Wood options for new Roscoe

[svoncampe]

Hey Roscoe maniacs:

The time to place an order for my second Roscoe is close. YAY!! This is what I am looking at:

• SKB3005;
• Koa top
• Matching back with "belly carve/cut";
• Mahogany or Spanish Cedar body;
• Wenge center neck;
• Wenge or some other shim between top and body;
• Oil finish;
• Wenge fingerboard, fretted;
• Wood Inlay;
• Nordstrand pups;
• Bartolini preamp;
• Black hardware;
• Graph-Tech Graphite nut

I have come to really like the look of Koa (do not know what sound properties it has) and I am pretty sure I want Mahogany or Spanish Cedar for the body. However, this bass is "built" primarily on looks and on getting something different than what I already have. I had not been too worried about sound as I know that regardless of what I get, it'll sound awesome, and I am not really looking for a specific type of sound, but I am pretty certain it'll be different than my 5959 (Quilted Maple top & back, Swamp Ash body, standard neck, Pau Ferro fb, Bartolini preamp and pickups).

Small concern that came up by reading a recent post concerning having too much Wenge in the bass. I am interested in your all' opinion: Will there be too much emphasis on mids by having as much Wenge as I have right now? Could it become "muddy and honky" - to quote a forum user? I honestly do not have enough experience to know what that would sound like.

Unless I am convinced otherwise and find viable alternatives, I will stick with the way I have it now. But just in case, what could be an alternative to a wenge fingerboard? Or what about an alternative to a wenge shim?

While I'm at it: If you're familiar with Koa's sound properties, any suggestions which way I should go with the body? Mahogany or Spanish Cedar?

Thanks,

Stefan

[RocketMusic]

Just my opinion, but I'd leave the neck specs as is and go with a Spanish Cedar or Ash back. The Wenge, IMHO, adds some nice low end heft to the tone. Not muddy, it's actually quite clear. But it is BIG sounding, and I love that!!

[svoncampe]

Originally Posted by RocketMusic

Just my opinion, but I'd leave the neck specs as is and go with a Spanish Cedar or Ash back. The Wenge, IMHO, adds some nice low end heft to the tone. Not muddy, it's actually quite clear. But it is BIG sounding, and I love that!!

Cool. Thanks. Why Spanish Cedar (as opposed to Mahogany)? My current Roscoe already has Swamp Ash, so I would go with the other option.

[RocketMusic]

Mahogany is pretty dark and heavy, too. With all that Wenge and all that Mahogany, you could end up with a heavy bass that doesn't have a lot of upper mids and top end...

Spanish Cedar is a great in-between wood. It's in between ash and mahogany both in terms of weight and tone. Loosely speaking, of course...

[svoncampe]

Originally Posted by RocketMusic

Mahogany is pretty dark and heavy, too. With all that Wenge and all that Mahogany, you could end up with a heavy bass that doesn't have a lot of upper mids and top end...

Spanish Cedar is a great in-between wood. It's in between ash and mahogany both in terms of weight and tone. Loosely speaking, of course...

That sounds like a good enough reason for me. Thanks again.

[Darkstrike]

Hmmmm, Spanish Cedar probably would sound better, but that Mahogany center would look just fantastic with the Koa...

[svoncampe]

Originally Posted by Darkstrike

Hmmmm, Spanish Cedar probably would sound better, but that Mahogany center would look just fantastic with the Koa...

I know. Looks wise I was leaning towards Mahogany. I really hate having to make such difficult decisions.

[CrashClint]

Also, the new Nords have a lot more mid presence than the old style and the wenge is going to add to the mids. If it were me I would go with a Demeter preamp or an Audere. I think the Bartolini preamp may make the bass sound really dark.

[JOME77]

+1 with Clint on the Demeter on this one, but not with the Nord p/u's. IMO Demeter and Nord's don't mate well. I think the Demeter and Bart CB P/U's would give you a real nice contrast to your current Roscoe.
I'm not overly fond of the Audere on a fretted. Great on a fretless though. Just a bit bland on the fretted.

The neck spec's sound great to me. For the body, I love the sound and weight of Spanish cedar. It would look great with the Koa too.
I'll post a pic of the natural finish on my Spanish cedar fretted Roscoe.

[Darkstrike]

Originally Posted by JOME77

+1 with Clint on the Demeter on this one, but not with the Nord p/u's. IMO Demeter and Nord's don't mate well. I think the Demeter and Bart CB P/U's would give you a real nice contrast to your current Roscoe.
I'm not overly fond of the Audere on a fretted. Great on a fretless though. Just a bit bland on the fretted.

The neck spec's sound great to me. For the body, I love the sound and weight of Spanish cedar. It would look great with the Koa too.
I'll post a pic of the natural finish on my Spanish cedar fretted Roscoe.

Actually, I was honestly suprised with how heavy my Spanish Cedar Roscoe is, not very heavy, but my Ash LG turned out to be quite a bit lighter.

[JOME77]

Originally Posted by Darkstrike

Actually, I was honestly suprised with how heavy my Spanish Cedar Roscoe is, not very heavy, but my Ash LG turned out to be quite a bit lighter.

Good point Bill. I've had multiple Roscoe's in Spanish cedar and a couple have been heavy. My current Spanish cedar Roscoe is very light (around 8 lbs.).
I guess having Gard select a light (but nice grainy piece) would be the solution.

[Darkstrike]

Originally Posted by JOME77

Good point Bill. I've had multiple Roscoe's in Spanish cedar and a couple have been heavy. My current Spanish cedar Roscoe is very light (around 8 lbs.).
I guess having Gard select a light (but nice grainy piece) would be the solution.

