Roscoe compared to my Sadowsky

[SteveC]

So I bought a Sadowsky Metro M5-24 kind of on impulse. It's a nice bass...but the spacing is a little wide, and the tone a little too modern. I was debating a Roscoe a while back, tried a Modulus Q5 but the 35" scale felt really long on that one. How does the 35" scale feel on an LG 3005? Is there more "growl" on a Roscoe than say a Sadowsky or even Q5?

I want a modern tone but with some vintage-ness to it if that makes sense at all. I'm curious about trying to sell/ trade for a Roscoe.

[LilRay]

Roscoes are EXTREMELY versatile. It would depend on Body Wood, Neck wood, Pickups/ Pre setup. IMO there are TOO MANY variables at least to nail down a more growl or less type question.

I'd be willing to bet that you could get exactly what you want from a Roscoe, but I can't help with nailing down ALL the variables. Someone with more knowledge will have to assist you with that.

I first heard Roscoe when I joined TB close to two years ago, and I still haven't been able to hear all the differences. There are guys with multiple Roscoe's to be able to get the different tones. Wish I could be so lucky

Don't even get me started on aesthetics either. That's a whole 'nother issue entirely.

Good luck on the journey that is choosing a Roscoe.

God Bless, Ray

[Darkstrike]

Roscoes can growl, mine is a growl machine, sandard Roscoe/Bart setup, but its body is half flame maple, and half swamp ash.

The 35" is really playable, compared to other 35" basses. No one has noticed the extended scale, until I've pointed it out to them.

I honestly do not know how they compare to a Sadowsky(or a Q5), but mine blows any P or J bass out of the water with growl, clarity, and sheer tone, the only bass that stacked up is my Roscoe Beck, but they're completly different vibes.

Its genreally a modern sounding instrument, but versatile, and that neck pickup can pull a nice P-ish vibe when soloed. Its easily changeable too, a quick adjust of the eq works wonders.

If you slap much, though, I don't know what to say, I'm pretty happy with my slap tone(rarely slap though), but they're generally not popular amongst slappers.

[LilRay]

Originally Posted by Darkstrike

Its body is half flame maple, and half swamp ash.

Half top to bottom or front to back? What made you come up with that combo?

God Bless, Ray

[Darkstrike]

Originally Posted by LilRay

Half top to bottom or front to back? What made you come up with that combo?

God Bless, Ray

I didn't, I bought it second hand, off of our good buddy DataBass, who, I believe bought it stock from a store. Its fromt to back.

[Darkstrike]

Actually, IIRC, the Roscoes have the pickups a bit more towards the ncek than a Sadowsky Modern, which should help the vintage area of the tone no end.

[SteveC]

So if I want a modern tone but with some vintage in there, tight, punchy, clear, deep but articulate with growl, what wood/electronics combination do I want?

Maybe that's a question for Gard.

[Darkstrike]

Originally Posted by SteveC

So if I want a modern tone but with some vintage in there, tight, punchy, clear, deep but articulate with growl, what wood/electronics combination do I want?

Maybe that's a question for Gard.

Definatly a question for Gard, but my best guess, would be a Roscoe Bart/Bart setup, alder or mahogany body, rosewood or pau ferro board, and a standard Roscoe maple/purpleheart neck.

FWIW, if you're ordering one new, you can order a 5er in 34" scale.

[Selta]

Originally Posted by Darkstrike

blah blah blah

Yes, I STILL hate you.

[Darkstrike]

Originally Posted by Ray Salamon

Yes, I STILL hate you.

But I love you!

[JOME77]

The Modern would certainly be closer to the Roscoe sound than the vintage model but they’re still really apple and oranges. I’ve come close to purchasing a Sadowsky a couple of times but I’ve never quite been able to pull the trigger. I’ve heard so many TB’ers state how nicely they play and quite frankly I’ve yet to pick one up that played as nicely as any of the Roscoe that I’ve owned. Of course they have a totally different neck profile and the string spacing is a bit wider.
As for the right Roscoe combo for you, that could be a bit subjective. I’ve owned quite a few Roscoe’s and I’ve tried most of the combos (both wood and electronics). Personally, I prefer the Spanish cedar body with a nice maple or myrtle top and the cocobolo finger board. For electronics I prefer the Roscoe Demeter (or Roscoe Audere) with the Bart CB’s. If you’re really into mid’s the Audere has 2 bands of midrange and you can really dial in some nice tones. My current Roscoe with the Roscoe Demeter and Bart CB’s has just awesome growl. Very musical mid’s, smooth lows with some really glassy highs that just sizzle. It is by far the best bass that I’ve ever owned. The setup is just amazing. 1/16 to 3/32 (G to B) at the 24th fret and zero fret buzz. Awesome!
Fortunately for you though, the Sadowsky is a popular bass and you shouldn’t have any problem selling it, although the vintage models seem to be a bit more in demand.

I doubt that you’ll find anyone on the Roscoe forum willing to part with a Roscoe for it though. If you do, let us know so we can hang him from a tree by his toes!

