ROGUE VB-100 VIOLIN BASS (electric bass)

[Lee Knight]

Phil or anyone else interested,

I noticed you in Ted's pics playing a Hofner or a copy. I think I also saw it in the guitar hallway pic.

My wife wants me to teach her how to play bass, and since I suck soooooo royaly on the drums and I'm teaching my daughter guitar, well, this could be a lot of fun for the Knights.

Last week I read a review of a Johnson Beatle Bass for around 300 smackers. I think a Beatle Bass might be a cool way for someone with little hands like the missus to learn on. My Jazz Bass is too big for her. (No jokes please):evil:

What do you think?
What kind of bass is that of yours?
You were playing it so you must like it. Right?

[offramp]

I'm not Phil, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

For $200--or just under--you can get a Rogue Beatle Bass from Musician's Friend. It gets high ratings.

[Lee Knight]

Originally posted by offramp
I'm not Phil, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

For $200--or just under--you can get a Rogue Beatle Bass from Musician's Friend. It gets high ratings.

Thanks. I'll look into the Rogue.

[Kiwiburger]

The Epiphone Violin Bass is rather good. I don't know if i'd recommend any of these for a beginner - unless they are really into early McCartney.

The real Beatle bass is a Hofner - very expensive. Which is bizaare, because they were a cheap bass in their day. MCartney always struggled with intonation, and had to avoid the upper frets. That's what I hate about them - the bridge is very old fashioned and not accurately adjustable. Hate Hate Hate.

When McCartney got his Ricky, that's when things got interesting.

I would actually recommend a Steinberg bass for begineers. They are basically baseball bats - sold, thru neck, very adjustable. Great for small people or travellers.

[Phil O'Keefe]

I purchased the
Rogue VB-100 Violin Bass (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=bass/search/detail/base_pid/508160/) as a little "present to myself" a few months ago when they were on sale for $179. They're back up to $200 now, with free shipping. No case or gig bag is included at that price - those will cost you extra.

The Korean built Rogue uses a short scale. I'm not sure if it's 30 or 31" - I've never measured it, and I've read both figures online. In any event, it's very comfortable to play. Due to the hollow body, the bass is just a tad "neck heavy" when worn on a strap, but not excessively so, and that's a problem with the basic design of a small hollowbody bass, and not exclusive to just the Rogue.

The neck is not as thin, side to side or front to back up at the nut, as my Ibanez SR1100, but it still feels very comfy in my smaller than average hands, and the shorter scale makes it very easy to play.

The build quality is pretty darned good. I was surprised by how good, considering the low price. The finish and binding on the plywood body are smooth and well applied, and the flame top and back, while not "Hofner-accurate", are quite nice looking. The frets are even and didn't need any dressing or polishing. The neck arrived straight and true, and I didn't need to do any truss rod adjustments... although the roundwound strings that come installed on the bass were the very first thing to get tossed - they're pretty bad. I would recommend that anyone considering this bass budget a few extra drachmas for a replacement set. Roundwounds on a violin bass are just WRONG - get a good set of flatwounds. I went with a set of Rotosounds, gauged 40 / 60 / 80 / 100. Not only do they sound better / more "appropriate" for a bass of this type, they're also easier on the fingers.

The no-name, sealed gear tuners work very well, and the bass tunes up and holds its tuning just fine. The metal "butterfly" tuner knobs look a bit funky and definitely non-Hofner, but a pair of replacement banjo knobs from Steward-MacDonald helped with that a bit. I opted for the slightly larger pearlescent plastic (Stew-Mac part #0095) knobs, but if I had to do it again, I think I'd pay a bit more for the slightly smaller and more authentic looking ivoroid plastic knobs (part #3305), even though those cost a bit more. The knob replacement is quite easy - just pull the existing knobs off the stock tuners by removing the screw, put the new ones on and replace the screw. Detune the bass first though, because it will detune on its own when you remove the knob screw.

Again, setup was pretty easy - however, you will have to remove the thin foam that they place under the bridge to avoid marring the top during shipment. And of course, because it is a removeable "floating" wood bridge (it looks like it's rosewood, as opposed to a Hofner's more substantial ebony bridge), you'll have to futz around with the placement of it a bit or have a bass tech set it up for proper intonation. Hofner bridges are available as a replacement part, and I may opt for one if and when the stock unit bites the dust, but they will require a bit of work to get their height correct when used on a Rogue.

The electronics are set up in the traditional Hofner manner, with one volume control and on / off switch for each pickup. A third, "solo / rhythm" switch is also included - just like on a Hofner. Like a Hofner, the switching can be a bit confusing at first. The neck pup's switch is actually the MIDDLE switch, and it is "on" when pulled towards you. Same for the bridge pup switch, which is located closest to the neck - which is rather unintuitive, but also "Hofner accurate". The switch closest to the tailpiece is the "rhythm / solo" switch, which gives you about a 6 dB reduction in volume when in the "rhythm" position. Like a Hofner, there are no tone controls on the Rogue.

Problems? Only a few. The metal nut for the output jack comes loose fairly easily - a little Locktite should clear that up, although I have not gotten around to applying any yet. As I mentioned, the bridge doesn't look as hefty and substantial as a Hofner's, but so far, it's held up just fine.

The biggest "problems" with the bass are actually cosmetic, and those are really only an issue if you're going for maximum Hofner-esque vibe. Not that the cosmetics are bad, but they're not dead on Hofner accurate. The headstock shape is very Hofner-esque, but of course it proudly proclaims "Rogue" instead of "Hofner". If you really want to change that, there are dealers online who can sell you a replacement Hofner headstock decal, although you'd need to refinish the headstock face in order to put one on, and frankly, it's a Rogue, not a Hofner, and I'm not trying to pass it off as one.

I didn't really care for the two black plastic volume knobs. Not only do they look a bit funky, but they're a bit small... so I replaced mine with a pair of Hofner "teacup" knobs, which are a little larger and sit a little higher up off the bass, making them easier to grab in a hurry. That added another $32 to what I have "into" the bass, price wise. The good news is that the teacups fit the stock Rogue potentiometer shafts just fine.

The switches are black, as opposed to a Hof's white switches. They work fine, but they're a bit smaller and feel a little more flimsy than a Hofner's switches. I don't know how well they'll hold up over the long haul. Time will tell, but so far, so good.

The body shape is pretty close to a Hofner's, but like all the Hof copies, it's a little different. IMO, it looks "closer" to a Hof's shape insofar as the side cutaways on the body, being less rounded, with more defined "points" than the sides of say, a Jay Turser. The Turser looks more accurate insofar as the color of the plastic parts - the pickguard and control plate. The "mother of pearl" parts on the Rogue are much "whiter" than the more yellow toned Hofner parts. I don't believe the Turser parts are available seperately, and if you wanted to use Hofner replacements, you'd probably have to rework them to fit. The non-flame top finish on the Turser more closely approximates the standard Hofner finish color too, but again, with the body shape differences, it's a bit of a toss up as to which one looks closer to a real Hofner.

Speaking of the competition, there are several Violin basses on the market. Of course, you could drop about ten times as much ($1,900 "street price") on a real Hofner. Epiphone also makes a violin shaped bass, but considering Gibson's fairly long history of making violin shaped basses and the significant cosmetic differences, I really consider those to be seperate beasts and less of a Hofner copy / clone. There is also the aforementioned Jay Turser J2B-2B (http://www.samash.com/catalog/showitem.asp?ItemPos=0&TempID=1&STRID=163750&Method=2&CategoryID=0&BrandID=0&PriceRangeID=0&PageNum=0&DepartmentID=2&pagesize=10&SortMethod=4&SearchPhrase=jay&Contains=%2Ajay%2A&Search_Type=SEARCH&GroupCode=), which currently sells for $269, and Rondo Music also sells the Brice HVB-600 (http://www.rondomusic.net/hvb600blk.html) for $249. I've seen Tursers and Brices available with white and black finishes, while the Rogue is only available with a flametopped sunburst finish.

But for me, the sound and feel of the bass are more important than nailing the cosmetics, and this is where the Rogue really shines. After you get the strings replaced with flatwounds, the sound really comes close to a Hofner. Due to the hollow body, the unplugged acoustic sound of the instrument is surprisingly loud; plenty loud enough for practicing "unplugged" if there isn't a lot of background noise happening in the room you're in. Because the bass sounds so good "unplugged", I want to experiment with sticking a mic in front of the body and tracking it sans pickups to see how that sounds, although I have not done so yet. One of my friends, folk-rock musician / singer / songwriter extraordinaire
John McGill (http://www.johnmcgill.com), thought that the Rogue sounded very similar to a upright bass, and wished for a fretless version. A good tech could pull the frets from the rosewood fingerboard and replace them with wood fretmarker inlays if that's something that someone wanted to experiment with.

Through an amp, or direct through a Groove Tubes Brick preamp, the bass blooms and thumps like a Hofner, with a thick, woody tone that has a surprising amount of bottom to it. Much moreso than any short scale Fender bass I've ever owned. I generally prefer the "Paul approved" settings, with the neck pup "on", the bridge pup "off" and the rhythm / solo switch in the "solo" setting. Play Penny Lane, Come Together, or She's A Woman on this bass and you'll be surprised how much it sounds like what you've heard for years on those Beatles records. IMO, there's no other way to cop those tones other than using a hollowbody Violin bass, and if you've struggled to nail those tones, adding a Rogue to your gear arsenal will get you there. I also noticed that with the sound and feel of the Rogue, Paul's bass parts suddenly make a lot more sense from a playing standpoint. After struggling with fingerings and trying to nail that tone for years, I was pleased with how quickly everything "gelled" when playing those parts on the Rogue.