Yup! I'm sure Gard could cherry pick a lighter piece.

I'm lucky in the fact that unlike a lot of people, a heavy bass is no issue to me, then again, my Spanish Cedar Roscoe is probably heavy for a Roscoe, but light by comparison to a lot of other basses.

[Gard]

Originally Posted by Darkstrike

Yup! I'm sure Gard could cherry pick a lighter piece.

Well, TECHNICALLY, I'd mention to the guys that actually do this stuff that we want to go as light as possible...they're the ones that KNOW this stuff. I just keep track of the information and dole it out as required. Sorta like this guy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ti53kjHsAas

[svoncampe]

Originally Posted by CrashClint

Also, the new Nords have a lot more mid presence than the old style and the wenge is going to add to the mids. If it were me I would go with a Demeter preamp or an Audere. I think the Bartolini preamp may make the bass sound really dark.

Hmmm....well, I have Barts all the way around in my current SKB, and I love the tone. I'm already going to be over budget with the way the bass is spec'd out now, so I definitely can't go with both non-stock pickups and preamp; it has to be one or the other. Knowing of course that it would provide a different sound, I wanted to go with Nordstrand pickups b/c of looks (yes, I'm pretty superficial that way).

Another option for me would be to go with the stock Bartolini pickups, perhaps even classic (?) that offers a different sound at no extra cost (right?), and with either Audere or Aguilar preamp.

Any suggestions here? I know that Aguilar is supposed to be very aggressive and Audere very versatile. I really don't play too much around with my current preamp; I keep it almost always in the same setting, so most likely it wouldn't do me good to go with Audere if I wouldn't take advantage of what it has to offer.

That being the case, perhaps Bartolini pickups (which ones, standard or classic?) with Aguilar preamp. How do you think this fares with my wood options?

I'm still leaning towards Bartolini preamp and Nordstrand pickups but I am open to have my mind changed. I could always switch out preamps at some point in the future as well, if it came down to it.

Thanks for all of your help and input -

[Darkstrike]

The Bart Classics will sound pretty close to the Nordstrand DC's, if I'm remembering correctly.

[AverageWhiteBassist]

I have an Aguilar preamp in my LG3005 that has a Spanish Cedar body. Very warm, deep tone yet very flexible. The Aguilar offsets the cedar nicely and IMO is a great combo. My Lakland has so much pop with it's Bart preamp and ash body, I'm happy to have such a different animal in the arsenal and it sounds like that's what you are looking for. I also have a cocobolo top which adds warmth not brightness. I'd say you are on the right track.

[svoncampe]

Originally Posted by DaveProulx

I have an Aguilar preamp in my LG3005 that has a Spanish Cedar body. Very warm, deep tone yet very flexible. The Aguilar offsets the cedar nicely and IMO is a great combo. My Lakland has so much pop with it's Bart preamp and ash body, I'm happy to have such a different animal in the arsenal and it sounds like that's what you are looking for. I also have a cocobolo top which adds warmth not brightness. I'd say you are on the right track.

OK, so I know the woods won't change: Koa top & back, Spanish Cedar body, Wenge center neck and fb, Wenge shim.

Electronics-wise, these are my options:

Bartolini preamp & Nordy pups
Bartolini preamp & CB's
Aguilar preamp & CB's
Aguilar preamp & standard Barts
Aguilar preamp & Nordy pups

Decisions decision!! I want to place the order this week!!! Again, I have no particular tone that I am looking for. I know it'll sound good regardless; I just want to avoid an obvious flaw, for lack of a better word, as subjective as that may be.

[AverageWhiteBassist]

I should also mention I have Roscoe Barts and I am adding a push-pull to cut them into single coils as another option. Haven't gotten it back yet, but it should have another great sound option to it. My expectation is cut, they will sound similar to Nordy Big singles or big splits.

[CliffD]

Originally Posted by svoncampe

Hmmm....well, I have Barts all the way around in my current SKB, and I love the tone. I'm already going to be over budget with the way the bass is spec'd out now, so I definitely can't go with both non-stock pickups and preamp; it has to be one or the other. Knowing of course that it would provide a different sound, I wanted to go with Nordstrand pickups b/c of looks (yes, I'm pretty superficial that way).

Another option for me would be to go with the stock Bartolini pickups, perhaps even classic (?) that offers a different sound at no extra cost (right?), and with either Audere or Aguilar preamp.

My 0.02:

I went with nord DCs in wood shells (partilly for looks yes...) and an audere pre with my first Roscoe, I never dug the pickups or preamp. Now I've got Classic Bart pups and an aggie pre on my CSVI and couldn't be happier.

[svoncampe]

Originally Posted by CliffD

My 0.02:

I went with nord DCs in wood shells (partilly for looks yes...) and an audere pre with my first Roscoe, I never dug the pickups or preamp. Now I've got Classic Bart pups and an aggie pre on my CSVI and couldn't be happier.

In the mean time I have narrowed the field down a little more. I'm going with the Classic Bart pups for sure...dropped the Nordies. Now I just have to decide between the Bartolini and Aggy preamp. Your experience with the two certainly speaks well for the CB and Aggy combo.

I wish I could know what the sound would be like beforehand, which would make the decision so much easier. This is such a subjective question. I've heard from you saying that you like the combo; I've also heard elsewhere from people who did not like the Aggie preamp. Again, as far as I am concerned, I probably couldn't loose no matter what way I go, but I want to make the right choice which is virtually impossible without actually listening to them.

Aggie = more aggressive. How so? Louder? More bass?