setup is yet another departure from a traditional J bass with its Volume-Volume-Tone
arrangement.
Some other design features help out in
the resonance category. The bridge (same as
the Thundergun) has a solid feel going well
beyond the customary bent plate of a J bass.
Locking saddles enhance the transmission
of energy from the strings to the body, and
stringing can go through the body or through
the back of the bridge for a somewhat different
attack and sound. On the flip side of the body,
the neck is attached with six screws—rather
than the usual four— also enhancing the
instrument’s resonance.
Tone-wise, Reverend once again designed its
pickups to work with the characteristics of their
locations. They created a bridge pickup that
emphasizes highs and mids, and a neck position pickup that covers the lows and less of the
highs. In an instrumental blues rehearsal with
electric guitar and drums, I favored the sound
of the neck pickup with its warm and focused
tones. Even though the neck pickup didn’t produce a lot of highs, its note definition made it
easy to hear in the mix.
In all, the Justice might be a good choice
for a J bass player looking for something a little
different—both sonically and visually. And
unless you’re a J bass traditionalist, the added
benefit of humbucking pickups makes the
Justice all the more appealing.
The Verdict
Reverend has returned to the bass scene after
several years with some new designs that
build on bass guitar traditions, yet head in
new directions without blasting off to another
planet. Like their predecessors, these basses
bring a quality build with top-drawer components. While they are no longer made in the
US, they are set up in Michigan by Reverend
veteran Zach Green (look for the “ZSG” in
silver ink alongside the serial number on the
back of the headstock).
Although their appearance is based on
familiar designs, the sound is not. Be sure
to give a good listen to the Reverend you’re
considering to make sure it meets your needs.
The pricing is just on the brink—higher than
a typical import, but a little lower than basic
models built in the US.
Thundergun Rating:
Buy If...
you’re after a dependable bass that’s
eye-catching on stage and you like
some edge to your sound.
Skip If...
you’re a traditionalist in both sound
and design.
Reverend Guitars
Street Thundergun $1098
reverendguitars.com
or use a mobile device to download
audio clips of the bass at
CLICKHere…
premierguitar.com/aug2011
