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Their Plek and set up work is super. They Plek everything they sell. I had my parts bass Plek'd a couple of months ago...makes a huge improvement in playability. Good luck with it!
- Sep 3, 2006
- 4,358
- 6,117
- Disclosures
- Authorized dealer for Dingwall, Genzler, Phil Jones Bass, Cort, Traynor, Yorkville Sound
These new Reverend basses LOOK amazing!
But, for someone who can't find one within driving distance, how does one evaluate their SOUND. I listened to a few youtube videos and just can't tell from those.
This is the only review I could find:
http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/Reverend_Justice_and_Thundergun_Bass_Reviews
"...
Thundergun Rating:
Buy if...
you're after a dependable bass that's eye-catching on stage and you like some edge to your sound.
Skip if...
you're a traditionalist in both sound and design.
Justice Rating:
Buy if...
you like a bass designed from tradition yet with a take all its own.
Skip if...
you need a bright, aggressive bass, both in looks and sound.
Rating..."
I take from this that these basses have a particular unique sound. For the Justice the "skip if you need a ...aggressive bass" and for the Thundergun "skip if you are a "traditionalist" in...sound"; just what the heck does this mean?
My view is that ANY bass should be able to tonally be dialed in to match whatever sound one wants - with the exception of specialty basses that, for example, attempt to get a double bass sound.
And all these basses are priced very close to the same so price is not the consideration.
So my questions are to those of you that say you have played all of them.
Which two 4 string basses are the better all around basses?
For instance I play a Peavey USA Cirrus which I guess would fall under the category of "aggressive" as it sure as heck is with rotosounds. Does this suggest that I wouldn't be happy with the Justice "...skip if you need an aggressive bass"? And even though I am not generally a P-Bass fan I do have a 51 copy and do like it's sound even though its playability (as is any P-bass I have played) is nowhere near the Cirrus. Does this mean that I wouldn't like the sound of the Thundergun.
It appears that the Mercalli is one of the better all around basses. In your opinion is this a fair statement?
I know this post is not in-line with "club" here is my bass posts, but nowhere else could I get these questions answered, and, at some point, I will post my Reverend bass.
But, for someone who can't find one within driving distance, how does one evaluate their SOUND. I listened to a few youtube videos and just can't tell from those.
This is the only review I could find:
http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/Reverend_Justice_and_Thundergun_Bass_Reviews
"...
Thundergun Rating:
Buy if...
you're after a dependable bass that's eye-catching on stage and you like some edge to your sound.
Skip if...
you're a traditionalist in both sound and design.
Justice Rating:
Buy if...
you like a bass designed from tradition yet with a take all its own.
Skip if...
you need a bright, aggressive bass, both in looks and sound.
Rating..."
I take from this that these basses have a particular unique sound. For the Justice the "skip if you need a ...aggressive bass" and for the Thundergun "skip if you are a "traditionalist" in...sound"; just what the heck does this mean?
My view is that ANY bass should be able to tonally be dialed in to match whatever sound one wants - with the exception of specialty basses that, for example, attempt to get a double bass sound.
And all these basses are priced very close to the same so price is not the consideration.
So my questions are to those of you that say you have played all of them.
Which two 4 string basses are the better all around basses?
For instance I play a Peavey USA Cirrus which I guess would fall under the category of "aggressive" as it sure as heck is with rotosounds. Does this suggest that I wouldn't be happy with the Justice "...skip if you need an aggressive bass"? And even though I am not generally a P-Bass fan I do have a 51 copy and do like it's sound even though its playability (as is any P-bass I have played) is nowhere near the Cirrus. Does this mean that I wouldn't like the sound of the Thundergun.
It appears that the Mercalli is one of the better all around basses. In your opinion is this a fair statement?
I know this post is not in-line with "club" here is my bass posts, but nowhere else could I get these questions answered, and, at some point, I will post my Reverend bass.
The easy answer is "don't buy a bass you haven't played!" Might be able to work a demo via UPS through one of the larger retailers. I've played a few of the new models...my opinions (I like a traditional pbass):
Justice = j bass. nothing unusual or unique about the tone. love the satin neck
Decision = P/J bass. the bridge pickup seems more mild than mercalli or thundergun. love the satin neck
Thundergun. I have no use for the bridge pickup - too agressive for me. Painted neck felt sticky to my hand. All my basses have unfinished necks
Mercalli 5. nice neck, same tone as Tgun. I have no use for a 5th string.
I really like the neck on the bolt on series basses. Very smooth and easy to play. Width is somewhare in between J and P on all basses. My hands are large, but my finger span is short. Works well.
If I were shopping I would look for the Meralli 4 or the Decision. I would roll the tone to the neck P/U 90% of the time to get a more traditional pbass tone. I'd pick the style that suited my eye as they both play about the same.
Based on your description, I think you should look at the meracllis and the Tgun. Roll the tone to the bridge and the tone becomes more agreesive. Other than styling, the difference is the neck paint versus satin finish. The pickups are the same, and I think the tone is the same.
My opinions only - Good luck!
Justice = j bass. nothing unusual or unique about the tone. love the satin neck
Decision = P/J bass. the bridge pickup seems more mild than mercalli or thundergun. love the satin neck
Thundergun. I have no use for the bridge pickup - too agressive for me. Painted neck felt sticky to my hand. All my basses have unfinished necks
Mercalli 5. nice neck, same tone as Tgun. I have no use for a 5th string.
I really like the neck on the bolt on series basses. Very smooth and easy to play. Width is somewhare in between J and P on all basses. My hands are large, but my finger span is short. Works well.
If I were shopping I would look for the Meralli 4 or the Decision. I would roll the tone to the neck P/U 90% of the time to get a more traditional pbass tone. I'd pick the style that suited my eye as they both play about the same.
