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New Roscoe Tops Available

RocketMusic

RocketMusic

Gold Supporting Member
Commercial User
Oct 31, 2007
10,754
8,929
Blacksburg, VA
www.rocketmusic.net
Disclosures
Owner, Rocket Music
#1
Gard put up another round of new tops this morning, and I grabbed a few of the nicer ones. Here goes:

Exhibition Quilted Maple #3 ($800 Retail)
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Exhibition Quilted Maple #4 ($800 Retail)
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Pretty sick, eh? These are all available for custom orders for the time being. My backorders are getting a little thin, so I'll be converting some of the tops that I have on reserve into live orders over the next day or two.
 
#2
Hey, Jerry - I like your style, so your mission - should you choose to accept it - is to spec out a complete Roscoe using any of the tops that I have on reserve. I don't expect you to buy it, I just thought you might enjoy the process of seeing a bass that you designed come together from nothing.

I'll try to let everyone have a turn eventually. I'll have to start a list of who wants to do the honors. Ya'll just reply here or PM me if you want a turn somewhere down the line.

I should probably weasel word this with all sorts of caveats (like I retain the ultimate say over what actually gets ordered), but I don't want to suck all the fun out of this little exercise. If it's reasonable, I'll order it! :bassist:

What do you say, Jerry? Up for it? If not, I'm sure... gulp... Adam will bite :( :D
 
#8
RocketMusic said:
Yeah, I keep coming back to look at the Figured Maple #1... that one is speaking to me rather loudly. That's going to make an incredible Roscoe...
Click to expand...

Yes it is, it certaintly is, amazing stuff, Ex. Quilt 3, the very first posted, is gonna make a sweet one too, in a dark finish, like Emerald Green, or that cool Red that you got recently.

Or blue.....:ninja:
 
#11
Ensign Jerry reporting for duty, Sir!

All of those tops are absolutely gorgeous. Honestly, I made my decision even before reading some of the posts above. As much as all of the quilted maple pieces are stunning, it's the figured piece of maple (Invalid Link Removed) that really speaks to me. I love the 'hourglass' figure on the bridge side, and the dark-to-light color transition from the bridge to the upper & lower horns. And, as much as I lean toward a natural finish, I just get the idea that this top would look freakin' awesome finished in .... (foreshadowing, baby...please see below for my finish choice). :D

So, top selected, the rest of the specs will likely come as no surprise to my fellow 'heads. When it comes to Roscoe instruments, I'm generally not one to venture too far from the standard formula. My goal with the order would be for a bass that has the typically wonderful Roscoe sound, but with a bit more bark and attitude. Without further delay, here's my custom-order:

SKB 3006
Figured Maple top
Swamp Ash body
Orange finish
Bartolini 3-band preamp
Bartolini/Roscoe pickups
Wenge Wedge neck
Black Ebony fingerboard*
No 12th-fret inlay
Diamondwood nut*
Black hardware

My two asterisks...fingerboard & nut. I'd bow to expert judgment on both. If the combo of the wedge neck and ebony fingerboard would be overbearing sonically, I could easily be convinced to switch to a maple board. I'd think either would look stunning against the orange finish. Second, the nut - I don't know enough about the sonic differences between diamondwood, ivory, and graphite. Basically, on both of these items I'd be happy with recommendations to meet the sound I described above.

Thoughts?
 
#13
Yeah, baby! Bold choice on the Orange. That will kill on that top!

I just played the 19mm spaced SKB-3005, and it has an Ebony board on a Standard neck with the Wenge center lamination. It's pretty close to what you spec'd on the neck, and that bass absolutely thumps, it's a devasating tone. Still punchy, but very deep, deep tone. If/when (OK, when) I order my personal 6-string next year, it will have a neck like this (wenge wedge, ebony or wenge board). Heck, my fretless that is already on order has those same specs. So, yeah, I'm a big fan :)

I'm not married to any of the nuts, that's shaving hairs that my ear can't discern. Graphtech is free, and it sounds great to me :)

So I say we go for it, this should be a KILLER bass! I'll write it up and get it into Gard tomorrow.

Thanks for taking the time, Jerry! Hopefully Gard hits this thread with a few progress shots once construction starts, we'll want to give you (and all of us, really) the full-on custom build experience.

I'll probably wait to see if Gard chimes in with some suggestions in the morning... Rule #1 when ordering a Roscoe: ask Gard what he thinks :) If he says something like "You could certainly do that", that means "not on my f'ing bass" in Gard-speak. What you want to hear is something like "Dude, that's gonna be stupid!", which is Gard-speak for "That is a very nice choice, sir".
 
#18
VroomVroom said:
And, just for the record, I did look long and hard at that crotch walnut piece.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I almost pointed that top out to you, but I didn't want to influence your decisions.
:hiding:

I think I'll make some hay with the walnut top tomorrow, I've got some ideas for that one. And I already turned the Myrtle Prism top into an order earlier today. THAT one will be something completely different.
 
#20
VroomVroom said:
You are too cool for school, Greg! Thanks, my man - this may sound corny, but it really was an honor to do this.
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Oh, jeez :o I swear, you and I have almost identical taste, but for your predilection for more than 5 strings. I knew I was putting whatever top in good hands :)

Now we just need to find the next designer... surely we can turn this into a game or challenge of some sort?
 

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