Roscoe Seduction

djero44 · #1 12-04-2010, 10:04 AM

So yesterday I walk into a music store, just minding my own business (and checking out basses, of course) and although there were many nice ones to choose from there the only one that caught my eye was a Roscoe Century 5. So the nice folks there brought her down for me to for me to touch and I fell in love, just like that. I didn't have the cash on hand, so I didn't do anything drastic, but now it's a day later and i'm figuring out the logistics to get that thing home with me!

Beautiful feeling bass, I loved the balance, contours, weight and especially the neck and string spacing; it was perfect for my hands.

My only hesitation is i've never owned a 35" scale bass, but considering I did not even notice that when I was testing out, i'm thinking that should not be too big of a dea. There certainly was a great balance between the low B and the rest of the strings. I do play a lot of fretless though, is there any chance a different scale is going to mess with me?

Small fears aside I think i'm going to be joining the Roscoe club very soon. Thanks for building such an awesome bass!

JOME77 · #2 12-04-2010, 10:47 AM

Welcome to our world!

Once you've played a Roscoe, the GAS last a lifetime.

Unfortunately, if you frequent this Roscoe forum, buying one only cures the GAS for a short period of time.

They post way too many awesome looking Roscoe's here ......daily!!!

**nostatic** · #3 12-04-2010, 11:29 AM

I have mixed 34" and 35" scales at the same time. Depends on the player - I can handle scale difference easier than bridge spacing differences.

I've switched to 35" though as my rob Allen deep5 is 35. So adding the Roscoe fretted was easy. I'm primarily a fretless player though, and my Roscoe fretless should be done pretty soon. That's the best solution. Roscoe fretlesses kill.

bassWR · #4 12-04-2010, 02:48 PM

If you don't dwell on it you'll never notice the difference between 34" & 35". (Especially with a Roscoe)
It could be that my playing style is not sophisticated enough for it to matter but I've been playing for 36 years and got my first Roscoe/35" scale a little over a year ago and was immediately comfortable with it.
Heed Joe's warning thoough....after owing the same J-style 5 String for 12 years, I'm on my second Roscoe in a year. Once you try one you wanna try the next one.
So mamy combinations, so little time.

djero44 · #5 12-04-2010, 03:22 PM

I spent awhile this morning reading old posts about scale length here on TB. There is about every opinion and perspective on the subject. Part of what I read definitely made me want to check out some short scale basses, i've never tried one and i'm a small guy. With that being said I don't feel uncomfortable playing a 34" scale instrument generally, if the neck is good for my hands. I'm going to let my active 5 P-bass go to help finance this purchase, I like the bass a lot but it is just a bit too fat and wide for me. Plus I actually prefer the more transparent tone of the Roscoe (from my short trials) for most of what I want to do. I really like the pickup placement on it as well, there wasn't a setting that I did not like and I was impressed by the bass response on the bridge pickup.

The Roscoe I played is the bottom of the price range of their lines, i'm afraid to want another one, I don't even have that one yet! Even for being an entry level model, I really liked the Onyx finish with the white grain enhancements with the maple neck, as a woodworker I really like to light/dark contrasts, I built my kitchen out of walnut and pine so the colors are really inviting to me. I also built an acoustic guitar with similar features, ebony, maple and spruce. They will look very nice next to each other.

For now, i'm just gonna start with this one (I hope!). I saw one here on the classifieds with the cocobolo top a few weeks ago, I wish i'd have known what it was at the time, I would have tried to jump on it. At the moment I can't keep thinking about the one I played yesterday...and you know what happens after that.

baltimore · #6 12-04-2010, 03:31 PM

Congrat in advance!! Roscoe are the bomb!! I have four on hand and the fifth is a done deal!!

**nostatic** · #7 12-04-2010, 03:47 PM

You won't miss the p-bass. Roll the Roscoe onto the neck pup and cut some treble. Pluck up near the 24th fret. Be happy. Plucking position changes the tone on these significantly.

Then roll onto the bridge pup, add a bit of mid and bass. Pluck near the bridge. Cut through anything and still have booty.

Good stuff

Darkstrike · #8 12-04-2010, 04:20 PM

Good luck with it sir, they can definatly be dangerous to the 'ol finances! The Century Standards are utterly killer looking basses too, that white grain fill is badass. And of course, the feel and sound are 100% Roscoe.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JOME77

Unfortunately, if you frequent this Roscoe forum, buying one only cures the GAS for a short period of time.

They post way too many awesome looking Roscoe's here ......daily!!!

You ain't kidding, eh?!

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassWR

If you don't dwell on it you'll never notice the difference between 34" & 35". (Especially with a Roscoe)
It could be that my playing style is not sophisticated enough for it to matter but I've been playing for 36 years and got my first Roscoe/35" scale a little over a year ago and was immediately comfortable with it.
Heed Joe's warning thoough....after owing the same J-style 5 String for 12 years, I'm on my second Roscoe in a year. Once you try one you wanna try the next one.
So mamy combinations, so little time.

