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NBD ntm Roscoe Beck V
- Thread starter ghostinthemach
- Start date
Congratulations. I love the tort guard with the Shoreline Gold finish. This is my favorite Fender by far. I am fortunate to own one. As someone mentioned before, it would benefit from a string tree for the A string. Fortunately, hipshot makes a string tree for four strings that easily replaces the three-string version installed at the factory. I have one on my bass. It works wonderfully.
Never available in left-handed. 
I checked while they were in production. Of course, their custom shop would build me one for near $4k (at that time).
I checked while they were in production. Of course, their custom shop would build me one for near $4k (at that time).
RB5's do have a string retainer for the A string.........?
My E string needs one, rattles badly.
My E string needs one, rattles badly.
OP, your RBV looks my old one except for the pick guard. The body is really big, but the neck is great, and the tones are exceptional for a passive bass.
My set up guy said he could cut a better nut for it but I just put a bit of tissue under the string.
I replaced the stock retainer on my MP Jazz with two Hipshots (3+2). Or, if you don't feel like drilling holes, Fender still sells the stealth retainers that replace the washer on the tuning post.
Anytime! I probably should have put the link in too: Invalid Link Removed
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I'm not a big fan on how Fender Basses look. Just personal taste. But I have to admit that this is the most beautiful Fender I ever laid eyes on.
If at some point in the future I felt the need to bring a genuine Fender bass, I'd get one of these.
If at some point in the future I felt the need to bring a genuine Fender bass, I'd get one of these.
I had a chance to try one at Sam Ash in King of Prussia PA in 1997/98. I couldn't believe how great the B was and how easy it was to play. Honestly, it's one of those basses that just stood out and still stands out 20 years later! The others I still remember like yesterday was Modulus Quantum 5, Taylor/Klein ABG, and a Pedulla buzz.
SirMjac28
Patiently Waiting For The Next British Invasion
I have one like that, except it had a white guard on it. Owned it from new, special ordered it in 1996 without ever having seen one in person, loved it from the instant I got it. I currently have a custom pickguard on it set up V-V-T like a Jazz, but with the coil switches still in the circuit.
(Yeah, I know it's got one Volume and two Tone knobs. I never read them, doesnt matter to me.)
I also had the position markers on the fingerboard edge replaced with white pearloid; I was having problems seeing the original dots.
Damn that's a great bass...
I understand that the reason that the RBV was discontinued was that Gotoh stopped making the bridge they used, and Roscoe Beck insisted that the bass wasn't the same without that particular bridge. No idea of the truth of that, just feeding the rumor mill.
(Yeah, I know it's got one Volume and two Tone knobs. I never read them, doesnt matter to me.)
I also had the position markers on the fingerboard edge replaced with white pearloid; I was having problems seeing the original dots.
Damn that's a great bass...
I understand that the reason that the RBV was discontinued was that Gotoh stopped making the bridge they used, and Roscoe Beck insisted that the bass wasn't the same without that particular bridge. No idea of the truth of that, just feeding the rumor mill.
You inspired me to take my RBV to rehearsal last night. I have it strung with Labella Low Tension Flats. What a gorgeous sound! I play in an alt rock originals band. I was surprised at how well it worked in that situation. The band members loved it. It's going to be a regular part of the repertoire. My other basses are a Musicman Big Al 5 SSS and a Musicman Sterling 5 H fretless. The character of the RBV is very different from either of these, especially with the flats. It works so well in some of the songs we do. It's a fantastic instrument.
Outstanding find! Congrats. One of my all time favorite Fender five strings. Wish I had snagged one along the way at some point but timing and funding never lined up for me on it.
I just bought a twin of these, 1997 vintage, in Shoreline Gold, after about 11 years without my original 1997 in Teal Green Metallic (sold it to finance another bass purchase). Man, I sure missed this bass model! And when I bought my original in 1999, I wanted a Shoreline Gold!
Very happy to have this one, in this shape.
Very happy to have this one, in this shape.