And it really is a blast to play this thing. :D I don't think I've had more fun with any new instrument purchase in years... and for $200, that's a bargain.

The Rogue Violin bass gets high marks from me, and I recommend it for anyone who is looking for a good playing, great sounding bass. Especially if you're trying to cop that Brit-Invasion sound and vibe on a tight budget. Two thumbs WAY up!

http://foxtick.com/foxboard/images/smiles/Phil-Thumbs-Up-Small.gif http://foxtick.com/foxboard/images/smiles/Phil-Thumbs-Up-Small.gif

[gearmike]

Hey Phil,

My session at your place last spring didn't inspire you to pick up the Rogue did it?

[Phil O'Keefe]

Originally posted by Kiwiburger

The real Beatle bass is a Hofner - very expensive. Which is bizaare, because they were a cheap bass in their day.

Yery true. IIRC, Macca paid 45 Pounds for his Hofner, which was pretty inexpensive at the time, although that was in the early 60's.

MCartney always struggled with intonation, and had to avoid the upper frets. That's what I hate about them - the bridge is very old fashioned and not accurately adjustable. Hate Hate Hate.

While it's true that the bridge doesn't feature individual adjustable saddles, a little careful adjustment of the positioning can get the intonation happening very well, up and down the neck. I can play "Penny Lane" on this bass just fine and without cringing at the intonation - and since I have perfect pitch, I'm really picky about intonation.

The one thing to remember with a Hofner or any clone is that the bass really requires a bit of a lighter touch than you might be used to if you've spent a lot of time playing other basses. That's not a criticism, just an observation.

When McCartney got his Ricky, that's when things got interesting.

I love a good Ric - they're great basses. :cool: And of course, Paul's aquisition of the Ric corresponds with some significant changes in their recording situation. Geoff Emerick took over the first engineering duties for the Beatles at around that same time, and he was apparently more willing to "push the boundaries" a bit more, and would try to give the Beatles the "louder bass" that they were seeking and that they admired so much on the Motown records of the day.

Of course, while the tone of the two basses is quite different, there were, IMO, plenty of "interesting" bass parts that Sir Paul used the Hofner on - even after he got his Ric. A lot of Abbey Road was played on the Hofner, and IMO, that's some of his best bass playing.

[Kiwiburger]

I'm still amazed at Macca's bass tones on Abbey Road - I have a folder of short samples of classic bass reference tones, and Come Together is one of them.

I never knew he used the Hofner that late - I should get myself a good clone. I've only really played the Epiphones, and I rate them fairly highly.

You need the Rotosound Trubass black nylons for Abbey Road stuff. Even on a Jazz, they will get you 90% of the way there.

But there is something extra deep and yummy which i'm thinking is due to Studio 2 and the mic techniques used ...

These little short scale bass are incredibily phat ...

[Phil O'Keefe]

Originally posted by gearmike
Hey Phil,

My session at your place last spring didn't inspire you to pick up the Rogue did it?

Not really Mike. :)

I've wanted a violin bass for years and years, but the prices on new Hofners and vintage violin clone basses like yours have always put me off. But I figured that $200 was not much to risk, so I took a chance on the Rogue, and I'm very glad that I did. It's not going to completely replace my '89 Ibanez SR1100, which is still better for certain types of (and has a wider variety of) sounds, but I do find that I reach for the Rogue more often than I reach for the Ibanez... and considering the price difference between those two basses, that's pretty amazing. :)

[Phil O'Keefe]

Originally posted by Kiwiburger
I'm still amazed at Macca's bass tones on Abbey Road - I have a folder of short samples of classic bass reference tones, and Come Together is one of them.

I doubt he would have been able to play the roller coaster bass lines on "I Want You / She's So Heavy" with the Ric... it's a LOT easier on the Hofner. ;)

I never knew he used the Hofner that late - I should get myself a good clone. I've only really played the Epiphones, and I rate them fairly highly.

He switched betwen the two basses quite a bit, even on Pepper, The Beatles and Abbey Road. Of course, most of the Get Back / Let It Be sesions were done with the Hofner - as you can plainly see in the movie and on the "rooftop" performance.

You need the Rotosound Trubass black nylons for Abbey Road stuff. Even on a Jazz, they will get you 90% of the way there.

I have not tried those, but thanks for the tip. :cool: I think the recent issue of Bass Player Magazine with Sir Paul on the cover mentions his string brand / gauge preferences... I'll check on that and get back to you.

But there is something extra deep and yummy which i'm thinking is due to Studio 2 and the mic techniques used

Geoff Emerick always used a mic on Paul's bass cabinet. To the best of my knowledge, it was never taken "direct". And I BELIEVE the mic used was a AKG C-12. I seem to recall reading that somewhere in a Geoff Emerick interview. Again, I'll see if I can track that down for you too.

But I really think that a lot of that "extra deep and yummy" tone is due to the hollow body. ;)

These little short scale bass are incredibily phat ...

Agreed. :) I have always liked the playability of a 30" scale bass, but I've never been wild about the sound of the Mustangs and Musicmaster basses I've owned - they just get too undefined sounding on that low E string and seem to lack the punch and bottom of a full scale bass, so I've forced myself to play long scale basses, even though it's harder on my dinky hands. But there's plenty of bottom end to the Rogue.

[Kiwiburger]

Rotosound make a big point about their Tru bass 88 strings being used on Abbey Road. I'm sure they couldn't claim that if it wasn't true - knowing a little bit about Beatles laywers.

But - I believe Macca didn't use Rotosound much, and was more likely to use La Bella. I think they make a set specifically for Beatle bass, which should be awesome.

I'm trying to get some LaBella flats for my P-bass, but things run a bit slow here.

I tried the Tru bass 88 and was very impressed at how they transform a bass. I find huge variation between the sounds of of bass string sets - even flat wounds.

If you have a bass that hums a little unless you touch the strings, you can't use Nylons (unless you ground yourself some other way). I also found that the binding can get in the way of standard Fender bridges. You can cut it off, or better still fit a Badass bridge.

[gearmike]

How is the pick up?

Is it warm and fuzzy like my Bruno?

I still love that sound we got...the harmonic structure of the hollow body is just full and goo-ey and spongy...

[Lee Knight]

Thanks Phil! Wow, that was quite a response. You've answered my question and then some. And though I want this for my wife to learn on, there is a reason why I want to get her one of those besides just the short scale. Ahem...

I've been using the Roto Trubass on and off for years now and love them. Now that I'm past my gigging 5 nights stage in life, the Trubass' stay in the drawer. Then when I need to, just pop them on my Jazz and I'm Paul! Well, sort of.

Having my wife's new violin bass around will come in handy...:) At 2 bills the Rogue sounds like a steal.

[scapier]

I've been wondering if these copies would be in the ballpark. I've wanted a beatle bass for several years, and thought there was no substitute for the Hofner mystique. I've played Hofners and Tursers side by side and there was no comparison. If the Rogue really gets that sound and feel I'll check them out. Still I hope to find a beat up uncollectable Hofner that is cosmetically poor but structurally sound. So to ebay I regularly go....

Spencer

[Phil O'Keefe]

Well, since "clips" seem to be popular here on HC, when I finished my session tonight, I decided grab the Rogue, plug it into a Groove Tubes Brick, and also feed it into an Eden Nemesis bass amp (2X10's with a bullet tweeter), mic that with an RE20 off axis (at about 8") and feed it right into one of the Digi 002's preamps. No compression, no EQ, just straight in on both feeds, with the DI on the left and the mic on the right... or was it the other way around? You figure it out. ;) Anyway, after I took all of two minutes setting everything up, I tossed on my new iPod Nano and played along with a couple of Beatles tracks. Whatever came out is what you get. :) And if it's sloppy or out of time, it's not because I was tired or any other excuse - it's because I suck. ;) :D

They're too large to put up as attachments... does anyone want to host / post them?

[Tedster]

I read an article with McCartney talking about his Hofner...and how much he hated it. But, it became his trademark, and although he's used other basses over the years (notably the Rick)...he always comes back to one of his Hofners...to quote "because people expect to see it".

But, I'd surmise that he's had some souping up done to it, because it sounds awesome these days. It's his main "go to" bass on his tours. I believe he's actually got several of them...I think the reason he got one at first was 1) because it was cheap 2) because he found a left-handed one and 3) because it was symmetrical, so if he did find himself with a right handed one, it wouldn't look weird strung and played upside-down (before the Jimi days ;))

Methinks I'll have to pick up a Rogue... :D

[Lee Knight]

The Beatle style bass to me is like how David Lindley uses funky old crap guitars. When you work with the limitations of the instrument, you can be rewarded with something that is uncommon and original.

The guy in Medeski, Martin, and Wood uses one to that effect. He sounds nothing like Paul. He does sound original. Paul sounds original too!

Phil, I'd love to hear your clips, sorry I can't help with the hosting.

[daklander]

Phil,
Let me know where to get the files and I'll host them for awhile. Between the 4 sites I have, I have the room and bandwidth for the time being. Are you running mp3 at 160+?

[seaneldon]

Originally posted by Phil O'Keefe

I love a good Ric - they're great basses.

great guitars, too. i just bought number 5 an hour ago.

who wants to pay off my credit card? c'mon...

[Phil O'Keefe]

Originally posted by daklander
Phil,
Let me know where to get the files and I'll host them for awhile. Between the 4 sites I have, I have the room and bandwidth for the time being. Are you running mp3 at 160+?

