Genres of Music and Roscoe Specs

DrMWP · #1 08-30-2006, 12:57 PM

Hi gang,
I have an SKB3006 in the works, when ordering it Jay and Gard asked what type of music I played and what sound I was hoping for, they guided me towards a combination of materials. Spanish Cedar body, Ziricote top and Fingerboard, Bart pups and pre. I totally trust these cats and if it sounds like a Roscoe I'll be a happy camper!

That being said, Roscoe has a dizzying array of options that can ultimately effect the tone. Body woods, top woods, fingerboards, pick-ups, pre-amps, etc.

For those of you that have had Roscoes built. Two questions:

1. What genre (Rock, Jazz [Fusion,straight ahead] Country, polka, etc.) of music do you play most often with said Roscoe and...
2. How did this impact your decisions on specs.

Thanks
DrMWP

Joel B · #2 08-30-2006, 01:35 PM

Hi Doc.
First let me congratulate you on your joining the Roscoe Fam.

For the list of music styles that you play, there is NO better bass in my opinion. The versitility of the wood combo that you picked will please you.

I have had several Roscoes, and each wood combination has been somewhat like a set of golf clubs, you can pick the one that is most suited for the situation.

Amazingly though, they ALL have a certain familial voice, they all sound like a Roscoe.

My main Roscoe right now is a spanish cedar body with a maple top, and maple fingerboard.

The spanish cedar "warms" the lows and low mids a bit, without overly diminishing the bright, articulate highs that you get with Maple.

For Jazz, as well as fingerstyle funk, I feel like this combo is idealy suited, especially if you don't want to lug around several basses.

I also had(until stolen)

a honduran mahogony body with maple top, and rosewood fretboard. It was a bit "fatter" in the low end. It had a more "Old school", forgive me, Fenderish, vibe to it.

All of them have had The Bart/Bart electronics, and all have been the LG body.

I now have an SKB with swamp ash,amboyna top, and wenge/wenge neck/fretboard on the way, with Demeter preamp, and Nordstrand Pickups.

I am playing a lot of black gospel, which requires a more "open" top end in my opinion, and Still play a lot of jazz.

I think the larger body will open up the resonance a bit, as well as the swamp ash giving a brighter overall sound to the upper mids and highs.

By the way, Thanks to a post from you yesterday, I have been singing Tom Petty's "Waiting" all day, and driving myself nuts.

I really must say though that both Keith and Gard know more about wood tonality than anyone else I have ever spoken to, and I have dealt with some of the best. Mike Tobias,Paul Reed Smith, Etc..., although these guys know a lot about wood, they seem to be locked into a bit of a narrow tone pallett. I would say the guys at Fodera are a prime example of this.

Their basses are great, but you will get what they make, and don't try to stray very far from what they want their basses to sound like.

Anyway, Keith and Gard really listen to what the Musician is looking for, and then they supercede their expectations.

Hugs and kisses all around

So, welcome to the family, and remember, " the waiii tiinng is the hardest parrrtttt"

DrMWP · #3 08-30-2006, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joel B

By the way, Thanks to a post from you yesterday, I have been singing Tom Petty's "Waiting" all day, and driving myself nuts.

Here to serve!

Dave · #4 08-30-2006, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joel B

I now have an SKB with swamp ash,amboyna top, and wenge/wenge neck/fretboard on the way, with Demeter preamp, and Nordstrand Pickups.

You better be putting some pics of that up when you get it, sounds like an awesome combo.

Joel B · #5 08-30-2006, 03:14 PM

DMB, here is what I have of it right now. Hope I can figure out how to do this.

Woo hoo it worked.

Dave · #6 08-30-2006, 03:25 PM

Amboyna is probly one of my favorite woods, for pure good looks. Thats gonna be a sweet bass when finished.

Joel B · #7 08-30-2006, 03:32 PM

Here also, are the pics of the back and neck.

Sound clips will be forthcoming, along with A big stupid grin.

Joel B · #8 08-30-2006, 03:44 PM

the neck.

Basso Gruvitas · #9 09-06-2006, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joel B

DMB, here is what I have of it right now. Hope I can figure out how to do this.

Woo hoo it worked.

Joel,
That bass is going to be totally totally SWEET!! My only input would be for you to consider the Aggie 3-band pre or even the Audere. The Demeter + Nordstrand combo may not yield much warmth or "old school" vibe.

Keep us up on your progress.

Basso Gruvitas · #10 09-06-2006, 01:12 PM

Dr,
Congrats on the Roscoe order!!

"You have done well, little Grasshopper." Pics are always a good thing as you get them.

I try to model myself after Nathan East. He's the bass player I wish I could have become. He does everything, and does it well. He's lasted for decades and still can lay it down, regardless of the setting. With that in mind, I have 3 Roscoes that help me *think* I'm Nathan East. Each contribute to "the gig":

1. My spanish cedar/cocobolo/diamondwood SKB-5 fretless (Bart/Bart) shows my tender side.

It is SO expressive and punchy. I use it for swing jazz gigs, Praise-and-Worship, Latin, and classical.

2. My all-maple body/katalox fb SKB-5 (Bart/Demeter) was my main fretted axe for about 16 months. It's a "Smooth Operater". It's very modern, but smooth. It tracks exceptionally well. Just doesn't do the gutbucket, downhome vintage bass thing. It's just too slick.

3. My new one is an all-ash/birdseye fb SKB-5 (Nordstrand/Aguilar OBP-3). This baby just ROCKS!! It's a slappers dream, very versatile. Does the Jaco thing, the old school thing, the kinda-sorta Marcus thing, the rock thing....it just sounds great!

There! My life story -- hope that helps. I agree - each Roscoe contributes it's own value, but still retains that Roscoe I.D. in the tone.

Basso Gruvitas · #11 09-06-2006, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joel B

Here also, are the pics of the back and neck.

Sound clips will be forthcoming, along with A big stupid grin.

Doc, you SURE that's spanish cedar???

Joel B · #12 09-06-2006, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Joel,
That bass is going to be totally totally SWEET!! My only input would be for you to consider the Aggie 3-band pre or even the Audere. The Demeter + Nordstrand combo may not yield much warmth or "old school" vibe.

Hi Basso, thanks.
You're right, With this bass I am going for an MtD/Fbass vibe.

I want it to be used specifically for my mucho slap gigs, and also my upper register chording/tapping/Pattitucci ish jazz runs.

I hope it sounds as great as yours. Every so often, I pull up the clips of your black beauty, and just soak in its funkyness.

Basso Gruvitas · #13 09-06-2006, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joel B

Hi Basso, thanks.
You're right, With this bass I am going for an MtD/Fbass vibe.

I want it to be used specifically for my mucho slap gigs, and also my upper register chording/tapping/Pattitucci ish jazz runs.

I hope it sounds as great as yours. Every so often, I pull up the clips of your black beauty, and just soak in its funkyness.

Joel, Thanks for the strokes. If you like mine, I have the Aggie 3-band pre in it!

It has the great top end for slap but can also do a vintage P A LOT better than the Demeter can. Just my .02.