The purple looks great in person. Though the deviation in the maple top can make a difference.
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I wasn't aware they were still making the Mercalli, but it looks good in that color and we're talking some of the best stock pickups and electronics made.
I am digging this. I need a 4banger for drop D munter-rock. Could this be the one?
Oh and the other day I took my stingray out for a classic rock show, instead of my mercalli. Regretted it the whole night. Reverends are the real deal.
So I've had my mercalli 5 about a week now, and I'm super happy with it. I just put TI jazz flats on it. It warmed up the tone nicely, and it seems to have a lot of range with the tone up and pickup blend. Hopefully I can have a band practice next week with it. I'm a big fan of how solid this bass feels. The intonation and action was perfect even after changing the strings, this bass is engineered to be a workhorse.
- Sep 3, 2006
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That is one cool looking bass! I love purple basses. Did you buy it?
.
That's interesting. I own a purpleburst Reverend Triad, and I love everything about it -- The craftsmanship, the ergonomics, the weight; it is the best instrument I have ever owned. The only downside (to me; in my experience) is that I simply can not get a tone I like from this. I have tried for about 18 months; but that classic "Stingray" tone is certainly what I am chasing. I have asked others if the Mercalli comes close to a Stingray, and been told it does not really. In your experience, are you able to coax a Stingray-esque sound from your Mercalli? I have been told a Raymond may get closer to the sound I am after .... I just can't deal with unwieldly and heavy (to me) Music Man basses; and have already just about decided to go the Warmoth route; again. But I would love to pick up another Reverend, if it comes close to the tone I am looking for.
I hear you. Sometimes we just need to buy a specific instrument to get a specific sound. The stingray sound is certainly specific and glorious in a lot of contexts.
I feel like the ray tone has a few peaks and valleys in it's EQ. Massive treble and badass low mids. Turn up the bass and you are greeted with deep bass, but not a lot of upper bass. IME
The mercalli tone still has plenty of high mids, but is smoother overall and to me is much more "supportive' in my band context. It sounds fuller overall and lays down a stronger foundation.
Much meatier and fuller p style miids on the merc.
For snappy finger style funk- I will usually go for the ray. Although the bridge pickup on the merc is mighty tasty too in it own way.
for big rock bass- the mercalli.
D and G strings definitely sound fatter on the mercalli but don't cut the same as the ray. Sometimes I find those strings straight up disappear on the ray while playing. Shrug.
Solo the rear pickup on the merc and you have a lovely tight jazz-ish tone.
Solo the front and it is a fat P tone- almost quarter pounder like. Almost.
the mercalli has hotter output.
the mercalli feels much lighter.
I prefer the tighter string width of the ray, but I don't let that stop me from enjoying the rev.
My band mates ALL prefer the mercalli.
OK, quick question for my Reverend brothers & sisters.
I may have a line on a Thundergun for a great price (and pristine shape)...I don't "need" another bass but...
How will this stack up tonally and output volume to my Mercalli?
As far as I can tell, they both use the same pickups/electronics as well as tuners & bridge...as far as I can see, the most obvious difference is the body sculpt & the set neck (there are obviously other differences, but they're minor).
Basically, I want to be able to switch basses mid set, and not have a huge noticeable difference in output volume...yes, I could just adjust volume on my amp or preamp, but ideally the basses would be close in output volumes.
Thoughts?
I may have a line on a Thundergun for a great price (and pristine shape)...I don't "need" another bass but...
How will this stack up tonally and output volume to my Mercalli?
As far as I can tell, they both use the same pickups/electronics as well as tuners & bridge...as far as I can see, the most obvious difference is the body sculpt & the set neck (there are obviously other differences, but they're minor).
Basically, I want to be able to switch basses mid set, and not have a huge noticeable difference in output volume...yes, I could just adjust volume on my amp or preamp, but ideally the basses would be close in output volumes.
Thoughts?
OK, quick question for my Reverend brothers & sisters.
I may have a line on a Thundergun for a great price (and pristine shape)...I don't "need" another bass but...
How will this stack up tonally and output volume to my Mercalli?
As far as I can tell, they both use the same pickups/electronics as well as tuners & bridge...as far as I can see, the most obvious difference is the body sculpt & the set neck (there are obviously other differences, but they're minor).
Basically, I want to be able to switch basses mid set, and not have a huge noticeable difference in output volume...yes, I could just adjust volume on my amp or preamp, but ideally the basses would be close in output volumes.
Thoughts?
surely volume will be the same between the two
This was my thought, and I'm sure it's the case, but with the Covid situation I'm not in a situation where I can really demo it, or I'd just bring my Mercalli 4 along, and A/B them side by side.
I'm actually going to, but I always look for real world player experiences first, they're usually the best.
I can clearly look at the webpage and see that the electronics are the same, the wood is the same etc... So "in theory" they should be the same output volume...
But, I use to own a pair of Mercalli 5's, a 2016 Rock Orange, and a 2017 Turquoise. The 2017 was noticeably louder, though the specs were the same, neither was modified in any way...I was never able to figure out the difference in output volume.
I know where you're coming from Turtle71, about real-world comparisons.
I actually was thinking a similar thing, in how a Dub King, which I have my eye on, would sound compared to the Merc, as they too have the same pickups, (although different body shapes, the pups in different positions and the DK semi-hollow).
If you don't get any answers here, try Rev. They are usually responsive and helpful.
I actually was thinking a similar thing, in how a Dub King, which I have my eye on, would sound compared to the Merc, as they too have the same pickups, (although different body shapes, the pups in different positions and the DK semi-hollow).
If you don't get any answers here, try Rev. They are usually responsive and helpful.
Yep. I've chatted with the people at Reverend before (via email), they have always been great! If I buy this Thundergun, it'll be my 4th Reverend, though I flipped my Mercalli 5's in favor of a 4.
Good Eye! It does look like the bridge pickup is "slightly" further from the bridge.
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