I might be able to get them uploaded to my site Dak, I'm still checking. They're 192 MP3's, and all three are fairly short.

[Phil O'Keefe]

Okay, as promised (and with thanks to Songrytr for loading them to one of my sites), here's three quickie clips:

Clip 1 (http://www.philokeefe.com/broadcast/come_together_bass.mp3)

Clip 2 (http://www.philokeefe.com/broadcast/penny_lane_bass.mp3)

Clip 3 (http://www.philokeefe.com/broadcast/something_bass.mp3)

[Phil O'Keefe]

Originally posted by gearmike
How is the pick up?

Is it warm and fuzzy like my Bruno?

I still love that sound we got...the harmonic structure of the hollow body is just full and goo-ey and spongy...

I don't want you to think that the Bruno recordings were not inspirational - I really did dig the tone! :thu: It's just that it wasn't the primary inspiration for getting the Rogue - Hearing and seeing Paul do his thing on a violin bass for all these years obviously had the biggest influence on my desire to get a short scale hollowbody violin bass, and the Rogue's silly-low price and generally favorable reviews sealed the deal.

The tone of the two basses is pretty different, as I'm sure you will hear as soon as you check out those clips.. sorry for the overdriven sound of the Penny Lane clip - as I said, I was in a huge hurry, and I didn't spend any time trying to get levels or anything - I just tossed it down really fast, and only after doing that PL clip did notice I was slamming things pretty hard...

You know, a clip of the Bruno solo'ed out would be nice to put up in this thread for comparison's sake. I still have your sessions archived (as I told James I would do until I heard back from him), and I could solo out a Bruno track for a few seconds and post a clip of that if it would be okay with you and James.

[gearmike]

Originally posted by Phil O'Keefe


I don't want you to think that the Bruno recordings were not inspirational - I really did dig the tone!

Hey, I'm not trying to take credit for your inspiration! I was just wondering what the tone of the Rogue sounded like. For years I thought about getting a new pick up for that bass, but after hearing Lyle rock out with it during the What The? set a few years ago, and the cool tone we got with David at your place, I don't think I'd mess with the pick ups.




... I could solo out a Bruno track for a few seconds and post a clip of that if it would be okay with you and James.

I was thinking of doing that myself, but I don't have any place to post them. Go ahead and post a clip, maybe a few bars from the outro where you can really hear the thickness in the tone and a couple bars from the verse too...]

[gearmike]

Listening to your clips I think the tone is more modern sounding than the Bruno...

I'd really like to hear them up against the Bruno tracks...

[daklander]

Originally posted by Phil O'Keefe


I might be able to get them uploaded to my site Dak, I'm still checking. They're 192 MP3's, and all three are fairly short.

Replied before I saw the second page.

Sounds pretty good.
Yeah, get those Bruno clips up.

[Lee Knight]

I finaly got a chance to hear your clips Phil. Thanks for doing that. I've got to get one now. I love the way the flats sound on the slides. McCartney all the way.

[Phil O'Keefe]

I'll get the Bruno clips up as soon as I can, but it might take a day or two folks. I'm working on the Recording In Small Spaces article with Bruce, building and installing software in a new DAW computer (and taking notes so I can do an article ;) ), AND mixing / trying to finish up three CD's at the moment, so I'm pretty swamped right now... but I shall not forget.

I appreciate everyone's patience. :) :o

[gearmike]

Phil,

I'm heading out to Montana and Idaho over the weekend...go ahead and post the Bruno clips and I'll check 'em out when I get back on Monday.

Unless I can find wifi while I travel...

[gearmike]

Just in case anyone's wondering:

The Bruno we're talking about is my '64 Bruno which is an Italian knock off of a Hofner violin style bass.


And can be seen being played by Lyle here.

http://www.foxtick.com/Images/Phils_party/what-the.jpg

[Phil O'Keefe]

Thanks for posting the picture Mike. Wow, my studio building sure looked a LOT different when it was still in "stealth" mode. ;) :D

BTW, if you have a clip of the Bruno, you can email it to me... that would probably be a bit faster than me digging up the archive, finding the PT session, solo'ing out the Bruno, etc... but if not, I'll still get that done. :)

[Phil O'Keefe]

BTW, I measured the scale on the Rogue VB-100 last night - it's definitely a 30" scale. :)

[Phil O'Keefe]

Originally posted by Kiwiburger
You need the Rotosound Trubass black nylons for Abbey Road stuff. Even on a Jazz, they will get you 90% of the way there.

[B]But there is something extra deep and yummy which i'm thinking is due to Studio 2 and the mic techniques used ...

As promised Kiwi, here's some specifics from Geoff Emerick himself:

And you liked using a microphone in figure-8 pattern on bass.

"I used to try to pull the bass out of the track to get its own space and hear it more defined. And one way I tried to do it was to put a tiny bit of chamber echo — well, actually I should say reverberation — on it. I started to do that on Revolver, but Paul could always detect even the slightest amount, and he wouldn't accept it. So I had to be careful.

But when we were doing Pepper, Paul would often overdub his bass after everyone had gone home. It would be just Paul and I and Richard Lush, the second engineer. We'd spend a couple or three hours doing bass parts, and I started using a C12 on figure of 8 about eight or 10 feet away from his cabinet, which I would bring into the middle of Number 2 studio. I'd bring it out into the open from the corner area where it was baffled off because I wanted a bit of the room sound."

Quote is sourced from Maureen Droney's excellent interview with Geoff Emerick; originally published in the October 2001 issue of Mix Magazine. (http://mixonline.com/recording/interviews/audio_geoff_emerick/)

BTW, that's a great interview, and highly recommended for anyone interested in learning how Mr Emerick did things with the Fab Four. Good info on ADT is in there too. :cool:

[gearmike]

Hey Phil,

I can get the clips emiled to you on Monday. I'm in Kalispel Montana at the moment.

Its 4 degrees out side right now!

I head to Boise tonight and then i'll be home late Sunday.

-Mike

[Phil O'Keefe]

That will work Mike... and that way, YOU get to select the sections you want to share / feature. :thu:

[gearmike]

Hey Phil,

I actually have a copy of the session on my laptop!

I found the audio file and transferred it to my PC laptop, since I didn't bring my Mbox or 002 on this trip with me.

I'll cut up the parts in Audition on the plane and hopefully I'll find a connection in Boise to post them tonight or tomorrow.

[Man it's cold up here!]

:eek:

[Phil O'Keefe]

Cool - that will give you something to do besides freeze Mike. ;) :D

[wishfulsinful909]

Wow, I was JUST looking at gifting myself this little baby (the Rogue)...thanks for the review!

I also own Rogue's copy of their Jerry Jones/Danelectro Electric Sitar and am VERY impressed with it's distinctive 1967 sound and how well it stays in tune!

I love any company that does quality reissuses of classic gear...now if ONLY they'd just make a Vox Teardrop copy that was actually, you know, playable....:D

[Phil O'Keefe]

Mike, I have the sessions still, and can do the clips if you can't get to it - just say the word, and tell me which song you want me to use, and which parts you prefer that I use. :)

[Terry Allan Hall]

Originally posted by Kiwiburger
I'm still amazed at Macca's bass tones on Abbey Road - I have a folder of short samples of classic bass reference tones, and Come Together is one of them.

I never knew he used the Hofner that late - I should get myself a good clone. I've only really played the Epiphones, and I rate them fairly highly.

You need the Rotosound Trubass black nylons for Abbey Road stuff. Even on a Jazz, they will get you 90% of the way there.

But there is something extra deep and yummy which i'm thinking is due to Studio 2 and the mic techniques used ...

These little short scale bass are incredibily phat ...

I love nylon tapewound bass strings and have them on both of my P-basses...Fender on my fretted bass and GHS on my fretless (the GHS are a little smoother feeling)....both get a nice sound, IMHO. :)

[sspear]

Hey I read with interest you guys talking about the Rogue. I've had one for a couple of months and I love it on my lap. But tryimg to play it on a strap sucks. It falls forward so I have to play it up high. what do you guys do?

[js1]

Geez, Phil. Thanks a lot. Now I have to buy one.

js

[Phil O'Keefe]

Originally posted by sspear
Hey I read with interest you guys talking about the Rogue. I've had one for a couple of months and I love it on my lap. But tryimg to play it on a strap sucks. It falls forward so I have to play it up high. what do you guys do?

I deal with it. ;) Yes, as I think I mentioned, the Rogue VB-100 is a bit neck heavy, which means that if you're wearing it on a strap and let go of it, the neck will tend to drop downwards towards the floor a little bit. It's not perfectly balanced on a strap... but then again, neither is a Hofner. It's a simple matter of physics and leverage. That hollow body doesn't have enough weight to counterbalance the weight and leverage of the neck.

I find that using a good (and fairly wide) strap helps, as does keeping your right arm (assuming you're using a right handed model Rogue) on the body in the playing position when you remove your left hand from the instrument is enough to keep the neck from dropping away from you.

[Phil O'Keefe]

Originally posted by js1
Geez, Phil. Thanks a lot. Now I have to buy one.

js

If you do, please feel free to post / share your thoughts / impressions with everyone. :wave:

[sspear]

well Phil to be honest I have somewhat of a beer belly at 55 and what I meant is the top body of the bass goes over. I guess I need to loose some weight. But hey Duck has always been a little pudgy too.
Thanks
Old and fat in Memphis

[Lee Flier]

Just getting around to reading this... thanks for the review Phil! The clips sound great! I am thinking maybe a belated Christmas present for a certain bass player I know that is pictured on the previous page? :)

Enjoyed seeing the pic Mike... Lyle really did dig playing that Bruno!

