Build my fretless

JoelFT · #1 03-18-2013, 03:46 PM

So, Gard and I have been talking about me getting a new fretless all the back when he said he was raising the prices. At first I was going to be a responsible father and "just" get a Standard Plus. But, now I've decided to go full on custom. I could just get a Signature but, I got to hold back somewhere. Basically this bass is coming out of my new house down payment. It could mean the difference of having to pay PMI (kids, ask your parents) or Mamma getting antique white cabinets with white marble counter tops with a glass subway tile backsplash. When compared to the price of a Viking stove this bass will be downright cheap!

Here's the deal, give me the specs of your perfect six-string fretless Roscoe. The only spec that is an absolute is the number of strings (6). All else is fair game. Feel free to spend my money. I'm going up to Greensboro sometime in April to visit Roscoe World Headquarters, which from here on out I will refer to as "Mahogany Row" (Gard, ask your dad. I hope it sticks), to pick out a top.

I figure that if I build this bass by committee then it might be easier to sell or trade it if that time ever comes. I've learned a lot from Joe. Just look how sought after Mahoganut is. At last count there is about five guys with standing offers for that bass. However, I reserve the right to ignore every last one of you.

Let the games begin!

Btw, I dropped a couple of hints of where I'm leaning.

Gard · #2 03-18-2013, 03:58 PM

...that's gonna be a fun day...

taylor16 · #3 03-18-2013, 04:10 PM

Trust in Gard.

I have!

Jeff Moote · #4 03-18-2013, 05:06 PM

Century 6
Mahogany body
Figured Koa top
Natural oil finish
Regular maple/purpleheart neck
Birdseye maple diamondwood fingerboard
Diamondwood nut
Bartolini JB pickup arrangement
Aguilar OBP-3
Black hardware

lowfreqman · #5 03-18-2013, 07:39 PM

Quilted Maple over Spanish Cedar
Roscoe Bart PUs
Bart NTMB pre
Diamondwood board
Maple Purpleheart Maple neck

This will give you a thick, juicy tone with just enough bite to leave 'em askin' for more!

JOME77 · #6 03-18-2013, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Moote

~~Century 6~~ SKB 3006
Mahogany body
Figured Koa top
Natural oil finish
~~Regular~~ maple/ ~~purpleheart~~ wenge/maple neck
Birdseye maple diamondwood fingerboard
Diamondwood nut
Roscoe Bartolini JB pickups ~~arrangement~~
~~Aguilar OBP-3~~ Bart 3-band
Black hardware

Fixed it for you Jeff

Chans · #7 03-18-2013, 10:23 PM

SKB 3006
34" scale
Mahogany body
Walnut Top
Natural Oil Finish
Black Diamondwood FB
Maple/Wenge/Maple Neck
Roscoe Bartolini Pups
Bart 3-band
Black Hardware

Gard · #8 03-18-2013, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Moote

Century 6
Mahogany body
Figured Koa top
Natural oil finish
Regular maple/purpleheart neck
Birdseye maple diamondwood fingerboard
Diamondwood nut
Bartolini JB pickup arrangement
Aguilar OBP-3
Black hardware

You know the way to my heart, Jeff....that would SO be my spec right now....

Chans · #9 03-18-2013, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gard

You know the way to my heart, Jeff....that would SO be my spec right now....

Jeff,
Gard means - place your order now.
Price is going up 1st April.

Ryan

JOME77 · #10 03-19-2013, 04:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gard

You know the way to my heart, Jeff....

Please, "Don't ask, don't tell" fellows!

JOME77 · #11 03-19-2013, 05:09 AM

Seriously though, I’ve never heard a Roscoe with the JB positioning of the Jazz P/U’s. My only experience has been with the Roscoe Bart, Bart CB’s and the Bart X6 P/U’s in standard locations.
Based on what I heard on the Bart X6 P/U’s on the CS6+, it would be too thin for my preferences on a fretless. Just a bit too focused for what I love for in a fretless. I guess that I just love the slight compression that the Roscoe Bart’s brings to the sound in a fretless. That coupled with the Bart 3-band just produce magic in a Roscoe fretless to me. I just haven’t liked the Aggie OBP-3 very much in any Roscoe. The OBP-2 sounds really works in some jazz basses though so maybe it would be better with jazz P/U’s.

Gard · #12 03-19-2013, 05:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JOME77

Please, "Don't ask, don't tell" fellows!

Jeff's a cute dude, besides, he's a cyclist and a Canadian...and aren't all Canadian cyclists just dreamy????

Jeff Moote · #13 03-19-2013, 06:19 AM

Man, you leave this place for a few hours...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chans

Jeff,
Gard means - place your order now.
Price is going up 1st April.

A fretless 6 is not really my thing, but I am definitely aiming to get an order in before the increase. It's going to be good!

JoelFT · #14 03-19-2013, 07:45 AM

There are some great ideas y'all! One thing I really need to consider is making this bass a Century. I've never played one so, it's very much an unknown to me. Perhaps there will be one up at Mahogany Row when I go pick out a top. Or, any one in the Atlanta area have a Century that I could try out?

I'm familiar with what the JB placement sounds like however, not in a Roscoe. Like Joe I worry that it could sound a bit thin for my tastes. The sound that I really love is Jerry's fretless on the new tracks that he's posted. Are those Roscoe Barts or CBs? That bass sounds darn near perfect.

Gard · #15 03-19-2013, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoelFT

There are some great ideas y'all! One thing I really need to consider is making this bass a Century. I've never played one so, it's very much an unknown to me. Perhaps there will be one up at Mahogany Row when I go pick out a top. Or, any one in the Atlanta area have a Century that I could try out?

I'm familiar with what the JB placement sounds like however, not in a Roscoe. Like Joe I worry that it could sound a bit thin for my tastes. The sound that I really love is Jerry's fretless on the new tracks that he's posted. Are those Roscoe Barts or CBs? That bass sounds darn near perfect.

There will indeed be a Century Standard 5 JB to check out for both the feel of the bass as well as the tone, which is anything but "thin" in my experience.

"Mahogany Row".

JoelFT · #16 03-19-2013, 08:14 AM

My last fretless had Nord Fatstacks in an almost JB placement. I wasn't thrilled with the outcome. Thin isn't really the word I should have used but, something seemed to be missing. It very well could have been that it was the Fatstacks themselves that underwhelmed me.

I can't wait to try the Century out. Like I said before, the SKB feels like home to me but, since I haven't ever played a Century maybe it will feel even better. I look forward to a test drive. I might try and come up earlier in the month on one of my reserve days if it looks like Mother D isn't going to use me.

JOME77 · #17 03-19-2013, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoelFT

The sound that I really love is Jerry's fretless on the new tracks that he's posted. Are those Roscoe Barts or CBs? That bass sounds darn near perfect.

Jerry can chime in and confirm but they should be Roscoe Barts. You can tell by the fact that they have a 2 + 1 screw configuration verses a 2 + 2 screw configuration (see the pic Jerry recently posted on the sound clip thread).

SteveC · #18 03-20-2013, 09:32 AM

Mahogany body, diamondwood board and JB pups are a must for a great fretless. I love the JB placement. I've debated getting a fretted version of my fretless.

**Ryan L.** · #19 03-20-2013, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveC

Mahogany body, diamondwood board and JB pups are a must for a great fretless. I love the JB placement. I've debated getting a fretted version of my fretless.

I hope you are right.........

JOME77 · #20 03-21-2013, 05:11 AM

So Joel, have you nailed down the spec' yet?