Bass Gear Magazine

Justin Beck · #1 02-04-2011, 04:52 PM

Hey 'Heads,

I just read the review of the Century Standards and Signature in Bass Gear Magazine. I was really impressed with the article.

Also, I cannot think of a gear review in any magazine that I've ever read that was so positive as the one on the Century Signature. That bass is just beautiful, and I'm glad to see Roscoe get some well deserved respect in print.

So, good job Gard, Keith and crew. Also good to Tow Bowlus and crew.

Best,
Justin

LilRay · #2 02-04-2011, 05:11 PM

Justin, Thanks for the tip.

I'll read tommorow through flip book.

God Bless, Ray

bottomzone · #3 02-04-2011, 06:17 PM

I agree!!!! What was really nice for me was Phil Maneri's assessment of the craftmanship details. Very nice job!

A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste!

JOME77 · #4 02-05-2011, 06:33 AM

Cool!
Good thorough review.
I'm a bit curious about their comment on the crowning of the frets though. The frets on my new 3006 are adequately crowned and I can't say that I remember seeing any issues of overly flat surfaces on any of the frets of my previous Roscoe's.

I do really like the more technical content of the magazine.
I'm thinking that I'm not going to renew my BP subscription (been a subscriber since it began). I'm changing to Bass Gear Magazine.

Darkstrike · #5 02-05-2011, 07:19 AM

Very interesting review, indeed, I was wondering about the fret deal too, but not in the same way as Joe, mine seem to have the flat tops, but I had assumed wear, but I prefer them that way, my Fender Roscoe Beck came from the factory just the same, and I believe it helps in getting lower action, since my Roscoe & Fender can hang with far lower action than any other bass I've owned/played.

I'd call it prefrence over issue, honestly.

More importantly, 3 fretted basses? Why no fretless?

Gard · #6 02-05-2011, 07:31 AM

Good catch Justin, I meant to put that up a while back and flat dropped the ball on it...sorry guys!

Yeah, great review, despite the fret crown "ding" (which we AGREE with, and are addressing in production).

I was very nervous about the whole review, but especially the part that Phil did, because I've seen him just blast a few builders in the past. The reviews he did almost brought me to tears of joy. I'm so damned proud of the guys that work at the shop, being there every day and seeing their work constantly has truly spoiled me - to me that level of excellence is "normal". It's very gratifying to have someone of Phil's caliber remind me that I work for a bunch of guys that are so far above "normal" as to be almost alien.

I think that the biggest compliment of the entire review is this: we sent three basses for review, and only ONE came back. The other two - the Signature & the Natural/Pau Standard - were purchased by Tom (Sig.) & Vic (Std.). That is the kind of review we like.

Bill, I agree, a fretless would have been a good idea, and since this review was initiated we have added the Plus and "J" versions...maybe we can convince them to review a another pair - a fretted "J" and a fretless, both Pluses - in a few months?

Justin Beck · #7 02-05-2011, 11:43 AM

Yeah, the whole fret thing seems very minor to me, and like they said, they were really grasping at straws to find things to write a "negative" comment on.

So far, I think this is my favorite review of theirs, and I really like them all.

Phil's review of the Signature almost seemed poetic, which I've never read from him. There is also no higher compliment than the reviewer buying the review piece.

Good on you guys.

Best,
Justin

**nostatic** · #8 02-05-2011, 01:24 PM

Probably tough to get a follow-on that quick, but maybe you can sell it that way...an addendum with "oops, forgot the fretless." Congrats on the review. The niggles were very minor, and the proof is in the pudding when only one of three instruments comes back. Too bad that isn't a footnote on the article in the issue.

To me the strength of the brand got mostly covered by the article, which is great work by Tom/Vic/et al. I find the value proposition for Roscoe to be:

- great craftsmanship (though there are other builders that can check this box)
- beautiful tops (again, other builders can claim this)
- great customer service (as above, but less builders can claim this than can claim the other two)
- US-made, even the "budget" model (even less builders can claim this)
- unique sound, and both fretted and fretless have their own distinct presence

For me the last two are big ones. While I have owned off-shored instruments in the past, and understand the realities of business, my money now goes to the builder who does it in-house. Wrt the sound, there are plenty of sonic clones out there (and that is cool if that is what you want), there are other vanilla/antiseptic sounds out there (again, if you dig it, cool), but there are few "voices" in the world. Roscoe is certainly one of them, and they do it both on the fretted and fretless side of things. Not many can claim that.