[Phil O'Keefe]

Originally posted by Lee Flier
Just getting around to reading this... thanks for the review Phil!

Glad you liked it Lee. :)

The clips sound great!

If by that you mean you like the sound of the bass, yes, I agree. It's a cool sounding little bass. If by that you're referring to my recording and / or playing... well, thanks. :o ;)

I am thinking maybe a belated Christmas present for a certain bass player I know that is pictured on the previous page? :)

I think he might appreciate that. :thu: And if you decide to do that, please feel free to post your (and his) expert opinions about it here once you have a chance to play with it a bit. :)

[J.B. Lee]

Originally posted by Phil O'Keefe

I find that using a good (and fairly wide) strap helps, as does keeping your right arm (assuming you're using a right handed model Rogue) on the body in the playing position when you remove your left hand from the instrument is enough to keep the neck from dropping away from you.
True. Yet for me half of the Hofner vibe comes from pairing it up with a skinny brown "Vintage Style" strap with the movable shoulder pad. I just can't picture one without the other.

[2manband]

Phil - have read the thread with great interest - have a birthday coming up and am looking for something to expand my tonal arsenal a little.

I've had a couple of thoughts for mods that I would like to perform on mine if I get one (and I probably will). You mentioned fret removal- This is a very interesting idea. I was considering the possibility of removing the frets and filling the slot with a white resin. Something that would still be visible against the dark board, but, when sanded smooth w/ the board would leave a sharp line. Ideally a material that could be removed with an appropriate solvent if I ever wanted to re-install the frets. Anybody have any thoughts on what material would work well for this?
Also, I'm thinking about installing an acoustic pickup. The bridge doesn't look like a standard piezo element could be installed (please correct me if I'm wrong) - so I thought that the B-Band Tape mic might work well - wire it and the standard magnetic pickups to a stereo TRS jack. Is enough of the interior of the body accessible beneath the control panel that this could be accomplished without any cutting?
I think that these mod's would get me some sounds that could hint at those of an upright bass and am pretty excited about what that could do for a few original songs I'm recording.
Anybody have any input that might help?

[Phil O'Keefe]

Originally posted by 2manband
Phil - have read the thread with great interest - have a birthday coming up and am looking for something to expand my tonal arsenal a little.

Cool - happy birthday! :thu:

I've had a couple of thoughts for mods that I would like to perform on mine if I get one (and I probably will). You mentioned fret removal- This is a very interesting idea. I was considering the possibility of removing the frets and filling the slot with a white resin. Something that would still be visible against the dark board, but, when sanded smooth w/ the board would leave a sharp line. Ideally a material that could be removed with an appropriate solvent if I ever wanted to re-install the frets. Anybody have any thoughts on what material would work well for this?

I honestly wouldn't know what to suggest. This site (http://www.guitarworx.net/reps.html) advertises conversions from fretted to fretless for a bit over $100. IMO, letting a pro do it might not be a bad idea. :) IIRC, most fretless conversions use a slow drying epoxy to fill the fret slots, but that's not something you'll be able to remove later if you change your mind, and I don't know of anything that you could use that would let you do that. :( Honestly, I think the price of the Rogue is low enough that you could just buy two of them - one to leave fretted and one to convert. We're not talking about a $2,000 Hofner here. ;)

Also, I'm thinking about installing an acoustic pickup. The bridge doesn't look like a standard piezo element could be installed (please correct me if I'm wrong)

I guess it would depend on which piezo element you're considering using. :)

- so I thought that the B-Band Tape mic might work well - wire it and the standard magnetic pickups to a stereo TRS jack. Is enough of the interior of the body accessible beneath the control panel that this could be accomplished without any cutting?

Probably. Things are pretty tight in there, but if you pulled the output jack and used a little more wire (maybe some shrink-wrap), I think you could probably do it. No guarantees though.

I think that these mod's would get me some sounds that could hint at those of an upright bass and am pretty excited about what that could do for a few original songs I'm recording.
Anybody have any input that might
help?

Well, I don't know how closely you'd expect it to mimic a upright; but "hinting" at it, with the right piezo pup and a fretless conversion seems reasonable. Just don't expect that it's going to fool anyone into thinking it IS an upright - IOW, be reasonable with your expectations, and I imagine you'd have a pretty cool little tonal option on your hands post-conversion.

If you do mod one, we'll expect pictures and sound clips! :D

[2manband]

Phil

Thanks for the helpful input. The ~$100 fretless conversion deal you mentioned sounds like it should be perfect for me, but I'm not able to get the link to work. Could you post a URL?

I've dug a little deeper into my search for a piezo pickup and reallty like these:
http://www.gollihur.com/kkbass/bassteng.html
hopefully by removing the bridge pickup and control plate I'll be able to reach into the body and install them. The instrument is a full hollow body, isn't it? (no center block?) With these pickups I can try multiple positionings using the temporary 2-sided tape, find what sounds best, and then permenantly mount them.

In terms of sound, I'm definately not trying to convince anybody that it's an upright, but am just looking to (1) learn how to play fretless and (2) have a sonic texture to work with that I can't acheive with any of my existing gear (3) have a cool, unique instrument for a fairly small investment.

It'll 'prolly be a few weeks 'till I get started, but I'll keep everybody updated.

[2manband]

Oh - forgot 1 thing -

I'll probably switch to some nylon tapewound strings.

[voxyou]

Hi Phil! Just wanted to thank you & all the members for the great info on this bass. My last bass was a 1969 Hofner. Yea im that old! LOL
Ive been looking at the Rogue for over a year & decided to try it.
Your insight to this bass helped me jazz this thing into something special for me!
First of all, I got rid of the pickguard. Cheesy & cheap looking.
As per your advice replaced the metal tuner knobs with Ivory knobs from Stew Mac. I got the good ones!
While there, I replaced the input jack with an upgrade.
Volume knobs were replaced with Hofner teacups.
Last but not least, the strings were replaced with Rotosound Black Nylons. Now it looks like something! My vision ended with a Vox t-60 Bass amp that is comming in today. I think I got one of the last ones remaining in the country. Very happy with my project so far, but have 1 question for you?

Would there be any advantage to upgrading the volume pots to 500K? I have a pair, but dont want to mess anything up on the bass. My soldering is holding me back at this point.

Thank you and all the members again. Any advice would be most welcome on this last bass I will ever own.
Will send pics when im done.

[J.B. Lee]

You know what this thread really needs?

PICTURES!

Seriously, I'd like to see some of these Rogues after they've been "Hofnerized" :D

[fuzzy4dice]

Thought I'd chime in...

I have the Epiphone Viola, and I got it about four years ago.

It's been a great workhorse. I am primarily a guitar/keys/vocals guy, but every so often I'll have to overdub some bass parts. So, being a McCartney lover, I thought this was the one for me.

Not that it has extingushed the GAS to get a nice Jazz bass and a Rick, but, one thing at a time.

Anyway, it's got that great Hofner tone, bright/warm, and rich. The controls are great, but they are different than the Rogue (which I think is slightly closer to the Hofner version anyway). The Epi has no switches.

Fit and finish are great, and it has not given me any trouble. Check them out if you can.

Now, to finally put some flatwounds on it!

[voxyou]

Not that i matters, but will post a pic once my vox come in

[Phil O'Keefe]

Originally posted by 2manband
Phil

Thanks for the helpful input. The ~$100 fretless conversion deal you mentioned sounds like it should be perfect for me, but I'm not able to get the link to work. Could you post a URL?

I found it via a Google search. It was www.guitarworx.net but it's down for me at the moment too. :(

I've dug a little deeper into my search for a piezo pickup and reallty like these:
http://www.gollihur.com/kkbass/bassteng.html
hopefully by removing the bridge pickup and control plate I'll be able to reach into the body and install them. The instrument is a full hollow body, isn't it? (no center block?) With these pickups I can try multiple positionings using the temporary 2-sided tape, find what sounds best, and then permenantly mount them.

They're fully hollow as far as I can tell, but they're made of pretty thick plywood.

In terms of sound, I'm definately not trying to convince anybody that it's an upright, but am just looking to (1) learn how to play fretless and (2) have a sonic texture to work with that I can't acheive with any of my existing gear (3) have a cool, unique instrument for a fairly small investment.

Well, if you want to experiment on something, the Rouge is pretty inexpensive. And while I doubt it's going to fool anyone into really believing it's an upright they're hearing, I do think it would at least be interesting and unique. :cool:

It'll 'prolly be a few weeks 'till I get started, but I'll keep everybody updated.

Please do. :)

[Phil O'Keefe]

Would there be any advantage to upgrading the volume pots to 500K? I have a pair, but dont want to mess anything up on the bass. My soldering is holding me back at this point.

I honestly don't know. It really depends on the output of the pickups, and I think they're probably better suited to 250K's. But it can't hurt to try - unless your soldering skills are not up to it, and if that's the case, I'd recommend getting someone else to do it for you.

Oh, and the pots inside the Rogue are small in size, not standard full sized cans. Just thought you should know in case you have the larger diameter pots.

BTW, after a couple of weeks, I broke down and got the ivroy tuner knobs too. :) They look much better than the pearlescent ones, and go well with the teacup knobs. :)

I sound like a fashon coordinator or something. :rolleyes: :D

[Phil O'Keefe]

Thanks for adding the comments about your Epiphone fuzzy4dice. :cool:

Folks, feel free to post pics if you've got 'em. :) I'll try to get some up soon too.

[fuzzy4dice]

Epi Viola pics...

