The Reverend Club (part 8)

[paddydaddyo]

Just like I think there should be a coil split switch on the bridge HB of the Mercalli, why not have three on/off switches for the triad to get EVERY pickup option? I mean, if you are sticking with passive systems, there is a lot that can be done pretty easily to maximize the circuits, no? Just my 2 cents (adjusted for inflation) ...

 

[melloncollie]

You wouldn't even have to have 3 separate switches. Just use a push pull pot and the five way like they use on the Pete Anderson east sided. Seems like a fairly easy mod though.

 

[60bass]

I was just on the Bay and saw this Rumblefish listed for sale priced at $1,523.00. Ships from Japan. I'm 99% positive that this is a fake Fish. Or at the least one with a replaced neck. Take a look at the truss rod access. That doesn't look like any Reverend bass neck I've ever seen. Looks like a Fender MIM. Also no SN or initials on the back of the headstock. Body edges seem way too yellowed as well.

What does everyone think?

Reverend Rumblefish Used Electric Bass FREE Shipping | eBay

 

[FingerDub]

I was just on the Bay and saw this Rumblefish listed for sale priced at $1,523.00. Ships from Japan. I'm 99% positive that this is a fake Fish. Or at the least one with a replaced neck. Take a look at the truss rod access. That doesn't look like any Reverend bass neck I've ever seen. Looks like a Fender MIM. Also no SN or initials on the back of the headstock. Body edges seem way too yellowed as well.

What does everyone think?

Reverend Rumblefish Used Electric Bass FREE Shipping | eBay

Definitely sketchy. Is a standard bent plate bridge what they used on Rumblefishes? Skunk stripe neck? Also, isn't the pickguard supposed to be corrugated aluminum? And don't they write on the back of the neck when they set up a bass and The Tech Guy signs it?

 

[Dub56]

Definitely sketchy. Is a standard bent plate bridge what they used on Rumblefishes? Skunk stripe neck? Also, isn't the pickguard supposed to be corrugated aluminum? And don't they write on the back of the neck when they set up a bass and The Tech Guy signs it?

Also replying to post #1203:

Bridge looks fine to me. I'm not seeing any problem with the truss access from the pics, seems to match my Rumblefish. Skunk stripe necks happened on the earlier examples of Rumblefish (I have one). Not sure on the pickguard. The signature being absent from the back of the headstock is curious, mine and all others I've seen have been signed either ZSG or by Joe Naylor. Body edge yellowing is VERY common on these.

 

[sPiKi]

Does the Mercalli 4 sound anything like a Stingray HH? I'm really hoping the answer is no, as I had one of those a few years back and never bonded with it. I'm due to receive my Merc this week after a very long wait and just hope I won't be disappointed.

 

[jd56hawk]

Does the Mercalli 4 sound anything like a Stingray HH? I'm really hoping the answer is no, as I had one of those a few years back and never bonded with it. I'm due to receive my Merc this week after a very long wait and just hope I won't be disappointed.

I have a Thundergun. Same pickups and electronics as the Mercalli. Doesn't sound anything like a Stngray...sounds more like my L2000.
(I have 35-year-old flatwounds on it, though)

 

[Rezdog]

Greetings from the North,

Sometimes the markings on the back of the headstock can get worn off. On one my BH5's the markings are partially worn off. It would take a big effort to replicate the body of an original Fish. Looks to me like the real thang.

Rezdog

 

[Chris 'Wighat' Jordan]

Greetings from the North,

Sometimes the markings on the back of the headstock can get worn off. On one my BH5's the markings are partially worn off. It would take a big effort to replicate the body of an original Fish. Looks to me like the real thang.

Rezdog

Ditto.

 

[60bass]

Also replying to post #1203:

Bridge looks fine to me. I'm not seeing any problem with the truss access from the pics, seems to match my Rumblefish. Skunk stripe necks happened on the earlier examples of Rumblefish (I have one). Not sure on the pickguard. The signature being absent from the back of the headstock is curious, mine and all others I've seen have been signed either ZSG or by Joe Naylor. Body edge yellowing is VERY common on these.

Thanks for the info.
I was just surprised that the neck was so similar to a Fender neck in looks and TR access style. My Rumblefish also has a bent plate bridge too. I know the sides can get yellow but I'd just never seen one that yellowed out before. After I read your post I did see that the early and a few of the last ones made had skunk stripes. So the bass I posted about is probably legit. As to why no s/n or initials? That's anybody's guess.

 

[FunkyFlashFive]

On my BH5 the serial has almost totally worn off. Since it was just written on in marker, it could well have come off from someone getting overenthusiastic in polishing.

 

[chris4001asat]

Just like I think there should be a coil split switch on the bridge HB of the Mercalli, why not have three on/off switches for the triad to get EVERY pickup option? I mean, if you are sticking with passive systems, there is a lot that can be done pretty easily to maximize the circuits, no? Just my 2 cents (adjusted for inflation) ...

The original prototype had 3 volume knobs and a tone! I strongly suggested a kill switch if they were going to keep that setup. I also suggested three on/off switches. Joe decided on the simpler route of a 5 way switch. Andy Irvine just did the demo videos last friday. He's in love with the redesigned jazz bomb pickups.

 

[chris4001asat]

I was just on the Bay and saw this Rumblefish listed for sale priced at $1,523.00. Ships from Japan. I'm 99% positive that this is a fake Fish. Or at the least one with a replaced neck. Take a look at the truss rod access. That doesn't look like any Reverend bass neck I've ever seen. Looks like a Fender MIM. Also no SN or initials on the back of the headstock. Body edges seem way too yellowed as well.

What does everyone think?

Reverend Rumblefish Used Electric Bass FREE Shipping | eBay

One of the reasons we stopped making the phenolic bodies, was because the mold for the plastic ring wore out. The expense to have a new mold made wasn't worth it. I doubt if a forger would go through the expense of having a mold made for outside ring.

 

[melloncollie]

The original prototype had 3 volume knobs and a tone! I strongly suggested a kill switch if they were going to keep that setup. I also suggested three on/off switches. Joe decided on the simpler route of a 5 way switch. Andy Irvine just did the demo videos last friday. He's in love with the redesigned jazz bomb pickups.

From the sneak peak ken did on Facebook I can see why Andy likes them. I've always thought reverend jazz pickups were a little tame. The jazz bombs sound quite a bit more aggressive.

 

[redstrand]

I'm looking forward to the triad demo, it's the only thing I could add without the wifey getting mad cause I don't have one already lol

 

[60bass]

One of the reasons we stopped making the phenolic bodies, was because the mold for the plastic ring wore out. The expense to have a new mold made wasn't worth it. I doubt if a forger would go through the expense of having a mold made for outside ring.

Thanks makes perfect sense.

 

[paddydaddyo]

I have a chance to pick up a gold Justice 4 with a maple board from the same guy I got my Mercalli 4 FM from. Thinking pretty seriously about pulling the trigger on it after my recent excellent experience with the Merc ...

 

[paddydaddyo]

Certainly looks sweet ...

 

[Seano76]

Seano76, with your VVT modification, when you run both pups on full do you still get the weak "out-of-phase" scooped tone like what occurs with the blend knob? Or is it better?

Sort of. I find it usable though.

 

[sPiKi]

Just completed my order this afternoon for a Mercalli 4 in metallic copper fire. A long 48 hour wait lies ahead lol. After nearly a six month wait that's nothing and I am super excited to eventually get to play this thing. Will report back in a couple of days.