• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Roscoe Beck Forum?

#661
Alright after 3 hours of going back and forth from the repair shop and hardware stores, i found the correct intonation screws here locally in San Diego. They dont have them in black like the originals so i bought a bunch in case i decide to replace them all. I got mine a little long, they needed to be cut off, but any tech worth a snot should be able to handle it. Literally took my guy 5-6 seconds maybe? Anyway, here is the correct size for anyone who may need to replace the intonation screw in the future.

M3 x 50mm with .50 pitch - round top, phillips style. Cost me $1.30 for 10 of them.

They had them in 45mm, 40mm, 35mm, and 30mm as well. 25mm IS TOO SHORT!!! (i found that out the hard way). So if you are unable to have them cut down, one of these may be the correct length.
 
#662
gustobassman said:
Alright after 3 hours of going back and forth from the repair shop and hardware stores, i found the correct intonation screws here locally in San Diego. They dont have them in black like the originals so i bought a bunch in case i decide to replace them all. I got mine a little long, they needed to be cut off, but any tech worth a snot should be able to handle it. Literally took my guy 5-6 seconds maybe? Anyway, here is the correct size for anyone who may need to replace the intonation screw in the future.

M3 x 50mm with .50 pitch - round top, phillips style. Cost me $1.30 for 10 of them.

They had them in 45mm, 40mm, 35mm, and 30mm as well. 25mm IS TOO SHORT!!! (i found that out the hard way). So if you are unable to have them cut down, one of these may be the correct length.
Click to expand...
Thanks!
 
#663
I have two bridges for RBV if anybody needs one. One chrome with Fender badge, one gold with Gotoh badge. Think I'm finally done with RBVs (got a super dialed-in modded sadowsky) so I'll quit hoarding. PM if you want to buy one.
 
#665
pickles said:
They are the wierd custom gotohs that came on RBVs.
Click to expand...
Gotoh? Wow, I had a teal green 5'er like the one on the first page of this thread (minus the pearloid pg and the Aggie preamp...just stock), and the bridge on mine said Wilkinson. I bought mine in '97, I think. Maybe Fender was playing around with different bridges - but surely Roscoe Beck himself would have the final say on what bridge goes on his namesake axe. Sure wish I hadn't sold it - but it hurt my back at the end of the night, it was so heavy.
 
#666
murphy said:
I recently put a new set of DR high beams on my RB5 as I use on all my other basses and now the B and E strings are buzzy all the way up to 12th fret
Tried every set up variation and it wont go away
Click to expand...

Have you used that particular brand/gauge on your RBV before? Are you stringing thru-bridge or thru-body? Maybe there's a couple of frets that are higher on the bass side of the neck that you don't know about? If you are getting the same result with different setups, you may need a fret dressing/leveling if your RBV has been played quite a bit. That's the only thing I can think of.
 
#667
murphy said:
I just bought here last month
It was setup beautifully, very low action..but with Nickle strings that felt horrible to me.But were brand new and maybe the B was 128/130...my usual is 125
So as soon as they died a bit I was happy to put on my usual DR Hi Beams including 125 B
I have tried bridge saddle and multiple trussrod adjustments
Just tried string through bridge...no difference
Perhaps fret levelling would help?
Maybe 128 or 130B is only good?
Maybe a neck shim?
Grrrr

Ps...The bass looks in immaculate condition...like new
Click to expand...

It took me a couple of attempts to find the strings that were right for mine. Taperwound, non-taperwound.... it took me a while. I settled on a .130 B, .100 E for my playing style. Does yours buzz when you play an open E? There have been posts on the E string nut slot being cut large enough to make the E buzz. For me it was more noticeable with a lighter gauge E. It's pretty common on stock RBV's from what I remember. Mine does if you attack the string hard. Nothing up the fretboard though. The bridge is it's own beast altogether..... I'm afraid I'll lose a finger when I try to work on that thing, lol.

Congrats on the bass by the way! They are really fun to play.
 
#668
murphy said:
I recently put a new set of DR high beams on my RB5 as I use on all my other basses and now the B and E strings are buzzy all the way up to 12th fret
Tried every set up variation and it wont go away
Click to expand...

Wait...if the bass played well before you changed strings to a lighter gauge (with likely less tension), then an adjustment needs to made to accommodate the new strings. Assuming that the truss rod works correctly and the frets aren't deeply grooved...