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f12/evantoth/The%20Gear%20of%20Evan%20Toth/Viola5.jpg

[Phil O'Keefe]

Very nice. :thu:

I wish they had used the more golden-hued mother of pearl on the Rogue. The sunburst color looks very nice on yours, and the top looks like it has better bookmatching. The tailpiece, bridge and pickups look very similar to the Rogue's though.

[voxyou]

Well im done with my bass. Kinda like the way it turned out with the changes

[J.B. Lee]

The Epiphone is quite a bit more expensive than the Rogue, isn't it? About twice as much in fact, so I'd be interested to know if the pickups are different at all.

[voxyou]

I thought I saw it has Epiphone Humbucker pickups.
While im no expert on this subject, they seem to do the job.
Please don't get me started on another upgrade!!!!! LOL

[2manband]

The pickups are humbuckers aren't they?

I'm wondering if I use nylon tapewound strings over a single coil pickup if I'll be getting a lot of buzz because I'm not actually grounding the strings when I touch them.

[voxyou]

Was playing last night & having a good time. Then I looked down at those little switches & said, guess im not done? LOL

Has anyone replaced the switches with Switchcraft replacements with the Ivory ones?

Any model numbers would be great, as im not sure where to go at this one.
If not, guess im done then!

[betal fan]

I am also very curious if anyone has changed out the black slide switches with cream ones. Mrf. part number, where you got them and how hard they were to change would be a big help.

[Phil O'Keefe]

I didn't bother with the switches. I know that the Hofner switches (and even the whole control plate / switch / pot assembly) are available as replacement parts, but I don't know if they would fit into the Rogue without some modifications.

If you try it, please let us know if it works or not. :)

Here's a couple of links for you to check out:

Hofner Parts Link 1. (http://www.guitar-parts.com/content/estore_list.asp?category=17&catname=Hofner+Beatle+Bass+Parts)

Hofner Replacement Parts Link 2. (http://www.voxshowroom.com/northcoast/hofner/hofner_parts/hofner_volpot.html)

Both places sell the whole prewired control plate... but it's more than the whole Rogue costs. :eek: The second link sells the raw switches, and at a more "affordable" price.... but again, caveat emptor, because a lot of the parts are probably not directly interchangeable.

[betal fan]

I've bought several things from NCM. Never fromthe other. It's crazy to buy the entire prewired control panel. Like you said it costs more than the bass itself.

I saw on some posting that someone actually painted them. I'm goint to try to find that posting and contact that person. I'd like to see if they can send pics on the paint job.

[fuzzy4dice]

I wonder if those teacup knobs would fit properly on my Epi!?

[betal fan]

Measure the posts on the poteniometer. I bought my teacup knobs from North Coast Music. I think my pot posts measures .23". Theres a screw to tighten them. They really make a difference.

I'm looking to change the slide switches, but I don't want to spen more than the guitar, you know.

[Phil O'Keefe]

North Coast has the individual switches (white) available - "Price: $13.50 USD each". Link is in my previous post. :) Don't know if they'll fit the control plate on the Rogue without some modifications or not though. If you try it, please let us know how it goes - ditto that for any paint info you can track down. :)

[betal fan]

Well...I ended up painting the switches this weekend. They look great. I just used spray paint that is for plastic. I made sure that i used painters tape covering up the pot switches. For less than $5.00 for the paint, and 1 hour of work, I got the look I wanted.

[betal fan]

I'm just curious as far as taking off the pick guard. What about the holes from the screws? Can someone show a closeup picture of a Rogue without the pickguard?

[betal fan]

Has anyone changed the tailpiece and used the one sold by Allparts. I'm curious to know if there was any modifications needed, or just install.

Please let me know. Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!

[2manband]

Well it took a little longer than I anticipated, but mine's on the way. I also ordered these:

http://www.gollihur.com/kkbass/bassteng.html

to install inside under the bridge - Can't decide whether to use a 1/4" stereo jack, or just drill a hole for a second jack. I'll look into posting some clips when it's done. I've decided to leave the frets on for now - I may or may not remove them in the future. Not many upgrades for me besides that - prolly remove the pickguard, but I'm not going to bother w/ the tuner heads, knobs, etc.

[Phil O'Keefe]

Originally posted by betal fan
Has anyone changed the tailpiece and used the one sold by Allparts. I'm curious to know if there was any modifications needed, or just install.

Please let me know. Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!

Do you mean the Hofner styled one on this page? (http://www.allparts.com/categories.php?cat_id=418&cat_name=TRAPEZE%20TAILPIECES) I don't know if that will work or not. It might be too long. I'd have to measure the one on the Rogue and see if it's close to that in length, but if it's significantly shorter than the Hofner one, and / or the screw holes don't line up, it will take some modifications to work - if it will work at all. :(

[Phil O'Keefe]

Originally posted by betal fan
I'm just curious as far as taking off the pick guard. What about the holes from the screws? Can someone show a closeup picture of a Rogue without the pickguard?

I'll see if I can pull mine off and snap a few pics for you. :)

[Phil O'Keefe]

Originally posted by voxyou
Well im done with my bass. Kinda like the way it turned out with the changes

BTW betal fan, if you look at the original message that I just posted (should be at the top of this page), there's an attachment pic of a Rogue with no pickguard on it. You can't see the screw holes, but t should give you an idea of the overall "look" without the guard installed.

[voxyou]

If you get your microsope out, you will see them. Aside from that the bass looks much better without that cheap looking part.
While I try to pay attention to detail, remember it's a $200 bass.
I try not to pick fly sh** out of pepper, LOL.
Im not done yet, but just enjoy this little pup!

[2manband]

Got the bass and installed the K&K pickup - installation went very easily - I've installed a second jack where the tailpiece strap button was. The pickup heads went under the soundboard between the bridge pickup and the bridge. Put on some nylon tapewound strings - had to open up the bridge slots w/ a file to do it.
The sound is pretty cool - I've been using 2 channels on my silverface bassman 10 for the 2 pickups and blending the sound. I can get anything from the MacCartney sounds to a neat acoustic tone - somewhat uprightish. Very pleased w/ the results all in all. I'll try to post some clips.

[voxyou]

Found a Hofner switchplate from this guy on Ebay. 30 min & a few minor cuts from my Rotozip saw got it to fit. Covers up all the existing screw holes & can't believe how much better it looks.
Painting the switches, thanks to info on a past post, this weekend.
When it's done, will repost pics.

[betal fan]

I would love to see how your bass looks. I was debating whether or not to buy the control panel plate. NCM wants 38.50 + S& H. if yours looks that good, I might have to spend the money. Then I'll be done.

[voxyou]

Well im not touching the pickups cause they sound great!
New control plate (got lucky, only paid $26) & painted the switches. Aside from having Mccartney sign it, im not sure what more I could do, or would I want to? Gave it my best shot guys!
Im not the best, but had fun with this project.

[betal fan]

Looks great! You're right you did get lucky on the $$. I haven't seen anything cheaper than around $40. Did you end up buying from that guy in Crete, IL?

Also how much Rotozipping did you do? Was it the switch openings or pot opening?

[voxyou]

First, I must thank Phil for allowing me to post this info. He was the one who got me started on upgrades in the 1st place!

I bid on this plate last Feb on Ebay & got beat out by another guy by $1.00. Im thinking oh well? 2 weeks ago he emailed me & said his plate wouldnt fit his 62 Hofner & did I want it for $26.00?
Sure!, I'll take a chance. He told me upfront it would not fit a Rogue & I could always resell it. He was kinda right!

Seems the Hofner plates need to be cut a bit to fit the Rogue.
Overall plate size covers all the existing screwholes.
I started with the Pot holes (bit too small) and worked my way down. The Rogue switches are a bit more to the right because they are smaller, so just take one at a time. Took me about 20 min to get it to fit. Any drill bit type saw will do the job, but remember, your cutting through plastic. Go slow & be carefull!

Also I had to drill new mounting holes, as the new plate is only 2 screws. DON'T throw away the original plate screws as they fit the new plate perfect!

As far as switch paint goes, I used good old Krylon spray paint.
Tape up everything including the back electronics. Give it 2 light coats & sit back & say OH MAN!!!!!

Theres a guy on Ebay selling Switchplates from time to time.
priced from $15 to $30. Just get on Hofner.

Only prob im having now is the low E string is a little sharp on intonation. Maybe someone could give me some advice on moving the bridge?

Hope the info helped & good luck in your project.

[js1]

Back on pg 3 of this thread, I threatened to pick up one of these. Now I have.

And I'm liking it. Put on the obligatory flatwounds, although the roundwounds sounded pretty good (if a tad buzzy with the stock setup).

I was surprised at the finish of the body (very nice). Only workmanship issue was the bridge - the string slot of the E was misfiled, and the string sits too close to the edge of the neck on the higher frets.

Yeah, the pots and switches aren't the greatest, but so what. It's an incredible value, and sounds great.

I blame you, Phil. Thanks.

js

[Phil O'Keefe]

I blame you, Phil. Thanks.

I love it! :D :thu:

[voxyou]

Betal Fan. If you havent bought a plate yet, theres a guy on Ebay named Drsaxe3 seling one for $34.00.
Don't know anything about him, but may be worth checking into?
Look under Hofner

[betal fan]

Thanks for the info. I got real lucky and bought one for $15.50. I'm waiting for my new controls to come in from the UK. I think I'm going to have my luthier do this for me. I haven't soldered anything in over 20 years and I want it done right.

Then my project will be complete. I will post some pics at that time.

