Roscoe Club

[Chuck M]

I had a pair of Modulus Q5's - fretted and fretless - with Bart electronics. Great basses for sure. I thought they were keepers. They could have bene I suppose. But I played a Roscoe.

We all have our preferences. My absolute favorite...if I could only have one bass is my Roscoe Century fretless 6 but I still enjoy my other Roscoe, Gould and Modulus basses. All of them have Bartolini electronics except the EMG equipped Gould. I prefer the Bartolini electronics but the EMG's in the Gould are very good.

 

[SteveC]

I also had a Q5, heavy and sterile, gone really quickly.

Yep. My thought as well. One man's clear is another man's sterile. I thought the Roscoe had just as good or better B string and had more character. There's a reason my keeper is a pair of Roscoes - classic and modern classic.

 

[Life of Brian]

Just a note... at a recent GTG here in Chicago with lots of exceptional basses - Lakland, Spector, Stenbeck, Mucklroy, Alleva Coppolo, Stenbeck, Pedulla, Sadowsky, LowDown, and others - all were astounded by the monstrous Roscoe B.

I have yet to play a 5 with a better Low B. I also really like the Gould GGI5, Modulus Q and Lakland 5502. I also played a nice Sadowsky NYC 5 but the low B still fell short of the Roscoe. The Fodera Emperor was nice but played side by side the Roscoe just has something more.

 

[bassmahn]

The neck on my streamer 5 string was like a baseball bat. I don't miss that one at all. My SKB's neck is effortless in comparison.
Also had a pair of Modulus Q5's years ago. I had zero complaints with the B string on either of them, but as Thumper said, the sound got sterile.

 

[Drkwdsman]

The reason I play Roscoes and Lakland Fivers, the B string is solid.

 

[SteveC]

The reason I play Roscoes and Lakland Fivers, the B string is solid.

I've said it before. If I wasn't playing Roscoe, I'd probably be playing Lakland. I've had a couple 55-02's, not even the US version of the bass, and they were great basses.

 

[Nightman]

It makes total sense that Roscoes would have a great B string. Keith’s middle name is “B”!

View attachment 4979634

…and we are stretching and pulling, and pulling and really s-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g.

 

[sunnycal]

Anyone had any problems with recent orders? I want to start by saying I have been a big Roscoe fan! I have Jbass and Pbass and ordered a PJ almost 2 years ago. Keith sent an email saying he sprayed the first coat, that it was looking great etc. I waited patiently but when no contact I emailed about 5 times just to get an update without any response. I emailed a bit angry and he finally answer and said he had just been waiting on a few parts but that it would be about a few weeks. That was about a year ago. No emails, no response etc. I finally emailed that I was going to cancel since I ended up getting a PJ from Bluesman Vintage, custom and love it. He has not responded yet. I understand he has gone through financial problems but to be completely silent, especially after having paid two thirds down it's insulting!

 

[toobuy]

yet. I understand he has gone through financial problems but to be completely silent, especially after having paid two thirds down it's insulting!

Has he gone through financial problems?

2 years is a very long time period man, why haven't you tried calling him? I have ordered a bass a few months ago and everything is going swiftly.

 

[sunnycal]

Has he gone through financial problems?

2 years is a very long time period man, why haven't you tried calling him? I have ordered a bass a few months ago and everything is going swiftly.

Yes, bankruptcy. We did communicate and led me believe everything was ok and he was just waiting on some parts. I sent him some strings to put on the bass after we communicated and he wrote back that he received them and said it should be done in a few weeks. That was almost a year ago. Once again silence on his end.

 

[JOME77]

Anyone had any problems with recent orders? I want to start by saying I have been a big Roscoe fan! I have Jbass and Pbass and ordered a PJ almost 2 years ago. Keith sent an email saying he sprayed the first coat, that it was looking great etc. I waited patiently but when no contact I emailed about 5 times just to get an update without any response. I emailed a bit angry and he finally answer and said he had just been waiting on a few parts but that it would be about a few weeks. That was about a year ago. No emails, no response etc. I finally emailed that I was going to cancel since I ended up getting a PJ from Bluesman Vintage, custom and love it. He has not responded yet. I understand he has gone through financial problems but to be completely silent, especially after having paid two thirds down it's insulting!

