....today at the Roscoe shop, a rare alignment of the planets brought about this interesting photo opportunity, 4 Century basses on one stand!

Arranged from front to back, are a Century Standard IV, a Century Signature V, a (message from MiB headquarters: Nothing to see here, move along.), and my Century Signature VI:

... message from MiB headquarters: Nothing to see here, move along.)...

Now that's just creepy....how'd they do that???

:eek:






:ninja:

As a matter of fact, I think I will have one!

The Gguitars Century IV looks great. It came together quite nicely.

W

As a matter of fact, I think I will have one!

The Gguitars Century IV looks great. It came together quite nicely.

W

I think we can work something out for you....

What about my Century VI?

:bawl:

She's all alone...

What about my Century VI?



Hey man, don't make me post the Serenity Prayer on yo ass!!! :D :D :D

:D

What about my Century VI?

:bawl:

She's all alone...

No, she's not....she's on a stack of about 8 bodies that are going in to have the final coat done this week. Her neck is also doing well, should have the fingerboard glued on today.

Soon, soon, soon!!!

:hyper:

:)

No, she's not....she's on a stack of about 8 bodies that are going in to have the final coat done this week. Her neck is also doing well, should have the fingerboard glued on today.

Soon, soon, soon!!!

:hyper:

:)

Hurry, she's "cold" and needs to be warmed up...

:(

Hurry, she's "cold" and needs to be warmed up...

:(

...what, you have some kind of psycho connection with a bass???

:eek:

Whoops, I always confuse "psycho" and "psychic"....or do I??

:ninja:

:D

She's sending me messages, "help me! help me!"

Cool picy - the second one in looks like a similar set up yours Gard - nice top too what are the specs?;)

Cool picy - the second one in looks like a similar set up yours Gard - nice top too what are the specs?;)

It's a 5, solid one-piece burl maple body, amber stain, spalted purpleheart fingerboard, Demeter preamp, Nordstrand pickups.

It belongs to a guy in Raleigh, NC, it was just in for a setup, and I realized I actually had FOUR Century bodies in view...couldn't not take that photo! :)

:) A rare treat - thanks.

Any Century Signature VIIs on the way? :hiding:

Any Century Signature VIIs on the way? :hiding:

7's are a pretty rare bird, very few dealers will order them for stock, so it's pretty much a custom order piece. No one has one on order presently....but if you wanna change that, it would be just fine with us....:ninja:

:D

It's a 5, solid one-piece burl maple body, amber stain, spalted purpleheart fingerboard, Demeter preamp, Nordstrand pickups.



Gard,
Can you give us a report on what the Nordstrands sound like...especially on that fretted bass? How does it compare to the Barts?

I know I'll find out in a few weeks (hopefully VERY few weeks) what the Nordies sound like, but in the meantime would appreciate your assessment and descriptions. Thanks.

Gard,
Can you give us a report on what the Nordstrands sound like...especially on that fretted bass? How does it compare to the Barts?

I know I'll find out in a few weeks (hopefully VERY few weeks) what the Nordies sound like, but in the meantime would appreciate your assessment and descriptions. Thanks.

I sure will, as soon as it's set up into playing condition! We just got those in there, and it needs a bit of attention before it's really playable. Keep in mind this is a VERY unique bass, as a solid piece of maple will have a TOTALLY different sound than a solid piece of ash! ;)

I sure will, as soon as it's set up into playing condition! We just got those in there, and it needs a bit of attention before it's really playable. Keep in mind this is a VERY unique bass, as a solid piece of maple will have a TOTALLY different sound than a solid piece of ash! ;)


Sure, and the Demeter will sound different than the Aguilar. Just am curious what the Nordstrand will bring to the table sonically.

It's a 5, solid one-piece burl maple body, amber stain, spalted purpleheart fingerboard, Demeter preamp, Nordstrand pickups.

It belongs to a guy in Raleigh, NC, it was just in for a setup, and I realized I actually had FOUR Century bodies in view...couldn't not take that photo! :)

I saw that bass in Scott's shop, pretty cool axe. It was pretty bright as I recall, but very nice if that's your sound. I forgot that it was a Century and not an SKB.

W

7's are a pretty rare bird, very few dealers will order them for stock, so it's pretty much a custom order piece. No one has one on order presently....but if you wanna change that, it would be just fine with us....:ninja:

:D

All I'm waiting for is the sale of the first of my fives. :hyper:

All I'm waiting for is the sale of the first of my fives. :hyper:

:cool:

So, any ideas on the specs yet???

:)

I am sure this question has been answered 729 times, but I am going to ask anyway:

Is the Century Sig body basically the same as an SKB body, but with a longer upper horn??

That's what she said.

I am sure this question has been answered 729 times, but I am going to ask anyway:

Is the Century Sig body basically the same as an SKB body, but with a longer upper horn??