[Phil O'Keefe]

Originally posted by betal fan
Thanks for the info. I got real lucky and bought one for $15.50. I'm waiting for my new controls to come in from the UK. I think I'm going to have my luthier do this for me. I haven't soldered anything in over 20 years and I want it done right.

Then my project will be complete. I will post some pics at that time.

Cool! :thu:

[offramp]

Just happened across a couple of Jay Tursers at Robb's Music in Boulder a couple of hours ago. Gotta tell you, the blonde model is beautiful! Not wild about the gold hardware, but hey.
Needed a setup pretty bad, but was playable. Didn't plug it in.

Made in China. Caught me off guard.

[Phil O'Keefe]

Offramp, did it have roundwounds on it, or flatwounds?

Most of the Made In Asia Violin Basses I've played came with roundwounds on them "stock". Just pulling those off and putting a pair of flatwounds on the Rogue made an almost magical difference in the way it plays. The roundwounds buzzed and it felt like it needed a setup. I put the flats on and adjusted the bridge a bit for intonation and it was perfect. I didn't have to touch the truss rod. :)

Thinking about picking that blonde up? ;)

[offramp]

Well...I wasn't, but it keeps circling in my head.

How do I tell my wife "I'm going to head up to Boulder and pick up a blonde"?:freak:

It had roundwounds, and they actually felt pretty good. I was surprised. Like I said, I didn't plug it in--I usually don't in a music store, because I figure the staff gets enough of that all day--but the acoustical feel, alone, was enough to make me consider it. It did feel, on occasion, kinda "flappy", but I'm sure that was a combination of things. Never did it buzz, though, which I thought was cool.

It was priced--as I've since discovered--a little high, at $311. It also had a little ding in it on the topside; quite visible, lending more cred to my "priced high" judgement.

I've been poking 'round the 'net for them. I'm tending to prefer the black or the blonde ones; I'll settle for a burst if I hafta, but it's feeling a bit cliche` for my tastes.

An aside:
While on my net search for these the other day, of course I hit eBay. One of the more interesting search finds was a no-name violin-body bass. Looking at the pics, I started getting the little hair-shivers on my arm...it is--and I am between 85-90% certain--my long-missing VOX violin bass, that mysteriously disappeared from a consignment slot in a guitar shop in Indy back in the mid-80's, when the shop owner started getting a little heavily into the stuff that would eventually end up with him barricaded in his house for hours, and an eventual prison stay. I mean, they're pretty rare, and this one was just a little TOO familiar. If it is mine, I'd love to know about it's journey; I don't think the sellers have any idea, really.

[Phil O'Keefe]

Someone emailed me regarding the specific strings I put on my Rogue, and now I can't find it. :( Anyway, here's the info:

Rotosound SM 77, 40 - 100 Long Scale Flatwounds; gauges 40/60/80/100. Yes, I thought I had ordered medium scale, but either I messed up or I was sent the wrong thing. No matter though. Even though I had to cut some excess off, it wasn't too bad, and they work great. :)

[betal fan]

I put these on my Rogue.

ROTOSOUND RS-77M "JAZZ BASSS" ELECTRIC BASS SET
..to our complete listing of Gear & Accessories - Strings

ROTOSOUND RS-77M "JAZZ BASSS" ELECTRIC BASS SET
Monel flatwound, medium scale, light gauge, 040w 050w 075w 090w RECOMMENDED FOR USE ON HOFNER "BEATLE" BASSES.
RS77M. I got them at Elderly Music for $27.50

They are great. I really like the thin gauge. It's the same size that Sir Paul uses.

[fuzzy4dice]

I played the Epi out yesterday, and it BOOMS! Those mini-pups are so awesome! What a great bass.

That being said, I have been having strange ideas about (when my finances get a little cleaned up) selling it, and just buying a Hofner!

But seriously, this bass is AWESOME!

[J.B. Lee]

You guys might consider the Hofner "Contemporary Series" violin bass. It is an authorized Hofner copy made in China. It even has a center block, which should increase sustain and balance out the neck heaviness. Problem is I can't find an American distributor, but some UK stores are selling it for £ 429.99 (or about $792.43 in American dollars). That's about $1,000 dollars less than a German made version.

Hofner Product Description (http://www.hofner.com/index.php/component/page,shop.product_details/flypage,shop.hoefner_flypage/product_id,173/category_id,104/option,com_phpshop/Itemid,43/lang,en/)

UK Retailer that sells the bass (http://www.imuso.co.uk/ProductDetail.asp?StockCode=EG01457)

And another UK store (http://en.woodbrass.com/HOFNER+HCT-500%201+VIOLIN+BASS+-+CONTEMPORARY+SERIES+-+SUNBURST?osCsid=9664024370967cd842f6ea7b0eb03c63)

http://en.woodbrass.com/images/woodbrass/HOFNER+HCT500+1.JPG

[betal fan]

I'm sorry! But that's a Rogue look alike. I think all of us are trying to make our Rogue's look like Hofners and now they are making Hofners look like Rogues. The price is horrible for a Rogue looke alike. Just buy a Rogue!!!!!!!!!!!

[J.B. Lee]

Originally posted by betal fan
I'm sorry! But that's a Rogue look alike. I think all of us are trying to make our Rogue's look like Hofners and now they are making Hofners look like Rogues. The price is horrible for a Rogue looke alike. Just buy a Rogue!!!!!!!!!!!
With all due respect...

http://www.imuso.co.uk/images/Product/EG01457.jpg
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0002GU336.01-AIMZUKBRH6H15._AA280_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

...I really must disagree :D

I've also found out that these are "ON ORDER" at Music123 (part #360455) with a retail of $299.99. I guess that's exchange rates at work or something :confused:

[betal fan]

Let's agree to disagree!

However, this Hofner uses the same cheapo pickguard, control panel and tuner knobs as all the Beatle Bass copies do. Why don't they use the better parts?

BTW...I looked on Music 123 and couldn't find this anywhere. I have seen it before only available thru another music company. It wasn't referred to as the "Contemporary".

[J.B. Lee]

Originally posted by betal fan
BTW...I looked on Music 123 and couldn't find this anywhere. I have seen it before only available thru another music company. It wasn't referred to as the "Contemporary".
Go to http://www.music123.com/

On the right hand side you'll see "SHOP" with several links underneath it.

Click on > by quick order form (http://www.music123.com/MyAccount/Cart.aspx#catalogquickform)

You'll see a form for "QUICK ITEM ENTRY"

Enter 360455 under "Catalog #" and click "Add to Cart"

"Hofner Violin Bass (Sunburst)" will be added to your cart with a price of $299.99

They're due in within 2-3 weeks I believe, so the product page isn't up yet, but you can preorder one.

Here's a link that will answer all of your questions about the cheaper parts:
http://www.vintagebass.com/thedudepit/showthread.php?t=12528

Basically the Chinese made such a perfect copy that Hofner forced them to "cheapen it up" a bit so as not to render their pricey German models obsolete. It's a fascinating read really.

If you removed the pickguard and changed the control panel and knobs (as many have done to their Rogues) you'd be 99% Hofner accurate, versus 75% or so if you start out with a yellow, flamey, mishapen Rogue (which I mean in the nicest way possible ;)). The Rogues are great as instruments in their own right, but they aren't very good copies of a Hofner in my opinion.

Anyway, it's just something I wanted to pass along since I hadn't heard them mentioned on here before.

Have a nice day :wave:

[betal fan]

WOW!

Well I think that Hofner is really going to hurt all the Beatle Bass copies with this bass. The only thing that you have to do is replace the control panel and knobs.

For $300 you can own a Hofner. Fabulous!

Thanks for the info.

[Lee Flier]

Whoa! :eek: :eek:

Well, I will hold off on any purchases until this puppy comes out!

[Phil O'Keefe]

<Johnny Carson voive> I did not know that!</Johnny Carson voice>

Very cool - thanks for letting us know about that. :thu:

[Phil O'Keefe]

BTW, here' a link to the Hofner site:

http://www.hofner.com/index.php/component/page,shop.product_details/flypage,shop.hoefner_flypage/product_id,173/category_id,104/option,com_phpshop/Itemid,43/lang,en/

[J.B. Lee]

The "Contemporary Series" also includes the Coloramas, solid body guitars with either P90s or mini humbuckers. They've been on sale for $199.99 at Musician's Friend for a while now. Reviews seem to indicate nice build quality for the money.

http://acapella.harmony-central.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1262470&highlight=colorama

http://acapella.harmony-central.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1254719&highlight=colorama

I don't expect these to rival the German made stuff in terms of build quality, but it should be solid. Aesthetics are where it's at: right shape, right woodgrain, right color. They obviously went with a whiter pearloid and small black knobs to differentiate it visually. This could be easily changed for the purists however. I think Hofner is smart. They don't want to hurt themselves on the higher end stuff, but they want to put a butt whooping on Rogue and Turser.

They might've considered making a more accurate copy under a different brand name, ala a Epi Les Paul or Squier Strat. Perhaps a "Macca - by Hofner" with a larger headstock :D I do hope these don't turn up on eBay for $1,799.99 just because they've got $50 worth of new plastic on them.

Also, it'll be interesting to see what that center block does. Most common Hofner complaints are "no sustain" and "neck heavy". This thing may well end up being a real versatile bass.

[Roy]

If inexpensive is what you're after...

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-2007-VIOLA-BASS-VINTAGE-SUNBURST-SALE_W0QQitemZ280032028495QQihZ018QQcategoryZ4713Q QcmdZViewItem

[flatcat]

I have a Turser copy I use in a Beatles cover thing I do. I've also used it on several recordings, with surprisingly good results for a $200 instrument.

