Considering a Roscoe

**michele** · #1 07-15-2011, 09:03 AM

Hi guys,
I’m in serious bass troubles and in the need of some informations about Roscoe basses. Introduction:

Four months ago I was the happiest guy in bass world as after a long wait I received my Carl Thompson 4 strings. Great piece of woodwork and great sound.
I can’t absolutely say that it’s a difficult bass to play, I don’t get any pain WHILE I play it but somehow after playing it a painful hazelnut sized bump appears on the upper side of the fretting hand wrist and it *took about 10 days to completely disappear. I also experience a sense of discomfort on my right shoulder.

One more thing related to this. I've recently bought a 6 strings Yamaha TRB 1006 for dirty cheap with the only purpose to' train myself to' the multistring thing after 17 years of strictly 4 strings playing and this bass is almost the double weight of the Thompson with a neck wide as an highway and ... guess what? Yesterday I played it for three hours and not only I played it effortlessy but today my left wrist is absolutely ok!

Now I'm still thinking about all of this but to me it could be one (or more) of the following:

maybe the 36" scale of the Thompson is too much for me even if I don't notice it while I'm playing. The Trb is 35" and you could tell "an inch is an inch" but no matter how small of an increment everybody has a limit.

maybe it’s related with the neck profile. The CT has kinda J bass neck and when I was a Fender guy I preferred P necks. A gone AV62 P bass had the best neck I ever played, wide and thin front to back.

It could be' what I call “the stability factor”. The CT is a perfectly balanced instrument but its body thickness (the body is very thin, key factor in the bass total weight) make the bass moving around a bit both in sitting and standing position. I guess a bit more weight would be better for instrument stability. Maybe “the lighter the better” approach of the Thompson is wrong or at least doesn't suit me. I mean the optimum could in the middle between featherweights and boat anchors.

the right shoulder discomfort could be caused from the body thickness as well. The upper side of the Ct body, the place where your right arm usually stands when you play, is very thin. It doesn’t have that normal thickness that let your right arm actually stand firmly on the body side.

In the end it could also be just that I'm not playing and practicing everyday because of two little gals around the house but... come on, my tecnique is far from rusting and I'm totally comfortable on that beast of Yamaha!

And here comes the Roscoe thing: I'm enjoying those extra strings, especially the low B so I'm looking around for a nice 5 or 6 strings. I've always looked suspiciously at Roscoe body designs but lately they grew on me, especially the SKB model, and I may want to' shop for one.
So I want to' know your opinions dear Roscoheads out there, especially on the subjects above and how Roscoe basses relate to them. I mean, general thoughts about balance, body thickness, general weight, fingerboard radius, neck profiles on Roscoe SKB basses.
Comments about my issues with the CT are also welcome.
Sorry for the long post and thanks to all.

Darkstrike · #2 07-15-2011, 09:38 AM

Roscoes are generally well balanced, but from the sound of it, you may wanna stick with a SKB or Century, but I see it's the SKB you're interested in anyway. The Century has the shortest reach to the nut, and the LG the longest.

Roscoe necks are thin front to back, with a medium width fretboard, but can be ordered wide, for an (IIRC) small upcharge. With a fairly flat modern radius.

The bodies are about the same thickness as a Fender, but IMHO are more comfortable due to their high level of carving.

They can vary in weight, as any bass, but I'm sure if you ask, they'd be able to accommodate your specific needs.

There's a tonne of tonal options, between the different pickup and preamp options they have, especially considering the new JJ setup. They're also fairly open to custom pickup spacings and options. IIRC if you send them pickups that they don't use, they'll install them for you.

They're some of the best sounding & ergonomic basses in the world, but obviously, that's coming from a fan.

JOME77 · #3 07-15-2011, 09:52 AM

+1 to all that Darkstrike stated.

It sounds like most of your concerns are centered around ergo issues and not having had any issues in that area I'm really not qualified to give you advice on that topic.

Personally I just don't notice a difference on 34 & 35 scale basses (Roscoe's or any other for that matter). And while some players debate/complain on balance & horn length of various Roscoe models, I've just never really noticed. Just to busy playing the bass I guess.

If you've got some specific questions on tone though I've plenty of opinions on that subject though.

Of course all Roscoe's sound awesome IMO!

Darkstrike · #4 07-15-2011, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JOME77

And while some players debate/complain on balance & horn length of various Roscoe models, I've just never really noticed. Just to busy playing the bass I guess.

I honestly don't notice any difference between my LG and SKB, horn length/reach wise, but some may be more sensitive to ergonomics than me, so I mentioned it anyway.

I mostly played short horn instruments before my Roscoes, so that may be part of it.

