| Author | Message | ||
| echo008
Advanced Member Username: echo008 Post Number: 374 Registered: 2-2003 |
Hey Guys looking for advice from Rouge owners.... when strapped have any you had trouble with left hand reach? how comfy is it to get around on when strapped? also would you consider the body large at all? thanks - Tom | ||
| briant
Advanced Member Username: briant Post Number: 360 Registered: 12-2004 |
My Rogue is 35" scale and a 5 string. It's very comfortable and I have no reach issues. The body is what I'd call average in size. | ||
| echo008
Advanced Member Username: echo008 Post Number: 376 Registered: 2-2003 |
Thanks. Im looking at the Rouge 5 at Bass Northwest right now http://www.bassnw.com/Used%20Basses/alembic_rogue_5_st_spalted_english_beech.htm 34 inch scale. the reason I ask is Im on the short side at 5'6 and dont want the hassle of sending the bass back or trying to trade or resell after I get it. If I get it that is. | ||
| mike1762
Advanced Member Username: mike1762 Post Number: 358 Registered: 1-2008 |
Nice Spalted Maple... I would think that the long horn would make it balance very well. I'm 5'8" and I have trouble with my long scale Std Point SI. The 1st positions are a real reach for me. I've considered trying to trade it for a medium scale. My Spoiler is my most comfortable bass. | ||
| mario_farufyno
Advanced Member Username: mario_farufyno Post Number: 241 Registered: 9-2008 |
I don't have any trouble reaching positions along the Neck and we have the same height. In fact, sometimes my hand go beyond it should and my thumb gets too near the Headstokck and touches the joint, but this is a personal issue (since I let my thumb gets behind first finger instead of the middle, sometimes). I think playing confortable has more to do with how you adjust your strap and balances the Bass than how tall you are. Many of us begun playing Bass when teenagers and no one is very tall when kid. We may got trouble when we play cheap or bad adjusted Instruments, playing the Rogue will be a joy. I'm shure you will love it... (Message edited by Mario Farufyno on August 23, 2009) | ||
| mario_farufyno
Advanced Member Username: mario_farufyno Post Number: 243 Registered: 9-2008 |
Uh... Forgot mentioning that I felt the Bass a little bit heavy when first took it to a long Gig, but my Strap was too narrow and I was a bit out of shape (besides I had the bad habit of playing bending my back). May be this is something you'll need sometime to get used to, but now I learned how to pick it up properly and this never bothered me again. | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 2408 Registered: 3-2004 |
The Rogue shape has an extra long upper horn which positions that end of the strap closer to the nut. This will give you a shorter reach to the nut than would be the case for a Europa or Series instrument of the same scale length. The other side is how much more body there is below the bridge. The more body, the longer the reach to the nut because it also moves the overall position at which the bass hangs. A Rogue has almost no extra body there, so, again, the shape lends itself to the shortest possible reach. The other side of this coin is that the bridge will be further to the right than on a typical instrument (for a righty). This could affect your right hand technique and the position of the upper frets if you tend to solo in the upper registers. Better or worse depends upon the player and preferred hanging angle. Your profile also has a pic of you playing an Elan 6. The Rogue should be pretty similar in reach and body size to that. If you look at the position of the upper strap peg, it's around the 14th fret on an Elan and the 12th on a Rogue. That should move the nut about an inch closer, making up for the extra inch of scale length. | ||
| echo008
Advanced Member Username: echo008 Post Number: 377 Registered: 2-2003 |
Thanks guys for your input bsee I hear you about the reach, I traded that Elan 6 shortly after I got it with Danno. Do you think a 5 string Rouge is really the same body size? the Elan seems wider.... Still on the fence about this one. | ||
| echo008
Advanced Member Username: echo008 Post Number: 378 Registered: 2-2003 |
Does anyone happen to have a pic of themself playing a Rouge? I already saw the ones in the Rouge pic gallery, there are only a couple and its hard to tell from them. (Message edited by echo008 on August 23, 2009) | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 2410 Registered: 3-2004 |
Well, body width tends to increase with every additional string. I believe Alembic uses the same body wings no matter the string count, but the width of the neck can increase significantly. The difference is magnified on a comfort taper neck as the string spacing at the bridge is wider. One thing you need to consider is if it is just reach that is an issue for you, or if the width of the fretboard is also something you need to manage. If you play up the neck and have issues with too much space between strings, a stock Rogue might not be the best choice. On the other hand, if you like that space for chording or tapping access, it may be just right. In any case, take a look at the specs for both neck tapers. I would suspect that the comfort taper bridge on a five string is at least half an inch wider than a standard taper neck. | ||
| echo008
Advanced Member Username: echo008 Post Number: 379 Registered: 2-2003 |
I used to have a 5 string Essence with what was called "wide" spacing and it felt "normal" to me. I also have had a couple of 5 string excels and have had no trouble with string spacing.... my main concern is that the body will just feel too large to me. I have only held a Rogue (very briefly) once and it was so long ago I cannot remember what it felt like. Im fine with just about any standard (34 in.) 5 string neck (I have played alot), I dont think the neck would be an issue. | ||
| jet_powers
