Roth Fiberglass Vintage Bass!!

WilliamJames · #1 03-02-2011, 09:31 PM

Hey folks.

New to the forum. Been playing bass guitar for a couple years now and just bought my first double bass.

It is clearly of a fine vintage and is marked..
-------------
Roth
Fiberglass
(Made In USA)

Catalog number G-660
Serial number A-8 630
--------------------
It was a steal of a deal at 250 bucks (Craigslist) and I love the fact that it is so unusual.

I see a lot of snobbery when it comes to the fiberglass basses, but this sucker is cool! It is not anywhere near as bad an idea as people have made it sound.

It has certainly stood the test of time and is durable, still looks great and plays perfect. There is just normal wear and minor issues.

It is made almost totally out of fiberglass, boat hull material. Even the tailpiece and fingerboard. The only wood on this bass is the replacement bridge and sound post. It is truly weatherproof.

As far as sound quality goes, there is not a huge difference between this and the wooden basses I have played at the shop. It is maybe slightly softer but it is really not that noticeable, for real it is totally an adequate instrument to learn and jam on. The action is a little high but that can be remedied.

But yeah, the sound is what I would call adequate. Probably on par with a low-end (pun intended) wooden bass. It is not particularly colorful nor is it as crappy and muddy as you have heard.

I'm guessing it is an earlier model as it is simply marked Roth instead of Roth Finch like some I have looked at online.

Anywho I seek info on this instrument, year of manufacture, any info at all

Bass Barrister · #2 03-02-2011, 10:15 PM

If you use the SEARCH feature and type in "fiberglass Roth", about three pages of threads on this subject will come up. As you might expect, the majority of comments about these are not very complimentary.

Jsn · #3 03-02-2011, 11:28 PM

Hey, you like it: that's a good thing. I'm glad it's found an appreciative owner. And for 250 bucks, it's probably worth messing around with. At least it won't implode on you, like a BSO might.

LouisF · #4 03-03-2011, 12:31 AM

I remember playing one of these things in high school - we kept it in the room with the fiberglass sousaphones!
Louis

WilliamJames · #5 03-03-2011, 07:27 AM

Thanks for the replies. I do indeed like it a lot.

Gonna have to do something about the action though, my fingers are killing me!

I went back and looked at the old fiberglass Roth threads and I seem to be one of the only people who likes them.

I'm no expert on basses but as far as the ones I have looked at, I could have done much worse for far more money..

As a first bass, it will work for me.

WilliamJames · #6 03-03-2011, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LouisF

I remember playing one of these things in high school - we kept it in the room with the fiberglass sousaphones!
Louis

Hey I saw one of these at the local flea market a while back!
I should get it to go with my bass, start a collection. lol

They wanted 400 bucks for it though and I would not have an idea what to do with it. It had stuck valves and was missing the mouthpiece..

WilliamJames · #7 03-03-2011, 07:38 AM

Can anyone take a shot at the year this was made?

JayB · #8 03-03-2011, 07:41 AM

That's an exceptionally good price for that bass. I can't really imagine it having a good arco tone and I'm sure it's heavy as hell, but its probably much better than a CCB.

I might recommend investing another $300 or so in a set of spiro weichs (buy some used in the classifieds!) and a luthier set up. It will improve the sound and playability, and at about $600 out the door, you can get the money back in a snap on the resale market.

f64 · #9 03-03-2011, 07:51 AM

Hey, Good luck with the Roth. I love it! I haven't had my hands on a db for years as most of my time is split in genre requiring me to plug in. Acoustically I have both Martin guitars in Brazilian Rosewood and Ovations with synthetic bowl backs. Both have their place. If you're ever tired of it and anywhere near NJ let me know.
Tom

WilliamJames · #10 03-03-2011, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayB

That's an exceptionally good price for that bass. I can't really imagine it having a good arco tone and I'm sure it's heavy as hell, but its probably much better than a CCB.

I might recommend investing another $300 or so in a set of spiro weichs (buy some used in the classifieds!) and a luthier set up. It will improve the sound and playability, and at about $600 out the door, you can get the money back in a snap on the resale market.

