Roscoe SKB3005 Fretless

[CrashClint]

I went to Roscoe Guitars on Friday to pickup my new SKB3005 fretless. It is always fun to check out all the new basses, wood samples and to pick on Gard some as well.

This is my first fretless and I am pretty excited. It has the Bartolini Classic Pickups with the Bartolini Preamp. Wow, this bass is just beautiful!!! After playing the fretless at Keith's shop, I quickly noticed how sloppy my playing has become not placing my fingers at the frets like I should.

I wanted to test the bass live on Sunday morning at church so I spent about 3 hours on Saturday working on cleaning up my technique. During this time I was playing with the tone as well and man, if you roll to the bridge pickup and slightly boost the mid this bass absolutely kills. The mmwahh factor is sweet!!!

So, I get to church on Sunday and everyone is commenting on how pretty the bass looks, not noticing it is a fretless because of the fret lines. As we are going through practice. listening to my bass through the monitors I adjusted the pickup balance to 11 o'clock and and all other controls at center. The sound tech had me mixed in the monitors perfect, the bass sounded really warm, thick and balanced. I am hoping I can get a CD of the music this week so I can hear how it recorded.

After church I was talking to one of the other bass players that was in the congregation. I told him the bass was fretless and he was surprised. He said the intonation was right on and the bass sounded really full and filled the mix nicely.

I can see that this bass is going to get all my attention for a while, I can't wait to try it out at band practice this week.

The specs on the bass are:

Figured Maple Top
Ash Body
Maple/Purpleheart Neck
Blue Diamondwood Fingerboard with inlaid lines
Diamondwood Nut
Bartolini Classic Pickups
Bartolini 3 Band Preamp

Pics can be seen here. 5886

A big thank you to Keith, Gard and all the guys at the shop!

As always, if you live in the Raleigh area and have never tried a Roscoe and would like to, PM me and we can set up a time for you to try out my SKB3005 Fretless and my LG3005 Fretted.

****Disclaimer: I am not resposible for any GAS you may receive after playing either of my Roscoe Basses!****

[Gard]

Playing fretless, especially on a good one, is like crack cocaine...once you go there, you're hooked for life.

Welcome to the addiction, Clint.





...soon, your fretted LG will be feeling very lonely...

[CrashClint]

Addicted??? Who Me??? Just because I brought it to work with me today doesn't necessarily constitute an addiction... Wow, I am already in the denial stage.

Ok, Ok, I admit it!!! Now I know what a heroin addict feels like because I am going through some serious Jones'in.

I guess when Robert Palmer wrote "I'm Addicted to Love", it is because he never played a Roscoe.

[Steve Clark]

I very much like my SKB3006 fretless. I need to spend more time on it though since there are no lines. I expect I'll keep it unlined but am wondering if its possible to pop the neck off, send it to Roscoe and have the lines installed or would you need the whole bass?

[FretFree]

That's a beauty!

I still have not had the pleasure of playing a Roscoe fretless... I get it done one of these days.

[Gard]

Originally Posted by Steve Clark

I very much like my SKB3006 fretless. I need to spend more time on it though since there are no lines. I expect I'll keep it unlined but am wondering if its possible to pop the neck off, send it to Roscoe and have the lines installed or would you need the whole bass?

Unfortunately, we can't retrofit lines to an existing neck, as we don't have the necessary tools here to do that. Our slotting (which fret slotting is exactly what we do for lined fretless!) is done before the neck is carved to shape, and we can't do it once the neck is shaped and not "in the square".

[dataBASS5]

Originally Posted by CrashClint

****Disclaimer: I am not resposible for any GAS you may receive after playing either of my Roscoe Basses!****

@#$%&!!! I tagged along w/ Crash just for the ride and picked out wood for my next Roscoe!

BTW, the fingerboard on this bass is sick. Looks just like a lake at 5am--glass smooth before the fishermen and wakeboards make the water all choppy. The MEOW factor on this bass is unreal. Too bad I don't play fretless as well as Scott!

[Steve Clark]

Originally Posted by Gard

Unfortunately, we can't retrofit lines to an existing neck, as we don't have the necessary tools here to do that. Our slotting (which fret slotting is exactly what we do for lined fretless!) is done before the neck is carved to shape, and we can't do it once the neck is shaped and not "in the square".

Makes sense. No problem.

[CrashClint]

Originally Posted by dataBASS5

The MEOW factor on this bass is unreal. Too bad I don't play fretless as well as Scott!

Scott over at Don's Music City was really making my fretless purrrr. I could have easily sat there and listened all day.

