Roscoe Beck 5 vs. Afterburner I 5

What a comparison.

They're both well made, highly regarded, passive and around the same street price new. Other than that, they're different animals.

I have the RB5 and have played an acquaintance's Afterburner. While the Afterburner features the more innovative design and is definitely lighter, I ultimately have to go with the RB5 because it does vintage Fender sounds better and is somewhat more conventional looking - both pluses if you want to conform to the generally hidebound music community's impression of what a bass player should be holding. (I wouldn't want to scare audience members/bandmates away by conveying the impression that all I do are flash Brian Bromberg-esque solos.)

Also, there are fewer string choices for a 37" B scale.

 

Christopher described why I've chosen the RB5. But the Afterburner is a way cool bass, I wouldn't try to talk you out of one!

 

I have nice 34.5 & 35" scale fives but just 'had to' experience a Dingwall. My Indigoburst AB1 shipped out from BNW today ! The Roscoe Beck is no slouch either, from what I hear (no personal experince). Two very different necks; the RB would be a bit thicker front to back I thnk. Very different pickup styles; under the covers of the FD-3 pickup, the coils are in a "reverse-p" configuration. The Lawrence design on the RB is is a nice noiseless j design. Just stirring the pot a little for you... Best of luck with your pursuit

Ken

 

While they are both great basses without a doubt, the Dingwall is just on a much higher level than the RB, IMO. I've played both, but the Dingwall was the one that screamed "buy me", which I would if I weren't a poor student, haha.

 

I've played both basses. The Roscoe Beck is a nice bass. Dingwalls are my favorite basses.

As far as sonic versatility they're probably pretty close, the Roscoe beck has a bridge/both/neck pickup selector and the Dingwall has a bridge/parallel/series/neck pickup selector. The Roscoe beck has the switches for the coils on each pickup. The Dingwall has the blueQube mid contour switch. Both have passive tone controls.

As for the low B, I prefer the Dingwall. It has a little bit different character than most low Bs I've played owing to the 37" scale. I've never been a big fan of the B on the Fenders that I've played but the Roscoe Beck was pretty good.

I find the Dingwall neck to be sleeker. The RB is wider and a little thicker. I prefer the feel of the Dingwall.

Overall, I doubt you can go wrong. I'd pick the Dingwall, but I can understand someone who prefered the RB.

 

I own an AB-I, and its a pretty versatile bass for not being active. I have never owned, or even played a Roscoe Beck however, so my opinion is decidedly biased.

 

I have played the RB5 acoustically in a store for a few minutes and really liked the feel of it. I own an Afterburner I 5, so you know where my vote goes!

 

I would like to try an Afterburner.