I wonder how this will affect the value of the American made ones? I have to think it will generate interest in the name, thus pushing the price of the originals up. You sure you don't wanna sell your Dawgfish??
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I wonder how this will affect the value of the American made ones? I have to think it will generate interest in the name, thus pushing the price of the originals up. You sure you don't wanna sell your Dawgfish??
- Dec 16, 2002
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- Warehouse Manager : Reverend Guitars
My guitar player has many, many Reverends. He says he likes the newer ones better than the American ones.....but he works for them, so you have to take that with a grain of salt I suppose.
Chef
In Memoriam
Overseas has, IMO, IME, nothing to do with build quality.
Squier is representative of "decent build quality" at a quite low price point.
Lakland Skyline is one example of excellent build at an obviously higher pricepoint.
Sadowsky Metro are yet another example of perhaps even better quality, at a slightly higher pricepoint.
I have no problem outsourcing, given that "quality meets with both name brand and pricepoint" expectations.
Reverends weren't expensive, new, in the USA, with case. I still have retail stickers from my 5L and BH5; both sold new with penguin cases for "substantively, and slightly under $1k respectively."
I wouldn't really want to spend less for less quality, I feel that would sort of besmirch the Reverend name (when was the last time you read besmirch in a sentence!)
Not sure they'd sell for much more; or, even at the original pricepoints...I reckon that's why they were discontinued.
However, an actual working formula might be "build same quality over seas for somewhat cheaper." Current market offerings would seem to indicate this is possible.
Squier is representative of "decent build quality" at a quite low price point.
Lakland Skyline is one example of excellent build at an obviously higher pricepoint.
Sadowsky Metro are yet another example of perhaps even better quality, at a slightly higher pricepoint.
I have no problem outsourcing, given that "quality meets with both name brand and pricepoint" expectations.
Reverends weren't expensive, new, in the USA, with case. I still have retail stickers from my 5L and BH5; both sold new with penguin cases for "substantively, and slightly under $1k respectively."
I wouldn't really want to spend less for less quality, I feel that would sort of besmirch the Reverend name (when was the last time you read besmirch in a sentence!)
Not sure they'd sell for much more; or, even at the original pricepoints...I reckon that's why they were discontinued.
However, an actual working formula might be "build same quality over seas for somewhat cheaper." Current market offerings would seem to indicate this is possible.
rkingly
"Playing Reverend Basses on a Regular Basis"
Classic!
I've owned some expensive customs over the past 5 years and one by one have been sold off. Now my top 3 basses are all from Japan. An 80's Yamaha, an 80's Aria P bass and a Squier JV series P, also from the 80's. My 4th fav bass would be my Blue Rumblefish. Being more of a P bass player these days, my JJ Fish would rate much higher if it was a PJ. I never planned on my selection, it just turned out this way after buying and selling about 50 basses over the past 5-6 years. My feeling is, I really don't care where they make them as long as the quality and attention to details is good. On the other hand, I'd probably be happier paying more for an American made product. I'd pay $1600 for a new Rumblefish, just like mine, made in the USA. Sorry if that sounds crazy but based on the playability of mine, it would be hard to beat at that price. Obviously that's not a viable price point to make it work for Reverend.
Having played a couple of the import Reverends, I can honestly say that I believe their quality to be outstanding. My concerns are likely to be more with the new design philosophy. I think the USA Rev's are more unusual in both construction, styling, and their use of unconventional materials than the newer models. The newer Rev's are somewhat more conventional. In fact, I think I read that Joe said somewhere that this was a deliberate move to try to grab more of the rock and roll market, which unlike it's heritage, was a more conservative environment for guitar design.
I think that would be the best way to go. The low end market is crowded and cutthroat. Reverend would do better to keep the quality of the basses as they were, but I would be worried that in order to do this, the selling price might be higher than the relatively small market could bear.
FWIW, the Japan-made basses I've played have often been exceptional instruments. They have very high standards, which is why Sadowsky Metros are made there. That being said, making something in Japan doesn't save a whole lot of money. Even Roger Sadowsky has said that. You really have to go to the other countries in Asia for bigger savings. Then the problem becomes making sure that the basses which are made still have the quality. It can still be done, but the oversight has to be good and it DOES cost more.
I also think the original construction methods are part of what give the Reverend basses their great tone. I don't want to see a new Rumblefish with a solid wood body. I wouldn't buy one of those, personally. And yet making them the old way I would think would be very labor-intensive and thus expensive (more so than CNC-ing a bunch of solid bodies).
Bottom line: I'd be concerned that even with overseas production, Reverend may have problems being able to produce the original style of basses at a price point where they would sell in enough numbers to make profit.
And IIRC, that was why they were discontinued in the first place.