Maybe check the nut slots for depth? If they're cut too deep for the new lighter strings you'll have lots of buzzing notes. That's the first place I'd look. Easy DIY fix to raise the slots....super glue & baking soda, or even just super glue.
 
#669
murphy said:
yes...the open E string is rattling too........what the hell
Click to expand...

That's super common on the RBV's. If you do enough digging in this thread you can find how people have fixed that E string nut slot with a little sawdust and super glue. My suggestion is to read this thread from start to finish, the information is there, I just can't remember where.

Honestly once I found the right set of strings, and changed my attack slightly, I've not had an issue with the open E. I have made no mods to the stock nut.
 
  • Like
Reactions: murphy
#670
gustobassman said:
That's super common on the RBV's. If you do enough digging in this thread you can find how people have fixed that E string nut slot with a little sawdust and super glue. My suggestion is to read this thread from start to finish, the information is there, I just can't remember where.

Honestly once I found the right set of strings, and changed my attack slightly, I've not had an issue with the open E. I have made no mods to the stock nut.
Click to expand...
Gusto, what strings are you using on your RB?
 
#671
I've never had this sort of issue with my own RB5, and I've been playing it as my main instrument since 1999. I use Dean Markley Blue Steels, BTW. Pretty sure I'm using .045 > .130. I'd like to go even heavier, but the string ferrules through the bridge aren't so friendly to a .135 gauge B string. Plus, not going that heavy on my strings keeps me from using gorilla technique.

This buzzing issue sounds like it could be any one of a number of things.
-String choice / bridge saddle height
-Fret wear
-Setup
-Nut slot depth

Honestly? If you've got a good repair guy, give him some time with the bass to diagnose the issue properly. Let him know what your technique is like, and how hard you play. That can help steer things in the right direction.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: murphy and gustobassman
#674
gustobassman said:
That's super common on the RBV's. If you do enough digging in this thread you can find how people have fixed that E string nut slot with a little sawdust and super glue. My suggestion is to read this thread from start to finish, the information is there, I just can't remember where.

Honestly once I found the right set of strings, and changed my attack slightly, I've not had an issue with the open E. I have made no mods to the stock nut.
Click to expand...

Now there's a new one, never heard that before.

Care to elaborate as to why that would be, or how RBV's in particular, would be affected by this issue?
 
#676
Iridescentone said:
Now there's a new one, never heard that before.

Care to elaborate as to why that would be, or how RBV's in particular, would be affected by this issue?
Click to expand...

I have 2 friends that own them and have had the same issue. I'm guessing yours doesn't have that problem. That's cool! Also earlier in this thread a few had mentioned they had buzzing with the E string and that was the cause. Maybe not "super common" as I stated earlier, maybe a different wording was better suited, but more than one person has mentioned issues with that happening. I am one of them.

@murphy I think the more wraps around the post should help as you discovered. IIRC that's what I did with my E string too. It's honestly been such a long time since I even had the E string buzz, I didn't even think of that. I know I didn't mod anything though.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: murphy
#679
GoodShot.jpg I'm not sure if this will fly, if you guy's think nay I'll pull the post.

I've wanted a RB ever since I got to play one at a Blues Jam. As I watched the prices go up, I started living on a fixed income.
I decided which parts made the RB a desirable instrument to me. Then Fender started to get rid of older parts by making new Basses.
I bought a MP Jazz satin body and the associated electronics, added a Squier (I know) '77 Jazz neck (it being a 4 string I felt the asymmetrical neck profile wasn't that important).
I love the RB switching for each pickup so I copied that but rather than a 3 way pickup selector switch I used a balance control.
(I don't really know if the pickups are leftover from the RB model but I like the sound and I know they are the Lawrence design.)
Presenting...... The Geddy/Beck
GoodShot.jpg


I hope this small offering gets your approval, at least I could afford this Bass.
Neck off a $300.00 Squier MP '77 Jazz (I sold with a different neck for $200.00)... The new neck therefore cost $150.00
Body and electronics from The Stratosphere (on eBay) w/ luthier charges (assembly but mostly wiring and a setup) $540.00

Total cost about $700.00 ready to play.... it sure sounds good.

Crappy phone photo notwithstanding.

Now I know there is a "thing" about "real" Bass models, but I was hoping y'all would see the desperation and (hopefully creative) solution.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: cazclocker, murphy and oheare

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back