Roscoe set-up and intonation

[CrashClint]

I always liked this quote.

“Watty, only two things you need in life to get by on this planet..... Love and a .45”

I guess if he were a musician instead of a bad guy he would have said, “Watty, only two things you need in life to get by on this planet..... Love and a Roscoe”

[Gard]

Originally Posted by VroomVroom

I want those points! 'Flight of the Navigator'? (And, yes, I had to look it up. I remembered being just out of high school and thinking Ms. Parker was rather cute, but getting the synapses to fire beyond that...and a few lines...well, thank goodness for google.)

Jerry gets the 10 points....spend them wisely.



...funny aside about that movie.

Back in the dark days of my youth, I was a commercial/residential/auto window tinter, and did a LOT (read: pretty much all) of the installation at Disney World (and at Kennedy Space Center...) for a number of years.

Once we were out on a backlot doing some work on the boats they use in the World Lagoon, and as we were leaving, we noticed the full sized mockups of the spacecraft from "Flight Of The Navigator", one with the open door, one with the closed door. I had a picture of myself sitting in the seat in the open door mockup for years, but lost it during a move...

[justBrian]

I'm glad this got stuck at the top of the page. I spent most of the morning re-evaluating my setup. The neck relief is at .025. I got the string height set 6-7/64 across with the G and C just a little lower--but not much.

Initially, I raised them all up because, well, I play URB too and tend to play pretty hard. Since then, I have adapted and changed my technique on the Roscoe. Set up like it is now, it is a breeze (and oh, such a pleasure) to play. And I try to play everyday. I'm still getting used to the C string.

[improvpwnd]

Originally Posted by justBrian

I'm glad this got stuck at the top of the page. I spent most of the morning re-evaluating my setup. The neck relief is at .025. I got the string height set 6-7/64 across with the G and C just a little lower--but not much.

Initially, I raised them all up because, well, I play URB too and tend to play pretty hard. Since then, I have adapted and changed my technique on the Roscoe. Set up like it is now, it is a breeze (and oh, such a pleasure) to play. And I try to play everyday. I'm still getting used to the C string.

Hey justBrian,
What string gauges are you using?

[justBrian]

Originally Posted by improvpwnd

Hey justBrian,
What string gauges are you using?

I ordered a set of stock Roscoe strings from Gard--I think they are medium DR XLS Chromes. I like them quite a bit.

[ThePerfectBass]

Actually Roscoe basses come stock with D'Addario EXL nickelwound. 6 string sets look like this: .030 .045 .065 .085 .100 .125

On a 4 string, the equivalent would be the EXL165XL set. If you have a 5 or 6 string you would add the 30 high C and/or 125 low B to the 4 string set as D'Addario doesn't make this exact set in a 5 or 6 string pack from the factory. You can however buy the singles...

Peace!

[AverageWhiteBassist]

Definitely a question before I bought 25 individual strings but is the normal strings D'addario SL's or regulars? I bought 5 of each .45, .65, .85, 100, 125 strings, but did not get SL's. I hope they are right. Somebody please tell me I'm right? Thanks!

[JOME77]

Originally Posted by DaveProulx

Definitely a question before I bought 25 individual strings but is the normal strings D'addario SL's or regulars? I bought 5 of each .45, .65, .85, 100, 125 strings, but did not get SL's. I hope they are right. Somebody please tell me I'm right? Thanks!

You need the SL's for the "E" & "B" ( the windings on the regulars stop just prior to the nut slot).

Assuming that you're talking 35" scale Roscoe ...... I don't see one in your profile.

[AverageWhiteBassist]

It's like 4 weeks new to me, I've been too busy playing it, I've barely even been on here! I keep telling Gard, what a perfect bass. I really wanted a 5 string with P-Bass heft that can still slap (the very little bit I do slap). It's dead on gorgeous too. It's going in the profile now.

[PlanetEarth]

Hey, when you guys are talking about measuring string height, is there a specific place you measure it at or does that assume a uniform height the entire length of the board?

[JOME77]

Originally Posted by PlanetEarth

Hey, when you guys are talking about measuring string height, is there a specific place you measure it at or does that assume a uniform height the entire length of the board?

Typically the 24th fret. Bottom of the string to the top of the fret (with the bass in a playing position).

[ThePerfectBass]

I usually measure at the 12th fret. Distance from the bottom of the string to the top of the fret.

