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Roscoe Club

#2,381
I'm still dreaming of a Roscoe over here :)

I'm pondering some stuff. What would be the basic sound differences in these body woods?
Ash
Ash w/maple top
Mahagany w/maple top

And if using Bart pickups, is there a sound difference in an MM shaped pickup and a dual coil soapbar?

I'm looking for something with a really sweet, tight, focused midrange and of course good bottom end. I'm actually getting it from another bass that has mahagony/maple and a single MM humbucker but it's not the most comfortable bass for me to play all night and I want dual pickups.
 
#2,382
Here's the potential top...

+myr.all.2.JPG

That would be on a Century Standard 5 string Mahogany body, 3 piece maple neck, lined diamondwood board and Bart JB pup. Black hardware of course.

If only my 6 would sell so I could get the order going...
 
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#2,386
mmbongo said:
I'm looking for something with a really sweet, tight, focused midrange and of course good bottom end. I'm actually getting it from another bass that has mahagony/maple and a single MM humbucker but it's not the most comfortable bass for me to play all night and I want dual pickups.
Click to expand...
I just got a Century Standard 5 that has the sound you're describing. It's a mahogany body (no top) with a wenge fretboard and Bartolini humcancelling J pickups in the "JB" position. It has super-tight midrange and loads of bottom end, and that's with everything set flat. Dial in some mids at 800hz, and you'll lay waste to the rest of the band.
 
#2,391
mmbongo said:
I'm still dreaming of a Roscoe over here :)

I'm pondering some stuff. What would be the basic sound differences in these body woods?
Ash
Ash w/maple top
Mahagany w/maple top
Click to expand...

Ash will be "quick" and punchy sounding, a bit edgy, but not bright; adding maple (we are talking about a Custom or Signature, right? If we're talking about a Standard Plus, disregard the top - not enough wood there to matter, honestly, it's just "cosmetic") will add some brightness and "snap" to the soup; mahogany with maple will be punchy, slightly compressed, fat without being "muddy", and you will get a bit of snap/bright from the maple (again, Custom or Signature, not so much with a Standard Plus - but even without the maple, it will sound great)

And if using Bart pickups, is there a sound difference in an MM shaped pickup and a dual coil soapbar?
Click to expand...

Definitely a difference! :) The soapbar/dual coil (or quad coil, if it's our custom wound pickup) is a bit smoother and more "refined" sounding than even the Bart MM pickup (and we offer the Aguilar AG-4/5M as an option); the MM pickups are a bit more aggressive and edgy sounding, and the Aggie is VERY like the old 70's MM to my ear - but it does not offer the option of the 3-way switching, they felt that the parallel tone was significantly better than either of the other options, and it is hard-wired in that mode. I have the Aggie, and LOVE the thing. Love it.

[/\QUOTE]I'm looking for something with a really sweet, tight, focused midrange and of course good bottom end. I'm actually getting it from another bass that has mahagony/maple and a single MM humbucker but it's not the most comfortable bass for me to play all night and I want dual pickups.[/QUOTE]

You might consider going with the Bart JM set, very functional and will give you something you're comfortable with sonically (MM) with the ability to get more of a neck pickup tone if you want/need it. Wood wise, based on what you're saying, I'd go mahogany for the body, the rest (top if applicable, fingerboard) can be ironed out to fit what you are looking for.
 
#2,393
Man! What happened to the site? I'm sure glad that Fred explained the style selection at the lower left. Otherwise I'd still be trying to figure everything out!

mmbong,
Whichever model of Roscoe you go with, get the mahogany body. If you want the Roscoe sound with bit more focus, go with the JJ pickups in the standard SB positions. That's what I have in my Roscoe SKB STD. fretless and it is a lot more focused sounding. I think it would sound really nice in a fretted too. Of course my favorite fretted Roscoe is still a custom with a mahoagany body and the Bart 3-band & Roscoe Bart SB's in the standard location. That combo can get so many great tones. Definitely the classic Roscoe sound! To add more focus to that simply replace the Bart 3-band with the standard off the shelf Demeter 3-band preamp. More of an open sound with really glassy highs and smooth lows and mids. Beautiful tone!
 
#2,394
Did not realize these basses are made right up the road from me. Finally played one the other day after hearing good things about them for probably a decade. A four string LG3000. I came away quite impressed, but am wondering if a 35 inch scale neck is an option for the four strings? A bit too cramped past the 15th fret or so for my liking. (Every 34, not just the Roscoe)
 
#2,395
Friendly PSA (for all active basses, not just Roscoe): Don't forget the change those batteries! If you don't know how old they are or can't remember when you last changed them, just change them anyways :)

Ask me how I know ;)

First gig with my Century Sig V last night. I made it about 4 songs into the first set and I was distorting badly. I'm glad I had a backup bass with me as I was very tempted to just bring one. I suppose I could have just switched to passive mode though...
 
#2,396
JOME77 said:
mmbong,
Whichever model of Roscoe you go with, get the mahogany body. If you want the Roscoe sound with bit more focus, go with the JJ pickups in the standard SB positions.
Click to expand...

Agree with Joe, if you go with the JJ pickups make sure you get them in the standard Roscoe placement for their Soapbars which I think is more along the lines of the 70s JB.

The 60s JB position sounds really good finger style but lacks some punch. In my bass that has the JJs in the 60s location I have gone through a plethora of pickups and preamps to find the best balance of finger and slap. My Roscoe Century has Ash body, Maple top and Purpleheart fingerboard. I have found in my bass the Nordstrand NJ5F (NJ5FS is the HC version) pickups with the Aguilar OBP3 preamp is the best combination. It has a nice old school JB'esque tone with some punch. I had thought about routing my bass and putting in M4 quad coil pickups but I am going to hold off and play this combination for a while and see what it is like in a live situation.
 
#2,397
Dave W said:
Friendly PSA (for all active basses, not just Roscoe): Don't forget the change those batteries! If you don't know how old they are or can't remember when you last changed them, just change them anyways :)

Ask me how I know ;)

First gig with my Century Sig V last night. I made it about 4 songs into the first set and I was distorting badly. I'm glad I had a backup bass with me as I was very tempted to just bring one. I suppose I could have just switched to passive mode though...
Click to expand...

I use the PowerEX rechargeable batteries and install a fresh set in my bass and wireless pack when ever playing out. These batteries and charger system is the best I have every used.
 
#2,398
Sorry for the crappy iPhone picture but here are my two Roscoe basses.

The Roscoe on the left is a Century with the 60s JJ located pickups, Ash body, Wenge Tone plate, Quilt Maple top, Maple/Purpleheart/Maple neck and Purpleheart fingerboard. I just installed the Nord NJ5F pickups and Aguilar OBP3 preamp.

The Roscoe on the right is an original Century Standards (nicknamed McNasty). It is basically an uncarved Century. The top on the bass is as thick as a Century or Century Signature. This bass is unique, it has a Spanish Cedar body, 1/4" piece of Maple, 1/64" Cherry veneer, then a 1/4" Tiger/Flame Maple top, Purpleheart fingerboard with Purpleheart/Maple/Purpleheart neck. The reason I call it McNasty is, it has the Roscoe/Bart pickups with an Aguilar OBP3 (may swap out for Demeter as the Roscoe/Barts with Demeter sound amazing), it is a very heavy compressed mid toned bass. As is this bass will reach out, slap the sound guy in the face and keep on groovin never batting an eye.

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