Roscoe Club

[staccatogrowl]

You can add west coast wild fires and illness (non-COVID) in one-man build shops to your list.

And, for some additional perspective, I recently ordered an Ibanez BTB846V (shorter scale) from a well-known retailer. It was backordered. During my 10-month wait for this factory-made Indonesian bass, I found a sweet Roscoe 6. Tired of waiting, with superior bass in hand, I gladly cancelled the order.

So glad the Ibanez was not available for the length of time I was waiting. Am also now more aware that "things are not back to normal" on the production side of things, whether it's a small custom shop, or international company like Ibanez. By the way, the Ibanez 2022 USA catalog has 165 pages. In the past, practically the entire catalog was available in production models for the US. Not anymore.

 

[armybass]

No sir! What you have is a herd or a stampede of Roscoes!

lol…. Guilty.

 

[bgartist]

Supply chain is part of the wait. Great demand above normal capacity is another. Yet, even before COVID market dynamics, some luthiers had long queues that were 3-4 years. And, these are reputable luthiers, not the subjects of stickies or "beware threads" on TB.

@bgartist If Bart B axis pickups are the holdup, would it be possible to have an available alternative set installed (same size), receive the bass, and update the pickups later? Just an idea with no clue, knowledge, or insight regarding your current actual circumstance. . (also sticking my nose into business that is obviously not mine, in the spirit of brainstorming, not criticism).

That is an option but I’d like to wait for them. I already have a bass that fills the jazz bass sonic range so that’s covered. This one was speced to be different.

 

[Mighty Thumb]

It’s been a 2 man shop for some time with an occasional 3rd to help with wiring. I believe only recently has a full time (?) third person been added and we are seeing more basses going out the door on a more regular basis.

This ^ As someone in a hiring position, I can attest that the labor market is especially wonky right now. When I was at the shop in October Keith and I talked at length about the challenges in hiring talent right now. It is encouraging that Kyle is taking on more and more, and it’s easy to see how proud Keith is of him. They have had challenges finding a good electronics person but he was hopeful they had a good candidate coming in soon.

There is no one more talented and kind than Keith. He’s a great guy and it’s a privilege to have and play his basses.

+ 1000% Could not be stated any better than this.

 

[Nightman]

That is an option but I’d like to wait for them. I already have a bass that fills the jazz bass sonic range so that’s covered. This one was speced to be different.

No doubt, waiting on a specifically spec’d build, over and above top woods and finish, is definitely worth the wait when it comes in more than expected.

 

[Chuck M]

I played Pedulla Buzz basses for years. A trade brought my Century 6 fretless to me and I wish I had a photo of my face when I first played it. It is an incredible fretless and I sold my Pentabuzz and never looked back.

 

[SteveC]

I played Pedulla Buzz basses for years. A trade brought my Century 6 fretless to me and I wish I had a photo of my face when I first played it. It is an incredible fretless and I sold my Pentabuzz and never looked back.

NOTHING like a Roscoe fretless. I miss mine.

 

[SteveC]

I have had at least 10 Roscoe basses and presently have 3. I have decided to be satisfied with what I have. So I am not waiting on Keith to build a bass. I am enjoying the three that I have.

Same. My Century 5 and Classic P are keepers. I plan to play them and be happy. I have my LG3000 for sale (barely a nibble) as when I get my Century 5 back, I don’t think I’ll really need it. It’s an amazing bass though. I may just end up keeping it if it doesn’t sell.

 

[Katoosie]

Hi.

Sorry to bother but I had some questions about a Century Standard+ 6.

I see one with wenge FB, 5 ply neck, CB candy bars, spalted maple top.

The only frame of reference for anything remotely similar is a 6 string Warwick Thumb.

Are these candybars noiseless?

I'm tempted to go to the store and check it out to see if it would be worth taking it home with me.

 

[JOME77]

Hi.

Sorry to bother but I had some questions about a Century Standard+ 6.

I see one with wenge FB, 5 ply neck, CB candy bars, spalted maple top.

The only frame of reference for anything remotely similar is a 6 string Warwick Thumb.

Are these candybars noiseless?

