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Roscoe Beck Forum?
- Thread starter Ezbass
- Start date
You've got a nice color! Not the original Shoreline for this, but this Gold is superb. Congrats. I am thinking about refin my RBIV into shorelines as well (could be more Champagne/gold) but yours is nice. Mine is Trans Red wich is one of the nicest too... but the shoreline... ohh my god!
Just received notification that my RBV will be picked up to be shipped to me today. Been jonesing badly for this ever since I ordered it. Hasn't helped that I've been reading through all of the posts on this thread since I ordered it Friday. Hopefully the E doesn't buzz and everything else is in order. Here's a pic of it from their site. I'll check in again after I get it and put in some quality noodle time with more pics - yeehaaa!!
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Oh, man! It's a good thing I didn't know this RBV was here in Albuquerque! It very well might have been mine. Congratulations!
Why would the E buzz? Mine is set up beautifully and always has been as long as I've owned it (not that it's been very long--under a year). I'm confused.
If you feel like making the drive to Denver I could cut you a deal on mine... (http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f126/1997-fender-roscoe-beck-v-1029533/)
I poured through the posts myself after i got mine. I heard the "E buzz" right away. I had my local guy do a slight file on the E slot and he made sure to leave enough string so that the wind finished at the bottom of the post. I play a half-step down and have no E buzz now. I'm using a .105 as well.
One of the complaints about this guitar is that the angle from the nut to the tuning peg is too high which results in a buzz on some of these that even carries through to the amplifier. This thread has a few examples of folks who've added another tree to lower the angle and eliminate that buzz - no biggie. I think there's even a shot of Roscoe with a modified tree arrangement on his bass that addresses this issue..
This is an example - one guy submitted a pic of a tree placed that did include the B as well as the A thereby eliminating the need to alter the original tree.Here is the result of my string tree mod. I first tried mounting the E/A retainer toward the end of the headstock from the D/G one (which uses one of the holes of the original). That was enough downpressure for the E string but not the A, oddly. So then I mounted it where you see here, and it works great. It is probably a tiny bit more angle than would be ideal, but it is not causing a stiff feel at the first fret, so I'm calling it a success. No more rattling open E.
Next mod will be electronic to allow blend toward the neck pickup.
Great avatar! Sounds like a simpler solution, but what do you mean by "play 1/2 a step down"? 1/2 step down from the stage riser? lol
Sorry, pic didn't transmit over - if you want to check it out, it's on page 15.
Yeah, i try to stay lower than the other guys. I usually have to get a special road crew to adjust every stage to make sure I'm exactly 1 half-step down.
But seriously (i'll be here all week folks, tip your waitress
), the bands I play with are 1/2 step down from standard B-G tuning.
Weird. Definitely not a problem on mine--I've thumped and around on it and recorded it enough to have noticed by now.
Isn't the complaint usually the opposite (angle is too shallow)?
Received it today, finally have enough time to come up for air to post this. Can't believe how mint this guitar is for 17 years old. Found a little wear around the truss rod space, and that's about it. Kind of a crap shoot buying used online, but this looks like it's right out of a time machine. Cudos to Rumble Seat Music SW for prompt efficient service with such a fine instrument! You GAS guys - stay away from that site! No rattle or hum on the E, but a little hum on the soled bridge, but nothing compared to my 96 Jazz! What I'm so impressed with is the wide varieties of sounds that all seem useable as well as unique. With both pups singly soloed, has a great vintage vibe next to my 96er. 'Bout as happy as a bottom feeder can be right now. Thanks to all the posties that supplied so much useful info (as agonizing as it was to read without the bass here!).
So I went out to one of the local jams last night, but did NOT bring my Roscoe Beck 5 string with me. However, I recognized one jammer from years back. We had struck up a conversation regarding the RB5 at another jam because I had been playing mine that night. He mentioned that he had one and that he liked it. But he also mentioned that he was probably going to change out the pickups. When he said that I bit my tongue. One of the biggest signature features of the Roscoe Beck basses were THE PICKUPS. They're an intrinsic part of the instrument. And I couldn't help but think that changing the pickups on a RB5 would be completely idiotic.
Well, last night, my fears for that particular RB5 were confirmed. The only recognizable part of what had once been a proud Roscoe Beck 5 string was the neck and the shoreline gold headstock. As for the rest of it? The body had been stripped and refinished in some odd, inexplicable oil 'burst. The pickups had been changed to what looked like they may have been EMG's. And there was a new pickguard, control plate and another plate that surrounded the smaller replacement bridge pickup.
The whole time I was asking "Why would you do that? Why wouldn't you just get a 5 string Jazz bass to customize?" I guess some people don't recognize the level of innovation that presented itself with the RB5.
Well, last night, my fears for that particular RB5 were confirmed. The only recognizable part of what had once been a proud Roscoe Beck 5 string was the neck and the shoreline gold headstock. As for the rest of it? The body had been stripped and refinished in some odd, inexplicable oil 'burst. The pickups had been changed to what looked like they may have been EMG's. And there was a new pickguard, control plate and another plate that surrounded the smaller replacement bridge pickup.
The whole time I was asking "Why would you do that? Why wouldn't you just get a 5 string Jazz bass to customize?" I guess some people don't recognize the level of innovation that presented itself with the RB5.
UNACCEPTABLE! I can't believe anyone would mess with the pickups. The bridge, yes. String trees, yes. Pickups? Never!
Brothers: not sure where to post this. I have a RBV. Any thoughts about making it into a fretless? I have got to divest myself of my Rob Allen MB2 V fretless, but still need a non-fretted bass!
Roscoe himself had fender make him a fretless version for his own collection
My thought is maybe not to strip the stock fingerboard tho, it seems to me that some of the older 5 string jazz models had 6bolt neck joints (some of the US made deluxe models and active models). Not sure if any of them are direct replacements, but if it were me I'd track one down and defret that and just put it on the RBV, keeping the original neck intact
Maybe someone else could chime in with dimensions and whether another neck would fit?
My thought is maybe not to strip the stock fingerboard tho, it seems to me that some of the older 5 string jazz models had 6bolt neck joints (some of the US made deluxe models and active models). Not sure if any of them are direct replacements, but if it were me I'd track one down and defret that and just put it on the RBV, keeping the original neck intact
Maybe someone else could chime in with dimensions and whether another neck would fit?
Yeah, seems like a clear cut example of change for the sake of change. I wouldn't want to alter that baby not only for esthetic but mostly for tonal reasons. "If it aint broke don't fix it!" Not only are these "aint broke", but in my mind can't be improved upon. Looking forward to the weeks ahead to discover more of just how true that is.
Nick over at Joe Glaser's place seems to know what he's doing re. my request to make the RB into a fretless. He's done many Fender/jazz basses before...not sure about the RBV. Mine was at The Bass Place...Roscoe signed the back of the headstock once when he was in the store. I'd rather not lose it...
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I didn't need it but I bought it anyway new (to me) cab day...- Latest: bigdaddybass12
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