The Reverend Club (part 8)

[ericplaysbass]

I have questions about Reverend and figured this is the best place. I am strongly considering a Mercalli 5. I play Lakland 5 strings. Can someone who also plays Laklands talk to me about the differences in feel and what I may or may not like if I’m a Lakland guy. Thanks!

Depends on which Laklands I guess. I'm most familiar with the Skyline 55-02. They're more different than similar I'd say. Similarities end with build quality, number of strings, string spacing, Hipshot tuners, and satin neck. The only Reverend 5 being made, the Mercalli, is 34" scale, has a slightly wider nut width, is passive, and has a different sound. Much more traditional I'd say. Lakland is more clinical with its active pre and types of pickups.

 

[Stranger Danger]

I’m asking I guess more about neck feel and playability I think. The Lakland 35 doesn’t really feel like a 35 to me

 

[Bass Ape]

I've been eyeing getting a Lakland DJ5 to replace my DJ4. I have not played side by side and actually have the same questions about the neck. I love my Mercalli 5 neck. It's a bit more chonky than I always imagine it to be when I pick it up. It has the same string spacing as my DJ4 from the nut to the bridge, just add the extra for the additional string.

Sound wise. The mercalli 5 is so much low end goodness. there is nothing thin about the bass.

 

[Stranger Danger]

Question... on my mercaclli I've noticed that when I have the pickup blend centered, the volume drops. Soling either of the pickups I get a hotter output. Is this typical? I've never noticed this much on my other basses, but then, I am more of a set it and forget guy on my other basses and don't change it up much

That is normal on a passive bass with a blend. That is probably why passive basses typically (not always, obviously) have two volume knobs and active basses have a blend.

 

[John Stephen]

Right, the same happens with my Reverend Raymond. I mostly use just the forward (neck) pickup, sometimes blend them if I can crank the volume enough.

 

[thedovewarlord]

I've tried lots of flats. As noted, I am a Chromes guy (played them exclusively for over a decade). Just not on this particular bass, since I just bought it.

But some of us just don't feel that way. I've been playing bass for 35 years, so I can confidently say I like a heavier gauge. 45-105 is about the lowest I will go, and as noted, I like Chromes even heavier. Not sure if it's that I also play upright, or whatever, but I need to be pulling some meat on those strings. I know how to play lightly, but when I dig in I don't want the situation to just collapse on me - I want something pushing back a bit. I LOVE a long scale bass with decently thick strings. For me those TI's are just too thin. I am sure they will have their use for me in a recording situation, but I don't think I'd ever enjoy playing them in a band. Different strokes!

I totally love Chromes, before switching to rounds, why not try the Chromes 50-105 on the Thundergunn. That light gauge TI has been the main apprehension for me to even try them knowing other brands' 45-100 were unsatisfying.

Right now, I have a set of D'addario nickels on the Mercalli 5 and they are still too bright for my taste. I can tame them a bit with my pre and comp, but I really want less ping and more thump.

see flats above

 

[lermgalieu]

I totally love Chromes, before switching to rounds, why not try the Chromes 50-105 on the Thundergunn.

Not really "switching" so much as putting back on the strings that came with it for now. I may very well try Chromes in the future, I have plenty around.

 

[Bass Ape]

Me thinks the Mercalli looks best with a pickguard. I wonder why they don’t add these anymore.

 

[lermgalieu]

Me thinks the Mercalli looks best with a pickguard. I wonder why they don’t add these anymore.

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I agree!!

 

[El Trueno]

Me thinks the Mercalli looks best with a pickguard. I wonder why they don’t add these anymore.

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Bring back the pickguard!!

 

[bigthemat]

Me thinks the Mercalli looks best with a pickguard. I wonder why they don’t add these anymore.

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yes! Esp. with the bound neck and block inlays (my fav). But..... the flame maple on mine is just sooooo cool it would be a bit of a shame to cover it up with a pickguard (and I thought I'd never ever say that because I've always been a big fan of the pg.)

 

[Bass Ape]

Agreed, The FM top would be the exception.
That a nice looking bass!

 

[Bass Ape]

I got lucky finding one blocked and bound with the blue sparkle. The pearl PG is aftermarket I belive and looks better with the sparkle than the original which has a bit of green in the ivory. It would still rock either way. I just love how the symmetry of the PG makes the base look more svelt

 

[bigthemat]

I got lucky finding one blocked and bound with the blue sparkle. The pearl PG is aftermarket I belive and looks better with the sparkle than the original which has a bit of green in the ivory. It would still rock either way. I just love how the symmetry of the PG makes the base look more svelt

yeah. I just love the googie/space age/atomic age inspired shape of the Mercalli, and that pg really adds to it.

 

[Bass Ape]

yeah. I just love the googie/space age/atomic age inspired shape of the Mercalli, and that pg really adds to it.

Quick Q,

I saw a thundergun review thread and one of the posters had sold their TG and one of the reasons was the blend knob. I have the same issue, when I center the blend knob with both PUPs full, my volume and tone ***** the bed.

Does this happen on your mercalli 5 @bigthemat ?

 

[Lammchop93]

Just played a Mercalli at a local store. WOW that was a great playing and sounding bass. The action was insanely low with zero fret buzz and sounded huge! I honestly don't love the body shape, but the playability of that bass almost won me over.

 

[bigthemat]

Quick Q,

I saw a thundergun review thread and one of the posters had sold their TG and one of the reasons was the blend knob. I have the same issue, when I center the blend knob with both PUPs full, my volume and tone ***** the bed.

Does this happen on your mercalli 5 @bigthemat ?

yeah I had posted about it several pages ago. I've found my fav. setting is about 80-90% neck pu. Get a little more zing from the bridge but still gives me that beefy phat p bass sound. My other go to is about 60% or so bridge that emulates the classic j bass tone. When it's right in the middle it does drop which I guess is normal for passive basses but something I never noticed on my other basses with a blend. I suppose switchin to a v/v/t might fix the issue but I'm happy overall.

 

[Bass Ape]

Thanks for the reminder. The sweet spots to me are in the same places, secondary to each pup at full.

I'm wondering if wiring one of the pups out of Phase would solve that issue. Maybe on my next rev.

I'm really looking for a rumblefish 5 and a Meshell D fellowship in all black (when I have the $ to buy them of course)

 

[lermgalieu]

 

[Bass Ape]

Man, now I want a thundergun! I bet that rig sounds amazing