Reverend Guitars Justice bass (similar name)

A 4-string double-cutaway solidbody bass with a korina body, a bolt-on neck and two humbucking J-Rail pickups, made by Reverend as its take on the classic J-bass setup.

What it is

The Reverend Justice is a 4-string, double-cutaway solidbody bass built around a korina body and a bolt-on neck. Reverend presents it as its version of the J-bass layout. Every bass listing found for the Justice is a 4-string, and no 5-string version was found. What distinguishes it from a Fender J Bass is its pickups. Premier Guitar describes them as humbucking rail designs, so they can be blended in any proportion without hum and either can be played alone. The Justice also has a wider nut, about 1 21/32 in against the J's usual 1 1/2 in, and a volume, tone and pickup-pan control layout in place of the J's two volumes and one tone. Premier Guitar's 2011 review says the Justice was made in Korea, with designs still coming from founder Joe Naylor and set-up work done in Michigan, and that it was not made in the US, unlike earlier Reverend basses. Retail prices in the sources range from about $699 to $1,079 across new and used listings. Premier listed a street price of $998 in 2011, and a 2012 article gave about $899. Retailers list the Justice as out of stock, and one seller says it has been out of production since 2018, though this could not be confirmed.

Specifications

Body: Korina solidbody, double cutaway, satin finish on some models
Neck: Five-piece maple/walnut, satin amber finish, medium oval profile, six-bolt neck plate
Fingerboard: Rosewood, 12 in radius, dot inlays
Scale: 34 in
Frets: 22 medium jumbo per the spec sheet
Nut: Graphite, 1 21/32 in (42 mm) width
Pickups: Two J-Rail pickups, neck and bridge
Controls: Volume, tone, pickup pan (blend)
Bridge: String-through-body or top-load, 3/4 in spacing, locking saddles
Tuners: Open-gear, 1/2 in shaft on the spec sheet; later listings show Hipshot ultralight tuners
Truss rod: Dual action, adjusted at the headstock
Strings: 45 to 100 gauge
Case: B-Case sold separately
Weight: 7 lb 11 oz (one retailer); 8 lb 11 oz (a used listing)

How it's used

Players describe the Justice as having a J-style tone with more power and sustain. The sources do not name specific genres or settings. Premier Guitar found the neck pickup easy to hear in a band mix, and a forum user reported using it with the gain turned up for a gritty sound.

Suggested usage

Test the neck pickup alone
Premier Guitar suggests using the pickup pan to hear the neck pickup alone, which it describes as warm and focused.
Try blends of the two pickups
Because the pickups do not hum when blended, the full range of blend positions can be used, which is the main difference from a J bass.
Check action and feel before buying
Forum players recommend checking the action and feel of a specific instrument, since setup varies between basses.
Compare string-through and top-load bridge settings
According to Premier Guitar, stringing through the body or top-loading changes the attack.
Try higher gain for grit
A forum user reported a gritty sound by turning up the gain on the amplifier.

What reviewers said

Premier Guitar (Dan Berkowitz, July 2011)
Reviews the Justice alongside the Thundergun. The reviewer finds the Justice a sensible option for a J-bass player who wants something different and does not mind humbuckers, rates it on a five-pick scale, and advises listening to the specific instrument before buying. Pricing is described as a little above a typical import and below US-built basses.

What it is

Specifications

How it's used

Suggested usage

Test the neck pickup alone

Try blends of the two pickups

Check action and feel before buying

Compare string-through and top-load bridge settings

Try higher gain for grit

What reviewers said

Sources