The Reverend Club (part 8)

[Iridescentone]

My beloved Reggie...Rumblefish XL is in need of an electronics overhaul - switch, pots, cap. Before I dig into the bass, I thought I would see if anyone has any lessons learned or advice, or possible upgrade suggestions.

I'm assuming it has a 250k tone pot, 500k vol pot, and 0.022 cap. I'll have to verify this before ordering new parts.

Anyone been through this before on an XL? thanks!

Cam

What happened? Was it corrosion from the salty sea air?

 

[camthebassman]

I think it is a fresh water 'fish!

Everything functions, but the pots are very loose and scratchy at the end of travel, especially the volume knob. I double on sax and seem to "accidently" rub the knobs the wrong way when I throw the bass to my side to grab the horn and via-versa. Time for a re-fresh!

 

[Chef]

CAIG De-oxit is great for cleaning/fixing noisy pots.

 

[mike o]

Hope this is OK with you folks. I have a reverend mercalli fm 5 for sale on Talk Bass forum. I wish I could keep it but it's not getting played enough. Looking for a new great home.

Thanks

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[FretlessFatty]

Why are there no sound samples of the new Reverend basses? I can't find any on Youtube.. I can't find any on Reverend's website. I'm tempted to buy a Decision, or maybe a Justice... but it's hard to know without sound clips. Not everyone lives near a dealer.

 

[Dave Siff]

Why are there no sound samples of the new Reverend basses? I can't find any on Youtube.. I can't find any on Reverend's website. I'm tempted to buy a Decision, or maybe a Justice... but it's hard to know without sound clips. Not everyone lives near a dealer.

Here's some Youtube clips featuring new Reverend basses, except for the Justice. Couldn't find that one.
Meshell Ndegeocello playing her Decision:

 

[FretlessFatty]

Thanks, Dave. I'd sure love to hear the Justice too, and the Decision in more of a demo-like video...

 

[camthebassman]

New electronics for Reggie. I decided to change to VVT since I was rarely using the 3 way switch and I think it will be more versatile with separate volume controls. To save time, I bought a pre-wired VVT harness from BestBassGear. I've used these before. They are high quality assemblies.

Here are a few shots of the job in case someone is curious about what lurks inside a 'Fish!

Start

Cover off and stripped:

Enlarging holes in cover to 3/8":

Reassembly:

Cleanup, new strings, and it's ready! Sounds great!

Easy job, especially with the pre-wired assembly from BestBassGear. One thing I've noticed about my Rumblefish is that the fretboard is very dry. It soaks up lemon oil like it's going out of style. I re-oil at every string change.

Cam

 

[Chef]

All I see there is beer.

You should use boiled linseed oil, not lemon oil.

 

[camthebassman]

Beer! Where? You're right about the lindseed oil, probably cut with some turpentine. Lemon oil doesn't last very long.

 

[Dave Siff]

I use this for fretboard conditioning. It also polishes the frets. And it's a wipe, so no potential for spillage. Pretty cool product.
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[rkingly]

Sweet Bass Camthebassma!
Dr. Ducks Axe Wax is the shiznit for conditioning fretboards.
A little bit goes a long way. I love it!

 

[camthebassman]

Dr. Ducks Ax Wax.....with a name like that, I gotta try it!

 

[FunkyFlashFive]

Picked up the Merc 5fm from Mike O, this things a beast, makes a great change from my Dean Euro Improv, I played it in rehearsal this week and It ripped through the mix! The guitarist/producer had nothing but good things to say about it.
Thinking bout putting some half/quarter/pressure rounds on to tighten things up and tame the highs a touch, any suggestions? I want to keep the feel of round wounds, and my other basses wear DR Low-riders (both stainless and nickle) which I love but I'm not sure would fit the personality of this bass

 

[chris4001asat]

I've got DR Black Beauty's on one, and TI flats on the other. I really want to like the DRs because they look cool, but the flats really sing on this bass.

 

[Iridescentone]

New electronics for Reggie. I decided to change to VVT since I was rarely using the 3 way switch and I think it will be more versatile with separate volume controls.

I like the VVT more than the XL switch, too.

Nice '57 Turquoise there.

 

[Chef]

BH5 at work.

 

[speyer]

atta boy!

 

[Chris 'Wighat' Jordan]

Thank you, Speyer, for the BH5 pickups. Never thought I'd be able to land some original pups to go in BH5 #80.

Chef, has anyone asked for first crack at yours if you ever sell it?

 

[Chef]

Many times. If it ever goes for sale, it'll be whomever has cash ready..........

It's a bad mo-fo, and I enjoy it when I use it.