Roscoe SKB 3006

Quik Stix · #1 12-21-2009, 11:28 AM

I'm desperately looking for a used Roscoe SKB 3006. Where can i find a dealer?

SteveC · #2 12-23-2009, 12:38 PM

You and me both. I can't afford a new one, and used is tough.

Gard · #3 12-23-2009, 12:45 PM

Dealer list: http://www.roscoeguitars.com/dealers.htm

I don't know of anyone that has a used 6 in stock, but if I find one, I will let you know.

Have you considered the Century Standards????

SteveC · #4 12-23-2009, 01:08 PM

I have/am considering a Century Standard.

I don't know if this is within forum rules or not, but do you know anything about this bass:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ROSCOE-SKB3006-6...item53deb7fa56

Thought about shooting a low ball offer to see.

Gard · #5 12-23-2009, 01:28 PM

Steve -

That one looks familiar, but I can't be completely certain of that. It is definitely a "modern era" bass, within the last 5 years (i.e. since I've been here), based on the things I can see in the photos.

Based on the features, it won't be exactly the "Haslip" tone, probably a bit snappier attack (spalted purpleheart versus pau ferro) and a bit more "open" sounding (Spanish cedar versus mahogany), but it will definitely get in the ballpark of what you're looking for, if Jimmy's tone is your watermark for the sound you're searching for. I'm fairly certain you'll be able to get this one to work for you, if you get it.

SteveC · #6 12-23-2009, 01:34 PM

So I want to look for Mahogany/Pau ferro huh?

Interesting.

I thought the Spanish Cedar sounded good.

Gard · #7 12-23-2009, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveC

So I want to look for Mahogany/Pau ferro huh?

Interesting.

I thought the Spanish Cedar sounded good.

Steve -

Mahogany and Spanish cedar sound VERY similar to my ears - the cedar is just very slightly less compressed (good IMO) than the mahogany.

Fingerboard choices will affect the attack of the note a bit, but otherwise are pretty minor considerations, IMO.

If this one "speaks" to you, I'd consider it very seriously, because it will get you where you want to go, I'd think.

**Freddels** · #8 12-23-2009, 02:44 PM

The body doesn't look like spanish cedar. It looks like alder to me (at least from that pic).

Ask the guy for the serial # and then Gard can get you the specs on it.

I like the tone of the two Spanish cedar bodies Roscoes that I have. I really like the cocobolo board and that's probably what I'd order if I ordered another.

SteveC · #9 12-23-2009, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freddels

The body doesn't look like spanish cedar. It looks like alder to me (at least from that pic).

Ask the guy for the serial # and then Gard can get you the specs on it.

I like the tone of the two Spanish cedar bodies Roscoes that I have. I really like the cocobolo board and that's probably what I'd order if I ordered another.

I think you're right. I just posted that as a used option. Seems like the sound I like is Mahogany/Pau ferro anyway. I'm also very poor with great taste.

JOME77 · #10 12-23-2009, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freddels

I like the tone of the two Spanish cedar bodies Roscoes that I have. I really like the cocobolo board and that's probably what I'd order if I ordered another.

+1 on all the above.

Spanish cedar is my body wood of choice for a Roscoe and the most stable Roscoe necks that I've had were cocobolo finger boards. Maybe that's just happenstance but I think it has to do with the cocobolo. It's pretty too!

**Ryan L.** · #11 12-23-2009, 04:45 PM

Meh. Ash is where it's at for me. Gotta have that little extra punch that it seems to give.

**Freddels** · #12 12-23-2009, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveC

I think you're right. I just posted that as a used option. Seems like the sound I like is Mahogany/Pau ferro anyway. I'm also very poor with great taste.

When I was deciding on wood choices for my SKB3006 order, I initially wanted mahogany b/c my other favorite bass has a mahogany body (but it's also a maple neck through). I ended up deciding on the spanish cedar b/c it has about the same tonal qualities of the mahogany but tended to be a bit lighter in weight. My LG3004 with the cocobolo board has absolutely killer tone. If you listen to the sound clips you'll discover that the pickups/preamp has more to do with the tone than the body woods. On many of the different sound clips you'll notice that they can each get that great Roscoe deep tone with a little twist of the knobs. I wouldn't worry too much about the wood choices, especially if you're looking for used b/c you could be waiting a long time for the exact one to come along. If you're really convinced that certain woods are the only thing that's going to get you to the tone you want, then you'll probably be better off ordering one.