I use mine live with a Trace Elliot dual compressor pedal and that definitely helps with the sustain. Put it through a tube amp and I think it's very close, very vibe-y.

I think it's a great bass for the money I spent. The electronics are a little dodgy - one of the pots isn't quite right, there's a short in it, and the jack needs to be replaced - but in terms of the sound quality and playability, it's more fun than a barrel of monkeys.

It's a great little bass for not a lot of money. I love mine and I'm really glad I bought it.

I have some clips if people are interested - www.glassbeatles.com.

[digibird]

Here's another link in the inexpensive, huge bang-for-the-buck department of basses. I'm not familiar with the Brice HVB-600 Beatle bass available on the 2nd page, but at least it's an option to consider. I own one of the SX short scale basses in sunburst with a black pick guard - it looks and sounds beautiful. It's amazing what you get for so little $$$. Do some google searches on these basses, you'll find incredibly long discussion threads raving about them.

http://www.rondomusic.net/bassguitars4.html

[Mike McLenison]

I had a couple of Hofners Beatle Basses in the early 70's. I picked them up for around $100 ea with case. I missed them and got a Rogue around 4 years ago, and put Labella Deep Talkin flatwounds on it. From what I can remember of the Hofners, they didn't have as much punch as the Rogue, and were far more fragile. I bought a violin shape hard case from Steve's Music in NY for around $80 shipped. It fit perfect.

[Phil O'Keefe]

Okay, I have one more clip of the Rogue VB-100 in action...

http://www.myspace.com/theralphshow

Select the song "The Road That Leads To You". That's the Rogue into a Groove Tubes Brick preamp, then into a FMR RNLA compressor, and from there into Pro Tools. :wave:

[handofthehost]

My bass player bought Rogue's violin bass and I too was impressed by the overall quality of the instrument. As the band's self appointed gear tech, I have performed a few mods to improve the sound and playability. I replaced the strings with some pure nickel roundwounds. I didn't consider flatwounds, maybe next time. On the bridge, I lowered both fingerwheels to the bottom and used small brass washers to set the height of the bridge. I also stuck sandpaper to the body where the bridge rests and formed the base of bridge to the body more. I did a very light dressing to the frets, they didn't need much. I simplified the electronics by setting the two front switches as on/off for their respective pickups (rendered the rear switch moot.) I also made the front knob a volume and the rear a tone (with a paper-in-oil .022 or .047 tone cap, can't remember right now.) Installed a switchcraft jack. Put some tele style knobs on it. I slotted the nut slightly. Eventually I'll replace the mini pots with full size ones. Recently I replaced the ceramic magnets in the humbuckers with alnico V magnets I bought from StewMac. These mods have solidified a bass that was juuust that close to being awesome. Now it sounds and plays great. The pickups really benefitted from the alnico magnets, warmer and fuller.

[Phil O'Keefe]

Do you have a link or a Stew-Mac part number on the AlNiCo magnets? How difficult were they to replace? Can you possibly give us a step by step on that mod?

Cool post - thanks! :cool:

[handofthehost]

Sure, glad to. Firstly here's the link for the magnets:
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics,_pickups/Pickups:_Parts/5/Humbucker_Pickup_Parts.html
In retrospect, I would have ordered six magnets and gotten the discounted price. Once you do this simple mod, other opportunities seem to present themselves forthwith.

In order to remove the pickups from the covers, you have to get through the solder joints. I've found these usually are a higher temp solder and require a hotter iron. Instead of a solder gun, I used a box cutter and repeatedly scored the solder joints until I made it through. Be careful not to cut yourself. Just be patient and take a little with each pull. After I got through the joints, I carefully pried the pickups out with a flat-head screwdriver. The pickup itself is wrapped in copper foil and wax-potted. I unwrapped the foil just enough to expose the magnet. Now to align the magnet, I held the new magnet up to the old one while it was still in place. I figured the position in which they REPELLED each other would be the proper one as like poles repel. Seemed to work out fine. I pried the magnet loose very carefully and installed the alnico. Rewrapped the copper foil as tightly as possible and replaced it in the cover. At this point I should have gotten some aluminum tape or resoldered the cover joints, but I didn't. The covers come a bit loose, not a big deal but fixable. They're not falling off by any means. Reset up the bass and plugged her in. I noticed a bit more prescence in the sound right away, just something there that makes you want to play more. Perhaps a little more mid content without any loss of lows. She plays through a solid state bass amp with a compressor and a fuzz. The fuzz sound was improved, a better growl resulted. And I swear she could almost lose the compressor if she wanted to. All in all, a worthwhile and cheap mod.

[handofthehost]

...by repositioning the strap lug from the body to the frontmost part of the heel of the neck, you can get the Rogue VB100 to just balance without 'neck dip.'

[deltapancake]

Hey, I just purchased my Rogue VB-100 a few weeks ago and I've been dying to play it. The problem is the stock strings that it came with sucked, so I went out to buy Flatwounds like everyone recommended.

I started with Fender Flatwound Mediums (Too long and too big), then onto Flatwound lights (Fits, but is too long), I then tried the Rotosound Shortscale Flatwounds (about a few centimeters too short).

The sound I want to achieve is the 1960's Beatles "Thump", the kind you hear in their early recordings. What strings do you use/recommend that will fit on the first try :D I've already blew 80 bux on strings and I'm hesitant to buy another pack until i'm 100% sure.

Also, what are your settings on the knobs? I have both vol knob 1 and 2 maxed, and the treble switch away from me, the bass switch toward me, and the solo toward me.

Thank you in advance

Pancake

[Phil O'Keefe]

Pancake, I'm in the middle of a rush deadline mix session right now, but I'll try to get you the specifics and post them for you later tonight. :)

[Phil O'Keefe]

Okay, here's the strings I am using:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Rotosound-SM77-Jazz-Bass-Strings?sku=102835

They may be a little long, but not too bad. Just cut off some of the excess cloth covered area at the end of the string and they should work fine.

On the switches, I normally have them set so that when I look down at them from a playing position, the switch on my left is pushed away from me, as is the switch on my right, and the middle switch is pulled towards me.

[deltapancake]

For some reason my bass sounds tinny, especially the on the g string. I'm using Rotosound RS 77M light gauge - anything I should know to get a deeper sound all around?

[tubedude]

I replaced my strings with Rotosound RS77M Jazz Strings 40-50-75-90 meduim scale. Musicians Friend product # 102839. They fit perfect

[ABROUILL]

I've read with great interest the discussion on the Rogue Hoffner-like Violin Bass. I started playing bass on an inexpensive Hoffner copy WAY back, and have been looking for something similar to complement my current P-bass. So, y'all tipped the scales and I just ordered a Rogue VB-100.

BUT-- Musicians Friend lists the right-handed model with their 'Limited Quantities' tag, which they say indicates a closeout item, which will not be carried when the current supply is gone.

Can't imagine they are having trouble selling these, maybe the supplier has vanished?

Thought some of you would want to know, these may not be around for long!

[leftystratman]

Originally posted by digibird
Here's another link in the inexpensive, huge bang-for-the-buck department of basses. I'm not familiar with the Brice HVB-600 Beatle bass available on the 2nd page, but at least it's an option to consider. I own one of the SX short scale basses in sunburst with a black pick guard - it looks and sounds beautiful. It's amazing what you get for so little $$$. Do some google searches on these basses, you'll find incredibly long discussion threads raving about them.

http://www.rondomusic.net/bassguitars4.html

I used to own a '72 Hofner violin bass, had to let it go for financial reasons early this year. I missed it so much that I ordered a Brice violin bass. first impression was, HEAVY! when I received the box, I thought Rondo Music was kind enough to throw in a hardshell case. but no, no hardshell, not even a gigbag. of course I didn't order one.

anyhow, compared to the original Hofner Violin bass, this thing is neck heavy, and the neck is wider, too. I'm not sure if I like the thickness of the neck, but for the price of this bass, I can't complain. the tuners are fantastic, I'd even say it's better. intonation is way better than the original. it feels very solid, as well as the pots. I don't like the cheap looking small black knobs though.

I'm wondering if anyone swapped the pickups.

[shezza]

Hi there, I am a new member to the forum, Please excuse my
Ignorance,What is a Rogue Violin Bass.
I have just purchased the Hofner Contempory Violin Bass,
I did have an original Violin Bass back in 1967 the price was 62 Gns,
with fitted hard case, but as with many other guitar's that I owned, I sold it.......Pete.

[ABROUILL]

Originally posted by shezza
Hi there, I am a new member to the forum, Please excuse my
Ignorance,What is a Rogue Violin Bass.
I have just purchased the Hofner Contempory Violin Bass,
I did have an original Violin Bass back in 1967 the price was 62 Gns,
with fitted hard case, but as with many other guitar's that I owned, I sold it.......Pete.

Hi, Pete,
'Rogue' is the house-brand at Musician's Friend. The VB-100, a Hoffner-like hollow-body bass can be seen here:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Rogue-VB100-Violin-Bass?sku=508160

Check earlier posts on this thread for some good review info on the VB-100. I bought one last month, like it a lot, great fun to play.
Cheers!

[plgrmsprgrs]

Originally posted by voxyou

Last but not least, the strings were replaced with Rotosound Black Nylons.

Vox - Just took delivery on my VB-100, and I want to restring it with Rotosound Nylons. Can you post the exact length and gauges of what you put on yours? Also, did you have to modify the nut and tail piece to get them to fit? Thanks!

[shezza]

Hi there Plgrmsprgrs,I have just fitted black flat wounds to my Hofner Violin, As per the Get Back session on the roof of Apple.
They are Rotosound Tru bass Short Scale RS88S.
From www.stringsdirect.co.uk .........Pete.

