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Roscoe basses

#41
Good question, Brad. In my particular case, I had already played a number or Roscoes, including a fretless, so I knew the sound and feel. It was just a matter of getting some "insurance" just in case the bass was not to my liking.

As far as slap sound is concerned, Roscoe would be a great choice for those looking for a unique, stand-out tone from their slap. Everyone uses Marcus as the measuring rod now, but 5 or 10 years from now, it could be someone else. Remember, it USED to be Stanley Clark! If Jimmy Haslip was known as a slapper, that Roscoe slap tone would get a reputation. How about Kim Stone -- is he a slapper? I think part of the stigma of Roscoe as a non-slap bass is simply there's not a "well-known" player out there who's slapping on a Roscoe. Who's going to be IT??!!

Adrian, the stage is set!! You da MAN!!:bassist:
 
#42
Since there seems to be talk about the string spacing. Wouldn't Keith build a bass with a little wider neck and 19mm spacing if someone preferred it.? "Cause if that's one of the only reasons for someone not to buy one, I would think he'd be more than happy to offer it. I know these bass's are monsters, just great.
 
#43
Originally posted by Deep
Since there seems to be talk about the string spacing. Wouldn't Keith build a bass with a little wider neck and 19mm spacing if someone preferred it.? "Cause if that's one of the only reasons for someone not to buy one, I would think he'd be more than happy to offer it. I know these bass's are monsters, just great.
Click to expand...

It's an option. I believe a relatively newer one. Check his site about the price for it.
 
#44
I was just on the phone with keith Roscoe.
He told me the LG3005 and SKB305 they both have the same size neck. The string spacing at the bridge is 18mm and it can be adjusted a tiny bit at the bridge in case you want to make it alittle wider. I will go to check out this basses at this store in NYC and I will bring my Tobias basic 5 Pre Gibson that I am selling (look in the for sale section here in talkbass.com) and compare the string spacing of the Roscoe (18mm) and the Tobias (17mm) and decide.
I love the Tobias but the narrow string spacing does not work for me. Some people love it because they find it faster and easier to play. I guess it has to do with the size of your hands.
 
#45
I went to the site but do not see an option for wider (19mm and wider neck). Most basses with 19mm have a "last fret" measurement of around 3 inches or more. This keeps the strings from being too close to the edges. At the bridge it's only a 1mm difference, but it makes a big difference to alot of players.
 
#46
Originally posted by Zon4John
Good question, Brad. In my particular case, I had already played a number or Roscoes, including a fretless, so I knew the sound and feel. It was just a matter of getting some "insurance" just in case the bass was not to my liking.

As far as slap sound is concerned, Roscoe would be a great choice for those looking for a unique, stand-out tone from their slap. Everyone uses Marcus as the measuring rod now, but 5 or 10 years from now, it could be someone else. Remember, it USED to be Stanley Clark! If Jimmy Haslip was known as a slapper, that Roscoe slap tone would get a reputation. How about Kim Stone -- is he a slapper? I think part of the stigma of Roscoe as a non-slap bass is simply there's not a "well-known" player out there who's slapping on a Roscoe. Who's going to be IT??!!

Adrian, the stage is set!! You da MAN!!:bassist:
Click to expand...

The problem I had with the LG's slap sound was that I'd have to do some EQing to fix the slap sound from a bass that sounded great fingerstyle. IME some basses just are that way. It's not a matter of looking for the Marcus sound, I have several basses that slap great and don't sound like Marcus... but they still sound very good. The SKB 7 OTOH sounded very good.

To my ears --->my<--- LG-3005 didn't sound very good slapped, with the caveat that I refuse to change the settings on my amp to "fix" the sound of a bass. Keeps my life a lot simpler;)

I thought Kim used neither the LG or SKB as his main bass when he used Roscoes. Didn't his have a very short lower horn?
 
#51
Thanks guys. I didn't know it was an option, and it was one of the things that made me shy away from Roscoe when I decided on the luthier for my fretless. I just didn't want the extra inch for a fretless, although for a fretted it's not as big a deal.
 
#52
Adrian, it is amazing how much difference a 34.5" scale as opposed to a 35" is as in feel as you already have experienced. I know there was a thread somewhere on TBass before about scale length and how some don't think it feels different but to me, there is a huge difference. That F Bass I got from you is so comfy.
 
#54
I went to different music stores today to find my dream bass.
First a went to a store and I tried the ZON 5 string, it sounded good but the neck felt weird. Itried the Sukop, sounded great but the 19mm at the bridge was too much for me. Then I tried the MTD, too bright for jazz. I tried the Yamaha Patitucci, nice string spacing at the bridge but overwhelmingly wide neck, no thanks. Then a visited a vintage instrument store and I fell inlove with a 78 Jazz Bass with rosewood fingerboard and alder body. I almost decided I was going to back to Fender Jazz but i said to myself, go check out the Roscoes first.
I tried an LG3005 and a SKB3006 with cedar body, myrtle top, purpleheart fretboard, and aguilar preamp. Before I even plugged it I fell inlove with this bass. It was so beautifull and it felt so good in my hands, although I have never played 6 string before. The string spacing at the bridge is just perfect 18mm and can be adjusted a little wider even. The neck is skinny, just like I like it and not too wide. Just perfect! The action VERY low and responsive. I didn't have to plug it to the amp to know that bass was incredible. But when I connected it to an ESB amp head and Bergantino cab, the tone came out. It is very smooth, defined, clear and warm and it can be very "acoustic" sounding if you want but punchy also. The slightest touch of your fingers produces an awesome sound. Very expressive for solos. The only thing I was not sure if I like it or not was the Aguilar preamp. I wish it had the Bart. 'cause it is a little darker and punchier sounding I think. Not that the Aguilar 3 band preamp sounded too bright or anything but I can imagine that the 18v Bart. would give the bass even mor possibilities.
Any thoughts about aguilar v/s bartolini on this bass? What do you guys have on your Roscoes?
What kind of fretboard woods to you have?
Thanks
 
#57
The fretted is burl myrtle top and body. Standard maple neck with a spalted purple heart FB. A little heavy but a very deep, and dark tone. Slap tone is PHAT. The fretless has a spanish cedar body with a burl redwood top. Again, standard maple neck with a black diamondwood FB. I've praised this bass enough in a previous post. I don't want to start sounding like a Roscoe salesman! :)

Both basses have the 3 band, 18V Bart soapbars.
 
#60
It's the best playing bass I've owned in 27 years.

If you want a better slap tone, get a 50k taper push/pull pot from EMG, and with those PUs to tap their coils. I find that I like the single coil sound better, but it's less volume than the Humbucker sound. This was deffinatley an upgrade to my LG3005.


I would have to say on the downside is that the G string and maybe a little bit of the D string are not as fat as I would like. This helps me on reading gigs(I'm not a great reader)

Has anyone else noticed this? I started a post asking if anyone else noticed the G and D strings being fatter on Fender type basses.

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=100077

Any one care to weigh in on that topic?

I have a JO5 that is outstanding in terms of a BIG FAT G!!

I wonder if the Roscoe sound has something to do with the PU angle???
 

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