Senior Member Username: jet_powers Post Number: 468 Registered: 2-2003 |
Being a techno-tard I don't know how to make a link to the pic of "Me and My 98 Rogue 5" in the showcase section. If you check out the pics there you will see a good example of the right hand issue Bob mentions, but you can also see how the reach is very comfortable. -JP | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 2412 Registered: 3-2004 |
Well, Tom, there's this page here: http://www.alembic.com/info/bodyshapes.html If it is any way near to scale, the Rogue shape looks pretty sleek in the dimension that interests you. | ||
| echo008
Advanced Member Username: echo008 Post Number: 380 Registered: 2-2003 |
Thanks guys... jet I see the pic you are talking about I see how the bass hanging could be a bit "off" I usually wear my basses pretty high I have a nice wide strap as well. also bsee I was looking for that body shape page before, it seems like the excel is wider at the bottom (rounder). the Rogue is sleeker but similar in size I guess it would not be a problem, I had no issues with the Excels I had .... Hmm. | ||
| mario_farufyno
Advanced Member Username: mario_farufyno Post Number: 246 Registered: 9-2008 |
You can see me with the Rogue at a brazilian "late night" kind of TV show: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDRGuxsyPRU I actualy don't play it so low today, but look how close my hand can get to the headstock that way at 01:11 (remember, we have the same height). I changed it because that height made playing way up the neck more dificult and although I don't slap much with this guys, it made me unconfortable when I had to skip technics (since I use my thumb up). | ||
| echo008
Advanced Member Username: echo008 Post Number: 381 Registered: 2-2003 |
Hey Nice Tune.... I play alot of Latin music myself. I enjoyed that clip. it looks like on the pics Ive seen the rogue is usually strapped low. that also makes me wonder if its just a style thing or if its easier at that level to have access to all the frets, meaning if that its more inherent to the design. | ||
| briant
Advanced Member Username: briant Post Number: 362 Registered: 12-2004 |
Per request. Playing my Rogue last month. Forgive the horrible attire... it's an 80's cover band. I'm about 5'9". As mention above I have no reach problems with this instrument.  | ||
| briant
Advanced Member Username: briant Post Number: 363 Registered: 12-2004 |
Billie Jean from the same gig. | ||
| mario_farufyno
Advanced Member Username: mario_farufyno Post Number: 247 Registered: 9-2008 |
To reach the last frets seems better to have the neck closer to the elbow level (that means having the Bass upper). But this means having the first frets more distant. So it is a compromise issue, you must find the height that balances better to your way to play. I prefer the neck placed more horizontally and by my waist as I'm used to study seating and like it that way. IMO the Rogue is easier to play than a Jazz Bass. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 8635 Registered: 5-2002 |
Brian; that picture makes you look like you're having way too much fun. | ||
| terrace
Junior Username: terrace Post Number: 14 Registered: 3-2008 |
Tom: I saw that that Rouge in Bass Northwest last week and that top is beautiful.My Rogue hangs like a Pre and is very comfortable. | ||
| echo008
Advanced Member Username: echo008 Post Number: 382 Registered: 2-2003 |
Hey guys.... thanks for the replies briant awesome pic and fantastic video  honestly at this point Im leaning toward not getting it. usually I would take a chance and still may but Im trying to really work it out and get something Im more sure of. Again I appreciate all of your replies - Tom | ||
| crgaston
Senior Member Username: crgaston Post Number: 562 Registered: 11-2005 |
I'm 5'6". I had absolutely no problem with the reach, and this one was a 35" scale. Balance is perfect, too. If you can play a Fender comfortably, you can play a Rogue. Second on the wide strap, though. Mine was heavy.  (Message edited by crgaston on August 24, 2009) | ||
| briant
Advanced Member Username: briant Post Number: 364 Registered: 12-2004 |
"Brian; that picture makes you look like you're having way too much fun." WAY too much fun. I can't believe we get paid to do that. | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 2388 Registered: 10-2002 |
I'm 6' dead and have no trouble whatsoever with reach. I'm also surprised that Mario thought his was a bit heavy as I find the rogue to be the lightest of my three.  Graeme | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 2389 Registered: 10-2002 |
meant to say, I've lowered both basses by one notch on my straps and I find them to be much more comfortable now. Graeme | ||
| mario_farufyno
Advanced Member Username: mario_farufyno Post Number: 250 Registered: 9-2008 |
Oh, Graeme, let me put this way. It is heavier than my Washburn 6 and my Carvin AC-5F. While the Carvin is semi-hollow, we should expect the 6 being much heavier than a 4 string bass as is my Rogue, but they weight almost the same! In other hand, both have a "smaller" tone compared to the Rogue, either. I don't know how it can be related to the tone but the best sounding basses I got my hands on were all heavy compared to a Ibanez, Washburn or Squier. Don't know if it is gentle criticise this brands here, but they all sound tiny to me. Weight like a toy and sounds like one, too. I don't want to label the Rogue as "heavy" at all. As I said, the issue was that I had a narrow strap, was out of shape and had posture problems. As time passed I learned how to adjust myself to the Bass and got no problems with it. The important here is the point that you've made. The "correct" height we use our strap can improve confort while playing as changing the strap to a wider one can make a big difference in the way we felt its weight. * (wow, I'd like to write better in english...) (Message edited by mario farufyno on August 26, 2009) |
