Headway Riverhead Bass

Bought new in UK in 1986. A Riverhead Jupiter. Japanese Custom made. 24 frets. 2 pick-ups (A & G): one straight one split. Active circuit (always on). Two tone controls: Bass and Treble. Volume and Pick up balance - all rotary. Solid Alder body with alder neck and rose wood fretboard. Body style is very like a Warwick Streamer. Bolt on solid brass bridge. Bolt on neck (4 screws). Nice strap lock systems. Base came with fitted case.

I play a mix of rock, funk and pop. Bass is very flexible, although it does tend to a mid to treble sound than real deep bass. I a, current using it through a Gallien Krueger, although it has been through a series of Traces before that. A great funk bass, versatile for both stage and studio. Always plently of questions after a gig. This bass complements my Warwick Thumb 5 String.

A good action fairly low. TO be honest I have re-set the action and pick ups so often over the years, all I would say is that it is really easy to get a fast buzz free set up. Very nice finish, laquer coat over a nice piece of alder. Slight problem with the jack over the years, but no problems since I have started using planet waves cables.

I have had the bass 17 years. it has been well gigged and still looks nearly new. Brassware needs regular cleaning however. Locking strap systems, which is really easy to use (bush button). Neck,truss rod need adjusted annually, or is that just when I do my big maintenance! Nice things is it is real easy to do. Have used this guitar many times without a back-up.

Never had a problem.

A great bass - one I will keep for a very long time. Excellent finger bass - pops away with the best of them.

Made in the late 70's - early 80's. 24 fret headless model, looks like a stienberger knockoff. Don't know what materials the bass was made of. Controls consisted of two volumes, one for each pickup, and a universal tone. Also had a 3 way pickup selector. Pickup configuration seemed proprietary, and I never took it apart to check... (Never needed to). My previous riverhead was passive. It came with a soft case, tuners were located on the body. I liked this thing primarily for the quality hardware & great tone the first time I played it.

Used it as my main axe for fifteen years, replacing my music man basses. Great rock bass, but could be controlled well enough for other venue's, (Though it's look didn't fit anywhere else...)Clean, bright tone, very punchy. I used it for all kinds of work, and it never let me down. I sold my old one seven years ago to get my six string. I finally found one for sale in australia, and it's on it's way here now, if that's any kind of recomendation....

Action was incredible, stayed in tune well. Even though I was rough with it, it never "flaked out" on me. Like I mentioned before, the high quality of hardware used is what impressed me the most.

Never needed a backup with this pup... Only maintenance was changing strings, and that was kinda wierd... strung through the tuners and locked down at the nut by allen screws going thru the nut... But it was very effective...

Don't know, never needed support. I did find out recently that these pup's were made in Japan and the factory burned down in the '80's sometime. They rebuilt, but no longer offer this line of instruments...

I'm looking forward to this arriving so I don't have to take my vintage Rickenbackers to bar gigs... The last time it replaced all my fenders & music mans, this time my Ricks... I mean, I WANT to use this thing at the gigs instead... I don't know what else to say! And if I lost it, well, that's why I have another one coming... Best bass you can buy for the money in my opinion for rock...

Back in about 1989 I was looking for a lightweight bass for gigging, and came across this rare instrument.
The body is compact and somewhat unusually-shaped, though it's not unattractive. The finish is a very dark blue, almost black, emblazoned with "RIVERHEAD Products of Headway" on the body and "Headway" and a logo on the asymmetrical 2/2 headstock.
The slim 24-fret bolt-on neck has a rosewood fingerboard. Machine heads are Gotohs and scale length is just over 33". Pickups were P/J and the passive circuit was originally controlled by two volumes and a tone if I remember correctly.

If you ever buy one of these basses, be prepared to replace both pickups - the original fully-enclosed ones were absolutely AWFUL! They were tiny, very quiet and gutless and I replaced them with Schallers. This was not a straightforward job, requiring professional routing, and a small, discrete scratchplate had to be made to conceal the spaces left behind. I also had the circuitry changed to master vol, master tone and selector switch.
Nowadays it sounds pretty good, but I've rated it on the original equipment.