Yeah Data, you picked out some very nice wood for the top and back. It will definitely be a awesome sounding and playing piece of eye candy!

[Gard]

...yes he did, and I'm going to be sending Adam a very nice PM soon with all kinds of pricing...

[CrashClint]

Originally Posted by Gard

...yes he did, and I'm going to be sending Adam a very nice PM soon with all kinds of pricing...

OUCH!!!! Hey Adam, maybe you can lease the wood. Play it for 3 years, then turn it back in and I will buy it at a substantial price reduction. I am sure it will not be long before I have LSU's bass.

mmmmmwwwwaaaahhhhh just like the sound of my new Fretless!

[dataBASS5]

Originally Posted by CrashClint

Hey Adam, maybe you can lease the wood. Play it for 3 years, then turn it back in and I will buy it at a substantial price reduction.

Maybe I can lease the wood and WHACK you and Gard upside the head!?!

Gard just told me my first choice idea for a fingerboard was "tacky"

I am formulating a comeback strategy and design and will advise accordingly. . .

[Gard]

Originally Posted by dataBASS5

Maybe I can lease the wood and WHACK you and Gard upside the head!?!

Gard just told me my first choice idea for a fingerboard was "tacky"

I am formulating a comeback strategy and design and will advise accordingly. . .

Adam, I was talking about the INLAY, not the fingerboard itself!



I don't think the fingerboard wood looked very appealing with the top (I did put them next to each other!), not "tacky", but not a good combination....

Man, I fished for a better adjective for at least 30 minutes...I really wasn't trying to be derogatory, but I'm a firm believer in the "less is more" philosophy, and what you were requesting, well...it was more of a "more is less" thing.

I firmly believe you would regret doing that eventually, and it could never be "undone".

I'm sorry to have upset you, really!

[dataBASS5]

Originally Posted by Gard

I'm sorry to have upset you, really!

For crying out loud, Gard, you haven't upset me.

You don't need to wear kid gloves around us "customer" types. Generally, we are confused and know not of what we speak. We need your guidance and input so we don't run around with goofy looking basses.

We need you to show us our wrongful ways and point out that some basses are intentionally set up lacking board straight measurements, to explain the LG p'ups are supposed to be crooked, and to call us out when we measure 2mm variance in the distance between bridge & neck.

I'm thinking of alternatives taking into account your suggestions and will PM again in just a little bit.

[CrashClint]

Ok, back on topic! My new Fretless Roscoe is HOT baby, Molten Wax!

I am in my office looking at my Roscoe sitting on a stand. Yes, I keep a guitar stand in my office for such purposes as admiring my bass during the day.

Actually I will run it through my computer and as long as I don't drop the "B" bomb my sub-woofer will handle it ok for volumes acceptable at work. I only do this on my lunch break.

[Shiveringbass]

Hey Clint,

Congrats on the fretless !

It's funny that my freted is also a LG and my fretless a SKB.


I'm not quite good at it yet and each time I don't practice during a week or two, I've just feel like everything must be redone from the begining.

Mine is not lined but anyway, lines would have done nothing for me.


Just a question, how can you concentrate on work with a Roscoe in your office, ready to be played ?

[Steve Clark]

Originally Posted by Shiveringbass

Hey Clint,


Just a question, how can you concentrate on work with a Roscoe in your office, ready to be played ?

This is why I work from home.

[CrashClint]

Originally Posted by Shiveringbass

Hey Clint,

Congrats on the fretless !

It's funny that my freted is also a LG and my fretless a SKB.

Hey Ludo, Great minds like us think alike! Any news on the new pot for your preamp?

Originally Posted by Shiveringbass

Just a question, how can you concentrate on work with a Roscoe in your office, ready to be played ?

It is hard not to pick it up and play it while I am supposed to be working, but during lunch I have mini concerts. I am thinking about getting one of the Korg PX4B - Pandora. I have heard they do well with a good set of headphones.

Originally Posted by Steve Clark

This is why I work from home.

Yeah Steve, rub it in. I only get to work from home on Thursdays. I can do 90% of my job over the internet, just can't convince my boss to give me another day at home. Though she just gave me $80 extra a month to help with the rising cost of gas.

[Shiveringbass]

Clint,

My new pot is on the way. I'm just crossing fingers now.


I've got a Pendora PX3B and it is a great practice tool that simply can be fit in your pocket and can work on batteries.

Don't take it for a multi effects cause that part is funny but not realy usable in live.

[lsu921]

Originally Posted by CrashClint

I am sure it will not be long before I have LSU's bass.

Clint, I had someone offer me $2650 for it Tuesday, and that didn't move me.

Got a little song for you.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dy72lpZWtzo