Finally joining the Roscoe club!!!

LightGroove · #1 10-31-2007, 07:47 PM

WOOT!!! I've started a few threads about this bass before it even arrived. Just something about the talk of these gets you really excited. Well she finally arrived (2 days early mind you) . I've in contact with Gard to get the nitty gritty ..

This was previously owned by Adam Fifield of Demeter . After I spoke with Gard I did a little searching and I guess he doesn't work for em any more. The body is alder with a insanely quilted top. Very deep with the quilt. The neck is maple/purpleheart/maple with cherry stringers. Fretboard maple and has the Demeter preamp. So far I've just run this through my little ampeg setup and it just kills. The pre was a little hissy when I cranked the treble (pretty typical). Anyways enough rambling.. I am stoked and can see why these things get the hype they do..

Jeff Moote · #2 10-31-2007, 07:50 PM

Awesome quilt, and a great finish to match! You have to lose those pink strings though... on another finish they're cool, but they really don't work with the sunburst.

LightGroove · #3 10-31-2007, 07:50 PM

Oh the serial number : 5285.. Now how do I join the Roscoehead mafia??

LightGroove · #4 10-31-2007, 07:52 PM

That's funny and one of the first things I thought. What in the world as these. Seems these might be the DR long life strings. First thing my wife said.. Whaaa he must have been a rock star

Eh eh eh.. I'll wear these out a bit. $30 for a new set is rough this close to xmas .

sha975 · #5 10-31-2007, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LightGroove

WOOT!!! I've started a few threads about this bass before it even arrived. Just something about the talk of these gets you really excited. Well she finally arrived (2 days early mind you) . I've in contact with Gard to get the nitty gritty ..

This was previously owned by Adam Fifield of Demeter . After I spoke with Gard I did a little searching and I guess he doesn't work for em any more. The body is alder with a insanely quilted top. Very deep with the quilt. The neck is maple/purpleheart/maple with cherry stringers. Fretboard maple and has the Demeter preamp. So far I've just run this through my little ampeg setup and it just kills. The pre was a little hissy when I cranked the treble (pretty typical). Anyways enough rambling.. I am stoked and can see why these things get the hype they do..

Congrats and welcome to the Roscoe club. If you purchase just one more we'll send you a "roscoehead for life," membership card

Now to the nitty gritty, are you sure that an alder body? It looks like flame maple also. I've never seen flamed alder. Just my thoughts!

Gard · #6 11-01-2007, 07:35 AM

The strings are indeed DR's.

They were installed at the shop as a joke...DR sent me a free set, and I couldn't think of another person more deserving of a pink set. Apparantly, Adam never changed 'em (and they probably didn't need to be changed!).....what that implies, I have no idea...

LightGroove · #7 11-01-2007, 09:41 AM

Well they don't sound bad for pink strings.. I think I'm in touch enough with my well ... These also don't seem as stiff as I remember some DR strings (of course I'm sure there fairly broken in)

As far as the body goes it is indeed alder. I didn't think to ask before I bought it but went on the assumption it would be ash. Once it arrived I asked Gard to do a little digging for me as this is pretty light . He gave me the general build date and specs. A little later I found a letter that was signed by Keith.

It states:

This bass has an exhibition quilted maple top with an alder body,tobacco sunburst finish. The neck is maple with a purpleheart center lamination and maple&cherry accent laminations. The maple in the neck has some really neat grain patterns as well. The fingerboard is maple..

This baby will get its first test drive tonight ...

JOME77 · #8 11-01-2007, 04:40 PM

Very cool!

Nice quilt top and the pink DR's are........

I'll tell you what I'll do LightGroove, no one should have to play a bass strung with pink strings for two more months!

PM me your shipping address and I'll send you a set of lightly used DR black beauties as "welcome to the Roscoeheads club" gift absolutely free.

**T. B. Player** · #9 11-01-2007, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JOME77

Very cool!

Nice quilt top and the pink DR's are........

I'll tell you what I'll do LightGroove, no one should have to play a bass strung with pink strings for two more months!

PM me your shipping address and I'll send you a set of lightly used DR black beauties as "welcome to the Roscoeheads club" gift absolutely free.

Hey -

It's a tribute to breast cancer awareness!!! (you'd think these people never buy stamps at the post office....)

LightGroove · #10 11-01-2007, 09:59 PM

Well the pink strings were a hit this evening at practice. It was a consensus that I use em this Sunday for kicks..

As for the test drive :

I'll start by saying ...

