I couldn't find info on this, but why did they stop making these basses? It seems to be an awsome bass from what I see here. I love the look too.
Were sales bad?
Were sales bad?
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Why did Reverend stop making basses?
- Thread starter Oh! Henry
- Start date
Unfortunately, sales just weren't that great. Which sucks, because they are one of the best passive basses ever. I think part of the problem was no retailer system. They always go direct. That's great, but they needed more exposure.
Yea they were sold on Musiciansfriend. That's the first time I ever saw them. I always thought they were weird looking, but after hearing one my thoughts on them changed! Great sounding bass.
Reverend sold through dealers for a while then decided to go with direct sales (bet the dealers all loved that, eh?). They got into and then out of the amp business too (I'm sure those waiting months on a Goblin amp weren't too happy). Nice gear but not the bext business sense.
Shame, as my old Fish R5L was sweet. I miss it even though I don't play 5s any more.
Shame, as my old Fish R5L was sweet. I miss it even though I don't play 5s any more.
They've become collector's items now. I really really want a 5er. Reverend still makes guitars I believe.
Chef
In Memoriam
Simply, sales were not what they needed to be.
The looks are a tad off-putting to some.
I grew on Univox, Aria, Italia, Dan Armstrong, and Caddies with tailfins, so I really dig the "retro-italian-hot-rod" looks.
The passive electronics are grrrreat, and the necks are really second to none.
Go to the Reverend forum and beg for new ones. I personally want a "Club King Hollowbody, with P90-ish single coils, wired like a 5L."
Picture this in four strings:
There are two basses I own that producers will let go directly to the console: my Reverend 5L, and my custom built '51 Precision 5 string.
The looks are a tad off-putting to some.
I grew on Univox, Aria, Italia, Dan Armstrong, and Caddies with tailfins, so I really dig the "retro-italian-hot-rod" looks.
The passive electronics are grrrreat, and the necks are really second to none.
Go to the Reverend forum and beg for new ones. I personally want a "Club King Hollowbody, with P90-ish single coils, wired like a 5L."
Picture this in four strings:
There are two basses I own that producers will let go directly to the console: my Reverend 5L, and my custom built '51 Precision 5 string.
They stopped making them when they (sigh) moved all their production overseas.
They are killer basses, but they (IMO) tried to do too many different things at once. Lots of guitar models, amps, etc., and they didn't build up a solid dealer system before expanding production every which way at once.
It's a shame, because they really are different from any other bass I've played, and they are wonderful instruments.
Chef: Stop taunting us by talking about your 5-string '51 P. That bass gives me more GAS than a Mexican restaurant.
+1 on lobbying for a special edition Hollowbody 'fish. I'd order one in a heartbeat, even if I had to spend the next few weeks sleepin' on the couch.
They are killer basses, but they (IMO) tried to do too many different things at once. Lots of guitar models, amps, etc., and they didn't build up a solid dealer system before expanding production every which way at once.
It's a shame, because they really are different from any other bass I've played, and they are wonderful instruments.
Chef: Stop taunting us by talking about your 5-string '51 P. That bass gives me more GAS than a Mexican restaurant.
+1 on lobbying for a special edition Hollowbody 'fish. I'd order one in a heartbeat, even if I had to spend the next few weeks sleepin' on the couch.
Chef
In Memoriam
how did they know?
I think he's the strange man I've been noticing outside my window at night
They dropped all of their american production. Basses, Guitars, Amps, everything. I think they had some issues with business plan or lack thereof. They had a small dealer network, went direct, went back to a small dealer network. My suspicion is they weren't turning a profit at the prices they were asking (my slingshot is loaded and was about 950 with a case).
Greetings from the North,
I think Joe Naylor's design was a bit ahead of its time. The use of different materials for the body as well as the style that wasn't an offshoot of the Fender/Gibson/Rick look made more than a few players timid about them. Especially those that think that a bass can't possibly sound good unless it's made from some sort of exotic wood or combo there of. I got admit most of the pictures didn't do them justice. Sort of like Sophia Loren...she's not cute but she can be stunning.
One thing that I did hear from some one close to the factory was that Joe had to buy 300 or so side body rings/shells at a time from his supplier. That combined with not a large enough volume in sales weren't enough to sustain things. Who knows maybe in the future, if conditions and planning are right, they may make a comeback. If some one else had the savvy to pull it off they might approach Naylor about licensing..... Reverend ABN (Approved By Naylor)
Just joshin.
Rezdog
I think Joe Naylor's design was a bit ahead of its time. The use of different materials for the body as well as the style that wasn't an offshoot of the Fender/Gibson/Rick look made more than a few players timid about them. Especially those that think that a bass can't possibly sound good unless it's made from some sort of exotic wood or combo there of. I got admit most of the pictures didn't do them justice. Sort of like Sophia Loren...she's not cute but she can be stunning.
One thing that I did hear from some one close to the factory was that Joe had to buy 300 or so side body rings/shells at a time from his supplier. That combined with not a large enough volume in sales weren't enough to sustain things. Who knows maybe in the future, if conditions and planning are right, they may make a comeback. If some one else had the savvy to pull it off they might approach Naylor about licensing..... Reverend ABN (Approved By Naylor)
Just joshin.Rezdog
They were completely American-made and hand-inspected to a clearly higher standard than say, Fender, and sold for a shockingly low price. Under those circs I'm surprised the business model held up as long as it did.
I guess we have to accept that it was one brief shining moment in the sun and move on.
I guess we have to accept that it was one brief shining moment in the sun and move on.
Chef
In Memoriam
+1. My SLingshot came with the best set up I have ever felt on a guitar. And in 4 years or more, it hasn't moved at all. Just flawless all around. Great player, great tone.
I do think alot of people had a hard time getting past the non traditional materials, which becaome an especially hard sell when there isn't a showroom. I mean, we all know what an Alder bodied, maple necked bass with a P pickup sounds like, but our familiarity with phenolic and such is more limited.