[Gard]

FYI, we never measure our setups in the shop.



Seriously.

They're set up with a very slight relief in the neck, then just to play as low as possible without buzzing. That's IT.



If you're measuring your string height, you're not PLAYING.

[VroomVroom]

Originally Posted by Gard

FYI, we never measure our setups in the shop.



Seriously.

They're set up with a very slight relief in the neck, then just to play as low as possible without buzzing. That's IT.



If you're measuring your string height, you're not PLAYING.

You know, I simply couldn't agree with this more...well, I guess I could but it would involve money and Gard becoming a Steelers fan.

I've been accused of being too analytical, and instrument setup was certainly an area where I was guilty. I had the hardest time grasping all of the concepts and dependencies until the late 90's or so, when my local bass rabbi gave me the advice that essentially amounts to what Gard typed above. Since then, a few wiggles here and there aside, I've had great success...and have gotten pretty quick & fluid with the process.

Of course...there's nothing like someone who has that total Zen-esque connection with wood & metal. I think I'm pretty handy, and then I see my rabbi do a setup...it's a thing of magic.

[Gard]

Originally Posted by VroomVroom

You know, I simply couldn't agree with this more...well, I guess I could but it would involve money and Gard becoming a Steelers fan.

I'm already a Steelers fan, they're just my #2/AFC team.

The other item, well, I'm so broke I can't pay attention...

I've been accused of being too analytical, and instrument setup was certainly an area where I was guilty. I had the hardest time grasping all of the concepts and dependencies until the late 90's or so, when my local bass rabbi gave me the advice that essentially amounts to what Gard typed above. Since then, a few wiggles here and there aside, I've had great success...and have gotten pretty quick & fluid with the process.

Of course...there's nothing like someone who has that total Zen-esque connection with wood & metal. I think I'm pretty handy, and then I see my rabbi do a setup...it's a thing of magic.

I've never thought to measure string height, ever.

I don't really care about it - here's my view in a conversation:

"Does it feel good?"

"Yeah, it does."

"Then it's done."

[Darkstrike]

Hehehe, I'm one of those guys who spends too much time taking mesurements.

But, far as the Roscoes go, I find bottoming out all the saddles works wonders!

[ThePerfectBass]

I agree 100%... But I do know that if I can get about 6-8 64th's of clearance at the 12th fret on a low B and about 4-5 64ths of clearance at the 12th fret on the G then I'm in the ballpark for what feels good to me. Then just minor tweaks from there.

WHO DAT!

[PlanetEarth]

Originally Posted by Gard

FYI, we never measure our setups in the shop.



Seriously.

They're set up with a very slight relief in the neck, then just to play as low as possible without buzzing. That's IT.



If you're measuring your string height, you're not PLAYING.

HAHA, I hear ya... Personally I just tweak until it feels right, never thought of actually measuring it until I read this post, but non-the-less, still curious, rather know my options and choose what to employ then be ignorant of alternatives.

I think it is kinda neat to know what the set-up parameters are though, if something changed from travel or shipping you could quickly verify and at least rule out any *placebo* effect...

[JOME77]

Originally Posted by Gard

I've never thought to measure string height, ever.

I don't really care about it - here's my view in a conversation:

"Does it feel good?"

"Yeah, it does."

"Then it's done."

I guess if all that you do is setup your own basses that's OK. The problem comes in when you work in a store and setup bass for players of all styles of playing and music. "The lowest action you can get" isn't always what some players like. Some players believe that higher action = better tone. Some players like a certain distance between the body of the bass and the string. Some players play very hard and require more relief than others. Successfully setting up a bass requires good communication between the player and the tech. A good tech asks the right questions, has to be a good listener and needs to be able to communicate in a manner that the player can understand.
Stating that "I adjust it until it feels good" means lots of different things to different players. Just because it feels good to you doesn't mean that it'll feel good to others.
Being able to state the preferred distance between the bottom of the string to the top of the fret, at either the 12th, 21, 22 or 24th has a lot of value to the customer.

Put that in your pipe and smoke it!

Man! Keith should send you to a 6-Sigma class. Does the word "repeatability" mean anything to you?

Of course this is just my opinion!

[Darkstrike]

Originally Posted by JOME77

Man! Keith should send you to a 6-Sigma class. Does the word "repeatability" mean anything to you?

Maybe you should ask Gard where he learned that setup style!