Roscoe Club

[Chuck M]

All very valid questions. Especially the function of the trussrod. Of course that would be a concern on any single cut.

My Cort SC 5 has the truss rod adjustment at the end of the fingerboard. It seems to function just as it should and is easy to use.

I must say that the truss rods on my Roscoe basses are very responsive...even on the 6 string basses. The only other bass I own that has a truss rod that works as well is a late model Modulus Q6 and the truss rod on that one moves the neck with very little effort. I have owned several G.Gould basses and my 6 has never needed an adjustment (bought it used) but the two 5's that I had required a lot of torque on the truss rod to move the necks.

 

[JOME77]

My Cort SC 5 has the truss rod adjustment at the end of the fingerboard. It seems to function just as it should and is easy to use.

I must say that the truss rods on my Roscoe basses are very responsive...even on the 6 string basses. The only other bass I own that has a truss rod that works as well is a late model Modulus Q6 and the truss rod on that one moves the neck with very little effort. I have owned several G.Gould basses and my 6 has never needed an adjustment (bought it used) but the two 5's that I had required a lot of torque on the truss rod to move the necks.

It’s not so much that the truss rod adjustment is at the headstock (verses being at the body). It’s more about the body being attached to the neck at the 10th fret. How much will that trussrod adjust the neck from the 10th to the 24th fret (if any)?

 

[Chuck M]

It’s not so much that the truss rod adjustment is at the headstock (verses being at the body). It’s more about the body being attached to the neck at the 10th fret. How much will that trussrod adjust the neck from the 10th to the 24th fret (if any)?

I believe the extra support to the neck will prevent it from moving so adjustment in that area will likely not be needed.

 

[staccatogrowl]

Another potential single-cut issue is that neck sides are supported in unequal manners, in addition to the extent that a truss rod is effective. It would be insightful and helpful if the Roscoe shop would comment and explain the new design. Otherwise, emotional stimulation from prototype renderings and models doesn't sell for me, especially at the price point of a new Roscoe bass.

Jim Roberts (in American Basses) suggests that the Fodera Anthony Jackson single cut away was the first one made in 1989. Not sure if that was the absolute first, but that seems to be the one that put the design "on the map."

A number of luthiers consider the design to be a bad one, since one side of the neck is held fast and the other side is allowed to move. . creating a potential for problems. .

Fodera single cuts have obviously been around a while, used and acclaimed by many artists. Given this, please note that I am not alleging problems with the Roscoe single-cut design. I assume they've done their homework in design, prototyping, and *testing*. However, they haven't released this type of information, which could be very helpful (even crucial) to anyone considering their new model.

* Hey, Keith and Kyle: if you need a tester for the new single-cut bass, please send one my way and I'll be happy to oblige : )

 

[Nightman]

Another potential single-cut issue is that neck sides are supported in unequal…..
* Hey, Keith and Kyle: if you need a tester for the new single-cut bass, please send one my way and I'll be happy to oblige : )

Nice try, Fritz! And after you’ve had your fun with it send it to me for my testing and look-see, then I’ll forward it on to the next tester in line. We can keep track of how long it will take before unbalanced neck issues present themselves.

 

[Freddy-G.]

Let me tell you. This bass will blow your mind out. It is everything I ever wanted in a bass. My journey is done. Keith has accomplished what I was looking for. God bless you Keith.

Now that I'm reading this a couple of days after posting it, I find it a bit funny. How many times have we heard this before. The difference is that I've owned this bass a couple of years now and I feel the same way about it.

 

[Nine-and-three-Quarters]

Wowser! Just got the quote back from Roscoe for the single cut (specs below.) I have to say that I'm a bit sticker shocked at the price given. $7960 and I'm proving the pups and pre. Holy Moly wasn't expecting that amount.

34" scale

19mm SS

Light weight Alder body with wenge body laminate.

Figured maple top or equivalent.

3 pc maple/wenge/maple neck

Wenge FB with matching Top figured maple block inlays.

Black Hardware

Satin finish

I will provide pickups and pre.

 

[Nine-and-three-Quarters]

@JOME77 looks like I'm back to hating single-cuts again!

 

[JOME77]

@JOME77 looks like I'm back to hating single-cuts again!

 

[RocketMusic]

Wowser! Just got the quote back from Roscoe for the single cut (specs below.) I have to say that I'm a bit sticker shocked at the price given. $7960 and I'm proving the pups and pre. Holy Moly wasn't expecting that amount.

34" scale

19mm SS

Light weight Alder body with wenge body laminate.

Figured maple top or equivalent.

3 pc maple/wenge/maple neck

Wenge FB with matching Top figured maple block inlays.

Black Hardware

Satin finish

I will provide pickups and pre.

