NBD - splitting twins

**nostatic** · #1 10-13-2010, 04:22 PM

While I feel somewhat guilty about leaving the orphanage with only one sibling, a guy can only do what a guy can do. Today the brown truck dropped off another "grand experiment" with my first Roscoe. Some quick and dirty pics follow with the caveat that I'll try to get some better ones at home (at the office now) and the grain is really hard to capture, especially the 3D nature. I plugged it into my ONE pre with phones and am impressed with the tone. Very different than the Rob Allen or the Zon, and I can tell that the pickup pan knob will be my friend as will be the mid control (never had that before - only bass/treble).

My two cautionary notes. First, trying to sort out the body shape and how it sits. One thing I like about the Rob Allen is that it "plays short" - due to the bridge position it feels like a smaller scale length and the reach to the nut is relatively short. I don't have a strap with me and what I'm finding with the LG is that is certainly more slippery (no deep body indentation) and I also tend to swing the nut away from my body. It feels fine but I think is different - will have to A/B. Plus I'm interested to see how the relatively short horn works with a strap.

The second is the pupleheart strip. It feels rough compared to my walnut (RA) and maple (Lull) necks. Sorta reminds me a bit of wenge that I had on a Warwick many years back. Does it vary from neck to neck, will that smooth over playing time, or do you just get used to it and not notice it?

Beyond that, proof that it exists

VroomVroom · #2 10-13-2010, 04:33 PM

Congrats! I love that top...what a stunning instrument. I'm curious to hear your thoughts, but I suspect that wearing the bass with a strap will address all of the balance issues. Good question on the purpleheart. I don't think I've really been sensitive to it. Looking at my six-string, I don't see any particular wear, so I'd guess it's more of me adjusting as opposed to smoothing.

Good luck with everything....anxiously awaiting your thoughts after spending some more time with the bass.

Darkstrike · #3 10-13-2010, 04:43 PM

Awesome to see it arrived safe and sound.

You should get used to the purpleheart very quickly, and then not notice it.

The short horn, shouldn't be an issue, my LG hangs and balances beautifully.

That said, I've heard of some having a reach issue for the lowest notes, but I've not had any problem. (but, for most of my time playing bass, I've been mainly playing basses with shorter horns, and most of that time with a 35" too, so it is my comfort zone, and you should take what I say for what it's worth, very little

)

**nostatic** · #4 10-13-2010, 05:28 PM

Been messing around with the one and headphones. Very easy bass to play in tune and the b string is pretty much perfect. One reason I like a 5'er is being able to play low F on the "6th fret." you have to have a great b string to get away with that consistently. This thing works like a charm.

Great cut and nasty tone from the bridge. Polite really isn't in the wheelhouse which is what I was looking for. It sounds awesome slapped. Will try to record some a/b with the RA. I can see why people dig these though. It'll slice through a mix but doesn't have the annoying (to me) hifi sizzle that I've heard with some other basses.

LightGroove · #5 10-13-2010, 05:39 PM

Enjoy nostatic.. I had a similar feeling of the LG when I played it early on...the short horn almost makes the scale feel much longer but you def. get used to it. I feel like the purpleheart will settle in and smooth out over time. I cant rem. it ever feeling rough like your describing on any Roscoe Ive played.

Enjoy and welcome to the ever evolving thread derailing club of heads

RocketMusic · #6 10-13-2010, 07:42 PM

Todd - I'm pretty sure I waxed that neck before I shipped the bass. I do that every time I change strings on my personal Roscoes, just to keep 'em slick. And I did it on your's, too, since I changed the strings. It's not necessary, the necks are permanently sealed. But I dig a slick neck, it just feels great. If it's grabby, you might try running an old T-shirt up and down the neck a few times to remove any wax I may have missed.

RocketMusic · #7 10-13-2010, 08:08 PM

Oh, and please make sure you take care of that Ebony! I hit it with some "Fret Doctor" oil before the new strings went on. That's a "real" oil (I believe it's a rosewood oil extract), not that "lemon oil" nonsense. You want to truly moisturize the fretboard every so often (I do it every string change), not dry it out.

RocketMusic · #8 10-13-2010, 08:10 PM

Oh, and Jerry - did you notice my OCD on the ball ends?!?!? You've sickened me, I hope you're happy!!

**nostatic** · #9 10-13-2010, 08:46 PM

I actually just ordered some FretDoctor. My Deep5 also is ebony so I want to make sure everything stays happy.

For the neck, it isn't wax but rather that the purpleheart has a more open grain than the maple. Subtle feel difference. I'm digging the tone (the bridge pup is sick, especially if you dial up the mid a bit) but am working with the ergos. Not so bad sitting, a little bit of a challenge to reach with a strap. I need to roll my wrist a bit differently.

The big test though is always in a real mix - will be able to do that this weekend. In the meantime I'm going to record some tracks and see what I get.