So if you put together all the factors and create your "builder matrix" sheet, you end up with a very small number of companies that check all the boxes. Of course it totally depends on what you want/need and where your priorities lie. But it isn't that hard to rationalize giving your money to Roscoe to build a(nother) bass.

Darkstrike · #9 02-05-2011, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gard

Bill, I agree, a fretless would have been a good idea, and since this review was initiated we have added the Plus and "J" versions...maybe we can convince them to review a another pair - a fretted "J" and a fretless, both Pluses - in a few months?

Aha, I should have guessed as much.

CrashClint · #10 02-07-2011, 08:15 AM

If you go with Bass Gear Magazine, don't spend the money on the printed version. I paid around $30 and either had to wait as the issues were never put out on time or it just didn't come at all. I was very disappointed.

I have to say when I did receive one of the printed issues, the reviews were very good.

JOME77 · #11 02-07-2011, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrashClint

If you go with Bass Gear Magazine, don't spend the money on the printed version. I paid around $30 and either had to wait as the issues were never put out on time or it just didn't come at all. I was very disappointed.

I have to say when I did receive one of the printed issues, the reviews were very good.

Oops! Too late!

I subscribed yesterday after seaching all of the local book stores for a copy and not finding one!

Wonderful!

tombowlus · #12 02-07-2011, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrashClint

If you go with Bass Gear Magazine, don't spend the money on the printed version. I paid around $30 and either had to wait as the issues were never put out on time or it just didn't come at all. I was very disappointed.

I have to say when I did receive one of the printed issues, the reviews were very good.

Are you missing any issues? If so, let me know, and I'll be glad to mail them to you.

Bulk mail can be a bit frustrating, as some folks get their issue right away, and some take a while to be delivered. But if anyone does not get an issue, please PM me or e-mail me at tom@bassgearmag.com and I will gladly send you a replacement.

JOME77 · #13 02-07-2011, 10:10 AM

Cool Tom!

I knew you'd take care of us.

Great magazine too. I look forward to getting my first issue.

Is there anyone that I need to email to assure that I get the latest issue with the Roscoe reviews (or will that happen automatically since I subcribed yesteday)?

Thanks!

Gard · #14 02-07-2011, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tombowlus

Are you missing any issues? If so, let me know, and I'll be glad to mail them to you.

Bulk mail can be a bit frustrating, as some folks get their issue right away, and some take a while to be delivered. But if anyone does not get an issue, please PM me or e-mail me at tom@bassgearmag.com and I will gladly send you a replacement.

Tom, thanks for chiming in.

How's that Century Signature V treatin' ya?

CrashClint · #15 02-07-2011, 10:55 AM

PM sent

Quote:

Originally Posted by tombowlus

Are you missing any issues? If so, let me know, and I'll be glad to mail them to you.

Bulk mail can be a bit frustrating, as some folks get their issue right away, and some take a while to be delivered. But if anyone does not get an issue, please PM me or e-mail me at tom@bassgearmag.com and I will gladly send you a replacement.

tombowlus · #16 02-07-2011, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JOME77

Cool Tom!

I knew you'd take care of us.

Great magazine too. I look forward to getting my first issue.

Is there anyone that I need to email to assure that I get the latest issue with the Roscoe reviews (or will that happen automatically since I subcribed yesteday)?

Thanks!

Actually, your subscription would automatically start with issue #6, but if someone tells me to star with the immediate prior issue, I am happy to make that adjustment. PM me with your full name and mailing address, and I'll take care of you on this.

tombowlus · #17 02-07-2011, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gard

How's that Century Signature V treatin' ya?

Quite well, thank ye! I did throw some SS rounds on it ('cause that's how I roll), and I'm lovin' it!

CrashClint · #18 02-13-2011, 03:07 PM

I want to say a big Thank you to Tom for resolving my subscription issue, I now have all magazines in hand! It is good to be able to read real world reviews on equipment.

tombowlus · #19 02-14-2011, 07:16 AM

You are very welcome! I'm glad that you have them all, now.

Gard · #20 02-14-2011, 09:25 AM

Good bunch of folks over at BGM, figured it'd be fixed.