Two years is a long time. Keith’s still delivering basses. I know of 3 players that received new Roscoes in the last week. You definitely should call. He’s always been a bit hit and miss on emails. It is primarily a two man shop right now so no one is answering the phone a lot either. But I think calling is still the best way to get in touch with the shop. Some guys use Facebook and Instagram but I don’t.
I hope things get worked out and end well.

 

[JOME77]

Speaking of new builds that are coming out of the shop …
Shane received this one a few minutes ago (posting with his permission).
Beautiful!

 

[Chuck M]

This SKB was one I owned for a while. It had a finish similar to that on Shane's new beauty. It was an incredible bass but it weighed 11 pounds and I sold it because of the weight. Kicking myself now for not just putting up with the weight. The reverse slant PU's did seem to contribute to the great tone and balance between the strings.

I keep telling myself to be happy with the fine basses I now own but, like some of you, I see another one of Keith's masterpieces and drool.

I am blessed to have my trio of Roscoe basses and don't plan on making the mistake of letting any of them leave my collection.

The photo of the back of my basses reminds me that I own the three most used body woods. The SKB 6 has Mahogany, the Century 5 has Swamp Ash and the Century 6 FL has Spanish Cedar. They all sound amazing.

 

[JOME77]

This SKB was one I owned for a while. It had a finish similar to that on Shane's new beauty. It was an incredible bass but it weighed 11 pounds and I sold it because of the weight. Kicking myself now for not just putting up with the weight. The reverse slant PU's did seem to contribute to the great tone and balance between the strings.

I keep telling myself to be happy with the fine basses I now own but, like some of you, I see another one of Keith's masterpieces and drool.

I am blessed to have my trio of Roscoe basses and don't plan on making the mistake of letting any of them leave my collection.

The photo of the back of my basses reminds me that I own the three most used body woods. The SKB 6 has Mahogany, the Century 5 has Swamp Ash and the Century 6 FL has Spanish Cedar. They all sound amazing.

Beautiful collection Chuck!

 

[Nightman]

His best playing bass ever! Has he sold it yet?

 

[SteveC]

Yeah, I am super pleased with my refinish. And my “fiesta red” Classic P makes people drool as well. Keith does great finishes. I am totally happy with the pair of basses I have, but like most of us, I drool over new bass builds.

I have absolutely ZERO need for another bass, let alone a 6 string (I tried to love my Century 6 three times as some of you may recall) and I struggled a bit with the perceived “reach” of the LG/SKB bodies, but my dream Roscoe would be an LG Custom 6 like Jimmy Haslip’s with reverse slant pickups, the antique finish or whatever that’s called, etc. I think that would run me about $6K these days. No way it’ll ever happen and again, ZERO need or use, but that’s a bass that screams Roscoe to me.

 

[SteveC]

His best playing bass ever! Has he sold it yet?

It is a great way to get a nice bass for $1K less than new. I hope he finds his perfect combination soon. He certainly has found a fantastic wife and/or great paying job.

 

[Nightman]

He certainly has found a fantastic wife and/or great paying job.

And you know this how?

I’m beginning to think he works for Roscoe.

 

[Pacman]

This SKB was one I owned for a while. It had a finish similar to that on Shane's new beauty. It was an incredible bass but it weighed 11 pounds and I sold it because of the weight. Kicking myself now for not just putting up with the weight. The reverse slant PU's did seem to contribute to the great tone and balance between the strings.

Wasn't that my old bass?

 

[SteveC]

Wasn't that my old bass?

I believe I had it for a while as well. Maybe bought it from you Pacman? Or maybe from Chuck? I don’t remember. It was a fantastic bass.Should have kept it.