New Arrival - Roscoe Century Signature V (Koa)

[RocketMusic]

We've been talking about this bass for a loooooong time. Well, it finally arrived today, hand delivered by Gard himself earlier this afternoon!

If you'll recall, this is the bass that was sent to Bass Player magazine for the recent review they did of several Roscoe basses (two 'Standards" and this fabulous "Signature" model).

As good as it looks in the pics, it's even more impressive in person. It also sounds mighty fine. I hope to have a clip up before I leave later tonight. The wife and kids are out of town, and I've got a recording project already in mind... should be a fun evening!

In the meantime, check 'er out!

Roscoe Century Signature V (Koa)

 

[Darkstrike]

My word, that's incredible!

 

[LilRay]

WANT!



God Bless, Ray

 

[VroomVroom]

...hand delivered by Gard himself earlier this afternoon!

No kiddin'? Darnit. I wish I'd known - I was hoping to capture another instance of you saying, "STFU, Gard! You're out of your Element!"

Man...that is a stunning instrument. I can't wait to hear what you cook up with that beast.

 

[JOME77]

^

lol

Good one Jerry!

I'm betting that bass will not last long! It's not only beautiful but it's also famous!

 

[Ryan L.]

The ONLY bass that makes me consider trading in my 3006........Hmmmm.

 

[Darkstrike]

And that is saying something, knowing your 3006!

 

[Ryan L.]

If I wasn't so damn attached to that bass, and wanting a fretless, I would be contacting Greg about this one!

 

[Darkstrike]

Certainly a hard choice, your 6er is incredible, and you have been wanting a fretless with the longest time, on the other hand.... this!

The upside, no matter what way you go, you win!

 

[bassWR]

This could be the best ever!!

Somebody pleeese buy this. It's threatning my marriage.

I forgot how beautiful this bass is.
Keith & Company knocked this one out of the park.

 

[RocketMusic]

After my previous attempt on this tune went all "Love Boat" and disco-ey on me, I decided to take another stab at it and really try to make my original vision for the tune (slow & sparse) come to fruition. As soon as I heard this bass for the first time earlier today, I knew I'd have to incorporate harmonics somehow. This bass has that "bell-like" thing going on in a big way, along with a heaping helping of what I think of as the signature Roscoe tone (growl, girth, mids aplenty, etc.).

The only problem I ran into is I am a complete and utter idiot when it comes to playing harmonics. I found a nice chart out there on the interwebs that helped me find a lot of notes as harmonics, and I was able to fashion some pretty nice chords pretty quickly.

Then my inner recording engineer geek took hold, too. This project should make for a nice headphone experience. I played the melody in two passes, playing every other phrase. So the first pass has phrases 1, 3, 5, etc., and the second pass has phrases 2, 4, 6, etc. I panned one pass right 25%, and the other pass left 25%. Then I did a similar sort of thing with the harmonics. There are actually three tracks of harmonics so I could get some droning going on where the end of one harmonic phrase carries on underneath the next. All in all, it's pretty darn cool from a production standpoint!

Anyway, without further ado - here is what this AWESOME bass sounds like.

"It Had To Be You"

 

[Darkstrike]

My word Greg!

Bass sounds truly incredible, man them harmonics ring!

More importantly, amazing playing, and arrangement, stellar stuff all round.


I can never remember the harmonics layouts, so I often cheat, and use tapped harmonics, you know, say fret the 9th on the G string, and tap right onto the 21st, pretty interesting technique.

 

[RocketMusic]

Hah! Thanks, Bill!

I dare say this is the most musical thing I've ever done in my life... the melody could still use some loosening up, but that's just 'cause that was the first part I recorded. I should go back and overdub the melody parts with a looser feel now that everything else is there and in time, but my fingers are burning... maybe tomorrow!

 

[Gard]

...bleargh!!!!!!!!

You are too good dude.

Great stuff!!!

But, it ain't my 70's P!!!



(...it's just my '59 P...sigh...)


(I'm STILL chuckling at THAT exchange...)

 

[RocketMusic]

But, it ain't my 70's P!!!



(...it's just my '59 P...sigh...)


(I'm STILL chuckling at THAT exchange...)

LOL. The FU was out my mouth before I even had a chance to think about it.

 

[Gard]

LOL. The FU was out my mouth before I even had a chance to think about it.

Brooke's a good dude...but that...that just was too much.

What, oh, I'm sorry, you forgot to bring your favorite 70's P and brought your all-original 1959 Fender Precision instead?



...well, that's just....TRAGIC!





(...the best part is he finds it just as amusing as we do, but his initial, immediate reaction was truly, mind-bogglingly hysterical! )

 

[JOME77]

Here's a link to the BP review:

BassPlayer: Roscoe Century Basses

 

[RocketMusic]

Sold! Headed to D.C.! Thanks, Sonia!

 

[Darkstrike]

Not surprised in the slightest that this one sold quickly.

 

[Gard]

...color me completely unsurprised.

Completely.







(That is a fabulous bass! )