Initially one small problem was the G-string would often slip off the edge of the frets, so I replaced the somewhat basic bridge with a Schaller, (you can tell I'm fond of this brand!) which offers string-gap adjustment. That apart, the neck has always played like a dream. A lowish action and not a hint of buzz anywhere. I have owned a dozen basses in my life including Rickenbackers and an Overwater, and this plays easier than any. One mark knocked off for the slipping.

A reliable workhorse through many a gig. The finish still looks as good as when I got it. I replaced the strap buttons with the Schaller locking type, but I do that with all my basses. I can't remember ever having to adjust the truss rod.

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Well, I've been playing for 20 years now and this has definitely been my most useful instrument. For sheer playability it beats almost anything. Its looks are quite unusual and I don't normally go for a very dark finish, but I feel really comfortable playing this instrument. I can't give it full marks though due to the various hardware modifications I've considered necessary.

-This bass is made in Japan (year in which is was made-unknown)
-24 frets / four strings
-solid top
-Gohtoh tuners

I have no further information on this bass guitar. Don't know the materials which it's made of. On the site they claim they make bass guitars for rockmusic. No included accessories.

It sounds great. I use this bass for rock/pop music. It has a clear bright sound, no annoying "buzz" sounds. You can make it sound the way you want by the use of two buttons on the bass (don't know how to call them) If you want you can get this warm sound of it for certain types of music. I tested it on stage a week ago and it was as perfect as in the studio. A very clear/bright sound....PERFECT!

I couldn't find a flaw!

No matter how hard I try, I can't break it....It's perfect on stage, something I can't say about my friends guitar. And I think the hardware will last a lifetime...

IF been playing on this bass for more then a year. I wish I asked what kind of material the bass is made from.... I this baby was stolen from me I'd buy another Riverhead, if I can find one. If it's impossible to find the same type of Riverhead i'd try another model od Riverhead. I love everything about this bass. The only thing I hate is that it's a four string bass and I think I nead an 5 string bass. But maybe that's to heavy, so actually I love and hate those 4 strings! I compared it with lot's o basses in stores(brand new ones) Basses like Fender, Rickenbacker and the used bassguitar of my school(forgot the name, some unknown name) Found out that Riverhead was better and cheaper becuase it was used.

~1983 Norway. 24 Fret 4string bass with solid body. Semi-headless neck with body tuning. 4-way active EQ controls single volume/pickup. Pickup design is unknown, but not standard...without the electronics board it tends to hum terribly and the electronics board went through a battery every 2-3 hours. Came in a nice black hardshell case.

Played professional heavy/thrash metal for 10 years through a 70's vintage Yamaha B100 head and Kustom 2x15 cab. Very aggressive, throaty tone! After time the electronics started to use 9volts rapidly (2-3 hours) and had to be removed. Became very noisy and weak. Had new pots/wiring done professionally to no avail. Tech claims pickup is non-standard size and etc. and cannot be replaced.
The original sound of the bass was extremely diverse and punchy. I have always run D'Addario HR70's on it and it gives a very crisp, punchy sound that drives you to the wall at volume. Rating is for the sound as originally equipped.

Action and pickups were done at a guitar shop in Denver, CO. The frets and wires were all done by same shop before pickup. When I originally played the bass in the pawn shop where I picked it up, it was one of the best actions and feels I had ever put my hands on (had been playing different basses for 10 years at that point).

This is a very solid bass. Other than the electronics problems it has never chipped, scratched or peeled. The screws to the 9volt compartment stripped out over time, the headstock got badly beaten by mike and cymbal stands over the years (among other things), but the shape of the headstock was excellent for repelling fans from the stage! (slightly pointed, but round at the tip)

If I had known about the electronics problem in the beginning, I would never have purchased the bass. It gave me 5 good years before problems occured (which made it harder to find replacement parts). I compared this bass to 100s of other basses that I have owned and tried. Comperable action to a well adjusted Ric or any Carvin...only way to get a better bass is to go hand crafted by the big names!