[LilRay]

Originally Posted by Darkstrike

I didn't, I bought it second hand, off of our good buddy DataBass, who, I believe bought it stock from a store. Its fromt to back.

You got POACHED? I feel for ya man. I'd like to hear how that bass came about tonally. What's the S/N?

God Bless, Ray

[Gard]

Originally Posted by SteveC

So if I want a modern tone but with some vintage in there, tight, punchy, clear, deep but articulate with growl, what wood/electronics combination do I want?

Maybe that's a question for Gard.

...huh....uh...wha....

......



OK, tough question to answer with 100% accuracy, because tone can be pretty subjective.

That said, I'd prefer to talk on the phone about this kind of thing, gives me a better feedback of what YOUR definition of what you're looking for tonally.

Just as a ballpark start:

Any body style
Maple top
Spanish Cedar body
Any color
Bart/Bart electronics
Pau Ferro fingerboard

It can be "tweaked" a bit from there, depending on what you really want.

[LilRay]

Originally Posted by Gard

...huh....uh...wha....

......

As always Your mind is still clouded with hops, malt, and bong resin

Any color

I think blue is more Vintagey and Red is more Modern, so I'd go purple to get the tone your after

God Bless, Ray

[Gard]

Originally Posted by LilRay

As always Your mind is still clouded with hops, malt, and bong resin

Hops & malt, yes...and that's from Saturday night, still recovering from TRYING to keep up with Greg & Glenn...the last thing, nope, never did, never will.

I've got to be one of the very few musicians that can say that will 1000% accuracy!

I think blue is more Vintagey and Red is more Modern, so I'd go purple to get the tone your after

God Bless, Ray

Let's get this right, for full-on vintage tone, Tobacco Sunburst is the ONLY way to go! Natural, I'm thinking brighter colors, like the Cobalt Blue or Orange.

[LilRay]

Originally Posted by Gard

Hops & malt, yes...and that's from Saturday night, still recovering from TRYING to keep up with Greg & Glenn...the last thing, nope, never did, never will.

I've got to be one of the very few musicians that can say that will 1000% accuracy!

That's just the complete Tommy Boy quote. I thought you might recognize it. I don't drink or smoke, I'm goofed up enough without either, so you and I are in the same boat.

Let's get this right, for full-on vintage tone, Tobacco Sunburst is the ONLY way to go! Natural, I'm thinking brighter colors, like the Cobalt Blue or Orange.

You've got to go with a combo of the two ala Orange Sunburst or Tobacco blue. Something along those lines. You're not thinking very forward for this modern with vintage in there Roscoe.

God Bless, Ray

[VroomVroom]

I've got a Metro M5-24, and I love it. But it really is a completely different animal from my Roscoes. The Sadowsky is all bark AND bite. The boost-only pre and that pickup placement make for insane, and honestly sometimes difficult-to-control, upper mids and highs. There have been rooms where I've set the treble knob to '0', and then turned down the highs (usually set flat) on my amp. Just amazing cut from that bass. If it helps, here are a coupla' sound clips from a recent gig:

Got To Be Real

I Want You Back

The Roscoes, on the other hand, are much more full throughout the entire mid range, with very...VERY fat lows, and sweetly compressed upper mids and highs. They still cut - beautifully - through the mix, don't get me wrong, but they do it in a much different fashion. Here's my ash/myrtle + spalted purpleheart board & Bart electronics SKB 3006 on an R&B gig:

I Wish

Diggin' on James Brown

For more comparison, here's my ash/maple -wenge wedge/maple + Nord DC/Aggie OPB-3 SKB 3006. Smaller gig, but this bass is definitely more aggressive than my fertile myrtle one:

Don't Get Around...

Maybe the best comparison is with studio recordings. Here's my myrtle SKB on a session from earlier this year:

Latin-Pop Confirmation

And the Sadowsky from a few years back:

Something to Talk About

Hopefully that helps a bit. From a playability standpoint, I totally dig my Sad, but there is just NOTHING that plays like a Roscoe. Aside from the amazing craftsmanship and fretwork, the instruments just feel right. I've sampled dozens of other brands over the years, and nothing feels like a Roscoe. It's a wonderful experience.

[LilRay]

Dang Jerry, Keith should hire you as an in the field salesman. Does he have artist endorsement? If you aren't one you'd sure make a great one.

God Bless, Ray

[Darkstrike]

Very cool Jerry, that should clear thing up much more than all the words in the world can.

Originally Posted by LilRay

You got POACHED? I feel for ya man. I'd like to hear how that bass came about tonally. What's the S/N?

God Bless, Ray

Didn't get poached, DID the poaching.

I couldn't tell you how it came about, as it was for a dealer, not a customer, IIRC. But it came out agressive, bright, growly, kinda got that piano tone, and a huge low end. The S/N is 5863.

[LilRay]

It's just interesting to me the "wood sammich" Roscoe. I don't know if this is common with Roscoes but this is something I hadn't seen before. I'm goin' lookin' for a build thread and if that doesn't turn anything up, I'll pester Gard until he drops the deets

Mebbey I wants me a sammich too

God Bless, Ray