LeftyBassist.com

One of our dealers is open to the idea of stocking a lefty bass as part of their RGW inventory. I'll be proposing a couple options for their consideration, and thought the gang here at LB would like the opportunity to have some input on this.

It's +95% that this will be one of our VRB™ models, and that makes sense due to that being similar to what most people play. I think it would also make sense to offer a configuration that is different than what is available from the on-line bass builder at the Fender website. Our VRB™ 4.2 unit kicks bottom on a stock Am Std J, but if it comes to a $ bill shoot out, the mass produced J wins by a couple hundred over a custom built to order VRB™ 4.2

My thoughts lean towards this being our VRB™ 4.3 or 5.3 model. Another option is our VRB™ 5.2 J/J model.

I'm also thinking that one of the vintage colors would be the way to go, and to steer clear of black, clear, or shades of white since these are also more commonly found colors. If the color was to be a stock offering, that opens the door for colors like Fiesta Red, Daphne Blue, Sea Foam Green, Sky Blue, or Foam Green without any upcharge for more expensive finish options. Once they see that lefty basses will sell, I'm sure something like LPB or CAR with a matching headstock (or even Pearl White with Pearloid pickguard and gold hardware) has potential to be an occasional in-stock item.

I'd really like their first experience stocking a lefty bass to be good, and that it sells quickly for them so they're encouraged to continue stocking lefty basses in configurations that are difficult to find in lefty.

I've attached a couple mirrored VRB™ images for reference. Your thoughts are most appreciated

all the best,

R

My vote is for the VRB 4.3 in Fiesta Red. I'd like Candy Apple Red even better

I dont know.
P and Js are easily found these days for lefties and you would be fighting some pretty well known brands with reselling appeal as well.
i think you should go the rarer kinds like mustangs or jaguars type styles
something different that lefties dont see all that much.
This will create a niche market that will set you apart from other makers and probably end up selling alot more

That PJ fiver is pretty awesome.

I'd say a 5-string for sure, which are most scarce in leftyland. J or P/J should do, lightweight, and white seems to be in demand also, for what I can read. Seafoam green, daphne blue and that family of blue/greens is not for everybody. Black and sunburst are boring (although sunburst is universally likeable), fiesta red or CAR should universally attractive. Gold hardware is not for everybody.

-Vintage or olympic white (or Mary Kay/vintage blonde) with maple neck and black or tortoise.
-CAR or fiesta red with rosewood and white pearloid or tortoise.

Definitely keep it on the lower end of the price range. Lefties are broke these days!

I agree with this

a new color for 2014 is our Vintage Blonde semi-trans on a Swamp Ash body. I've been waiting a long time to have this color option come available

it's a $220 MSRP upgrade from a stock solid color due to the added cost (and waste in aligning grain) for clear finish grade Swamp Ash together with the added cost our finisher charges us for a semi-trans finish. upgrade pricing is the same for semi-trans Butterscotch, Mary Kay White, or any other semi-trans color. actual customer upgrade pricing will depend on the dealer.

one thing I've learned this past year is that dealers are looking for safe, sure bets on what will sell quickly. in contrast, a custom builder finds sales by offering something that's unique.

there's been solid sales on our VRB, M-Series, and Malibu models selling direct, but dealers have universally flocked to the VRB model because, as they say, 'we know how to sell it'

most of the dealers we spoke with at NAMM this year loved the workmanship, playability, and sound of our M-Series, Regenerator, and Malibu models, but they noted that they didn't have a solid case for how to sell them to their client base that tends to be very traditional in what they purchase. their fear is that they'd order a bass that would hang on the wall for 6-18+ months until the right person walked in and immediately snagged it. in contrast, a Fender styled 4/5-string clone can be expected to move within three months, opening the door for greater revenue for their limited display space.

all that to say that I could find no dealer interest in a Jag or T-bird styled offering. everybody on the team liked the idea, and we almost brought a Jag-like bass to NAMM this year ... but without dealer interest (and orders!) it's a pit of lost R&D time that could have been spent building VRB units that are selling faster than we can make them. good news is that dealers will chase the money - so consistent sales of lefty basses encourages them to stock more lefty basses, and repeat custom orders for more unique body styles will encourage them to stock these as part of their regular in-stock offerings. dealers are only responding to what their customers' cash says they need to stock more of

Yeah, I'm with the last 3 heathens.

5-string basses with the classic vibe are scarce in lefty-land.

Uh. You know you're gonna have to show pix of this Jag style bass, right?

To me, that says it all right there. Go with the VRB. IMHO, a 5-er would be nice, but a 4 banger is more likely to sell.

And I'm with Matt. Where are the Jag pics?

