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Roscoe Club

#24,002
Outdoor market today. Beautiful day to play outside.
IMG_5455.jpeg
 
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#24,003
We’ll I broke down last week and ordered a Hipshot 5 string .708 spacing bridge to replace the Hipshot.75 spacing bridge on my Roscoe SKB-3005 fretless. It thought that I’d eventually get use to the different string spacing but it just never got comfortable to my hands.
I installed it last night and it’s so much better now. It feels just like my other basses now. There is a little more space on the side of the neck (both sides) but I don’t feel that when playing at all.

4F94A748-9D29-4B81-A8C0-ECE683249646.jpeg
 
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#24,004
JOME77 said:
We’ll I broke down last week and ordered a Hipshot 5 string .708 spacing bridge to replace the Hipshot.75 spacing bridge on my Roscoe SKB-3005 fretless. It thought that I’d eventually get use to the different string spacing but it just never got comfortable to my hands.
I installed it last night and it’s so much better now. It feels just like my other basses now. There is a little more space on the side of the neck (both sides) but I don’t feel that when playing at all.

View attachment 5096878
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I had a lovely Century 3005 with the .75" string spacing and it felt very slow to play. I never got used to it and sold it. I never thought about changing the bridge. That was a brilliant solution. Beautiful bass you have there. Here is a photo of the one I sold.


IMG-2946.jpg
 
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#24,006
JOME77 said:
We’ll I broke down last week and ordered a Hipshot 5 string .708 spacing bridge to replace the Hipshot.75 spacing bridge on my Roscoe SKB-3005 fretless. It thought that I’d eventually get use to the different string spacing but it just never got comfortable to my hands.
I installed it last night and it’s so much better now. It feels just like my other basses now. There is a little more space on the side of the neck (both sides) but I don’t feel that when playing at all.

View attachment 5096878
Click to expand...

Is it adjustable?
 
#24,008
JOME77 said:
Yes, it is the standard Type A bridge which is very similar to the proprietary Roscoe bridge (but without the staggered height bridge plate), which allowed for lower action which resulted in more mwah!:bassist:
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More mwah is better ;)

I actually have a slightly used one of those bridges somewhere in my clutter/gear hoard, too bad I didn’t list it, could have helped out the man, the myth, the legend! :D
 
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#24,009
I've read various discussions about the custom Roscoe bridge over the years, with some players preferring to replace them with the standard Hipshot A style... But I'm still not sure I understand the situation...

Here's what I *think* it's about -- but please correct me if I've misunderstood?
* Roscoe had Hipshot make a custom A style bridge where the bottom plate is "radiused" to match the Roscoe fretboard radius.
* I think Roscoe still uses this custom bridge, since I see a radiused bridge plate on my newest build.
* Some players can't adjust their action as low as they'd like with the custom bridge, and replacing it with the standard one fixes their issue...?

I guess the part I'm confused about is why Roscoe went to the trouble to have a custom part made, and apparently still thinks it's the right choice (still using it as far as I know?), but for some people it's not optimal? I don't prefer super low action myself, so that may explain why I don't get it.
 
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#24,010
edbutler3 said:
I've read various discussions about the custom Roscoe bridge over the years, with some players preferring to replace them with the standard Hipshot A style... But I'm still not sure I understand the situation...

Here's what I *think* it's about -- but please correct me if I've misunderstood?
* Roscoe had Hipshot make a custom A style bridge where the bottom plate is "radiused" to match the Roscoe fretboard radius.
* I think Roscoe still uses this custom bridge, since I see a radiused bridge plate on my newest build.
* Some players can't adjust their action as low as they'd like with the custom bridge, and replacing it with the standard one fixes their issue...?

I guess the part I'm confused about is why Roscoe went to the trouble to have a custom part made, and apparently still thinks it's the right choice (still using it as far as I know?), but for some people it's not optimal? I don't prefer super low action myself, so that may explain why I don't get it.
Click to expand...

