The Last Bass Outpost
Gear Discussion Forums => Gibson Basses => Topic started by: daan on June 24, 2015, 03:19:24 PM
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http://www.ebay.com/itm/EPIPHONE-RIVOLI-BASS-WITH-HARD-CASE-ELECTRIC-BASS-GUITAR-90S-MADE-IN-KOREA-/111702232388?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1a01f8cd44
OK so I've pretty much always wanted an EB-2 or Rivoli semi-hollow bass. I briefly had a "Conqueror" branded fake one, that was likely made of cardboard and basically fell apart just after I got it. (So why am I still looking at import copy basses on Ebay? :rolleyes: )
Anyway I didn't know they even made these recently, I thought all the Epi basses went away after they moved production overseas (other than the Cassidy ones, which for some reason I just don't like- I'm sure they're fine, I just can't get over the mismatched cutaways for some reason.) I've seen tons of guitars-Casinos, Dots, etc, but never a Rivoli. And, I might actually be able to afford this one, assuming somebody buys the crap I have up on Ebay before this auction ends)
Has anyone on here handled one of these things? I've played a "real" one (60's Michigan made at a vintage store) and I had my ripoff one, but never one of these. I'd love to get it, but don't wanna get burned like on the last one. As far as playing it, all the semis I've handled just seem like exactly what I like, and it's not like I'm on stage ever so as long as it sounds like a bass, I can live with it. I just don't wanna spend my next 2 years of "guitar money" on something I'll end up throwing in the trash like the last one.
THank you!
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I just sent a PM to an inactive member who I think owned one. Maybe he'll pop in. Also, Ronn (leftybass) may have one.
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I had 2 of the late 90 reissues and sold them both. Though they were both solidly built I didn't care for the pickups in either one, no usable tones for my gigs. Very weak output on the E string. I suppose someone makes a better pickup that would solve that problem but I didn't want to invest the time or money.
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Thanks, Ray. Glad my memory wasn't faulty.
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I owned a single pickup '97 Korean Epi Rivoli that someone had modded with a Dimarzio Model 1 pickup. It was ok quality, but nothing special. My Duesenberg Starplayer smokes it in all aspects.
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I have one and I like it, but it is modded. Good quality basses.
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I was tempted by one of these when they came out, very nice bass for the money. In some ways I like it better than the vintage Gibsons/Epiphones. I think putting a 60's mudbucker in one would make it shine.
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Thank you for all your responses, guys!
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I briefly had a "Conqueror" branded fake one, that was likely made of cardboard and basically fell apart just after I got it. (So why am I still looking at import copy basses on Ebay? :rolleyes: )
Some of the Matsumoku copies made more towards the mid-70s might still be worth a look (Univox, Lyle, etc).
I haven't personally handled one, but the guy in this clip is using a Ventura EB-2 copy that caught my eye/ear. Certainly looks a lot like an EB-2 (compared to other copies from that era... although I'd assume it's a bolt-on build). He seems to be chugging away nicely on it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pBhd0H6gdE
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One in Holland:
http://www.marktplaats.nl/a/muziek-en-instrumenten/snaarinstrumenten-gitaren-bas/m938597167-epiphone-rivola-bas.html?c=efb2ef4dc323389c4f92ed10afa33e3a&previousPage=lr
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I had one for a couple of years. Didn't play it much because the neck was way too thin for me. The sound was nice though, and once the Nail That Tone™ mod was done you could actually hear the E string.
Here it is:
(http://s28.postimg.org/m5mc3y3y5/rivo.jpg)
I sold it to a fellow player. He had it converted to a lefty and added a bridge pu. And somehow the color changed a bit:
(http://s23.postimg.org/5a3xpxo0r/rivobl.jpg)
Yes, this really is the same bass!
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..... the Nail That Tone™ mod....
I forgot about that! Was it you or Rob who came up with that idea?
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What is the "nail that tone" mod?
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What is the "nail that tone" mod?
Yeah, please explain to us, those uninculcated in the inner mysteries....
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It involves extending the magnetic field by using bent nails or Allen keys.
This is Peter Boer's photo. He may have been the one who came up with the idea,
(http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c305/Jazzboer/JazzBird/151120091047.jpg)
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Fascinating. Does that work on EB0s as well? One of my complaints with my 69 EB0 is the lack of output from the E string, even with the polepiece as high as I can safely raise it.
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From what I remember of the discussion back then was yes was the answer to that question...
When I stripped mine down to do the coil split I weighed up the idea of using neodium magnets from a hard drive at either end to complete a magnetic "loop" but planned to play with that idea when I got round to gold-plating the cover... mine doesn't appear to have any sound loss on the E, mind you...
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(http://s24.postimg.org/973b9wff9/bucker1.jpg)
(http://s24.postimg.org/f9fje4t91/bucker2.jpg)
Worked on mine. It's a no cost reversable mod. Just give it a try.
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I found what seems to be the first thread about this.
http://bassoutpost.com/index.php?topic=3047.0
No reason it wouldn't work on an original mudbucker.
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Oh, I thought that was a mod for Gibson mudbuckers. Duh. I stand (or sit, at the moment) corrected!
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Just noticed another similar Rivoli bass on Craigslist. The sellers main complaint is the pickup also............
http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/msg/5078004095.html
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I bought my Rivoli second hand with a repaired but clearly visibe neck break. It was dead cheap so no problem. When I came home I inspected the bass and I noticed it had a Seymour Duncan Querter Pounder Jazz Bass pickup (sawn off at both sides) underneath the chrome cover! And you know what? The bass sounded exactly as I expected it to sound:)
It now has a Darkstar in neck position and a second pickup added: a Duesenberg bass humbucker. The natural finished bass looks like a brother of that Strokes Epiphone guitar now.
