Machines
05-11-2005, 03:41 PM
Now, this is a review of a bass i've had for 9 months, that is in order to fully appreciate it's capabilities. It's a 5 string bass similar to the RBXJM6 John Myung (Dream Theater) plays. I will admit to buying this bass due to this influence. I bought it from www.gak.co.uk for £415.
Specs:
Body: Alder
Neck: Bolt-on maple
Fingerboard: Rosewood, 600mm (23.6”) radius
Frets: 24
Scale length: (889mm) 35”
Pickups: Two double coil
Controls: Master volume, pickup balance, active bass and treble
Bridge: Black diecast with five individual saddles
Note the 35" scale - this enables the bass to have a much clearer (with much less fret rattle) low B string. I have Elites Stadium 45-130 scale strings on, these are particularly heavy.
The RBX is very comfortable to play, both sitting down and standing with a strap. It is moderately heavy, but I am not of small build so it isn't an issue.
Enough about the ergonomics - how does it sound ?! It's a very dark sounding and powerful bass, however it can be limited on it's repetoire of tones. The tones it can produce seem to be a mixture of Precision bass chunkiness (Neck Pickup) and Jazz smoothness (Bridge Pickup). This may sound contradictive, but it has the ability of both. The tone control on the bass isn't active, so you can only cut it to a limited degree, often sounding just a little too bright.
The 'boost' switch apparantly turns the active EQ on and off, although i'm convinced it just makes it a little bit louder when it's turned on.
Subjective technique analysis:
Slapping: Sounds good, although the neck pickup is close enough to the truss rod cover (bottom of neck) to get in the way of popping.
Tapping: High clarity and sustain, although when not plugged in the note on the other side of the fret (neck side) often rings louder sounding poor.
Finger Style: Best suited to this bass really, decent string gap to allow accuracy whilst not being too far to slow a player down.
Pick Style: On the neck pickup it sounds just like a Precision - not my preference but I could see alot of people liking this sound.
Time for pics !
http://www.mig29.org/RBX775/pic1.jpg
http://www.mig29.org/RBX775/pic2.jpg
http://storage.msn.com/x1pqP5noGPWAA65mx9aZnQSlrX40CR3hzwz-hHuUglB2lgDu1CO1b1sENt8uvvNypSvHKq5aQzOPQw6N0scoI-nlcuZXo34qSzpM69CVk-lKUBvdUaTKDODNGPdQ-iv3mbKXM_Bdd0ewx5HtAvgroDe0w
Overall rating 8/10.
Good value for money on a very well built bass. It's a gigging bass rather than recording in my opinion, this is due to the powerful output but lack of tonal variety.
Fin.
Specs:
Body: Alder
Neck: Bolt-on maple
Fingerboard: Rosewood, 600mm (23.6”) radius
Frets: 24
Scale length: (889mm) 35”
Pickups: Two double coil
Controls: Master volume, pickup balance, active bass and treble
Bridge: Black diecast with five individual saddles
Note the 35" scale - this enables the bass to have a much clearer (with much less fret rattle) low B string. I have Elites Stadium 45-130 scale strings on, these are particularly heavy.
The RBX is very comfortable to play, both sitting down and standing with a strap. It is moderately heavy, but I am not of small build so it isn't an issue.
Enough about the ergonomics - how does it sound ?! It's a very dark sounding and powerful bass, however it can be limited on it's repetoire of tones. The tones it can produce seem to be a mixture of Precision bass chunkiness (Neck Pickup) and Jazz smoothness (Bridge Pickup). This may sound contradictive, but it has the ability of both. The tone control on the bass isn't active, so you can only cut it to a limited degree, often sounding just a little too bright.
The 'boost' switch apparantly turns the active EQ on and off, although i'm convinced it just makes it a little bit louder when it's turned on.
Subjective technique analysis:
Slapping: Sounds good, although the neck pickup is close enough to the truss rod cover (bottom of neck) to get in the way of popping.
Tapping: High clarity and sustain, although when not plugged in the note on the other side of the fret (neck side) often rings louder sounding poor.
Finger Style: Best suited to this bass really, decent string gap to allow accuracy whilst not being too far to slow a player down.
Pick Style: On the neck pickup it sounds just like a Precision - not my preference but I could see alot of people liking this sound.
Time for pics !
http://www.mig29.org/RBX775/pic1.jpg
http://www.mig29.org/RBX775/pic2.jpg
http://storage.msn.com/x1pqP5noGPWAA65mx9aZnQSlrX40CR3hzwz-hHuUglB2lgDu1CO1b1sENt8uvvNypSvHKq5aQzOPQw6N0scoI-nlcuZXo34qSzpM69CVk-lKUBvdUaTKDODNGPdQ-iv3mbKXM_Bdd0ewx5HtAvgroDe0w
Overall rating 8/10.
Good value for money on a very well built bass. It's a gigging bass rather than recording in my opinion, this is due to the powerful output but lack of tonal variety.
Fin.