Jag pics please

What sort of research have you done that shows you a left jag bass wont sell?
Besides dealers who don't really give a shit about lefties anyway.
I know they have to shift them but they don't know what lefties want, that's your job to tell them and even you don't know because as you said you never took one to namm.
I have never played one of your basses but I like how you interact with the forum and its great to see your business growing so please don't take my post as a negative.

The quality of your basses Rod speak for themselves when people compare the VRB to a MIM or a Standard pbass, they would go with yours. The jag would be interesting

Your quality is first rate and the growth of your business reflects that. Your product line is pretty diverse, but most players do seem to like the class fender designs, which you have covered well. Is there a list of the dealers that carry your basses somewhere on your website? I couldn't find it.

I'm a bit surprised that a VRB would be your best seller, Rod, considering the glut of product out there already I would think it would be easy to get lost in the shuffle. So kudos to you for making a quality product that people are willing to purchase over other similar options.

Now being left handed and obviously devoid of many options, I actually think you might be overlooking an untapped market in the Jaguar/Tele bass designs. We have virtually NO choices in these areas. I understand wanting to get as much product distributed at several retailers as possible, and I also understand that there's a large percentage of musicians out there reluctant to buck convention, but in this case I'd consider less distribution on these particular models and slowly building word of mouth and a following with certain limited dealers first. I'm sure word of mouth has gotten you the far already anyway. I know you make great instruments, Ive played them first hand, but what distinguishes you from dozens of other builders/manufacturers in the minds of a prospective new customer with little to no knowledge of Regenerate? Just my opinion, but you need to make a splash somehow and find your identity in the market that is unique to what's already out there. That could come in several different forms, the obvious one being some radically original/different bass design that catches people's eyes. Even if you only prototyped something and sent it around as a teaser of "Bass of the Future", it would show your diversity and a variety of product line.

Oh, BTW, though I'm not a 5 stringer, I'd vote for your her as well since there's not much out there for lefties in a VRB design.

all great feedback that will not go without solid considerations.

our version of the Jag is not an exact clone, but has a similar refinement like what's been done with our P, J/J, and P/J offerings. I'm going to hold off on posting any skunk works type instrument images for the time being so as not to give away any of our R&D efforts should this ever get released. details are still being worked out on how we handle custom orders with our dealers, and it could very well be that certain models are only built via custom order.

we're also working a new feature for the website that will display body color offerings in a user friendly manner. going to take a bit of additional gif work, but once it's in beta I'll post a link here so you can tag it an let us know what you think

and lastly, here's a batch of 4.1, 4.2, and 4.3 body blanks about to get their final thicknessing before the mating halves are glued together (attached image) ... what is now one day's work used to be our output for an entire year just a couple years back. this batch also includes my last pre-dealer custom order, which also happens to be a lefty VRB 5.2

all the best,

R

Hi Rod:

I imagine that 5.2 would be mine

Anyways, perhaps unsurprisingly I am also going to come in on the 5 string VRB of the P/J or J/J pup configuration as my recommended choice for dealer stock. I could not find any lefty 5 string P or J style basses other than the SB 5000. I played one at Atomic Music here in the DC area, and did not like the feel of it at all (like the tone, just not for me).

I also contacted G&L about doing a lefty 5 string jazz and they said it was not on the horizon. My local bass store said they worked pretty closely with lakland about doing a run of skyline lefty jazz basses, had gotten 25 orders, but only in 4 strings. The order was cancelled when they could not get all of the people to order the exact same color.

Indeed it is


For colors, I can understand the reasoning for a company not wanting to have to manage 25 individual custom orders in the case where all they do is mass produce specific design configuration recipes. as one who has custom ordered many basses, I can also understand the customer frustration with that business plan

for us, there will be a standard list of colors that we'll try to keep in stock for quicker turns on dealer orders. as of today these colors will most likely be 2 or 3 of these in addition to Black

- Blue (tbd Daphne, Pelham, or Sonic)
- Red (tbd Fiesta, Dakota, or Race)
- Green (tbd Sea Foam or Surf)
- White (tbd Arctic, Olympic, or Vintage)

the list is definitely subject to change and will reflect the trends in dealer ordering. beyond this list of quick turn colors, our standard list of stock colors with no custom order upcharge will include

Arctic White, Black, Coral, Dakota Red, Daphne Blue, Fiesta Red, Ocean Turquoise, Olympic White, Pelham Blue, Sea Foam Green, Shell Pink, Sonic Blue, Surf Green, and Vintage White.

Colors like CAR, LPB, Inca Silver, Shoreline Gold, Burgundy Mist, Sherwood Green, and Ice Blue are all available but at an upgrade price since there is an additional cost and time for these colors. Similarly all of the semi-trans colors and burst finishes are upgrades due to additional costs for finishing and woods.