[plgrmsprgrs]

shezza

Thanks for the reply. It is my understanding that the Rogue VB-100 is an inch longer than a Hofner (31" vs 30 ") which makes the short scale Rotosounds just a bit too short for the Rogue. In fact, I ordered a set of Rotosound shortscale (same as you put on your Hofner) and they were too short. Another concern is the gauge of the strings. The 115 in the Rotosound is too large for the nut of the Rogue. I suspect it's also too large for the tailpiece as well. I can't see anywhere that Rotosound makes the nylons in any other gauge, so I was hoping Vox (or anyone else) could comment on either where they found Rotosound Nylons at a gauge that worked on Rogues, or if they had to modify the Rogue to accomodate the 115 gauge.

Any light anyone can shed here would be greatley appreciated!

Thanks ---- Kyle

[shezza]

Yes you are right they are a fraction larger, But I opened the nut slightley with a nail file just one rub per side was enough.Tru bass are also supplied in medium scale....................Pete.

[Olias]

If inexpensive is what you're after...

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-2007-VIOLA-BASS-VINTAGE-SUNBURST-SALE_W0QQitemZ280032028495QQihZ018QQcategoryZ4713Q QcmdZViewItem

I bought one of these (the 2006 version) last summer, and it is surprisingly good. It doesn't have the flame-maple like some of the other Hofner clones, and the bridge doesn't have the metal staples, but it seems to have the same quirky switches/knobs, it is visually appealing, and it plays and sounds good. Not at all the "wall hanger" I expected for the price. :thu:

[tubedude]

I ordered th Rotosound RS77M medium scale flat wounds 50-60-75-90 from MF and they fit perfectly om my Rogoe VB-100.

[Apowell]

I've had the Rogue for about a year and found this thread today. I have to echo the positive comments about the workmanship, pickups and overall quality. For the price, it's a superb value.

The only complaint I had was the original strings - they're nasty, tinny things that don't belong on a bass. I replaced them with the LaBella Hofner flats and the change was astonishing: immediately the sound was full, with strong bottom end and a very traditional sound. My band partners like it among the very best of my basses - and that includes a 1963 P.

Important: these basses take a longer string than a standard short scale bass, because of the bridge and tailpiece. The LaBella Hofner set (http://www.juststrings.com/lab-760fhbb.html)is the correct length for this bass so you won't have any problems with them.

Personally, I like the pickguard and have left it on, and I added the pearl tuner knobs from Stew-Mac because they're a pretty good match to the pickguard.

All in all, it's hard to beat the value of the Rogue VB-100.

[deltapancake]

I've strung my VB-100 with Rotosound Flatwounds RS 77M, medium scale strings, but my bass never stays in tune. The low E string doesn't sound right either - I'm thinking about selling it.

[BeowulfKingsley]

I'm way late to this forum, but I'm surprised that no one's mentioned Pyramid Strings...which were mentioned in a Bass Player interview with Paul (by his bass tech) as being the brand he used extensively in the past and favors now. I threw some on my Jay Turser, and man, they made all the difference. Pricey (I think they were $50) but so rich sounding and they last forever.

[leftystratman]

what other basses have a similar neck profile / length to the Violin bass? I really miss it now.

[old mark]

I read this thread with great interest-I Googled Violin Bass forums and got this thread. Joined the Forum today because of the great information contained in it.
I recently ordered a (Chinese made) "Viola Bass" from eBay for a "buy it now" $100, and it just came home today.
It looks about 5 times better than I thought it would be, not fancy figured wood, but nice grain in the maple top and mahogany sides and back. Very smooth rosewood board, smooth, even frets. No name on the headstock, small dot inlays on the fingerboard, came with a gig bag, cord, strap and allen wrench. Has the humbuckers with the switches as the other brands, good, solid tuners that look like Schallers.
Woodwork is beautiful, only flaw in the whole bass is the jack nut was loose enough to turn with the fingers. Set it up, tuned it up, plugged it in-the little sucker is LOUD!!! Neck is very fast, tone is unbelieveably deep for such a small, light instrument. Everything works, everything fits, looks,sounds and feels very good.
I need to put LaBella HBB's on it, but I will spend some time adjusting the pickup heuigts to see if I can get a bit more variation out of it. With the bad strings, it's hard to really judge, but both pickups sound pretty good through my old Peavey amp.

I started playing in 1963, have played a few different basses, and I really like this one-easily worth 4 times as much, but I won't tell'em-they import other types of basses and guitars as well.

Thanks for a very informative thread, great people on this forum, but then you are all bass players, so it's just natural.

mark

[Bryer M.]

well the one paul mcarteny used has a sweet tone, i've never played one for myself

[martinday1988]

hi, im new here. i signed up just so i could be a part of this topic.
first i would just like to say thank you to the person who started this topic,

because of you i had some good idears for my own violin bass.

this is my bass, its a violin bass copy made by "tanglewood" its just like "rogue" and "jay turser"

ive had it about 6 years or so and ive made a few modifications to it,

i swapped the tuning pegs for the banjo nobs from macdonald, your right the smaller ones would have been better. maybe i could just file down the ones i have. the hofner truss rod cover is black, mine is white so i just turned it over so the back underside is showing.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w137/kittens-in-mittens/DSCF15081.jpg

for a more hofner vintage look i painted my strap buttons white, as you know some hofner basses have white plastic strap buttons, at some point i will replace them with strong plastic ones but i just thought this would be cheaper.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w137/kittens-in-mittens/DSCF1509.jpg

i also painted the 3 little black switches white, i dont have any hofner tea cup knobs so i just put 2 gibson style "GOLD/GOLD" "TOPHAT" knobs on.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w137/kittens-in-mittens/DSCF15101.jpg

you can buy hofner style tailpieces now, but for money reasons i just changed mine a little, i removed that horrible metal thing that sits in the middle of the tailpiece.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w137/kittens-in-mittens/DSCF1512.jpg

sometimes i just like to remove the pickguard. the bass does look good without it, but when its screwed on my bass it looks like this.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w137/kittens-in-mittens/DSCF15131.jpg

see what ive done? ive moved the bracket to the other side of the "horn", now its where a hofners go. i also made the pickguard float like a hofners does. i put 2 little foam circles inder it and put the screws threw them.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w137/kittens-in-mittens/DSCF15141.jpg

the last thing i did was this, did you notice that hofner basses have white stripes on there floating bridge? well thats what ive done to mine, 8 little white plastic strips glued in to the groves on the bridge. looks good.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w137/kittens-in-mittens/DSCF15171.jpg

[animal69]

I want to sell mine. My parents are telling me I have to leave home and I have to part with some of my possessions. I replaced the tuners with ivoroid tuners that match the Hofner. I also stained the pickguard & control plate with tea to age them and to make them better match the Hofner's ivory colored pickguard and control plate. I added 95-45 flatwounds just like Hofner. All it needs is a tailpiece to be a complete clone. If anyone's interested PM me.

[martinday1988]

hi, im sorry to say i cant buy your bass but i would love to know how you stained your pickguard and control plate. did you just rub tea on them or leave them to soak? would you mind posting a picture of your bass please?

[animal69]

hi, im sorry to say i cant buy your bass but i would love to know how you stained your pickguard and control plate. did you just rub tea on them or leave them to soak? would you mind posting a picture of your bass please?

the effect is very subtle and with flash photography looks the same. just use strong tea, a lot of tea bags, and soak it for days, almost a week maybe.

[Gone_Acoustic]

sorry, this is an older thread, but...

so, you're saying the alnico magnets from stewmac were an exact match size-wise?

thanks!

My bass player bought Rogue's violin bass and I too was impressed by the overall quality of the instrument. As the band's self appointed gear tech, I have performed a few mods to improve the sound and playability. I replaced the strings with some pure nickel roundwounds. I didn't consider flatwounds, maybe next time. On the bridge, I lowered both fingerwheels to the bottom and used small brass washers to set the height of the bridge. I also stuck sandpaper to the body where the bridge rests and formed the base of bridge to the body more. I did a very light dressing to the frets, they didn't need much. I simplified the electronics by setting the two front switches as on/off for their respective pickups (rendered the rear switch moot.) I also made the front knob a volume and the rear a tone (with a paper-in-oil .022 or .047 tone cap, can't remember right now.) Installed a switchcraft jack. Put some tele style knobs on it. I slotted the nut slightly. Eventually I'll replace the mini pots with full size ones. Recently I replaced the ceramic magnets in the humbuckers with alnico V magnets I bought from StewMac. These mods have solidified a bass that was juuust that close to being awesome. Now it sounds and plays great. The pickups really benefitted from the alnico magnets, warmer and fuller.

[larrypoppins]

Cool thread. I just bought a rogue from MF a few days ago, along with some flatwound rotosounds and am eagerly awaiting their arrival.

I also read somewhere that the rosewood bridge is a little weak, so I bought a Hofner ebony bridge off ebay betting that the two basses are similar enough that I should be able to switch them out. Anyone know for sure if this will work? Are the bodies EXACTLY the same? Or at least similar enough that this will be possible?

[Gone_Acoustic]

yeah, the bridge is floating - it should work fine. i read about others replacing the bridge. i would love some sort of an intonatable bridge, or else something similar to the gretsch (guitar) bar bridge, wonder how that'd sound!

[Gone_Acoustic]

just bumping my question (anybody?)


sorry, this is an older thread, but...

so, you're saying the alnico magnets from stewmac were an exact match size-wise?

thanks!