Roscoe Club

[JOME77]

Man a Roscoe really is a beautiful thing.

I have moved to fretless as my #1, but have a fretted LG which is now my 'backup', I guess? Whenever it's in its case I think, man I should just sell it cause I don't really need a $2k+ backup. But then whenever I take it out of it's case I'm reminded why I bought it in the first place.

I think my strategy is to do nothing rash, for now. I don't need the money, I just don't like having more than I need. But maybe I need this bass. I've sold a few basses in the past I thought I'd miss, and never did. But I get a feeling I'd regret selling this one.

View attachment 4583195

(Basically using this thread as my therapist )

Beautiful LG!
What’s the fingerboard?
If it’s ebony, then it would make a really nice fretless.
My only fretless these days has an Ebony board coated with poly (like a Pedulla Buzz bass). Wonderful tone. I actually kept it over a couple Roscoe fretless basses with Diamondwood because it just sounded better in a band setting.

 

[nonohmic]

Beautiful LG!
What’s the fingerboard?
If it’s ebony, then it would make a really nice fretless.
My only fretless these days has an Ebony board coated with poly (like a Pedulla Buzz bass). Wonderful tone. I actually kept it over a couple Roscoe fretless basses with Diamondwood because it just sounded better in a band setting.

Yep, ebony. That's cool to hear, I always thought diamondwood was the gold standard board. Just cause that's what everybody says heh.

 

[armybass]

An FBass BN5 is probably the only non Roscoe bass I’m jonesing for. And maybe a AVRI 63 P.

 

[SteveC]

An FBass BN5 is probably the only non Roscoe bass I’m jonesing for. And maybe a AVRI 63 P.

I was looking at Fender P basses until my wife bought me my Roscoe Classic P. Fantastic bass. That and my Century 5 are a formidable pair. I did get a 5 string jazz (Sadowsky) that I am getting used to. It's a great bass, but the neck isn't as comfy as my Roscoe 5. It's noticeably wider, but it does have a great "jazz" sound.

 

[Nightman]

Five strings at 19mm bridge string spacing just feels weird to me and impacts my playing. I’ve owned two that were 5-strings w/19mm bridge but I replaced the nonadjustable bridge to a Hipshot B style 18mm that brought the playing more to where I want it. Made a big difference!

 

[staccatogrowl]

My only fretless these days has an Ebony board coated with poly (like a Pedulla Buzz bass). Wonderful tone. I actually kept it over a couple Roscoe fretless basses with Diamondwood because it just sounded better in a band setting.

Yep, ebony. That's cool to hear, I always thought diamondwood was the gold standard board. Just cause that's what everybody says heh.

There's little disagreement that Ebony is great for fretted and fretless fingerboards, and a centuries old standard for upright. Note that it's a $600 upcharge in a Roscoe build, while Diamondwood is a standard offering.

I've had coated and uncoated Ebony fretless boards, preferring Diamondwood to both. It was a sustainable wood alternative, made in the USA, offering great tone, appearance, and reliability (unlike my coated Ebony XYZ fingerboard that bubbled, blistered, and needed expensive refinishing). So, I am a Diamondwood fan for sure, and really like it's tone in the context of a Roscoe bass. I'm also fortunate to have played several great Roscoe fretless basses with Diamondwood to form my preference.

 

[SteveC]

Five strings at 19mm bridge string spacing just feels weird to and impacts my playing. I’ve owned two that were 5-strings w/19mm bridge but I replaced the nonadjustable bridge to a Hipshot B style 18mm that brought the playing more to where I want it. Made a big difference!

Someone in the Sadowsky thread also mentioned replacing the bridge with a Hipshot B style. Apparently the holes match up well and it's pretty easy to do. The thing is, it doesn't change the physical width of the neck. I haven't measured them (I should do that tonight when I get home) but it sure feels like the Roscoe neck is thinner (side to side) than the Sadowsky. If I could get a Century 5 with jazz pickups in the "jazz" spots, I think that would be my answer. I'd have the neck I love so much and I don't care about the shape of the body. I don't need "jazz" shape at all. Just the tone.

I was looking at Roscoe Classic Jazz 5 strings, but they are so heavy. Even the 8 pound Sadowsy feels heavy to me compared to my sub 8 pound Roscoes - the P and the Century.

The 19mm spacing on my Classic P (even has a 1.75" nut) doesn't bother me much. It did at first but I have gotten used to it and it feels "right" on a P bass. But that spacing on a 5 is pretty wide. The 18mm on the "regular" Roscoe is very comfortable.

 

[Bass Viking]

I haven't tried an F Bass. I mean, at that level they are all really nice, but I think the Roscoe just has a warmth and mwah to me that the others don't.

I have an F bass AC 4 in my head as a dream fretless.

Check out the growl of this F Bass starting at 00:54

 

[ragetoca]

Guys selling my Roscoe SKB3005 - I am in the Atlanta area

For Sale/Trade - Roscoe SKB 3005

 

[emjazz]

I'm always so glad that Roscoe basses are almost always 35" scale.....that way y'all don't get my money when you put these gorgeous basses up for sale.

 

[staccatogrowl]

Cannot think of another luthier that cares about their older basses enough to restore and preserve them in the normal course of business. This one was in definite need of help ("We had to go deep". . KR), and Roscoe Guitars came to the rescue, as usual.

Details and more pics at Real Roscoe Guitars, FB/IG. Photo used with permission.

 

[MattLplaysBass]

How’s that headless Century working for you, @staccatogrowl ?

 

[JOME77]

Cannot think of another luthier that cares about their older basses enough to restore and preserve them in the normal course of business. This one was in definite need of help ("We had to go deep". . KR), and Roscoe Guitars came to the rescue, as usual.

View attachment 4588358

Details and more pics at Real Roscoe Guitars, FB/IG. Photo used with permission.

Nice! Pulling the frets and planning the fingerboard is certainly beyond what most builders will agree to do.
Hummm … I had one that looked exactly like that one and with a Demeter preamp. I wonder if it could be an old friend?

 

[JOME77]

Cannot think of another luthier that cares about their older basses enough to restore and preserve them in the normal course of business. This one was in definite need of help ("We had to go deep". . KR), and Roscoe Guitars came to the rescue, as usual.

View attachment 4588358

Details and more pics at Real Roscoe Guitars, FB/IG. Photo used with permission.

Wow!
That it the same bass that I owned. It has the same figuring on the top. Sweet sounding bass!

 

[staccatogrowl]

How’s that headless Century working for you, @staccatogrowl ?

Totally impressed with the Roscoe headless Century. Beautiful design, quality, and build. Love the sound. Well balanced and easy to play. Fits in a small electric guitar size gig bag/case for easy transport. When I play it I feel like it's my favorite Roscoe, but that's a fairly common experience for whatever Roscoe is being played at a given moment : )

 

[SteveC]

I think the century body makes the best looking headless.

 

[nonohmic]

I think the century body makes the best looking headless.

I'd agree that the Century looks way better headless.

 

[JOME77]

I'd agree that the Century looks way better headless.

Yes!
I think we should decapitate all Roscoe Century basses!

 

[SteveC]

I'm not sure I meant that the Century looks BETTER headless (I like it with a head) but that of the 3 body shapes, the Century looks the best headless - to me.

 

[nonohmic]

I'm not sure I meant that the Century looks BETTER headless (I like it with a head) but that of the 3 body shapes, the Century looks the best headless - to me.

That was my extremely subtle, and passive aggressive dig at the Century. I'm LG all day, but I think the Century looks pretty good too, with the head lopped off.