Not exactly.

The width of the body at it's widest point is the same, but the shape is slightly different there. It "pinches in" a bit more than an SKB at the "waist", and then the horns are totally different.

Not exactly.

The width of the body at it's widest point is the same, but the shape is slightly different there. It "pinches in" a bit more than an SKB at the "waist", and then the horns are totally different.

I see. I really like the looks of em, but I haven't seen one next to an SKB so I can make a comparison. I would seriously be interested in one in a 5 string version in the future, as long as it isn't a little dinky body.

Solid swamp ash with Nords and Demeter and birdseye maple fretboard............................:cool:

Hey Ryan,
The SKB and Century are very similar...far more similar than an SKB or Century compared to the LG. Think of the Century as an SKB with a slightly slimmer waist and a slightly longer upper horn. ;)

:cool:

So, any ideas on the specs yet???

:)

A few. I need it to be very lightweight and balanced, but I also need something that will be warm and rich, while retaining enough articulation for fully extended chords (solo chordal work is one of my primary intentions for this instrument - I'll be tuning it A-E-A-D-G-B-E, like George Van Eps tuned his 7-string archtop guitar!).

I'm thinking ????? (open to suggestions - I like the look of walnut, but Idk what it'd do to the sound -also, ever tried spruce?) on Spanish Cedar will be the way to go, with an ebony board.

It'll probably need a custom neck carve, too, which is possible, right? I have really big hands, and thin necks give my left wrist a lot of grief after while. My fingers are plenty long and flexible enough to not be bothered by a bigger carve + the 7-string width. I actually like the chunky carve on the US Spector 6-string bolt-on a lot. I do fear a bigger neck might throw off the balance, though. :^/

As far as electronics go, I'm thinking Barts (or maybe EMGs if you still do them, I've seen them on a few Roscoes in the past, and I do like some things about them - some of the Nordstrands interest me, too, but I've never played any of them in anything) with volume only. I don't find myself EQing from the bass much unless the bass doesn't sound all that great to start with.

What's standard spacing at the bridge on your sevens?

A few. I need it to be very lightweight and balanced, but I also need something that will be warm and rich, while retaining enough articulation for fully extended chords (solo chordal work is one of my primary intentions for this instrument - I'll be tuning it A-E-A-D-G-B-E, like George Van Eps tuned his 7-string archtop guitar!).

I'm thinking ????? (open to suggestions - I like the look of walnut, but Idk what it'd do to the sound -also, ever tried spruce?) on Spanish Cedar will be the way to go, with an ebony board.

It'll probably need a custom neck carve, too, which is possible, right? I have really big hands, and thin necks give my left wrist a lot of grief after while. My fingers are plenty long and flexible enough to not be bothered by a bigger carve + the 7-string width. I actually like the chunky carve on the US Spector 6-string bolt-on a lot. I do fear a bigger neck might throw off the balance, though. :^/

As far as electronics go, I'm thinking Barts (or maybe EMGs if you still do them, I've seen them on a few Roscoes in the past, and I do like some things about them - some of the Nordstrands interest me, too, but I've never played any of them in anything) with volume only. I don't find myself EQing from the bass much unless the bass doesn't sound all that great to start with.

What's standard spacing at the bridge on your sevens?

Tough one, a 7 that's light and well-balanced.

:hmm:

There's a LOT of wood in the neck, and a fair amount of metal on the headstock, so the body needs some heft to offset the typical tendency toward a bit of neck dive on ANY 7. The Century body will most likely eliminate any issues on a strap, but I can't say that it definitely will balance well sitting with the bass in your lap.

As for tone, you're in the right ballpark with the Spanish Cedar body and Ebony board. Walnut is kind of hard and dense, it would definitely add articulation (without being BRIGHT), but it would also add weight. We've never done a Spruce top, but I would guess it would work out fine, it is definitely OK for carving.

Doing a custom neck carve isn't really a problem, just let us know what you're looking for, and we'll do it. If you can come by and let us see an example of what it is you like, that would be good, or at least get some measurements. You're definitely correct in assuming a thicker profile will add weight, but it isn't something that will add a LOT of it, so I wouldn't worry about it, unless you want us to leave the neck "square"! :D

Just a volume control? Or, do you mean a volume/blend or volume/volume? However you want it, we can work with that. We can get EMG's, but I don't know for certain if they have a pickup that will "cover" a 7 string spacing....that can be looked at later though.

String spacing on the 7 at the bridge (working from memory, it IS Saturday....I'll confirm and adjust if necessary next time I'm in the shop) is 16.5 mm.

Anything else?

:cool:

No, she's not....she's on a stack of about 8 bodies that are going in to have the final coat done this week. Her neck is also doing well, should have the fingerboard glued on today.

