So I have a problem...

jimb213 · #1 07-16-2007, 11:56 AM

...my roscoe is too awesome! Everything about it is pretty much perfect: the sound, the feel, the look... it's exactly what I wanted (and you wouldn't believe the attention I get from the fingerboard!). The problem is that I can't stand playing my other basses now. So I think I need a fretted roscoe to compliment/contrast my fretless LG3005.

I want to stick with an LG3005, but pretty much everything else is up in the air. I am kinda leaning towards a "jazz bass replacement." I like the sound and versatility of my Fender Jazz well enough, but the neck feels like a brick after the roscoe. I kinda envision this one being my rock out bass... more agressive & grindy than my fretless, but not zingy, with frets so I don't have to pay so much attention to where my fingers land... I also don't want this one to be too fancy, so no exhibition tops, no crazy fingerboard woods - this one is more of a workhorse that I won't mind the occasional "gig-wear" showing up. And I do want it to have a fairly different sound to my current LG (spanish cedar back, walnut top, rainbow diamondwood fingerboard, Bart/Bart).

So, Roscoe aficionados, what woods and electronics should I look for?

Jeff Moote · #2 07-16-2007, 12:02 PM

Hmm... aggressive, not too fancy/workhorse - sounds like an ash body and Aguilar pre for sure.

Bass Central has some cool LG3005s in stock with ash bodies and chechen fingerboards and they're priced very nicely. BHB also has a nice (no top) ash LG, but I'm not sure if the rosewood fingerboard will be snappy enough for you.

In each of these cases I think a (fairly easy) swap to the OBP-3 will give you some of the grind you want.

XavidmanX · #3 07-16-2007, 12:22 PM

+1
I was in FL not too long ago and played those LG's and they smoke. All for a great low price!

Shiveringbass · #4 07-16-2007, 12:25 PM

I think you've nailed it Jeff.

I was just about to say ash body. I've never heard the agui but from what I've read about it, it seems perfect for what you want.

Also notice that if you want to go custom, I'm sure the guies at Roscoe could work on the pickups placement to get closer to that JB feel.

And as usual, the problem with Roscoes is that as soon you've got one, you want another... but nothing else.

Gard · #5 07-16-2007, 12:54 PM

Everyone forgot something important, right Jim?

Y'all, Jim's a LEFTY...so the ones at BC won't do the trick (although they do have a lefty on order for stock with VERY similar specs....)...

...if I were ordering from "the ground up", Jim, I'd get an all ash body, satin finish, Aggie OBP-3 pre, Bart CB pickups, and something "hard" for a fingerboard - like maple or if you're really gutsy (like oh...ME!!!

) African tulipwood. Knowing your proclivities for interesting fingerboards, I think you'd dig the AT fingerboard...

XavidmanX · #6 07-16-2007, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gard

Everyone forgot something important, right Jim?

Y'all, Jim's a LEFTY...

That never stopped Haslip from flippin' a good bass around!

Jeff Moote · #7 07-16-2007, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gard

...if I were ordering from "the ground up", Jim, I'd get an all ash body, satin finish, Aggie OBP-3 pre, Bart CB pickups, and something "hard" for a fingerboard - like maple or if you're really gutsy (like oh...ME!!!

) African tulipwood. Knowing your proclivities for interesting fingerboards, I think you'd dig the AT fingerboard...

Sounds good to me! I guess being a lefty there aren't going to be many choices for stock basses, so he gets the privilege of building something from the ground up (though I think Gard has nailed the Specs down already).

Scoopbass · #8 07-16-2007, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gard

Everyone forgot something important, right Jim?

Y'all, Jim's a LEFTY...so the ones at BC won't do the trick (although they do have a lefty on order for stock with VERY similar specs....)...

...if I were ordering from "the ground up", Jim, I'd get an all ash body, satin finish, Aggie OBP-3 pre, Bart CB pickups, and something "hard" for a fingerboard - like maple or if you're really gutsy (like oh...ME!!!

) African tulipwood. Knowing your proclivities for interesting fingerboards, I think you'd dig the AT fingerboard...

The african tulipwood 'board was the one thing that I wasn't sure about when I bought my Roscoe "off the peg" in the UK but I have to say that I really wouldn't want any alternative on #5104 right now. It's perfect.

I described it to a mate of mine one time as having "British Army Officer Tone - It can be polite but also very authorative and can really bark when it needs to".

AT is a fabulous 'board wood for the type of tone you describe. And it's pretty too...

Scoop.

Gard · #9 07-16-2007, 03:37 PM

Scoop, couldn't agree more about the tone of AT!

You, Jome77, and myself are the only three TBer's I am aware of in the African Tulipwood club...there is one other bass out there that I am familiar with that has it, but I'm not sure if in the hands of an active TBer.