It still has some grouding issues, so I need to take it to a tech.
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I just sent a PM to an inactive member who I think owned one. Maybe he'll pop in. Also, Ronn (leftybass) may have one.
Sold mine locally a few months back for $400 including OHSC.
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This one has been on Craigslist for at least 6 months, Started out at $700 IIRC.
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/msg/5059311188.html
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Sold mine years ago when they were in demand ;D
Replaced the stock PUP with just about any replacement I could find at the time and finally settled on a DiMarzio Willpower. Later on I mounted a Supertone bridge as well and she really sounded great. Problem was that I really wanted a 2 PUPs version, which was nowhere to be found for a normal price, so I crossed over to the DeArmond Starfire. I liked the neck on the Starfire better also ( wider top nut ) so I never returned to the Ravioli.
She was a real looker though ......
(http://www.mijnalbum.nl/Foto-VFEMZEJN-D.jpg)
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OK thank you all for all the excellent replies. So the consensus on these is, "nice bass, doesn't sound like a "real" one, easy enough to mod. Oh, and thin neck, which I hate...
So do I start a new thread about other hollow basses, or schmutz this one up?
I've been looking for another hollow bass, I sold a bunch of my music crap and I have a little $ to get something (preferrably not a project, unless that's the only way)
I used to have THIS
(http://i427.photobucket.com/albums/pp360/dannew2008/gone/1976748555_35f967f5c4.jpg) (http://s427.photobucket.com/user/dannew2008/media/gone/1976748555_35f967f5c4.jpg.html)
(Hofner 500/4) and really dug it, I got broke and had to sell it.(http://i427.photobucket.com/albums/pp360/dannew2008/gone/608a91b5.jpg) (http://s427.photobucket.com/user/dannew2008/media/gone/608a91b5.jpg.html)
Ibanez ASB-140 it felt and played so nice, but sounded "meh", I got broke and had to sell it before I could even think about modding it. So I really like hollow basses but can't justify spending 4-digit prices for something. Right now Ibanez is selling THESE
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ibanez-ASB180-4-String-Electric-Bass-Brown-Sunburst-/191607035104?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c9cab54e0
which I'm ASSUMING are like my old one, except 2-pups (I've searched everywhere and nobody's selling a 140 like my old one)
There's also THESE
http://www.rondomusic.com/spb11002ts.html
which looks pretty much JUST like my old IBanez, other than the headstock (which I don't care about)
So if nothing is really gonna sound like an EB-2, which I can't afford anyway, what would you experts all say of these options I see would be a good choice? (I know, opinions are like navels or whatever,) It just seems like any bass I stumble across, someone on here has had one.
Thank you guys!
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See if you can lay hands on a Gretsch 5123 - it was sold in orange as a Guitar Center special, now a current model in burgundy. The body is fairly deep - about an inch deeper than my 335-copy Univox. But it has a pair of ThunderTrons and is a nice playing bass. If you're a big guy, it is an easy fit - if you're a small guy, it might be big on you.
http://www.talkbass.com/threads/new-gretsch-electromatic-hollowbody-bass.713507/page-3
My bass is shown in post #49.
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http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ibanez-ASB180-4-String-Electric-Bass-Brown-Sunburst-/191607035104?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c9cab54e0
which I'm ASSUMING are like my old one, except 2-pups (I've searched everywhere and nobody's selling a 140 like my old one)
There's also THESE
http://www.rondomusic.com/spb11002ts.html
which looks pretty much JUST like my old IBanez, other than the headstock (which I don't care about)
So if nothing is really gonna sound like an EB-2, which I can't afford anyway, what would you experts all say of these options I see would be a good choice? (I know, opinions are like navels or whatever,) It just seems like any bass I stumble across, someone on here has had one.
Thank you guys!
I wouldn't be surprised if both of them were made in the same Korean factory. I'd prefer the Douglas since it's 32" scale and probably sounds pretty good with the single pup where it is. I've had good luck with Rondo in general (about 20 basses) and Douglas/Brice/Agile in particular. No problems with any of my Ibanezes either.
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I had a Douglas 32" scale hollowbody. Sounded and played great but it was a righty so I didn't play it once I got my lefty Gibson Midtown.
Sold the Douglas for $80.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v383/iamthebassman/Copyofdouglas007.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/iamthebassman/media/Copyofdouglas007.jpg.html)
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I used to have THIS (Hofner 500/4) and really dug it...
You could always go Bonaduce-warp-factor-ten and find an Ovation Typhoon. I think they can still be found in the mid-to-upper 3-digit price range, and the bodies were sourced from Hofner as I recall (similar body as your 500/4).
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You could always go Bonaduce-warp-factor-ten and find an Ovation Typhoon. ....
:mrgreen:
Joe, it was you who posted this pic of Bonaduce with a Typhoon a couple of years ago that inspired my comment that daan uses as his sig line.
(http://home.comcast.net/~randymolson/pics/bass/danny.partridge.ovation.typhoon.jpg)
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Hey I'm at least as good a bassist as Danny...
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...just stay away from the hookers and blow :P
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Captain Ahab...? What am I missing here...? :mrgreen:
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I will absolutely not have the Partridge Family insulted here! You guys have no heart.
(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/16/8a/0b/168a0ba04d36b11e1534924df35ddbbf.jpg)
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I'll bet you haven't seen the Snickers commercial with Danny Trejo...
(http://content2.promiflash.de/article-images/w500/danny-trejo-schaut-oese.jpg)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqbomTIWCZ8
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jeez, you can't miss it here.
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I will absolutely not have the Partridge Family insulted here! You guys have no heart.
(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/16/8a/0b/168a0ba04d36b11e1534924df35ddbbf.jpg)
+1