You are correct in everything you state. Unfortunately it’s a bit “hit and miss”. If the neck pocket angle is scribed (routed) at the proper angle, the proprietary bridge works great. If the neck pocket is not routed at the proper angle then with all the saddles bottomed out your action is too high (and you’ll need to either send it back to Roscoe to have it scribed (on your dime) or purchase a standard Hipshot bridge (easily the easiest and cheapest permanent solution).
Out of 32 Roscoes I’m hitting around 40% on being able to get my action as low as I like it. In the old days I corrected it using a shim. Of course that’s still an affordable option. I just thought that was a bit unacceptable for a boutique bass.
 
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#24,011
My Buckeye Burl LG has the Roscoe platform bridge and when it came back from Keith after being Plek and a low setup, I could hardly play it because the action was so low.
Of course, I got used to it and love the action on it now. I don’t think I could deal with it being any lower!
Keith must have a secret technique to adjust his basses with low action with the hardware he uses. :thumbsup:
 
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#24,012
Nightman said:
My Buckeye Burl LG has the Roscoe platform bridge and when it came back from Keith after being Plek and a low setup, I could hardly play it because the action was so low.
Of course, I got used to it and love the action on it now. I don’t think I could deal with it being any lower!
Keith must have a secret technique to adjust his basses with low action with the hardware he uses. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

The answer is … sometimes.:)
I also sent one back (with a shim) and had it Pleked and also paid to have the neck pocket scribed.
When it arrived home it was much better but I still had to purchase a new standard Hipshot bridge to get my action as low as I wanted it (as it was before I sent it with the shim installed).
Unfortunately the secret technique is a bit hit and miss.:)
 
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#24,013
You guys must like REALLY LOW action. Mine (both the Classic P and my Century 5) are PLEK’ed and I love how they play after they came back from the shop. I gave no specs when I sent them. Just said Plek ‘em.
 
#24,014
SteveC said:
You guys must like REALLY LOW action. Mine (both the Classic P and my Century 5) are PLEK’ed and I love how they play after they came back from the shop. I gave no specs when I sent them. Just said Plek ‘em.
Click to expand...


While I’ll admit that I do like my action lower these days, I’ve had Roscoes that had action as high as 1/4” (with the saddles bottomed out) and that’s unacceptable for a boutique bass.
It’s not always someone trying to get .03-.07 (G-B). Sometimes it’s just trying to get .125-.188 (G-B).
Hey but I know the fixes now and Roscoes are still my favorite 5-6 string basses made. Nothings perfect and neither am I.:D
 
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#24,015
JOME77 said:
You are correct in everything you state. Unfortunately it’s a bit “hit and miss”. If the neck pocket angle is scribed (routed) at the proper angle, the proprietary bridge works great. If the neck pocket is not routed at the proper angle then with all the saddles bottomed out your action is too high (and you’ll need to either send it back to Roscoe to have it scribed (on your dime) or purchase a standard Hipshot bridge (easily the easiest and cheapest permanent solution).
Out of 32 Roscoes I’m hitting around 40% on being able to get my action as low as I like it. In the old days I corrected it using a shim. Of course that’s still an affordable option. I just thought that was a bit unacceptable for a boutique bass.
Click to expand...
Joe loves that pin router… :roflmao:

I had posted some pics comparing the bridges when I swapped the one on the “Red Debbil.” It is also 100% reversible, so a pretty safe change.
IMG_1716.jpeg
 
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#24,017
MattLplaysBass said:
Joe loves that pin router… :roflmao:

I had posted some pics comparing the bridges when I swapped the one on the “Red Debbil.” It is also 100% reversible, so a pretty safe change.
View attachment 5097274
Click to expand...

Oh Matt! I do indeed love that Pin router!:D

Great pic too showing the difference in the bridge bottom plate thickness.
It really is a simple mod (and a standard Hipshot 5 string bridge can be purchased from Arkansas Music for around $115.
Oh well, enough on the somewhat controversial neck pocket saga. Again!:roflmao:
 

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