I wonder how this will affect the value of the American made ones. I have to think it generate interest in the name, thus pushing the price of the originals up. You sure you don't wanna sell your Dawgfish??
Right now, I'm finding the Dawgfish to be an effective anti-GAS treatment against the Rob Allen MB-2 which has been haunting me.
Should I change my mind though, I'll let you know first.
The original skunk-stripe necks (aka "East Pointe") have a slightly different profile and feel, than the later ones without the stripe. I believe they came from different suppliers.
They're both nice, but I like the svelt feel of the striped ones more.
Did they ever wind their own pickups in-house?
To me, part of the allure of the earlier fishes are the great Kent Armstrong pickups.
As I understand it, Naylor switched from KA's to "something else" due to a price increase from Armstrong.
The "something else" pups are okay, but a definite downgrade from the sweet KA's.
.02
+1 Having owned both, the skunk stripe necks have a much better feel to me. I would describe them as more round but in no way fat.
I'll give a new Rev a chance. I'm sure it won't be the same as the USA's, but it might be unique in it's own way.
Well, there's no reason to think they'll be of lesser quality than the import guitars. The local store that I used to work for carries them. Nothing in the price range was even in the ballpark. Especially the fretwork. First rate stuff.
...John
...John
+1. Man their import guitars are unreal for the money. I personally think they are the best around for the price. Great quality and sound. I still want a flatroc. Man, I'll be stoked if they make basses again!
Iam looking for a PJ or XL US-Rev to complete the family - if someone knows somebody selling one, please pm me
I'd be really interested, but only if they kept the same hollowbody design.
And it would be nice if they could still offer lots of cool colors and tops. Sadly, usually producing stuff overseas means cutting down the number of options in order to make it managable for orders and transport. Even Sadowsky Metros only come in a couple colors. Lakland Skylines come in fewer still.
rkingly
"Playing Reverend Basses on a Regular Basis"
I'll buy a new Rev for sure, would love to get my hands on a PJ.
( BartmanPDX I thought I had dibs on the Dawgfish?
)
I'm digging my 5L's & it seems that my collection of toys are
being neglected. Maybe it's time to sell some.
FL Knifemaker, Please put me down for 5 Rock/Roll surrounds if possible.
Any one ever have a replacement back plate made?
My 2nd 5L is hurting & I'm thinking about having a new piece made ( aluminum would be my preference )
The Thundering Low End on this beauty
is blowing out more chunks of laminate. Pretty soon she'll be
half Naked
Thank goodness for Gaff Tape.
( BartmanPDX I thought I had dibs on the Dawgfish?
)I'm digging my 5L's & it seems that my collection of toys are
being neglected. Maybe it's time to sell some.
FL Knifemaker, Please put me down for 5 Rock/Roll surrounds if possible.
Any one ever have a replacement back plate made?
My 2nd 5L is hurting & I'm thinking about having a new piece made ( aluminum would be my preference )
The Thundering Low End on this beauty
is blowing out more chunks of laminate. Pretty soon she'll be
half Naked
Thank goodness for Gaff Tape.
I'll buy a new Rev for sure, would love to get my hands on a PJ.
( BartmanPDX I thought I had dibs on the Dawgfish?
I might have given you dibs. I usually put it in my profile so I can remember, but it's quite possible that I didn't get around to doing it. In any event, I played the Dawgfish last night and am keeping it for the time being. It KILLED. It's a slightly different flavor than the PJ and I really liked it. In the past I've had trouble seeing the side dots on it, but that wasn't an issue last night. It will be coming out to more gigs in the future, for sure.
+1I'm digging my 5L's & it seems that my collection of toys are
being neglected. Maybe it's time to sell some.
FL Knifemaker, Please put me down for 5 Rock/Roll surrounds if possible.
I want several of each kind (whatever ones you make up). I've been wanting a Rock/Roll one for the Dawgfish since I first got it.
Any one ever have a replacement back plate made?
My 2nd 5L is hurting & I'm thinking about having a new piece made ( aluminum would be my preference )
The Thundering Low End on this beauty
is blowing out more chunks of laminate. Pretty soon she'll be
half Naked
I haven't had that problem, but I did see that there is a removable pad made to prevent buckle rash in one thread. I might be able to find it at some point. Would that help?
rkingly
"Playing Reverend Basses on a Regular Basis"
No worries on the Dawgfish, You Love it & I'm Broke & want it!!
Just all around Great basses!!
I would love any info you have & thanks for the suggestion.
I'd like to have my 5L as safe & secure as possible for years of pleasure.
Thanks
Just all around Great basses!!
I would love any info you have & thanks for the suggestion.
I'd like to have my 5L as safe & secure as possible for years of pleasure.
Thanks
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