....the PJ! The 5-strings were the 5L and the Brad Houser.
 
The first Eastpointe necks were some of the best ever. I remember being able to go to Joe's shop back when I lived/worked in Roseville, right down the road a few miles. My buddy had the first and only reverse headstock Rocco. Joe refused to make another because it was a huge PITA as they just didn't make lefty's. This was '97 /'98.
 
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I've noticed that the latest versions of the Decision and Justice basses seem to have the "natural" wood headstock, as opposed to the first Decision and Justice basses they made, where the head stock was black. That's just a cosmetic thing... but does anyone know how these newest versions of the Decision and Justice compare to the ones they put out a few years back? I'm also curious about the Mercalli 4... How does that compare? (I know the Rumblefish was a whole other thing... I'm talking about the newer Reverend basses.)
 
The newer ones dont have bound necks - but - people have commented how the newer ones, without the binding, have smoother fret ends. Cosmetically, i probably like the look of no binding a little more - particularly on the maple.

I've noticed that the latest versions of the Decision and Justice basses seem to have the "natural" wood headstock, as opposed to the first Decision and Justice basses they made, where the head stock was black. That's just a cosmetic thing... but does anyone know how these newest versions of the Decision and Justice compare to the ones they put out a few years back? I'm also curious about the Mercalli 4... How does that compare? (I know the Rumblefish was a whole other thing... I'm talking about the newer Reverend basses.)
 
The newer ones dont have bound necks - but - people have commented how the newer ones, without the binding, have smoother fret ends. Cosmetically, i probably like the look of no binding a little more - particularly on the maple.
It wasn't the binding that made them feel so smooth, it was the "rolling", the rounded edge where the neck actually gets slightly wider and then narrower again as you move down away from the fretboard - so when you're sliding up and down the neck, your hand is riding on smooth polished wood rather than the edges of the frets. The only other bass I've seen it on is a JAF custom 5.
 
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I played a baby blue Justice with blade type jazz pups today and really liked it. Nice neck, great tone. I liked the master volume, tone and balance layout.
 
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It wasn't the binding that made them feel so smooth, it was the "rolling", the rounded edge where the neck actually gets slightly wider and then narrower again as you move down away from the fretboard - so when you're sliding up and down the neck, your hand is riding on smooth polished wood rather than the edges of the frets. The only other bass I've seen it on is a JAF custom 5.
Here's the best example of what I'm talking about that I can think of: it's like "tumblehome" on a boat hull, where the fretboard is the ships deck:
crcsm1.gif

See how the sides get narrower near the top? That's the "tumblehome" or "rolled edge" - your hand never even gets near the edges of the frets, it's a really slick feel. But I can see how it takes more time and money to manufacture, too. Only other bass I've ever seen it on is a JAF custom.
 
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