Thanks for the suggestions. I plan to have it set up professionally as soon as I have the extra cash.

I will get new strings as well. The strings on here are very very old, thick metal strings. They have some visible wear.

The arco tone is not as bad as it seems it would be, just my bowing is poor. I won't be playing in the symphony orchestra with it or anything, but its not just awful.

As far as weight, it is a beast! I'm guessing somewhere in the 40-50 lb range.

I thought about the resale when I got it. I figured if it just sucked, I could sell it for three times what I paid and still make out good. I drove two towns away at ten o clock at night through dangerous winding backroads to make sure I got it before someone offered the guy more.

WilliamJames · #11 03-03-2011, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by f64

Hey, Good luck with the Roth. I love it! I haven't had my hands on a db for years as most of my time is split in genre requiring me to plug in. Acoustically I have both Martin guitars in Brazilian Rosewood and Ovations with synthetic bowl backs. Both have their place. If you're ever tired of it and anywhere near NJ let me know.
Tom

I'll be moving to CT in June so maybe someday....

I think its a keeper though. I don't care what anybody says, I am in love with this old bass!

WilliamJames · #12 03-03-2011, 08:02 AM

Try doing THIS with your wooden bass!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kugourpuSN0

Marcus Johnson · #13 03-03-2011, 08:42 AM

That's the bass I started out on, when I was back in grade school. I've gone back home and played that same bass a few times.... it's heavy, man you are not kidding! I brought back some Spiro Weichs to throw on there, and while it won't win any competitions, it wasn't bad at all, and better than some of the rental basses I've played on the road. $250, how can you go wrong....

WilliamJames · #14 03-03-2011, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcus Johnson

That's the bass I started out on, when I was back in grade school. I've gone back home and played that same bass a few times.... it's heavy, man you are not kidding! I brought back some Spiro Weichs to throw on there, and while it won't win any competitions, it wasn't bad at all, and better than some of the rental basses I've played on the road. $250, how can you go wrong....

Heck yeah, thats cool man.

If anybody has an old set of Spiro Weichs they could lend or let go cheap let me know.

drurb · #15 03-03-2011, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WilliamJames

Try doing THIS with your wooden bass!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kugourpuSN0

Try doing THIS with your surfboard!

WilliamJames · #16 03-03-2011, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drurb

Try doing THIS with your surfboard!

Haha, thats fantastic!

forester · #17 03-03-2011, 09:21 PM

good score,
but keep in mind it's not indestructable.the bouts are paper thin, the turned down flange in the F's make the top look thick, and the scroll is hollow/ stuffed with what looks like R-12 pink insulation. trust me.

fdeck · #18 03-03-2011, 09:42 PM

Enjoy the new bass! It's hard to tell from the pic, but the bridge might be sitting a bit too far up towards the fingerboard. On any newly-bought bass, it's a good idea to get it looked at to ensure that the setup is favorable. And don't be dismayed to discover that bridge adjusters are in your future, as it's a routine and affordable modification to virtually all basses these days.

Eric Swanson · #19 03-04-2011, 04:07 AM

Many happy congratulations! +1 on getting it to a bass luthier for bridge adjusters and a set up once-over. Having the bridge in the right spot, having the soundpost checked out, and having a playable string height may just change your whole experience with your bass, for the better.

I have played solid wood, ply, and hybrid basses that were either unplayable or sounded poorly. For $250, such a deal!

Having a decent-sounding bass that won't faint or die every time the weather changes is a beautiful thing...

WilliamJames · #20 03-04-2011, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fdeck

Enjoy the new bass! It's hard to tell from the pic, but the bridge might be sitting a bit too far up towards the fingerboard. On any newly-bought bass, it's a good idea to get it looked at to ensure that the setup is favorable. And don't be dismayed to discover that bridge adjusters are in your future, as it's a routine and affordable modification to virtually all basses these days.

Thanks! I took that pic right after carrying it in from the car. I have since put the bridge in the right spot and shaved a 1/4 inch off of it as well/recut the grooves. I will be replacing it with a good adjustable bridge soon.