Unless the pickups are a drop-in replacement (i.e. the same shell size as their usual fare), they sometimes have to charge for the CNC programming work that they have to do to accomodate customer-supplied pickups. I only mention that because logic would indicate that the price should be lower when you supply parts like that... but that's not always the case. Same goes if they have to figure out how to wire up a preamp that they've never used before.

Still, that's nowhere close to the reason for an $8k price tag. LOL

 

[SteveC]

Now that I'm reading this a couple of days after posting it, I find it a bit funny. How many times have we heard this before. The difference is that I've owned this bass a couple of years now and I feel the same way about it.

I’ve had my Century Standard Plus 5 for about 12 years now. Feel the same about it as back in the days when I first discovered Roscoe basses. I’ve had a couple flings with other basses, but my Century 5 is here to stay. Add my Classic P (my “Pino” bass) and I’m pretty set.

I am using an old G&L JB-2 tuned 1/2 step down as an Eb bass for a few 80’s and 90’s songs in our set. I could play them on the 5, but some things just lay better with open strings and in more familiar finger patterns.

 

[Nightman]

Hey Fritz, you won’t have to send me that SC Roscoe to test drive after all!
I’ll be calling a taxi!

 

[Skip Chucker]

Wowser! Just got the quote back from Roscoe for the single cut (specs below.) I have to say that I'm a bit sticker shocked at the price given. $7960 and I'm proving the pups and pre. Holy Moly wasn't expecting that amount.

34" scale

19mm SS

Light weight Alder body with wenge body laminate.

Figured maple top or equivalent.

3 pc maple/wenge/maple neck

Wenge FB with matching Top figured maple block inlays.

Black Hardware

Satin finish

I will provide pickups and pre.

Well, I hope he can get that price- he's in Fodera territory with it! It does take a bigger slab of top wood than what is normal.

And it's new. So he's probably seeing it as a Signature series upgrade.

If I had the $ I might bite. But if I didn't like it I'm not sure I could get anything close to that out of it.

 

[Freddy-G.]

Beautiful.

I was looking at this, but can't do the inlays. Meridian Mojo II 4 Fretted - Val Di Fiamme Red Spruce | Reverb

Those look like Roscoe oval inlays. I don't know if he still offers those.

 

[JOME77]

Wowser! Just got the quote back from Roscoe for the single cut (specs below.) I have to say that I'm a bit sticker shocked at the price given. $7960 and I'm proving the pups and pre. Holy Moly wasn't expecting that amount.

34" scale

19mm SS

Light weight Alder body with wenge body laminate.

Figured maple top or equivalent.

3 pc maple/wenge/maple neck

Wenge FB with matching Top figured maple block inlays.

Black Hardware

Satin finish

I will provide pickups and pre.

Yeah, Wow!
I figured it would be maybe 15-20% more than a traditional Roscoe Custom but that’s close to 50% more. And minus the cost of pickups and preamp.
Maybe it’s more of an indication that they’re willing to build them but they really don’t want to (so if they do we’re making it worth their while).

You can get a Fodera Imperial Single cut 5 from MF or GC for $8800. And it has pickups and a preamp.
Fodera Guitars Imperial 5 Select Burl top 5-String Bass

 

[SteveC]

I’m glad I got my Roscoe “fix” years ago. My newly refinished Century is a lifetime bass. I could just afford it when I bought it 12 years ago and was able to pay it have it refinished last year. I have that and my Classic P. Probably it for me and Roscoe. They are just too pricy new and even used unless you find a great deal, which happens. Not that I don’t think they are worth it. I’m just not in that league spending wise any more.

 

[Chuck M]

I am also quite satisfied with my Roscoe basses. I did buy/trade for all of mine used but I own 4 Roscoe custom/signature basses and have less than $10K in them. Still a lot of money but compared to what premium basses cost these days the Roscoe basses were quite reasonable.

A friend just bought a top of the line Fender 5 string jazz bass and had to pay to have the control cavity shielded because of hum. He paid $2300 for that new Fender and had to spend additional money to get it usable. Have you priced a USA Stingray or Bongo lately?

However, all that said.....the only bass I paid a lot of money for is my Wilfer 7/8 upright bass that I bought new about 15 years ago and I paid $10K for it new. It is a fantastic bass and has earned me a lot of $$.

 

[Freddy-G.]

.....the only bass I paid a lot of money for is my Wilfer 7/8 upright bass that I bought new about 15 years ago and I paid $10K for it new. It is a fantastic bass and has earned me a lot of $$.

I've always wanted an upright bass but the prices have discouraged me. Congrats on that Wilfer and your other basses. You are truly blessed.

 

[oren]

I love my Roscoe, which I’ve had for many years now, and I know my vintage Fenders are worth a bunch (but we’re only a few hundred each when I bought them), but I have a hard time imagining spending the same kind of dough on a solid body electric that I did on my carved upright (which is the only bass that’s currently getting any gigs).

 

[Freddy-G.]

Keep calm. And play your Roscoe.