Talk me down, fellow Roscoe Heads!!!!

[Fishheadjoe]

Here's my story...
I love my LG, everything about it, including the incredible look of the bass! So much so, that I have actually seriously considered NOT playing it in my band's bar gigs, just so I don't put a blemish in it!
I have been playing my er, uhm, Pedulla Rapture almost exclusively for the past little while, in an effort to convince myself that the Rapture will take the brunt of my bar work...
Now the Rapture is a nice bass, but it can't hold a candle to my LG... but the thought of some drunken bar slob getting near my LG is making me sweat at night.
Fellow Roscoe heads, convince me that my LG is a tool that needs to be played, damn the drunken bar slobs!
Fishheadjoe

[Gard]

I'll bring in my two basses tomorrow, and photo all the dents, dings, cracks, scratches, and assorted blemishes, if it'll make you feel better.

They're TOOLS, not artwork - yes, they're nice to look at, well-made tools, but they're TOOLS.

Not using your favorite bass on gigs is just like a carpenter leaving his best hammer at home!

We don't build 'em to be looked at, we build 'em to play and sound good. The looked at part is just a bonus....matter of fact, one sure way to offend Keith (and me! ) is to send us a 5-10 year old bass without a scratch on it for some repair or upgrade....that means you didn't play it, and if you're not playing it, that means you don't like it.

Take the thing out, and PLAY it - PLEASE!

[VroomVroom]

Treat it with care, but otherwise follow Gard's advice. Play that bass! FWIW, on bar gigs - or any setting where I have concerns (cough, Irish weddings, cough) - the bass goes back in the gig bag and behind/beside the amp after every set.

[RocketMusic]

You got it right there at the end - they're all nothing more than tools!

I haul both of my personal Roscoes around in a double gig bag, in and out of bars, basements, etc. I take them with me when I play... because they sound so good and are such a joy to play!

My advice - go ahead and put a ding in it right now. Get the first one out of the way, then you can go play stress free. (I'm only kidding... but barely.).

[jebmd]

Originally Posted by Gard

I'll bring in my two basses tomorrow, and photo all the dents, dings, cracks, scratches, and assorted blemishes, if it'll make you feel better.

They're TOOLS, not artwork - yes, they're nice to look at, well-made tools, but they're TOOLS.

Not using your favorite bass on gigs is just like a carpenter leaving his best hammer at home!

We don't build 'em to be looked at, we build 'em to play and sound good. The looked at part is just a bonus....matter of fact, one sure way to offend Keith (and me! ) is to send us a 5-10 year old bass without a scratch on it for some repair or upgrade....that means you didn't play it, and if you're not playing it, that means you don't like it.

Take the thing out, and PLAY it - PLEASE!

+1

That says it all right there. Unless your worried about it getting stolen, take it and play it.

[LilRay]

I'll put it this way; I've owned a few basses in my time playing. NOT A ONE have I put more time on than the Roscoe. Does it have scratches/dings? Dunno, don't care. I've been extra careful with it, so to take the best care, but I've played it. And I'm a klutz, I'm known for it.

If I get a chance to play out, will the Roscoe be there? Darn Skippy Chief!

And my Roscoe means more to me than any Signature model ever will.

Take care, keep your eyes on it but PLAY IT!

IMO



God Bless, Ray

[nostatic]

Easy solution - sell the Pedulla and buy a more expensive Roscoe so that the LG is the "beater."

Problem solved.

[Fishheadjoe]

Originally Posted by Gard

I'll bring in my two basses tomorrow, and photo all the dents, dings, cracks, scratches, and assorted blemishes, if it'll make you feel better.

They're TOOLS, not artwork - yes, they're nice to look at, well-made tools, but they're TOOLS.

Not using your favorite bass on gigs is just like a carpenter leaving his best hammer at home!

We don't build 'em to be looked at, we build 'em to play and sound good. The looked at part is just a bonus....matter of fact, one sure way to offend Keith (and me! ) is to send us a 5-10 year old bass without a scratch on it for some repair or upgrade....that means you didn't play it, and if you're not playing it, that means you don't like it.

Take the thing out, and PLAY it - PLEASE!

That's what I was sure would be the response here... and I know it's a tool to be used, but I have had it for over 2 1/2 years and there is not one mark on it as of yet... and I do my utmost to get atleast a couple of hours a day on it...
That first real ding is gonna require a great deal of post "owie" sedation!
Thanks fellow heads...
Fishheadjoe

[Freddels]

I play my basses but I do try my best to not get them all dinged up. However, if I really like a bass, I'm not going to leave it at home in a case to collect dust.

Right now, I'm still getting used to the 6 strings. I've taken it to a couple of jazz jams but that's about it. I am thinking of bringing it out to my Classic rock band rehearsal next week and if I can groove on it, then I'll be playing it a lot more.

[PlanetEarth]

I can get past how you could want to touch a Pedulla when there's a Roscoe in the house. The later certainly built to be played, the former.... well IMHO, good firewood.

-PE

[Gard]

Originally Posted by PlanetEarth

I can get past how you could want to touch a Pedulla when there's a Roscoe in the house. The later certainly built to be played, the former.... well IMHO, good firewood.

-PE

Now now, Mike is a good friend and makes a fine instrument as well!

[PlanetEarth]

^ Just an opinion. As they say, like as$#*(les, everyone's got one; some just stink more than others.

-PE

[nostatic]

Guy I saw last night was playing a Pedula Buzz fretless as well as a Smith 7-string. The Pedula certainly has its own vibe, especially in a fretless. Kinda like Roscoe in that regard - it has a distinct character.

[PlanetEarth]

^Ironic, I owned a Pedulla Buzz fretless at one time - Got it at a buy one get one free sale (seriously). Bought a Smith 6 and got a free Pedulla. -PE

[rodsnhawgs]

+1 for Gard's reply.

If you want it to remain "perfect artwork"...take a picture of it, frame it, then take her out and play the frets off.

[Bipslapper]

Depends on the "Dive Gig". I have 3 Roscoe's and they are distinctly different, but all nicer than almost every bass most guys around here play. There is one flippin' rat hole my LAST band always wanted to play - this is why I still have my EB Sterling. To bring the SKB would just be asking for trouble.


On the other hand, I now play in 2 bands that are much better, hence better gigs, hence I play basses made in Greensboro, NC

[Darkstrike]

I'd have no fear playing a Roscoe anyplace, they're built to be tough!

Originally Posted by Gard

....matter of fact, one sure way to offend Keith (and me! ) is to send us a 5-10 year old bass without a scratch on it for some repair or upgrade....that means you didn't play it, and if you're not playing it, that means you don't like it.

Better not show ya'll mine then..... thing is practically mint, even though I play it every day since I got it. Only way you can tell at all is fretwear, and the finish is starting to wear off the bridge.

Originally Posted by VroomVroom

.....on bar gigs.....

......(cough, Irish weddings, cough).....

Jerry, Jerry, little redundant, no?

[LilRay]

Originally Posted by Darkstrike

Jerry, Jerry, little redundant, no?

That was my thinking



God Bless, Ray

[ubone]

Play the damned bass and stop worrying about it.. They crave a lot of action, and for some reason the range of tone actually broadens when they get played hard and put up wet.. Hell man,, You should see my beloved Fenders.. They look like they barely survived a hydrogen bomb blast. Every scratch, gouge, ding, finish wear mark on them speak volumes of the adventures we've been on.....

[pbass62]

Next to my wife nothing sexier than a Roscoe with play mojo!!