SKB3006 - 1st impressions and some pics

[JBFLA]

Quick first impressions:

Description: Glorious… OK -
Roscoe SKB3006
Redwood Burl top
Mahogany body
Maple accent layer between top and body
(Ridiculous) Birdseye Maple fret board
Maple/Purpleheart 3 piece neck
Roscoe Bart pup’s and Bart Pre
Black Hipshot hardware

Condition - This bass is 10 years old and yet, I can’t find a single flaw in the neck, body or finish. The original owner must be as CDO as I am about taking care of instruments.. The only issue was that the pup’s were marked by the strings. Those pups were set soooo high that there is less than 1/16” from the bottom of the “C” string without the string being fretted. Maybe the original owner had a (very!) light touch, but obviously the round wound strings (of unknown make) grooved some marks in the Barts. No big deal, I moved them down to a height similar to my LG3005 and it’s all good.

Playability - uh: It plays great, the player not so much. I’ve got standard fivers and a fretless five tuned E-C so I know the notes, but I‘ve never had a sixer. My brain and muscle memory are in the midst of a civil war. This one is going to be a keeper - I’ve put away all the others (but my fretless basses) and I’m gonna ‘shed this one until it’s second nature.

Build quality/workmanship - It’s a Roscoe. Next question?

Tone - Ahhh! I have four Roscoe’s; three have swamp ash bodies with different necks and tops, but they are all similar in tone (+/- a little): a fretted 4 and 5 and a fretless 4. This one is a different body style (SKB vs LG on the other 3). The SKB being slightly larger body with a longer upper horn (better balance). I think (and I’m asking the Roscoe fanatics on TB) that the wood combination is more a part of the distinction of tone differential. The tone seems more focused on the fundamental while retaining the punch and ‘cut’ of the others. I could be completely off base - 57 year old ears with tinnitus...

Great bass, as my expectations for a Roscoe would be; and a challenge for me to master. Couldn’t ask for more… OK - maybe a fretless six?

SteveC - you almost bought this one, it’s all your fault. Thank You! Can’t wait to hear your reaction to that bass you have coming your way!

I know the rules: no pics, no bass:









Another beauty from G'boro
Thanks Keith and Gard (and Greg!)

[RocketMusic]

Nice! Congrats, Jim. And thanks right back atcha!

[LightGroove]

WOW... Id say when I think of Roscoe this is close to the image I have in mind,,you have a beauty!

[VroomVroom]

Congrats, Jim....that is a stunner. Every mahogany Roscoe I've played has been monstrous.

[Darkstrike]

Congrats Jim dude, she's a stunner!

I'll be very interested to hear further results of your shift from 5 to 6.

[JBFLA]

Thanks Jerry!
Question for you (and other Roscoe/mahogany fans) - The sonic element that I find so different from my other Roscoes is a clarity or strength of the fundamental.

In your opinion - is this unique to mahogany bodies or possibly a combination of the top and the body, or just a matter of having 57 year old ears with a case of tinnitus?

[JBFLA]

Originally Posted by Darkstrike

Congrats Jim dude, she's a stunner!

I'll be very interested to hear further results of your shift from 5 to 6.

Thanks!
I'll post more when it's not so damn frustrating. Just kidding, but my right hand just won't recognize the fact that there is an extra string (on the high side) as quickly as I'd like.
Patience young Jedi.

[VroomVroom]

Originally Posted by JBFLA

Thanks Jerry!
Question for you (and other Roscoe/mahogany fans) - The sonic element that I find so different from my other Roscoes is a clarity or strength of the fundamental.

In your opinion - is this unique to mahogany bodies or possibly a combination of the top and the body, or just a matter of having 57 year old ears with a case of tinnitus?

IMO, wood is psychotic. How's that?

That said, I generally associate mahog with offering a bit more booty....emphasis on the low mids and lows, with more "fatness" and complexity to the fundamental....whereas, by comparison, ash makes things a bit more pointed and crisp, and alder sweetens the pot by emphasizing the upper mids.

Total guess here, but I'd say that some of what you're hearing is related to that bit of maple in there. Maple and mahogany...yum. (Speaking to my fretless, of course.) I'm no redwood expert, but from what I've heard and read it's fairly neutral in terms of tone, generally not adding or detracting much along the way. The maple board would certainly help with clarity and focus as well.

All of this and $10 will get you some chicken wings at Hooters, so please factor in that I'm usually more full of crap than the next guy.

[JBFLA]

I hadn't thought of the mahogany/maple accent. Makes some sense after thinking about it. Some more time with this and maybe I can narrow down what I'm hearing.

Hooter wings is good! Maybe not as good as mine, but there's a certain "quality" that you can only find at said establishment.

[Bipslapper]

Aye Carumba Dude! Now I must book my ticket to Jupiter this fall / winter! I will bring the beer, you provide the 6er. Dude, this is in the top 20 most beautiful Roscoe's in my view.

Indiantown, you are in my sights!

[JBFLA]

Pete -
No need to BYOB - I'll supply the beer. Local/regional IPA's? Done!

[Bipslapper]

IPA's - you know how I roll. Congrats on the bass, I now am a huge fan of the Redwood tops. That is a real beauty. Glad it's in good hands...