I really like the unique color and figure as well as the fact that it is VERY stable and sounds great.

Oh yeah, makes great wood pickup covers as well!!

jimb213 · #10 07-16-2007, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gard

Everyone forgot something important, right Jim?

Y'all, Jim's a LEFTY...so the ones at BC won't do the trick (although they do have a lefty on order for stock with VERY similar specs....)...

...if I were ordering from "the ground up", Jim, I'd get an all ash body, satin finish, Aggie OBP-3 pre, Bart CB pickups, and something "hard" for a fingerboard - like maple or if you're really gutsy (like oh...ME!!!

) African tulipwood. Knowing your proclivities for interesting fingerboards, I think you'd dig the AT fingerboard...

Yeah, I guess I forgot to mention the whole lefty thing... thanks for watching out for me, gard!

If I go with all ash (maybe with grain enhancement

), I'll probably want a natural finish, so I don't know that I'd want a maple fretboard... that would probably be too much light/yellowish wood color. What's african tulipwood look like?

Let me also throw in that I wouldn't mind it having a decent slap tone, although I play at slap bass more than I actually play slap bass, ifyouknowwhatimean... so if that would affect anyone's advice...

And also, since I'm asking additional questions, how does the aggie 3-band pre compare w/ the bart 3-band I have in my fretless, and with the audere 4-band? Are the Bart CBs the same as are in my current bass or a different model? And how do they compare to the Nordstrands?

edit:
of course there would be a picture there before I ask for one...

Scoopbass · #11 07-16-2007, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimb213

What's african tulipwood look like?

Jimb213 -

here's a link to a pic of my SKB3005.

The AT board is there, loud and proud.

Scoop.

ftp://ukmg:bertweedon@www.3dbhosting...%20SKB3005.jpg

Gard · #12 07-16-2007, 04:36 PM

Much better pics, shows the color off well, thanks Scoop!

Jim, the Audere is a bit more "polite" than either the Bart or Aggie, for really in your face fingerstyle & slap, the Aggie OBP-3 is by far my favorite. I love the Audere for it's flexibility and just plain clean tone.

The pickups in your bass are our standard pickups, which are not CB's. CB's are more aggressive sounding, they're not dead on Nords, but they approach that kind of "open" tone. Ask TBer Peter Parker about them, he's got them in two of our basses. I really like them as well myself.

sha975 · #13 07-16-2007, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gard

Scoop, couldn't agree more about the tone of AT!

You, Jome77, and myself are the only three TBer's I am aware of in the African Tulipwood club...there is one other bass out there that I am familiar with that has it, but I'm not sure if in the hands of an active TBer.

I really like the unique color and figure as well as the fact that it is VERY stable and sounds great.

Oh yeah, makes great wood pickup covers as well!!

That statement should go a bit like You, sha975, and myself are the three Tber's I am aware of in the African Tulipwood club. I now own Jome77's bass-

(pictured on the right)

Shiveringbass · #14 07-18-2007, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gard

Much better pics, shows the color off well, thanks Scoop!

Jim, the Audere is a bit more "polite" than either the Bart or Aggie, for really in your face fingerstyle & slap, the Aggie OBP-3 is by far my favorite. I love the Audere for it's flexibility and just plain clean tone.

The pickups in your bass are our standard pickups, which are not CB's. CB's are more aggressive sounding, they're not dead on Nords, but they approach that kind of "open" tone. Ask TBer Peter Parker about them, he's got them in two of our basses. I really like them as well myself.

Hello Gard,

could you give the references of the CB Bart. that Roscoe sometime install.
There are so many, I've found :
Bart BC dual coils "Classic bass"
Bart BD dual coils "classic bass"
Bart CF
Bart M4 quad coils "classic bass"

Bart M5
...

I'm a bit lost.

Thanks

jimb213 · #15 07-18-2007, 09:53 AM

...So how do y'all think a tulipwood fretboard would look on a satin black all-ash LG3005?

Gard · #16 07-18-2007, 10:08 AM

Ludo, the CB's are Bart Dual Coil Classic Bass pickups.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimb213

...So how do y'all think a tulipwood fretboard would look on a satin black all-ash LG3005?

Dude!

Heck yeah!!!

Jeff Moote · #17 07-18-2007, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimb213

...So how do y'all think a tulipwood fretboard would look on a satin black all-ash LG3005?

Just awesome!

Basso Gruvitas · #18 07-18-2007, 02:39 PM

Jim,
If memory serves (and it SOMETIMES does) Perfect Bass had a black satin LG 5 in their Perfect Bass custom order. Perhaps you can look through their gallery or call them to see if they have a picture lying around.

They may have put a rosewood board on their black bass so that would give you a *rough* idea of what your bass would look like....

....and oh yeah....DEFINITELY an Aguilar OBP-3 if you want it to sound mean.