Roscoe Beck V

[sumeursault]

Just scored this near-mint '99 RBV after a little while searching for one. Stoked to get one in Shoreline Gold as well. It's a beast of an instrument and definitely versatile. Still very much a Jazz Bass, though. I thought perhaps the neck pickup in humbucking mode might do a decent P-bass impersonation, but not really. My only other gripe is that the asymmetrical neck profile along with the 9.5" radius and 1.875" nut width make it a bit of a chunker. I think Roscoe Beck has some pretty big hands! Still a very cool instrument though. Perhaps underrated?

 

[5StringBlues]

Not really underrated on TB as far as I can tell. Any that come up for sale seem to go rather quickly. I've had mine since 2004. Enjoy!

 

[Kevan Campbell]

Congrats on the new bass!! Not sure I’d call it underrated either, it seems to be a common sentiment that the RBV’s were the best 5-string Fender ever made.

I tried a couple myself over the years and absolutely loved the tone and sounds, but couldn’t get past the really large (to me) nut and neck profile.

Hope you get lots of playing time on it and enjoy the new bass!!

 

[sumeursault]

Congrats on the new bass!! Not sure I’d call it underrated either, it seems to be a common sentiment that the RBV’s were the best 5-string Fender ever made.

I tried a couple myself over the years and absolutely loved the tone and sounds, but couldn’t get past the really large (to me) nut and neck profile.

Hope you get lots of playing time on it and enjoy the new bass!!

Thanks! If there's going to be a stumbling block for me, it's going to be the chunky neck, for sure. I don't have huge hands so it feels quite large to me as well.

 

[lomo]

Not underrated at all. IMHO the best sounding Fender J 5er ever, and prolly the most versatile as well, but heavy and with a bit of an aircraft carrier board. The sweetest rose bears the sharpest thorns

 

[themickster]

I thought perhaps the neck pickup in humbucking mode might do a decent P-bass impersonation, but not really.

You've got something that's not 'yet another' P.

 

[sumeursault]

The sweetest rose bears the sharpest thorns

Well put! Is that a Leo in your avatar pic?

 

[Lance Bunyon]

I almost bought one recently. Congratulations!

 

[lomo]

Well put! Is that a Leo in your avatar pic?

That's the late Sambuka......who was a wonderful friend for her 12 years on this crazy flying rock......an akita, but unusual in that she had long hair (a trait breeders are hell bent on eliminating from the breed in their misguided eugenic zeal, health of the breed ranking a distant second to appearance in their eyes). She weighed 140 lbs and made me smile each time I was asked "how much does she weigh?", because I always replied: "A lot more than my wife"

 

[sumeursault]

That's the late Sambuka......who was a wonderful friend for her 12 years on this crazy flying rock......an akita, but unusual in that she had long hair (a trait breeders are hell bent on eliminating from the breed in their misguided eugenic zeal, health of the breed ranking a distant second to appearance in their eyes). She weighed 140 lbs and made me smile each time I was asked "how much does she weigh?", because I always replied: "A lot more than my wife"

Ah, the long hair threw me off! But of course the erect ears should've been a giveaway that she wasn't a Leo...duh. Sorry for your loss. My Leo is 8 now...so getting up there.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

The Roscoe Beck V is a brilliant bass that would have been perfect with a 3/4 size body like the later Deluxe series or most Sadowsky’s. Fender should consider trying it again with a smaller body.

 

[sumeursault]

The Roscoe Beck V is a brilliant bass that would have been perfect with a 3/4 size body like the later Deluxe series or most Sadowsky’s. Fender should consider trying it again with a smaller body.

...and perhaps a slimmer neck with a flatter fingerboard radius for comfort/playability

 

[ezstep]

I talked to the Fender guys at NAMM one year and asked why they never offered a RBV lefty? They looked it up and never had. They did offer to build one at the custom shop for $3500 (back then).

If I could go back in time, I think I would have ordered one. Congrats. My favorite of the Fender line.

 

[Snibborwocky]

I can't remember the last time I've seen a Roscoe Beck V in shoreline gold. Usually it's the sunburst or blue ones that pop up once in a while. Congrats, very nice!

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I can't remember the last time I've seen a Roscoe Beck V in shoreline gold. Usually it's the sunburst or blue ones that pop up once in a while. Congrats, very nice!

I think the one I had was that color. I believe Lomo bought it, but that was many basses ago.

 

[pfschim]

Congrats on the score OP. Mine are RB IV's. I have two, one is honey burst with rosewood neck, the other is std 3 color burst with rosewood neck. I had a custom rosewood fretless neck made for the 3 color one ... used the same asymmetric radius for the fretless board.

great basses. The original bridges can be a bit of a challenge with all the adjustments and locking features they offer. I've also found the electronics can be a bit challenging on these 30 year old basses ... particularly the 3 way strat style p/u selector.

 

[mindwell]

I'll just chime in here to second (or third) the observation that the neck size and width were the only things standing between me and a Roscoe Beck 5'er. It is a terrific bass, definitely in a class by itself.

 

[sumeursault]

I've also found the electronics can be a bit challenging on these 30 year old basses ... particularly the 3 way strat style p/u selector.

Challenging due to failure?

 

[sumeursault]

View attachment 5148335

I'd be interested to try a 4-string at some point. They were available with maple FBs as well, no? The FB on my new V is actually Pau Ferro, which I've never experienced before.

 

[Trabeen]

I'd be interested to try a 4-string at some point. They were available with maple FBs as well, no? The FB on my new V is actually Pau Ferro, which I've never experienced before.

They were, I used to own a blue one also but something about the matching headstock thing on maple boards just seems a bit off to me. Great basses, yessir.