Should I get the Roscoe?

[bluesdragon]

It seems like big money for a Bolt On?? Most basses in the price range are neck thru with some nice craftsmanship. I do dig the Roscoe finishes... Are they easy to play??

[Jim Nazium]

[bluesdragon]

Ok Jim, But That doen't really help me make up my mind.. No offense

[Jim Nazium]

No offense taken. Without meaning to offend you either, I'm just a little surprised to see this question here. It's kind of like going to a Porsche discussion board and seeing someone say " I dunno, the 911 seems awfully expensive for a 6 cylinder car".

With that said, and again I don't mean to flame you, I will try to answer honestly. I think that Roscoe basses are extremely high quality, on a par with anything on the market, neck through or not. The build and finish quality, sound, and playability are as good as it gets. It's true that the neck joint makes it a little harder to reach the last few frets, but they are still very playable on my LG-3005. Personally I don't buy that "neck through has more sustain", but that is a contentious issue and there are many threads about it.

I don't know what else there is to say, except try to find one (or several) that you can play yourself. It's a lot of money to spend without trying it out first.

And yes, you could buy a Corvette for half the price of a 911 that's just as fast, but ...

[LilRay]

bluesdragon,

You enter the world of Roscoe with such a simplistic question as "Should I get......." and you expect negative responses? I'll concur with Jim with .

Roscoes are hand crafted with all USA parts. As I'm sure you know, being you offered your "neck through" comment in a negative connotation, neck through being superior is debatable.

Roscoes are what they are, fantastic to some, and in certain instances not for others.

I think Roscoes are great, they're the easiest bass I've ever played, but The only person able to answer your question, is you.

God Bless, Ray

[Freddels]

I think those 911's have bolt on wheels.

[svoncampe]

I have owned (and still do) a number of different basses including Ibanez Prestige, Tobias, and David Pushic custom made bases (all neck-thru). I currently still have an Ibanez BTB1205 Presitge and a Tobias Classic. Both are neck-thru and awesome instruments. I love them both and have no intention of selling them, but to me the sound and feel of the SKB3005 I recently purchased surpasses any bass I have ever owned or played. Looks-wise it is also up there. Granted, there are a great number of other awesome basses I have never set my hands on, but I am sold on Roscoe. I'm going to place an order for a second one built to my desired specs, probably an LG this time, as soon as I am able to.

Hope this helps.

[Ryan L.]

Yes.

[Bipslapper]

Originally Posted by bluesdragon

It seems like big money for a Bolt On?? Most basses in the price range are neck thru with some nice craftsmanship. I do dig the Roscoe finishes... Are they easy to play??

I have owned high priced Ibanez, Pedulla and Modulus plus tried many other "boutique" basses. I was fortunate to find myself at Bass Emporium while visiting relatives in Austin, Texas in 2006 and tried my first Roscoe. Within minutes I was hooked; the ease of playability was unreal; 4, 5 or 6 string: they had perfect necks for me (don't have "banana hands", but I consider them average), and the tone was fantastic. I have owned neck thru basses like Carvin & Pedulla Pentabuzz and think the Roscoe has fine sustain (for the record I have not played a Roscoe fretless yet) and don't weigh too much- huge factor for the gigging bassist like me.
You ask "are they easy to play"- short answer, YES. So much so, that I searched online to find one and purchased a Century Standard based on my memory from Texas; liked it so much that I grabbed a used LG 2006 last week due to the factors mentioned above. Plus the GM is a fairly cool dude, I guess......

[Zooberwerx]

Didn't you just ask the same question over in the "Basses" forum?

Roscoe bass

[AverageWhiteBassist]

I never kept a bass for long up until last year when I bought my Roscoe. I went through 25 or so nice to high end basses in the last 7 years and this is the only one that stuck. Some sounded great but felt uncomfortable, some the opposite. If you figure in all the money from basses you'll never have to buy again, Roscoe's are a STEAL! My experience is bolt ons get more pop probably due to wood combinations that can be used and neck thru's are generally smoother sounding but I find they lack midrange. I'd gladly take a bolt on that I like the sound of than a neck thru that "justifies" a higher price. They also play easier than anything else I've tried. FWIW, I live in the Northeast where you'd be a fool to own a neck thru due to climate changes. Neck thru's have so many more warp, back bow, night mare issues than bolt ons up up my way at least. I don't think you'd be disapointed with a Roscoe.

[JOME77]

Originally Posted by bluesdragon

It seems like big money for a Bolt On?? Most basses in the price range are neck thru with some nice craftsmanship. I do dig the Roscoe finishes... Are they easy to play??

IMO Roscoe's are the best playing and sounding bass money can buy!

Go for it! If you buy from the certain dealers and you don't like it, you can return it within xx days (I know Rocket Music & Atlanta Bass gallery do that).

Go for it! You won't be disappointed!

Trust me!

[Shelly]

Bolt-on and big money have nothing to do with each other. You can find neck-throughs and bolt-ons in just about any price range. Neck-through Peavey and Brice models sell in the $300 - $500 range. Roscoes, Ritters, Skjolds, US MTD's, Sadowskys, Laklands, Alleva-Coppolos, F-Basses, etc., sell for thousands of dollars and are bolt-ons. What other criteria do you have for judging a high-end instrument?

Roscoes are very beautiful, well-made instruments, and some of the most easy to play instruments I've owned.

[JOME77]

Originally Posted by bluesdragon

It seems like big money for a Bolt On?? Most basses in the price range are neck thru with some nice craftsmanship. I do dig the Roscoe finishes... Are they easy to play??

I didn't address the "bolt on verses neck thru" statement with my reply.

Whether a bass is neck-thru or bolt-on has nothing to do with the price range. As a matter fact, I'd hesitate at ever purchasing another neck-thru (ever try replacing a neck on a neck through!)

We could spend days discussing that topic but trust me, Mike Tobias and Keith Roscoe know a few things about building basses. Both formerly build neck-thru's but build only bolt on basses now. There's plenty of reasons why too!

[Addison]

Ummm... I guess I've never equated "neck-through" with quality or price.

The bass is either worth how it sounds and plays or it isn't.

MTD, Sadowsky, Roscoe, and Lakland are all builders who ONLY employ bolt-on necks on their basses and are considered to be some of the BEST builders out there.

Fodera and Ken Smith both offer bolt-on versions of most of their basses, and the reason certainly doesn't have to do with price or quality.

[Fishheadjoe]

My Roscoe is by far the most musical bass I have ever played... and musical meaning all the nuances that a quality bass should have, mine has in spades. The craftmanship is 2nd to none, but for me, it's all about the sound... pure magic!
They are both easy and difficult to play.... easy as they seem to want to play, like they are eager to please... difficult because they are so well made, that every little mistake you make, will be heard by everyone. The neck is extremely stable and the ergonimics make it a pleasure to play.
By the way... did I mention the pure clean and dynamic sound my bass has!
Fishheadjoe

[CactusmanDoug]

Originally Posted by bluesdragon

It seems like big money for a Bolt On?? Most basses in the price range are neck thru with some nice craftsmanship. I do dig the Roscoe finishes... Are they easy to play??

Bluesdragon,

I've been able to get all the same tones on my Fender Squire that any of these guys can on their Roscoes just by using a pick.

Hope this helps,

Sparky

[Shelly]

That thar's funny, I don't care who ya are.

[JOME77]

Sparky Rocks!

Just more proof that the sound is really in the hands!

[Darkstrike]

Originally Posted by Ryan L.

Yes.

Mmm hmm...