Roscoe Beck Forum?

[bassdscho]

My preferences have change over the years with Jazz Blending, where I'm backing off the bridge PU more these days.
I can't answer answer the volume question - but my understanding was, the load on the PU with the pull switch is supposed to be the same as if you backed the Volume off - so I don't think the volume change would be any different than backing of the PU on a conventional VVT Jazz. (?)

Thank you, that would be exactly the goal!
But I would have to install an additional potentiometer, which I wanted to avoid.

A few years back, @scubaduba had a RBV for sale that had an Audere pre installed, with a blend control replacing the PU switch. I think that would be the perfect combination for the RB.

I preferred to leave him passive.

 

[bassdscho]

I had the volume pot push/pull the neck volume and tone pot push/pull the bridge on my last RBV. Worked great! You could experiment with resistor values to get the volume drop you want.

Thanks, sounds like a perfect match!

Can you please tell me more about the components you used to achieve this?
I need to tell my luthier exactly.

I would also be happy to have a conversation with you if the topic gets too specific for this thread.

 

[pickles]

Maurilio Mina did it for me, so I don’t know. I’d tell your luthier to copy the existing circuit fromthe bridge pickup as a starting point.

 

[oheare]

For what it's worth, I modded my RBV some, uh, 25 years ago.

It's now set up with 3 pots like a Jazz Bass, 500K pots work great; no pickup switch but I kept the toggle switches.

Put a new pickguard on it (white MOT on a shore line gold bass, yum) so the unused slot wouldn't trigger my OCD.

And I've said it before, I owned and played a 1972 Jazz from 1980ish (still got it). Bought the RBV in early 1998, played it at a gig the evening I got it ('cause it felt like home), and hardly put it down since.

 

[bassdscho]

I’d tell your luthier to copy the existing circuit fromthe bridge pickup as a starting point.

That‘s a good idea, i will do it so.

 

[Alessandro Cruz]

Yes, that was a killer modification. Such a great sounding bass.

If I may ask, how did you wired the switches? Do you still have the diagram? TIA

 

[Joebone]

Hey, All - I need some advice. Last night I received a black WD pickguard for my Candy-Apple Red RBV. Cosmetically, a great improvement over the previous light mint-green piece:

However, it took forever due to difficulty in pulling the knobs off. I searched the web for various techniques as those puppies were not moving. I read about the "needlenose plier" approach, and applied to the tone knob -- and the stem of the pot pulled right out! No such drama with the volume knob, where gentle levering with a flathead screwdriver did the trick.

So I put it all back together, and the Tone stem seated back into the pot so I have that basic functionality, but the pull-option for the bridge J-pickup is gone. It's not somethng I use - this is my cover band bass, and I'm wedded to Parallel for the neck/Series for the bridge. But I'd surely like to get it fixed at some point? Thoughts or ideas re a replacement pot to restore full function?

 

[ahc]

@Joebone Mouser Electronics should have what you need. You'll need the correct info for the pot in the bass. You might also call Fender and ask them. They might be able to tell you. And who knows, they might even have one to sell you.

Link Removed

 

[Joebone]

Thanks!

 

[ShoeManiac]

You can find the Roscoe Beck V owners manual at this link

Fender Roscoe-Beck-V-Bass Service Manual

Fender Roscoe-Beck-V-Bass Service Manual: read online for free or download the original PDF, 4 pages. ManualMachine manual library.

manualmachine.com

It's got the details about the push / pull pot, but discerning the part number from that third page of the manual is a bit challenging.

It might be part #16 as illustrated in the diagram:
16 0050142000 Switch, Push-Pull, W/Hex Nut/Washer 0050133000 Lock Washer, Intl 0024988000 Resistor, 27K

 

[Joebone]

You can find the Roscoe Beck V owners manual at this link

Fender Roscoe-Beck-V-Bass Service Manual

Fender Roscoe-Beck-V-Bass Service Manual: read online for free or download the original PDF, 4 pages. ManualMachine manual library.

manualmachine.com

It's got the details about the push / pull pot, but discerning the part number from that third page of the manual is a bit challenging.

It might be part #16 as illustrated in the diagram:
16 0050142000 Switch, Push-Pull, W/Hex Nut/Washer 0050133000 Lock Washer, Intl 0024988000 Resistor, 27K

View attachment 7324238

Definitely Part #16! Many thanks, Shoe Maniac! Much love to the Fender/RB community - a great example of how TB can rock!