I'm tempted to go to the store and check it out to see if it would be worth taking it home with me.

They appear to be these and they are noiseless.

Bartolini 'Classic Bass' Skinny Soapbar Dual-Coil In-Line Humcancelling - Best Bass Gear

If it’s the one on Reverb that’s a nice looking bass!

 

[staccatogrowl]

. . questions about a Century Standard+ 6. I see one with wenge FB, 5 ply neck, CB candy bars, spalted maple top. The only frame of reference for anything remotely similar is a 6 string Warwick Thumb. Are these candybars noiseless? I'm tempted to go to the store and check it out to see if it would be worth taking it home with me.

I have experience with a Century Standard+ 6 with Bart candy bars. Can confirm the pickups are noiseless, and also sound amazing in a Roscoe bass. You definitely owe it to yourself to try the Roscoe.

Having plenty of experience with Warwick 5s and 6s, the Roscoe stands well above them. The Roscoe is far more ergonomic than the Thumb, and is also a hand-crafted, fully custom bass (vs Warwick assembly line). The Roscoe is more versatile tonally, too.

You'll likely be pleased with the Roscoe's growl. However, it's not a one-trick pony. There are many other tones available just by using the pickup balance control. The Roscoe neck pickup is spaced wider than the Thumb's, offering more versatility than the narrow, bridge-centric pickup positioning of the Thumb.

I hope you venture to preview the bass. If so, please let us know what you think. My intuition is that there are not many Roscoes in Stockholm.

 

[staccatogrowl]

@Katoosie I assumed above that you are looking at the bass in the Reverb listing in Stockholm. If so, here's some build info from Roscoe's FB page, if you have access: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.723948280991504&type=3

If you don't have access, here are some screen shots:

Please note that the body is Spanish Cedar, not Mahogany, as stated in the Reverb listing. Also, Roscoe considers the neck to be 3-piece (not 5), as they typically do not count the Cherry stringers, even though they are laminations. Finally, the year built is 2014.

 

[Mighty Thumb]

Pretty sure if Roscoe is in the thread title it’ll be seen. This crew doesn’t miss much.

 

[Nightman]

I’m curious to read that ad!

 

[SteveC]

I want to see pics of my refinished bass.

 

[Nightman]

Like the making of a fine wine; no refinishing pictures before its time or before adequate 2-week periods have elapsed, or which ever is the longest.

 

[SteveC]

Like the making of a fine wine; no refinishing pictures before its time or before adequate 2-week periods have elapsed, or which ever is the longest.

I know. I'm trying. He said about 6 weeks. I waited about 7 and emailed to see how it was going.. He said maybe another 2 weeks or so. I waited about 3 and asked if it might be ready for my Christmas party gigs 12/3 and 12/8. He said that might be pretty tight. So, maybe by Christmas? I'm not going to bug him again for a couple weeks.

 

[SteveC]

Hi.

Sorry to bother but I had some questions about a Century Standard+ 6.

I see one with wenge FB, 5 ply neck, CB candy bars, spalted maple top.

The only frame of reference for anything remotely similar is a 6 string Warwick Thumb.

Are these candybars noiseless?

I'm tempted to go to the store and check it out to see if it would be worth taking it home with me.

My first Roscoe build had Bartolini JJ pups and Bart 3 band preamp. Amazing bass.

 

[JOME77]

I know. I'm trying. He said about 6 weeks. I waited about 7 and emailed to see how it was going.. He said maybe another 2 weeks or so. I waited about 3 and asked if it might be ready for my Christmas party gigs 12/3 and 12/8. He said that might be pretty tight. So, maybe by Christmas? I'm not going to bug him again for a couple weeks.

Keith has a saying:
“No bass is finished until the finish is finished”!

 

[Nightman]

I know. I'm trying. He said about 6 weeks. I waited about 7 and….
I'm not going to bug him again for a couple weeks.

That’s funny, Steve! Do an every 2-weeks let’s bug Keith schedule. That will get the ball rolling!

Honestly, I feel you! I’m too aware of what running out of patience is like when it comes to wanting a particular bass in your hands. But it’s coming!