Roscoe Beck IV

Joebone · #1 03-09-2013, 06:42 PM

I sold all my 4-strings, then bought this because I like these basses so very much, but I really am a 5-string guy, so out the door it goes.

For pictures: http://joebone1.imgur.com/

This is the Roscoe Beck IV, now discontinued from Fender, which is a shame. It features custom-shop quality and some great design features. 22 frets, dark rosewood board, alder body with vintage red finish that permits some of the alder grain to show through, with a parchment pickguard.

Mr. Beck intended to couple the sound of a vintage J-bass with more modern capabilities. This passive axe features two Bill-Lawrence-designed double-J pickups. Each can be run series, single-coil, or parallel, via two toggles. There is a 3-way pickup selector, and master volume and tone controls. The tone switch also can be pulled up, to activate a resistor that emulates a particular tone off of Beck's original vintage J. Single coil is sweet, and mixing and matching the parallel and series settings permits a wide range of killer tones, particularly surprising for a passive axe. And the bridge is excellent - I believe it is sourced from Gotoh.

Ergonomics are excellent - the body does not feature as deep an offset as a regular J-bass, and feels great sitting or standing with a strap, the neck is a breeze, and the lower horn is cut to permit full access to the upper frets. Comes with original hard (G&G) case. Some swirling from prior play, but no dings or dents that I can find.

Strung with new DR flats, and provided with some deferred love and an excellent pro set-up.

Asking $1200 plus shipping. These were going for like $2300 new, street, when discontinued. I'm confident they will be collector items some day, but I'm not a collector, and you'll want to play it instead of stashing it in a vault.

acoustibass · #2 03-09-2013, 07:33 PM

beautiful bass, are you looking for a 5 strings instead?

ubnomnar · #3 03-09-2013, 08:03 PM

Where's the GASex

What a Stunner

azflyman · #4 03-09-2013, 08:05 PM

I have an RBV in shoreline gold and I can tell you its the best passive 5 string I have. The neck is superb and the sound of this bass is so versatile with so many options that I don't believe you can't find a sound you would love. I like the plexi ramp you have on that one.

thisSNsucks · #5 03-09-2013, 08:20 PM

Any idea on the weight?

jbrooks · #6 03-10-2013, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azflyman

I have an RBV in shoreline gold and I can tell you its the best passive 5 string I have. The neck is superb and the sound of this bass is so versatile with so many options that I don't believe you can't find a sound you would love. I like the plexi ramp you have on that one.

Dumb question What's with the plexi ramp?

azflyman · #7 03-10-2013, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbrooks

Dumb question What's with the plexi ramp?

He has a piece of clear acrylic (plexiglass) between the pickups It allows you to keep a reference point with your thumb anywhere between the front and rear pickups. A ramp makes a nice reference, I had just never seen one clear to keep the aesthetics of the bass intact. Pretty slick.

Joebone · #8 03-10-2013, 01:59 PM

Prior owner stated weight at a shade below 9 pounds, and that sounds right to me.

The ramp is plexiglass.

Forgot to mention that this bass comes with the D-tuner, which was a standard feature for these basses.

Not looking for trades, unless you have a Pedulla MVP5, fretted, or a Sadowsky Metro P/J (this one would be four-string that I'd be interested in), in which cases I'd kick in the cash difference.

precijazz · #9 03-10-2013, 03:04 PM

Argh, why does this have to be at the other side of the world? These virtually never show up over here.

**jreynolds2159** · #10 03-10-2013, 07:37 PM

Very nice bass! Got me thinking

takeout · #11 03-10-2013, 08:18 PM

Those ramps are awesome - made one up for my Marcus Miller after seeing one on an RB. GLWTS.

Joebone · #12 03-11-2013, 08:57 AM

Thanks all, and thanks to Ubnomnar for the photo boost.

"Lots of interest, but still available, so gonna bump it" bump...

pickles · #13 03-11-2013, 09:25 AM

PM sent.

Joebone · #14 03-11-2013, 02:41 PM

PM answered...

swpyne · #15 03-11-2013, 03:56 PM

Bump for a beautiful bass and a great TB'er!

Bglosh · #16 03-11-2013, 07:02 PM

Anyone know the rationale for having the magnet poles on either side of each string?

pickles · #17 03-11-2013, 08:09 PM

Smoother response and less string pull.

Joebone · #18 03-12-2013, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pickles

Smoother response and less string pull.

True, and I think it also maximizes the uniformity of volume and tone across the entire register, which is something I prize in a bass.

That said, this bass is headed up the coast!

To quote Lucinda Williams:

I think I'm gonna make myself a little something to eat,
Get a can down off the shelf, maybe a little something sweet.
Haven't spoke to no one, haven't been in the mood,
Pour some soup, get a spoon, stir it up real good.
Go out with a friend, they know the music might help,
But I can't pretend - I wish I was somewhere else.

I wanna watch the ocean bend,
The edges of the sun,then
I wanna get swallowed up
In an ocean of love.

Put on my coat, go out into the street,
Get a lump in my throat, and look down at my feet.
Take the long way home, so I can ride around,
Put Neil Young on and turn up the sound.
Drive up the coastline, maybe to Ventura,
Watch the waves make signs out on the water.

I wanna watch the ocean bend,
The edges of the sun,then
I wanna get swallowed up
In an ocean of love.

Stand in the shower, clean this dirty mess,
Give me back my power, and drown this unholyness.
Lean over the toilet bowl, and throw up my confession,
Clense my soul, of this hidden obsession.

I wanna watch the ocean bend,
The edges of the sun,then
I wanna get swallowed up
In an ocean of love.

I wanna watch the ocean bend,
The edges of the sun,then
I wanna get swallowed up
In an ocean of love.

Thread closed...