Based on your description, I think you should look at the meracllis and the Tgun. Roll the tone to the bridge and the tone becomes more agreesive. Other than styling, the difference is the neck paint versus satin finish. The pickups are the same, and I think the tone is the same.
My opinions only - Good luck!
- Sep 3, 2006
- 4,358
- 6,117
- Disclosures
- Authorized dealer for Dingwall, Genzler, Phil Jones Bass, Cort, Traynor, Yorkville Sound
Thank you Cam,
I didn't realize the Tgun & Mercalli had the same pickups and I also didn't know one was painted neck versus satin finish. I would rather have satin finish any day and don't know why they would choose looks versus playability and do all in satin finish (I may be overlooking something here). I would think the set-neck versus bolt-on would also make a bit of tonal/sustain difference but don't know.
I too am not a 5 string fan and only look at 4's.
I really like the looks of the clear TGun and the Mercalli in copper as well as violin brown burst flame maple.
Any other comments appreciated.
I didn't realize the Tgun & Mercalli had the same pickups and I also didn't know one was painted neck versus satin finish. I would rather have satin finish any day and don't know why they would choose looks versus playability and do all in satin finish (I may be overlooking something here). I would think the set-neck versus bolt-on would also make a bit of tonal/sustain difference but don't know.
I too am not a 5 string fan and only look at 4's.
I really like the looks of the clear TGun and the Mercalli in copper as well as violin brown burst flame maple.
Any other comments appreciated.
Last edited:
all the set necks are painted. the bolt ons are satin. Sounds like you have a winner - mercalli 4.
Sound wise I think the Maple Fingerboard Mercalli 4 is the one to get. BTW I play mostly on the Bridge Pickup. I like that passive/aggressive tone.
That's a helluva bass for the money
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
- Sep 3, 2006
- 4,358
- 6,117
- Disclosures
- Authorized dealer for Dingwall, Genzler, Phil Jones Bass, Cort, Traynor, Yorkville Sound
Sure is a good-looking bass - one of the better looking ones, IMO, for less than $1500. Although price-wise it is getting in the range of good active basses. Its not like I need another bass - I just haven't been able to take my eyes off the pics of them since I first saw them being discussed.
Been quiet for a few days, thought I'd post my Rev. PJ-XL. It was a JJ originally, but I bought a 8.7k P from reverend a few years back, I put both jazz bass pickups by the bridge and had Chandler make me a baltic amber pickguard, which apparently does not exist anymore, I can't find any anywhere... too bad, really is a classy looking material for guards. The company that makes Super J basses must have the last stocks. Anyway, how about you guys post some of your old school reverends......not that I am dissing the new ones. I just can't get used to the super long horn they put on them, to me it doesn't make the body look as stylish, though they sound good and playability is pretty good also.
do
Interesting mod there. How have you got the toggles rigged?
The new Revs are very nice for sure. But they are a different animal than the Rumblefishes.
Here's a couple of my Fishes.
Templar,
The gibson type toggle switch is for either neck, both in parallel, bridge. The small toggle is for the bridge pickup and is wired series,back coils alone, and parallel. Though I am not sure if I wired them out of phase, because the bridge pickup with the back coil alone is really thin sounding and low in output, and when I roll the tone down more than half the volume disappears. Same thing but to a lesser extent on the parallel, the series sounds fine though, so I am not sure if I got two wires mixed up in there, and since I used a glue gun to goop the connections where they meet the pickups, I am loathsome to pull it out and start going through it, without knowing exactly what I did wrong with the wiring. Any thoughts??
By the way, I love your collection man, ever thought of an XL wiring? Now that I have the p in the neck and the 2 jazzers on the same bass I can compare what jazz in series sounds like compared to a p, I think that the series sounds better for rock riffs with a bit of edge than the P. P sounds better to me for the groove type stuff, though.
The gibson type toggle switch is for either neck, both in parallel, bridge. The small toggle is for the bridge pickup and is wired series,back coils alone, and parallel. Though I am not sure if I wired them out of phase, because the bridge pickup with the back coil alone is really thin sounding and low in output, and when I roll the tone down more than half the volume disappears. Same thing but to a lesser extent on the parallel, the series sounds fine though, so I am not sure if I got two wires mixed up in there, and since I used a glue gun to goop the connections where they meet the pickups, I am loathsome to pull it out and start going through it, without knowing exactly what I did wrong with the wiring. Any thoughts??
By the way, I love your collection man, ever thought of an XL wiring? Now that I have the p in the neck and the 2 jazzers on the same bass I can compare what jazz in series sounds like compared to a p, I think that the series sounds better for rock riffs with a bit of edge than the P. P sounds better to me for the groove type stuff, though.
No thoughts on your wiring, sorry. Maybe ask in one of the other forums?
The XL. Yeah I have an early one. It's great but I kinda like the VVT setup more. Never played a PJ fish, I'm sure they sound huge.
Templar,
Wow man, nice collection! Let me ask you, what is the difference that you can tell between the rosewood and maple boards. I ask because any change in bridges is more pronounced in the rumblefish basses, I figure it would be the same story with the neck.
Regards,
Ed
Wow man, nice collection! Let me ask you, what is the difference that you can tell between the rosewood and maple boards. I ask because any change in bridges is more pronounced in the rumblefish basses, I figure it would be the same story with the neck.
Regards,
Ed
After much debate i just pulled the trigger on this Decision from Monster Music in NY. $903 shipped with a Reverend case.
- Sep 3, 2006
- 4,358
- 6,117
- Disclosures
- Authorized dealer for Dingwall, Genzler, Phil Jones Bass, Cort, Traynor, Yorkville Sound
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