Question 69362 from me or that's what it feels like. I know these are meant to sound like a Jazz but I want a beefier/less nasal tone in single coil mode. The current strings are DA nickels. Any suggestions? Also considering a tapered B.
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Roscoe Beck Forum?
- Thread starter Ezbass
- Start date
In SC mode my IV sounds exactly like a J, which I think was RB's intention. More beef and less nasal? That's what series is for.
I have a limited experience with MM, but I'm tempted to say it's not true. The bridge pup does honky enormously, but I don't think anything sounds quite like a MM as an MM.
Incidentally, I took some photos of my IV a few days ago. I thought I'd share 'em:
No. It was originally developed for Roscoe Beck by Invalid Link Removed. When Roscoe got the Fender deal, they based the RBV off the design concept of the Stevens Roscoe Beck Six string, complete with the same pickup and coil switching arrangement. Roscoe is a Fender Jazz guy through and through, so there was no attempt on his or anyone else's part to "answer" the Music Man crowd.
Agreed. I had this same misconception about the bridge pickup in humbucking mode, and it's just not meant to be any kind of "answer" to a Musicman Stingray.
The sound of a Stingray is largely based on the pickup and pickup position, sure. But it's also based around the onboard preamp in a Stingray. The Roscoe Beck IV and V is very different because it's a passive instrument. And the RB basses were always intended to be that way since Roscoe intended for the instrument to be passive. His rationale? He felt that an outboard preamp would be better at tone shaping than an onboard preamp that's powered by a 9V battery.
That's not to say that the RBV can't mimic Leo's other designs. A single coil Jazz setting is easy to cop. And I can also get a pretty good P-Bass tone. Plus, I think that when I set both pickups in the humbucking mode and dial up the high end, I can get a tone that's analogous to a G&L (in passive mode).
Yeah the RBV definitely sounds like a Jazz on steroids or just a Jazz, not really a Stingray at all.
Yes. RB worked with Bill Lawrence on the pickups. The goal was to get them to sound like the ones in RB's pre-CBS J-bass.
As others have said, this is incorrect. As noted, this is a J-bass with bells and whistles. It can sort of sound like a P-bass when you solo the neck pickup in series mode, but despite all the switching configurations there's little if anything that would please Music Man enthusiasts. I'm speaking as a long-time owner of various Fenders (including the RB5) and Music Mans.
Hey I'm def jumping in late here, but I've been a proud owner of a Roscoe Bece V since I bought it new in 1997, read about it wondered what all the buzz was bout, local shop had one in so I tried it out expecting nothing (that pick guard was garish), but the second I plucked the E I knew I was toast. Has been my main bass every day since 97 and I don't really see an end in sight (unless I scrounge up a few thou to get that Fender CS I dream of)
To answer a few quick questions,
No it's not an answer to a Music Man at all, the MM is an amazing instrument in its own right, the RB is def a souped up Jbass
Yes it gets great single cool J sound, with both pu's in single coil mode and that tone knob pulled up its like the perfect vintage J tone
To answer a few quick questions,
No it's not an answer to a Music Man at all, the MM is an amazing instrument in its own right, the RB is def a souped up Jbass
Yes it gets great single cool J sound, with both pu's in single coil mode and that tone knob pulled up its like the perfect vintage J tone
Qs for all the RB owners...
What are your fav strings to put on it?
I've used (and hated) many many diff sets:
Hated:
DR Lo Riders
Daddarrio XL
GHS Boomers
Snarlin Dogs
Labella deep talkin roundwounds
Fender nickel plated steel
Ken Smith burners
Loved:
MTD nickel round wounds
Fender Original pure Nickel
DR Hi Beams (although I no longer appreciate a bright piano-like string, these were pretty amazing at that sound on this bass!)
I currently have an 8 week old set of Black Diamond pure nickels on it, hated them brand new, but I hate any string brand new lol, I'm starting to REALLY like these now that they're mellowing out though, I may have found my new RB string.
Wondering, anyone tried flats or halfs on it? 99% of the time I dial in a deep, round, BASS bass tone and I always wondered how flats would go with these pickups... I absolutely prefer flats on my Pbass I've just never put them on Roscoe for some reason
What are your fav strings to put on it?
I've used (and hated) many many diff sets:
Hated:
DR Lo Riders
Daddarrio XL
GHS Boomers
Snarlin Dogs
Labella deep talkin roundwounds
Fender nickel plated steel
Ken Smith burners
Loved:
MTD nickel round wounds
Fender Original pure Nickel
DR Hi Beams (although I no longer appreciate a bright piano-like string, these were pretty amazing at that sound on this bass!)