 

[ShoeManiac]

Definitely Part #16! Many thanks, Shoe Maniac! Much love to the Fender/RB community - a great example of how TB can rock!

Happy to help! Those part numbers are really helpful when you want to find something specific.

 

[bass nitro]

Hi there.Does any of you have tried less string spacing then 19 mm on their RB5(for example 18 or even less)?How it is like sound?Any problems?I am asking because this bridge allows it.
Thank you.

 

[Alessandro Cruz]

Hi there.Does any of you have tried less string spacing then 19 mm on their RB5(for example 18 or even less)?How it is like sound?Any problems?I am asking because this bridge allows it.
Thank you.

Try it out and then let us know what are your personal findings.

String spacing won't affect tone at all. It's a matter of preference, actually.

 

[bass nitro]

I will let the bass with 19 mm string spacing for now but i will share my observations if i change it.I received the bass a few days ago and did change the strings with La Bella nickel ones.They sound very clear and mellow with good brightness up top.
Unfortunately she needs a fret leveling on some frets, luckily they are on D,A and E strings around 15 to 18 frets.Down the neck is ok i guess but would be checked out from the luthier.Otherwise is good one.

 

[bass nitro]

Update and impressions:The frets had been leveled and the playability is how is supposed to be.I did set the bass up relatively low,at least lower than Fender recommendation.I feeling thes strings a little spongy, maybe would change them with Fender ones later.I did read lots about the neck,how chunky is and so on and i would say that is true but is very easy to play to my suprise, mainly because i have small hands.I understand now what is to have better sounding five string matching the rest four ones.This string(the five one) plays and sounds very even past than twelve fret.Very good job of Roscoe and Bill Lawrence.Pulling tone control up makes back pickup kills,very punchy.Other pickup combinations are very useful and good.It is my main bass now and i liked a lot.One thing is missing and that is the ramp but i found a shop that makes a plexi one.If anyone share what distance strings to pickups have on their basses would be great.I did set up mine 2.5 mm on treble side (G) and 3.5 mm on bass one(B) presing last fret and hear no issues.
Be safe and all the best.

 

[pfschim]

Hey there TB Roscoe Beck owners. I've got RB IV that feels, and plays beautifully but has given me some headaches with its electronics over my 10 or so years of use. The issue primarily had to do with the neck PU switching options. All of the p/u options (serial, single coil, parallel) would work fine, and then suddenly I'd pick it up and I could only get the serial switch position to work. I never had any issues like this with the neck p/u.

In any event after quite a bit a close inspection and some switch replacements, and a very careful solder reflow effort, I seem to have that issue under control.

What I wanted to ask you all was how you felt about the shielding on the RB's. Having been inside the cavity too many times to count, I feel like maybe my RB could benefit from a little more robust shielding in the electronics cavity and the back of the pick guard over the cavity. Anyone else think this would be an improvement. I experience some meaningful hum in some, but not all, of the dual switch settings and it would be great to quiet that down a bit.

What are your experiences with you RB's and hum ?

 

[Joebone]

Wasn't getting much hum in SC to start with, but during a recent pickguard replacement I opted for a copper-shielded back, and it seems better still.

 

[pfschim]

Wasn't getting much hum in SC to start with, but during a recent pickguard replacement I opted for a copper-shielded back, and it seems better still.

I'll have to mess with the separate p/u switch options, but between the two p/u and all the possible switch options, some (but not all) are definitely pretty electronically noisy. I can't tell from just looking whether the cavity has shielding paint already applied. Do any of you RB owners know if the control cavity has been factory shielded ?

 

[Iridescentone]

I'll have to mess with the separate p/u switch options, but between the two p/u and all the possible switch options, some (but not all) are definitely pretty electronically noisy. I can't tell from just looking whether the cavity has shielding paint already applied. Do any of you RB owners know if the control cavity has been factory shielded ?

I'm on my second RBIV right now. Can't recall if the cavities are shielded, but both of mine had/have noisy switches. Maybe that just comes with the territory? And of course some s/c hum, but messing around with different switch settings, with one pickup set to s/c, and the other set to series or parallel, the hum is minimal and I can still enjoy a s/c sound. I don't like opening up an RB, but next time I do, I'll check for shielding paint.

The first one I got 20 years ago, but was too heavy, let it go.

My current one for the last 10 years, just under 9lbs.