My Visit to Blueberry Hill

DrMWP · #1 06-06-2006, 08:43 AM

I visited JPJ last Saturday and I'd like to thank him for his hospitality!!!!! I had a great time playing and talking about basses, Jay is a great guy!

I played the Cherry Burst F Bass and all I can say is WOW, what a beautiful instrument, but this is a Roscoe thread sooooooo

I played two Roscoes, (my first time, insert bad joke here). I have been wanting to get my hands on one for the longest time, hoping that they would feel, play and sound as good as they looked, therefore justifying my GAS. HOLY SCHNIKIES DID THEY EVER!!!!!!!!!

The SKB 3005 I tried has since been sold and that is one lucky cat.
The Cobalt Blue SKB 3006 was awesome!!!!!! (If I didn't have a deep-seeded and completely irrational prejudice against blue basses, I would have walked out with it.)

After this experience, I can resist no longer. I called Jay yesterday (after talking it over with my wife, I can't believe she agreed) and I'm ordering one very soon.

Diego · #2 06-06-2006, 08:49 AM

Congratulations and welcome to the Roscoe family!

Pruitt · #3 06-06-2006, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrMWP

The Cobalt Blue SKB 3006 was awesome!!!!!! (If I didn't have a deep-seeded and completely irrational prejudice against blue basses, I would have walked out with it.)

I've been in lust for that bass since I first saw it many months ago.

Basso Gruvitas · #4 06-08-2006, 07:05 AM

Congratulations Doc! An understanding wife who lets you buy a boutique bass is truly a blessing!

Have you looked at some of the basses here on this site - they make for a mighty tough choice!!

BTW, where in Wisconsin are you? I was born and raised in Madison.

DrMWP · #5 06-08-2006, 07:18 AM

She is the coolest!! For a wedding present she gave me a Geddy Lee Jazz.

I have looked at the basses on the board and your are absolutely right, tough call on woods. I'm torn between walnut, cocobola and ebony (ala Akito's ax).

Here's what I am sure of. Definately a fretted SKB 3006 w/ black hardware, but other than that I'm not sure (pups, pre, etc.), I trust Jay and the Gardfather won't lead me astray. Man I am Jazzed about this!!!!!!!

p.s. I'm in Fond du Lac

Basso Gruvitas · #6 06-08-2006, 07:36 AM

Very psyched for you!!

Beyond asthetics, think about the tone you want to come away with. The ebony gives a "compressed" tone, while the cocobolo accentuates the upper mids a bit. Maple is pretty even and slightly glassy on the top end.

Jay and Gard can give you MUCH more info on tone. Just wanted to chime in on that aspect.

JPJ · #7 06-08-2006, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Beyond asthetics, think about the tone you want to come away with. The ebony gives a "compressed" tone, while the cocobolo accentuates the upper mids a bit. Maple is pretty even and slightly glassy on the top end.

I would tend to disagree with this....slightly. When it comes to fingerboard material, I'd say that this is generally true. But, with respect to TOPS...not so much. I absolutely LOVED the cocobolo SKB that I had in stock (it went to a fellow TBer), and it didn't necessarily have more of an upper-mid focus than any other Rosoce. It just had a killer top!

Gard and I STILL talk about Akito's bass, and we both feel that it is truly exceptional. That thing is one WICKED machine, man!!! While the ebony fingerboard on that bass did deliver the same type of tone that one would generally expect from a bass with an ebony fingerboard, it was not a "compressed" bass by any stretch of the imagination. That thing is straight-up mean, snarly, aggressive, and wide-open to the hilt!

I liked it so much that I immediately snagged another ebony top in the hopes that I could recreate the look and tone of Akito's bass....just without the individualized customized aesthetic elements he added to make his Roscoe more personal.

Again, I think that the descriptive comments in the post above are good when describing the impact of fingerboard wood on tone, but I wouldn't want to hang my hat on them with respect to the impact of tops.

Basso Gruvitas · #8 06-08-2006, 09:41 AM

Good points Jay. I distinctly remember Akito saying it had a bit of a compressed tone, mated with the mids of the ash. Now, can you create a clone tone from the same woods? i would say no. An ebony top and fingerboard might, in another bass, create a more compressed tone that ebony is known for. Stay tuned to Blueberry Hill Basses to find out!!

I would agree with you that the top has *some* affect on tone. It IS the fingerboard that really determines a lot of the sound of the instrument.

Now, having said that, I find that the cocobolo top on my fretless SKB brings an extra growl and "grind" that I just don't hear on other Roscoe fretlesses - all with diamondwood fingergboards. That is why I say, the top will steer the ship a bit, but the fingerboard is the main rudder.

lpjiang · #9 06-08-2006, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrMWP

After this experience, I can resist no longer. I called Jay yesterday (after talking it over with my wife, I can't believe she agreed) and I'm ordering one very soon.

Maybe she just knows THIS IS IT. Sometimes it's a wonder how much a musician's mate can understand what he/she really desires.
I usually got a green sign about instruments and equipments...

DrMWP · #10 06-08-2006, 04:37 PM

I just soiled myself!!! Found Whafrodamus's cocobola LG 3005! Prepare for your pants to be shat.

this is not getting any easier.

DrMWP · #11 06-13-2006, 09:30 PM

THE TRIGGER SHE HAS BEEN PULLED

JPJ · #12 06-13-2006, 09:52 PM

I just posted this for DrMWP in the Roscoeheads thread, but the top for said SKB 3006 is listed below. Mmmmmmmmm....I can almost taste the chocolate!

Akito · #13 06-21-2006, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JPJ

I would tend to disagree with this....slightly. When it comes to fingerboard material, I'd say that this is generally true. But, with respect to TOPS...not so much. I absolutely LOVED the cocobolo SKB that I had in stock (it went to a fellow TBer), and it didn't necessarily have more of an upper-mid focus than any other Rosoce. It just had a killer top!

Gard and I STILL talk about Akito's bass, and we both feel that it is truly exceptional. That thing is one WICKED machine, man!!! While the ebony fingerboard on that bass did deliver the same type of tone that one would generally expect from a bass with an ebony fingerboard, it was not a "compressed" bass by any stretch of the imagination. That thing is straight-up mean, snarly, aggressive, and wide-open to the hilt!

I liked it so much that I immediately snagged another ebony top in the hopes that I could recreate the look and tone of Akito's bass....just without the individualized customized aesthetic elements he added to make his Roscoe more personal.

Again, I think that the descriptive comments in the post above are good when describing the impact of fingerboard wood on tone, but I wouldn't want to hang my hat on them with respect to the impact of tops.

Hehe cool!
It is definitely not a compressed sounding bass, which probably has a lot to do with the Demeter pre. I really like some of the ebony tops I have seen over the last few years.
I would really like to come up with a cool holly/ebony combo bass at some point (not a VW bass though- something different).