I currently have an 8 week old set of Black Diamond pure nickels on it, hated them brand new, but I hate any string brand new lol, I'm starting to REALLY like these now that they're mellowing out though, I may have found my new RB string.
Wondering, anyone tried flats or halfs on it? 99% of the time I dial in a deep, round, BASS bass tone and I always wondered how flats would go with these pickups... I absolutely prefer flats on my Pbass I've just never put them on Roscoe for some reason
The two 5s i had were different in which strings they liked. One killed with elixers and prosteels, the other was all about hi beams and DDTs.
Sorry I know I'm posting too much, just curious about what your fav settings are on the RB?
It's SUCH a versatile bass it's hard to pinpoint one fav sound, just curious if there's a setting I haven't explored yet!
My default sound (which I stay on the majority of the time) is as follows:
Vol up to 10
PU selector in middle
Tone almost all the way off (maybe up to 2), push/pull in DOWN position
Neck pu in Series mode
Bridge pu in Single Coil mode
This gives me what I feel like is a great middle of the road, deep, Jbass-almost-Pbass sound, awesome fundamental and solid bottom. Great all-around tone. Gives perfect booty support in a live or studio situation, perfect for backing vocalists,
My other favs are as follows
(for the record, my vol STAYS at 10, and my tone pretty much lives low, never up more than 3 or 4, but usually down to 2)
-Soloed bridge pu in Series (best Jaco tone ever in a live setting)
-Soloed neck pu in Single Coil (best throwback tone ever, especially if slapping n popping in old school hip hop style)
-Both pu's on, neck pu in single, bridge pu in series, Tone knob pulled UP (killer modern quasi-Jaco jazzy fusiony clear tone. This setting absolutely SINGS in the studio)
Notice I don't use parallel mode hardly ever, hmm...
Any others? I'm always on the hunt for good tone!
It's SUCH a versatile bass it's hard to pinpoint one fav sound, just curious if there's a setting I haven't explored yet!
My default sound (which I stay on the majority of the time) is as follows:
Vol up to 10
PU selector in middle
Tone almost all the way off (maybe up to 2), push/pull in DOWN position
Neck pu in Series mode
Bridge pu in Single Coil mode
This gives me what I feel like is a great middle of the road, deep, Jbass-almost-Pbass sound, awesome fundamental and solid bottom. Great all-around tone. Gives perfect booty support in a live or studio situation, perfect for backing vocalists,
My other favs are as follows
(for the record, my vol STAYS at 10, and my tone pretty much lives low, never up more than 3 or 4, but usually down to 2)
-Soloed bridge pu in Series (best Jaco tone ever in a live setting)
-Soloed neck pu in Single Coil (best throwback tone ever, especially if slapping n popping in old school hip hop style)
-Both pu's on, neck pu in single, bridge pu in series, Tone knob pulled UP (killer modern quasi-Jaco jazzy fusiony clear tone. This setting absolutely SINGS in the studio)
Notice I don't use parallel mode hardly ever, hmm...
Any others? I'm always on the hunt for good tone!
I used flats(D'Addario Chromes) on my RBV for a while and the tone was gorgeous - mellow, but with more brightness and cut-through than you might expect.
Currently, I am using D'Addario ProSteels mediums. The .105 E and the .135 B are like hitting the building with a wrecking ball.
I've been using Dean Markley Blue Steel's on my Roscoe Beck 5 string for a VERY long time. They've got a lot of life to them, but rolling the tone off on the instrument definitely yields some great results.
I have the original strings on my 2003 RB IV. Black-silked Fender rounds. Don't think they're made anymore. (I like old rounds, btw.)
From the eBay ad when I bought it.
From the eBay ad when I bought it.
Shame they don't make 'em now, brilliant strings.
I have D'addario tapes on mine now, pretty good.
Based on prior ownership of 4 and 5-string RB basses, this sounds right to me. Great instruments!
Do they still make lakland flats available? Seems like their site is always sold out. I do remember hearing that they were actually just labellas or something I don't remember exactly, but I've always heard GREAT things about lakland flats, I would try those based on your sound clip!
Sadowsky flats were some of the ones I was considering, based on the gauges. Maybe they're the same.
They've been out of stock for a while now. I hope they haven't discontinued them. They're definitely not LaBellas....