**michele** · #5 07-15-2011, 01:50 PM

It should be an ergonomic issue definitely.
I'm not worried about the tone subject because time has teached me to' pull out a couple of good sounds out of any good bass no matter of wood combos.

laylaychrome · #6 07-15-2011, 03:02 PM

I have a century standard and it's the most comfortable bass I've ever played in my life. The neck is great for me and I've never had a problem with left hand fatigue or strain. I gig often and it sits really comfortably and is well balanced with a strap. On top of all that, it is light and easy on the shoulder even after hours of stand up play. I wish I could just let you play mine for a while so that you may be enlightened. I know this is all relative to my opinion but I hope it helps

**michele** · #7 07-15-2011, 04:06 PM

It helps for sure, thank you!
Problem is that we don't have easy access to nice gear here in Europe.

Quote:

Originally Posted by laylaychrome

I have a century standard and it's the most comfortable bass I've ever played in my life. The neck is great for me and I've never had a problem with left hand fatigue or strain. I gig often and it sits really comfortably and is well balanced with a strap. On top of all that, it is light and easy on the shoulder even after hours of stand up play. I wish I could just let you play mine for a while so that you may be enlightened. I know this is all relative to my opinion but I hope it helps

Gard · #8 07-15-2011, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michele

It helps for sure, thank you!
Problem is that we don't have easy access to nice gear here in Europe.

I know it's a bit of a trek, but Bass Direct in England is a fantastic shop, they have a very thorough range of bass gear, including a very good stock of our basses to try out. It may be worth your time to make a trip there....

Darkstrike · #9 07-15-2011, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michele

It helps for sure, thank you!
Problem is that we don't have easy access to nice gear here in Europe.

Ain't that the truth.

**michele** · #10 07-16-2011, 04:09 AM

I should have said "Italy"...
Just a week ago I walked into the main instruments shop in my town and played a used Smith Burner from the 90' that's kinda their "Jewel of The Crown".
Not only they tried to pass the bass for a NOS one but they felt no shame in asking 2400 euros for it.
Those are the kind of bastards you deal with 99% of times here. People thinking customers walking in are just chickens. No surprise it's about 15 years now that my money goes into US builders and dealers pockets.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkstrike

Ain't that the truth.

**michele** · #11 07-16-2011, 04:14 AM

Ahhh, salt on a wound! I was watching and actually thinking about a used SKB 3006 they had there and suddenly ... voilà, it sold!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gard

I know it's a bit of a trek, but Bass Direct in England is a fantastic shop, they have a very thorough range of bass gear, including a very good stock of our basses to try out. It may be worth your time to make a trip there....

Darkstrike · #12 07-16-2011, 05:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michele

I should have said "Italy"...

Nah, you were right the first time, I suppose there's a few good builders in Germany, a few in England, there's two here in Ireland(one actually quite local to me), but for the vast majority, you gotta look past that Atlantic Ocean....

Quote:

Originally Posted by michele

Just a week ago I walked into the main instruments shop in my town and played a used Smith Burner from the 90' that's kinda their "Jewel of The Crown".
Not only they tried to pass the bass for a NOS one but they felt no shame in asking 2400 euros for it.
Those are the kind of bastards you deal with 99% of times here. People thinking customers walking in are just chickens. No surprise it's about 15 years now that my money goes into US builders and dealers pockets.

Bloody heck, thats a bit salty, I paid 1000 euros for a MIM Fender fretless before I knew better, but at least that was new, and in line with Irish prices.

Quote:

Originally Posted by michele

Ahhh, salt on a wound! I was watching and actually thinking about a used SKB 3006 they had there and suddenly ... voilà, it sold!

I was watching that one too, killer looking bass.

The used orange SKB 3005 they had is gone too.

**michele** · #13 07-16-2011, 02:22 PM

Back to Roscoe, anyone could tell me what's the size of an skb body? How it relates to, let's say, a P bass?
I've also read that it's belly carved. A la' Spector?

Darkstrike · #14 07-16-2011, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michele

I've also read that it's belly carved. A la' Spector?

Nope, flat back, but has a carved top.

Darkstrike · #15 07-16-2011, 03:15 PM

As for the P bass comparison....

**michele** · #16 07-16-2011, 03:46 PM

Thank you and ... nice piece of wood there.
Thanks also for all of your contributions to' this thread: if I'll jump on the Roscoe wagon you'll be my mentor! ;-)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkstrike

As for the P bass comparison....

Darkstrike · #17 07-16-2011, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michele

Thank you and ... nice piece of wood there.
Thanks also for all of your contributions to' this thread: if I'll jump on the Roscoe wagon you'll be my mentor! ;-)

Cheers! I'm only glad I was able to help.

LilRay · #18 07-19-2011, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michele

Thank you and ... nice piece of wood there.
Thanks also for all of your contributions to' this thread: if I'll jump on the Roscoe wagon you'll be my mentor! ;-)

Whatever you do, DON'T have Bill as a mentor. Trust me I speak from experience. LOL!

Have fun checking out Roscoes

God Bless, Ray