RocketMusic · #10 10-13-2010, 09:04 PM

Yep, definitely don't be bashful with the mid and blend knobs. I usually lean about 20-30% onto the bridge, slight bass boost, serious mid boost. Cuts like a knife, but also sings really nicely. My personal fretless is also Ash bodied, Maple top, Ebony board.

**nostatic** · #11 10-14-2010, 12:18 AM

Quick and dirty recording - sort of a yin/yang with the Roscoe then the Rob Allen.

http://nostatic.com/mp3/rs1.mp3

http://nostatic.com/mp3/ra1.mp3

Way different vibes. I dig the tone on the Roscoe. I'm wondering if the Century body shape (with longer horn) would pull the nut a bit closer to me when standing.

JOME77 · #12 10-14-2010, 05:08 AM

Awesome Todd!
That is a killer looking bass. I love the spalted top and the ebony really looks great with it.

After listening to your sound clips, all that I can say is "what a great 1-2 punch with the Roscoe and Rob Allen"!

The best of both fretless worlds!

On the purpleheart, I gotten a couple of Roscoe's that had a bit of raised grain on the PH stringer. Rubbing it out again with paste wax (like Greg stated) might smooth it out.
Or, I found that rubbing it out LIGHTLY with #0000 steelwool smooths it out nicely. A word of caution though, don't rub it out too much! That could result in discoloration of the neck finish and trip back to Roscoe heaven (AKA Greensboro).

FYI: I've owned several of the LG's and SKB's and really never noticed much difference in the way that they hung when on a strap. That may be more because the Comfort Strapp tends to grip to your clothing where ever you postion it (due to the material it's made from).

LilRay · #13 10-14-2010, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RocketMusic

Oh, and Jerry - did you notice my OCD on the ball ends?!?!? You've sickened me, I hope you're happy!!

You wanna top Jerry's OCD? Figger out how to do that on a B style bridge

.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nostatic

Quick and dirty recording - sort of a yin/yang with the Roscoe then the Rob Allen.

http://nostatic.com/mp3/rs1.mp3

http://nostatic.com/mp3/ra1.mp3

Way different vibes. I dig the tone on the Roscoe. I'm wondering if the Century body shape (with longer horn) would pull the nut a bit closer to me when standing.

Man Todd, That's a very cool riff and awesome tone your getting out of both basses. Growlin' Roscoe and Upright esque RA. I like 'em.

I dunno about when your standing, but IIRC the Century does bring the nut in some. I have no idea how much though.

God Bless, Ray

Darkstrike · #14 10-14-2010, 07:02 AM

Oh yes, the Century would definatly pull the nut closer to you.

Gard · #15 10-14-2010, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RocketMusic

Oh, and Jerry - did you notice my OCD on the ball ends?!?!? You've sickened me, I hope you're happy!!

Gard makes note to self: Make sure to turn all the ball ends on basses going to Greg to random angles.

nostatic, nice clips! I have always dug the RA's for that more "uprighty" vibe, and that has it in spades....the playing KILLS...let me know if there's anything that we can do to help out, and enjoy the bass!

bobunit · #16 10-14-2010, 08:45 AM

Sweet bass. Congratulations.

**Staccato** · #17 10-14-2010, 09:11 AM

What a beauty, Congrats!

CrashClint · #18 10-14-2010, 10:25 AM

On my SKB it has a Wendge/Maple/Wendge neck. After a lot of use the finish on the neck gets a little glossy. I normally use a real light Scotch bright pad to knock the gloss down. This makes everything slick again.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JOME77

On the purpleheart, I gotten a couple of Roscoe's that had a bit of raised grain on the PH stringer. Rubbing it out again with paste wax (like Greg stated) might smooth it out. Or, I found that rubbing it out LIGHTLY with #0000 steelwool smooths it out nicely. .

Quote:

Originally Posted by JOME77

FYI: I've owned several of the LG's and SKB's and really never noticed much difference in the way that they hung when on a strap. That may be more because the Comfort Strapp tends to grip to your clothing where ever you postion it (due to the material it's made from).

I agree with Joe here, to me the SKB and LG hang the same. I also use the Comfort Strapp and it can have a dramatic change of feel depending on the material of the shirt you are wearing. On my full button down dress shirts I can make an easy adjustment on the fly and never miss a beat but with a t-shirt or polo shirt I sometimes have to lift the bass a little to reposition the bass.

**Bipslapper** · #19 10-14-2010, 10:54 AM

Congrats, Nostatic and Welcome to our demented side of the web

We have a lot of fun.....unless we upset our dear moderator Gard (see pic below)

"Billy, you wouldn't want me to call your mother, would you?"

**nostatic** · #20 10-14-2010, 12:35 PM

not exactly the nurse I had in mind...if I could make a request:

Thanks for the props. I'm going to work with the LG for a few days and see how it feels. I am using a comfort strap but I find that straps and positioning is more art than science. I have a Sadowsky strap for my RA, and that works better than the comfort for some reason. Now if I just didn't have to work I could continue the testing...