I dunno why, but Roscoe 35" scales don't feel it as much as other ones...

I remember in a local guitar store, I gave my LG to the local manager, a definite 35" hater(usually a 4er fan too, fwiw), he jams out on it a bit.

Mentions the usual stuff, that it's comfy and all that, I do believe he said it was the first 5er he actually felt at home on.

Me: Never notice it's a 35" scale, would you?
Him: What? It's 34" isn't it?
Me: Oh no, 35" for sure, I'm certain.
He looks at the bridge...
Him: **** me, that bridge is far back! Wow! I'd have never copped it.

For about the next hour or two while I was there, he made sure every bassist in the shop, and most guitarists, asked me about it.

djero44 · #9 12-04-2010, 05:47 PM

Well all these posts have assuaged my fear of the 35" scale, and also made me feel quite secure in all my initial feelings about this bass. I wish i'd had more time in the store, they have a nv610 there, which is my main cab, I bet it would have sounded great with it. It sure was stellar with the little Mesa I was running it through.

I'm headed back to CO tomorrow, but it looks like i'll be giving the good folks at Grandma's a ring real soon. I can probably save some sales tax that way, too, although I like purchasing things in person. I won't be back to NM till' the end of the year, though, and don't want to wait that long.

I appreciate the encouragement and support from this community here, and it seems like the folks at Roscoe are very customer friendly too. As if this needed to be any more appealing...

malthumb · #10 12-04-2010, 06:05 PM

I have 6 basses. Five of them are 34" scale. My Roscoe is my only fretless and my only 35" scale. I switch back and forth between that bass and any of my other basses with no issues at all. Maybe there are some times where differences in scale length impact playability. I haven't found one.

malthumb · #11 12-04-2010, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djero44

....I appreciate the encouragement and support from this community here, and it seems like the folks at Roscoe are very customer friendly too. As if this needed to be any more appealing...

Yeah....Just be careful around that Gard character. Gotta watch him.

(j/k)

LilRay · #12 12-04-2010, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JOME77

Welcome to our world!

Once you've played a Roscoe, the GAS last a lifetime.

Unfortunately, if you frequent this Roscoe forum, buying one only cures the GAS for a short period of time.

They post way too many awesome looking Roscoe's here ......daily!!!

Joe, You ain't ever lied.

That'd be the most accurate and succinct statement I've read on TB

(Except the one about me being Absolutely Correct of course

)

God Bless, Ray

**nostatic** · #13 12-04-2010, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djero44

I appreciate the encouragement and support from this community here, and it seems like the folks at Roscoe are very customer friendly too. As if this needed to be any more appealing...

You'll get no help in holding back from this crowd.

There are a lot of nice basses out there. At some point it comes down to a coin flip, or making a decision based on other criteria. I like to know who's behind the instrument I'm playing. I have no issue mentioning Roscoe in the same breath with Rob Allen, Roger Sadowsky, Mike Lull, etc. Beautiful woods, great service, and Roscoe has their own vibe. They certainly aren't another "me too" builder. They have their own style/approach. And they also have Gard.

Well, that last one...umm...err...yes, they have Gard!

oh wait, my fretless isn't done yet

Ok, Gard's actually part of the reason I like the place.

*whew*

RocketMusic · #14 12-04-2010, 09:07 PM

Nice save, Todd.

**nostatic** · #15 12-04-2010, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RocketMusic

Nice save, Todd.

Yeah, I shouldn't post when sober...

dDaddybass · #16 12-05-2010, 06:37 AM

Had almost the same thing happen to me yesterday. Not the scale length thing, but having "the one" in my hands. You just know when it happens. Still trying to workout the acquisition.

Gard · #17 12-05-2010, 08:22 AM

You guys always give me a chuckle.

Todd, you can say all you want about me, just keep sending beer - all the guys in the shop thank you for that!

djero, if there is anything at all I can do to help out, just let me know, and I will be very happy to do anything I can. The guys at Grandma's are fantastic, and we're happy to have them as a part of the family.

...as for the peanut gallery here, don't let these guys scare you off, they bark a lot, but there ain't no biters in the crowd...well, except Ray, you gotta keep an eye on him, if he thinks you ain't lookin', he'll nip at your heels...

Gard · #18 12-05-2010, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nostatic

Yeah, I shouldn't post when sober...

...you're SOBER???

You????

Get outta here!!!

Gard · #19 12-05-2010, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dDaddybass

Had almost the same thing happen to me yesterday. Not the scale length thing, but having "the one" in my hands. You just know when it happens. Still trying to workout the acquisition.

Which of VA's biggest ~~crack~~ Roscoe dealer's wares was doing the potential damage to your financial situation...this time??

dDaddybass · #20 12-05-2010, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gard

Which of VA's biggest ~~crack~~ Roscoe dealer's wares was doing the potential damage to your financial situation...this time??

Greg! I went in to try out an amp. I brought my Thumb along, everything was good until I said "while I'm here, lemme plug into this Roscoe". OMG!

Don't get me wrong, I love my Wic', but this one just had "the tone".