Man does this thing sing. I can't begin to describe the tone as I'm half asleep but will say it was nothing short of sonic bliss .The preamp was dead quiet even with the treble cranked.No buzz, hiss , anything just dead quiet. The bottom was very defined and almost growly instead of your typical boom. The highs were articulate but not in your face clanky or sizzly. I toyed with a little slap and WAHOO!! I'll have to work on my technique a bit as this thing picks up every nuance of my playing. Our worship leader picked it up when I stepped out for a sec and when I came back in he had a nice big smile. His playing wasn't bad and man did this thing sound good through the system. It will take me a little bit to get used to the neck as it is a little wider (at the nut especially) than I've been playing. I also need to find a home for my thumb. I will also mention it cut extremely nice in my in ears. Typically I've had a hard time hearing with our aviom setup but not with this bad boy.. ok ok I'll stop.. Overly pleased thus far..

JOME77 · #11 11-02-2007, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LightGroove

Well the pink strings were a hit this evening at practice. It was a consensus that I use em this Sunday for kicks..

Those would probably be a hit at Macon, Ga's Cherry Blossom festival too!

The black beauties are on their way to Va.

Enjoy!

allenhumble · #12 11-02-2007, 12:41 PM

That is absolutly beautiful. Amazinf quilt and a burst to top it off. Congrats.

LightGroove · #13 11-03-2007, 07:32 AM

Yea I know its really strange but the bass really isn't that orange. Its almost a deep bronze/orange color.. Very perty..I'm getting fairly used to the neck so now its time to find a home for my thumb. I find the top left of the bridge pickup the most comfortable.

LightGroove · #14 11-04-2007, 05:45 AM

Well she'll get her first live gig today.Considering Gard mentioned that the pinkies were on since day one I did end up swapping out the strings. Not sure what I put on there but they sound good. Not quite as mid focused but still enough growl to keep me

Anyways .. Happy Sunday

God bless
M

allenhumble · #15 11-05-2007, 07:36 AM

How did it go?

Basso Gruvitas · #16 11-05-2007, 12:37 PM

Congrats on the new axe LightGroove!

"You have chosen well, Grasshopper." Given the choice between a Roscoe and a Warwick, I would not be able to pack up and sell the Warwick fast enough. That's just me though!

I love the maple fingerboard to offset the burst - that's a great combo.

LightGroove · #17 11-05-2007, 08:53 PM

Well of course I'm going to attempt to describe things half asleep again.. My body hasn't adjusted the the time change just yet.. Anyways the new strings have brought out a lot of zing.. a lot more than the DR's.. I still haven't figured out what brand they are but they feel a lot like nickels .I actually just got the black beauties in today.. Many thanks.. I am thinking about putting those on for comparison. The tone was still incredibly cutting and growly. When I hit the smaller strings the zing started to show its pretty face and bring out a very articulate bite. Just this cross between vintage and modern , not as "round" of a tone but more like a snappy bite if that makes any sense whatsoever. I use a SWR head and a Schroeder cab along with 1 in ear monitor.When playing I felt she sat in the mix nicely . We've got an incredible system but our sound guys are VERY new and still figuring things out. They like to tweak stuff a lot. One guy mixes almost the entire time using headphones if that gives you a clue..The church was converted from an old metal warehouse so there is this massive boom that they immediately attribute to the bass, thus turning me down frequently. I didn't hear em touch it once. I'm very happy and don't really put it down at home..something I haven't really done before. I'm still getting used to the shorter horn issue as I find myself reaching just a touch. I've tried lowering my strap but that makes it really uncomfortable. Anyways she's a keeper until I make my custom century order in 5 years ...

xkimsungminx · #18 11-05-2007, 09:20 PM

Nice! Congrats and glad you're liking your Roscoe as well. I changed my strings after a month and a half on the stock strings and boy what a change!! All I have to say is, I think I'm a DR customer for life

[thanks Gard for recommending the DR BB's].

Well anyways, I play my Roscoe at church too and I really love how everyone noticed the difference when I got my Roscoe and played out at church, and noticed again after I changed my strings haha. Good stuff I say!

LightGroove · #19 11-06-2007, 09:36 AM

Well I know those pink beauties started to offend a few of you so I swapped em out. Thanks to the generous offer of JOME77 here she is with some black beauties. I must say I think these are my favorite tonally and visually. Very defined in the mid section.

LightGroove · #20 11-06-2007, 10:11 AM

Ya know I just realized I start most of my posts with Well...

Well.....