VroomVroom · #13 12-23-2009, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freddels

If you listen to the sound clips you'll discover that the pickups/preamp has more to do with the tone than the body woods.

Ooh....dangerous ground there.

I couldn't suggest an accurate ratio between the two, but I'd suggest that woods are at least as important as electronics. Two scenarios to back my play. First, you may not always detect the differences in a recording, but in a live mix...you'll know. Live, period, actually. I've played alder/rosewood basses with the same electronics as identically shaped ash/maple basses. HUGE differences sonically. Second, play two identical basses...same body & top woods, same neck & board woods, same electronics. I'd bet Gard's NFL gambling winnings that they won't sound identical.

So for me, while you can certainly generalize (i.e. ash sounds Episcopalian and trapezoidal while Spanish cedar is Republican and scintillating), there's just no doubting that woods come into play.

Not to suggest I don't like cedar, mahogany, or alder. I've got two alder-bodied basses, in fact, and I love 'em. Just for me, the 'standard' Roscoe sound (i.e. what immediately comes to mind when I think "Roscoe") is ash, maple top, Bart electronics. Bada boom.

SteveC · #14 12-23-2009, 07:11 PM

The thing is, I need to sell my MV5 before ai can do anythin - except look, drool and dream. Greg offered me a great trade on my MV5 for a very nice SKB but I still had to come up with more than I can afford.

That's why I was thinking low ball offer on the one on eBay. Who knows, right.

Who wants a nice MV5?

SteveC · #15 12-23-2009, 08:07 PM

Ideally, I would find a used LG 3006 like Jimmy's. Isn't there a Jimmy Haslip Signature model? I thought I saw one somewhere?

lwrthnwhalepoop · #16 12-23-2009, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VroomVroom

Ooh....dangerous ground there.

I couldn't suggest an accurate ratio between the two, but I'd suggest that woods are at least as important as electronics. Two scenarios to back my play. First, you may not always detect the differences in a recording, but in a live mix...you'll know. Live, period, actually. I've played alder/rosewood basses with the same electronics as identically shaped ash/maple basses. HUGE differences sonically. Second, play two identical basses...same body & top woods, same neck & board woods, same electronics. I'd bet Gard's NFL gambling winnings that they won't sound identical.

So for me, while you can certainly generalize (i.e. ash sounds Episcopalian and trapezoidal while Spanish cedar is Republican and scintillating), there's just no doubting that woods come into play.

Not to suggest I don't like cedar, mahogany, or alder. I've got two alder-bodied basses, in fact, and I love 'em. Just for me, the 'standard' Roscoe sound (i.e. what immediately comes to mind when I think "Roscoe") is ash, maple top, Bart electronics. Bada boom.

+1

The body of a bass, along with the neck (and of course the strings) is a central component of the bass as a resonating assembly. Different materials resonate at different frequencies. Even within the same species of wood - or even the same slab - luthiers will often take great care to select a cut with a particular grain pattern and density because they're after a particular sound.

The pickups and preamp capture and process this resonance and add their own flavor to it, so they have their role too.

Using an extreme example, if you made a bass body out of Gouda cheese it'd sound the same no matter what electronics you put in it; there wouldn't be any resonance for them to capture because the strings wouldn't hit or sustain a discernible pitch for more than a couple of oscillations.

Bottom line: everything matters.

SteveC · #17 12-23-2009, 09:19 PM

There may be hope. I have a bite on a possible trade for a SKB 3006 with Spanish Cedar body maple/ bird's eye maple board. It has Bartolini preamp and Nordstrand fatstack pickups.

Not exactly Jimmy's bass, but I bet it sounds really nice.

lwrthnwhalepoop · #18 12-23-2009, 10:16 PM

Nice bass! Go get 'er, man.

SteveC · #19 12-23-2009, 10:54 PM

I sent a note to that effect just now.

JOME77 · #20 12-24-2009, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveC

There may be hope. I have a bite on a possible trade for a SKB 3006 with Spanish Cedar body maple/ bird's eye maple board. It has Bartolini preamp and Nordstrand fatstack pickups.

Not exactly Jimmy's bass, but I bet it sounds really nice.

Nice! I really like the look of the quilt with the birdseye board!

There aren't that many LG 3006 basses out there. I suspect that SKB would do just fine.

Good luck!