Soon, soon, soon!!!

:hyper:

:)

How do you know it's a she...it's got a longer horn, no? That usually indicates the male of the species....:p

Not exactly.

The width of the body at it's widest point is the same, but the shape is slightly different there. It "pinches in" a bit more than an SKB at the "waist", and then the horns are totally different.

I think that's why I really prefer it over the SKB - I've always been a fan of skinnier waists :D Maybe THAT'S why it's a "she?"

Tough one, a 7 that's light and well-balanced.

Jim at ABG told me the last SKB-3007 he got in was really light and balanced pretty nicely, so I was hoping the Century would balance even better.

The Century body will most likely eliminate any issues on a strap, but I can't say that it definitely will balance well sitting with the bass in your lap.

I can't really play with it in my lap, so that's not a big deal. I'm so tall, the bass is positioned too low, and the lower horn (if it's like the SKB) won't fit well over my leg anyway. Comfort while standing is paramount.


As for tone, you're in the right ballpark with the Spanish Cedar body and Ebony board. Walnut is kind of hard and dense, it would definitely add articulation (without being BRIGHT), but it would also add weight. We've never done a Spruce top, but I would guess it would work out fine, it is definitely OK for carving.

Hand-rubbed amberburst on spruce over a chambered body, fretless? That sounds more like something I'd need to talk to Cliff Bordwell about. :o

I know pretty well what spruce will do to a guitar and to something with some air in it, but I've never encountered it on a solidbody bass. Too risky to chance it, methinks.

Just a volume control? Or, do you mean a volume/blend or volume/volume?

I don't want more than two knobs, so probably either vol/vol, vol/pan, or maybe even vol + 3-way toggle. I'd almost be tempted to just have a single volume, because I mostly use both pickups full on, but I know as soon as I did, I'd get a session/gig that would just HAVE to have the bridge soloed.

String spacing on the 7 at the bridge is 16.5 mm.

That *might* be a little tight, so I may need to get a wider spacing option. How much would, say, 18 or 19mm bridge spacing affect nut width?

Anything else?

Might the shorter scale option might be advisable, since I play so many chords? It would make some extensions a bit more comfortable, and, as my hands can fatigue somewhat easily, it would ease the strain on my left hand (though to exactly what degree, I can't say, not having played too many sevens of any scale for long periods of time). I know Keith has said the low B is still great on the 34" and 33" scales he's done, but I wonder if the low A I'll be using would retain enough clarity versus the same on 35". Thoughts?

Here is a beautiful Century that's been cooking in Keith's shop. It belongs to my good friend Tommy Julio (to all that are interested, he is the offical Roscoe dealer for Latin America). Isn't that top a real beauty?

What kind of top is it?

I'll betcha' a dollar that it's quilted/spalted maple. ;)

Here is a beautiful Century that's been cooking in Keith's shop. It belongs to my good friend Tommy Julio (to all that are interested, he is the offical Roscoe dealer for Latin America). Isn't that top a real beauty?


"Beauty" is an understatement! That is an exceptional-looking bass!! Somebody is going to LOVE this bass!

A Century with slanted P/U's.:confused: or are my eyes playing tricks on me again.:D

JPJ got a dolla!

It is indeed Spalted Quilt Maple, and a darn fine example of it, Tomas has a good eye!

Here are the latest photos, front and back:

A Century with slanted P/U's.:confused: or are my eyes playing tricks on me again.:D

Yup, they're slanted like an LG! Good eye...

;)

Y'all guys need to migrate over to my thread... Master Gard sent some "final" pics last night... :D ;)

Man! My friednd's bass is STUNNING!!! love the blueburst back!

Man! My friednd's bass is STUNNING!!! love the blueburst back!

It's actually an aqua burst, but for some reason it's showing up in the photos darker and looking bluer. Pretty, pretty, PRETTY bass....

:)

Y'all guys need to migrate over to my thread... Master Gard sent some "final" pics last night... :D ;)


Hook us up with a link NJL. This forum is so huge....

Will do:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=236408

Gard,

Thanks for the pics of my Century V top&back and your words praying my good eye (i learned of you)...reality your work in Roscoe Guitars is "invaluable" and i´m very happy with the feedback of all the bass players that own a Roscoe bass in my country and rest of the world. Thanks Diego for your invitation and your comments, your friendship is "Incalculable". To me Roscoe is the best custom made basses that now people in latin america can afford more easily with our help!!!

Un abrazo y bendiciones,

Tommy

Pic of my memorable and awaited meeting with a bass hero!!!

These Roscoe Sponsored Threads are giving me so much GAS that I'm floating just above the seat of my chair.

I like the Centurys more and more.

Gard,

Pic of my memorable and awaited meeting with a bass hero!!!

Hey - I never knew Tiger Woods played a Roscoe:eek: