Roscoe Club

[scubaduba]

But there’s something about that bass.

Neck dive?

 

[MattLplaysBass]

I wanted one of those SO badly back in the day, they were on like every other page of BP when I first started playing, and all the cool cats had one (I remember Paul Turner from Jamiroquai- and others- said on a podcast interview how you HAD to have one in London at that time). GC carried them for a bit, and I played a 5er, and it did sound really good and growly, but I don’t remember much else (except I couldn’t afford it).

They are NOT known for being lightweight though…

 

[Mighty Thumb]

Nothing to do with build time, but I must confess to my Roscoe brethren. Both my main basses are Roscoe. Century 5 for almost 12 years. My Classic P for about 4. Love them.

There’s a 96 Warwick Thumb 4NT at a local shop. It sounds amazing. I’m tempted. I don’t need another bass at all. $2,500 is the going rate, but still a lot. But there’s something about that bass.

The string spacing on my Corvette $$ 5 string is super narrow. I think it’s 16.5 mm. It’s the only bass I own that really requires time to adjust to playing and I can’t switch back and forth to easily.

 

[steelin4u]

Nothing to do with build time, but I must confess to my Roscoe brethren. Both my main basses are Roscoe. Century 5 for almost 12 years. My Classic P for about 4. Love them.

There’s a 96 Warwick Thumb 4NT at a local shop. It sounds amazing. I’m tempted. I don’t need another bass at all. $2,500 is the going rate, but still a lot. But there’s something about that bass.

Although I never got to try a NT, I've owned a late 90s Thumb 4 and 5 BO, a 2000s Thumb 5, and a Corvette $$. Although I miss them all a bit (Thumb tone and $$ feel and versatility), I sold my last one once I had a Roscoe in the house. I knew I would use the money for more Roscoes.

 

[SteveC]

I haven’t tried it standing with a strap yet. Maybe next time I’ll bring one along.

 

[Chuck M]

Nothing to do with build time, but I must confess to my Roscoe brethren. Both my main basses are Roscoe. Century 5 for almost 12 years. My Classic P for about 4. Love them.

There’s a 96 Warwick Thumb 4NT at a local shop. It sounds amazing. I’m tempted. I don’t need another bass at all. $2,500 is the going rate, but still a lot. But there’s something about that bass.

I had a Thumb neck thru fretless 4. It played and sounded wonderful but the workmanship on that bass was lousy. I also owned a Streamer Stage I 4. It was beautifully crafted and played great but the tone was not as good as the Thumb. Different woods.

Both were neck heavy. I would not trade one of my Roscoe basses for a dozen Warwick basses if I had to play them.

 

[kevk]

……There’s a 96 Warwick Thumb 4NT at a local shop. It sounds amazing. I’m tempted. I don’t need another bass at all. $2,500 is the going rate, but still a lot. But there’s something about that bass.

I’ve owned waaay too many Wick’s to list, including several Thumb NT’s. Surprisingly, the Thumb NT4 balances (minimal neck dive) fairly well on a strap, but they’re usually around 10 lbs… Wick 4’s=19mm, 5’s=16.5mm bridge spacing. If you’re serious about purchasing, make sure the neck is straight—many are very subtly twisted.

[Edit/add:] …NT4 first fret (when on a strap)…is in another zip code.

 

[JOME77]

Can anyone tell were to get Wood Knobs? I have a LG5 with Aguilar OP3, and I am trying to shave some weight and I want to replace the metal knobs to either aluminum or wood knobs.

Otto, your question reminded me of how much I liked the wooden access covers on a couple of my former Roscoes so I contacted Roger (at THG) and now have a new set of rear access covers being made out of purple heart. And Roger is doing fine and responded very quickly to my email.

 

[Pacman]

I had a Thumb neck through 6 once. I swear it weighed 28lbs.... oof!

 

[MattLplaysBass]

Otto, your question reminded me of how much I liked the wooden access covers on a couple of my former Roscoes so I contacted Roger (at THG) and now have a new set of rear access covers being made out of purple heart. And Roger is doing fine and responded very quickly to my email.

Shane had his knobs, Joe has his covers... although they do both look nice, so I can't really criticize My hopefully soon USA MTD will have both, and I think the knobs are made by THG.

 

[Chuck M]

I had a Thumb neck through 6 once. I swear it weighed 28lbs.... oof!

I have a G&L Tribute L2500 that weighs more than 11 pounds. It sounds like it too. I have had basses that were very light and sounded great and some heavy ones that sounded great too. Remember that SKB 6 with reverse slant pickups you had built, Jon? That Mahogany body was heavy but that bass really had the tone. I seriously regret selling that one. That quilt Maple top was fantastic on that one.

 

[Bass Viking]

I had a Thumb neck thru fretless 4. It played and sounded wonderful but the workmanship on that bass was lousy.

What was wrong with workmanship?

 

[JOME77]

I’ve always loved the tone of the MEC electronics and pickups in the Warwicks. To me the deal breaker was the chunky neck. They both were a bit unbalanced but the Comfort Strap kept them in place. They did have a short upper horn though. Definitely not a @SteveC ergonomic approved design.

 

[SteveC]

I’ve always loved the tone of the MEC electronics and pickups in the Warwicks. To me the deal breaker was the chunky neck. They both were a bit unbalanced but the Comfort Strap kept them in place. They did have a short upper horn though. Definitely not a @SteveC ergonomic approved design.

The tone of this bass is great. I like the electronics as well. I guess the neck didn't feel chunky to me. I need to play it again and REALLY THINK about how it feels. It was on the heavy side for sure, but didn't seem obese. The short upper horn (like an SKB) seems like it would be an issue. I need to try it with a strap. I didn't mind that LG 4 I had for a while earlier this year so maybe I'm moving past that a little?

 

[Chuck M]

What was wrong with workmanship?

That bass had a very uneven neck. There were little bumps and valleys all along the back. It was quite distracting to play. It was a very nice bass other than the neck carve. It had the tone.

I had a Pedulla Pentabuzz at the same time and sold the Warwick because I played the Buzz bass most of the time. The Pedulla had the tone, wonderful workmanship and a B string. I played Pedulla Buzz basses for years until I traded for my Roscoe Century 6 fretless. The Roscoe is the best fretless I have played. I sold the Pedulla after I got the Roscoe.

 

[SteveC]

The Roscoe is the best fretless I have played.

Without a doubt! If one of my old Roscoe fretless basses were available, I'd spend my money on that.

 

[Bass Viking]

That bass had a very uneven neck. There were little bumps and valleys all along the back. It was quite distracting to play. It was a very nice bass other than the neck carve. It had the tone.

I had a Pedulla Pentabuzz at the same time and sold the Warwick because I played the Buzz bass most of the time. The Pedulla had the tone, wonderful workmanship and a B string. I played Pedulla Buzz basses for years until I traded for my Roscoe Century 6 fretless. The Roscoe is the best fretless I have played. I sold the Pedulla after I got the Roscoe.

That's too bad about the Warwick! I wonder how that got past quality control? A bad piece of wenge? Is it something that could be sanded out?

My Roscoe fretless is amazing. I was trying to downsize and had it for sale on consignment for about 6 months. No offers even at the very reasonable price it was listed at so I went back to retrieve it. Roscoe is just not that well known and rhe market for fretless bass is small.

 

[SteveC]

My Roscoe fretless is amazing. I was trying to downsize and had it for sale on consignment for about 6 months. No offers even at the very reasonable price it was listed at so I went back to retrieve it. Roscoe is just not that well known and the market for fretless bass is small.

Yeah, I was foolish to sell my Roscoe fretless...both times! I really need to stick to my original plan (from many years ago) of a nice pair of 5 string basses, one fretted and one fretless. I have the fretted, just need to find a fretless again. The Warwick is trying to get me off my game.

 

[Bass Viking]

Yeah, I was foolish to sell my Roscoe fretless...both times! I really need to stick to my original plan (from many years ago) of a nice pair of 5 string basses, one fretted and one fretless. I have the fretted, just need to find a fretless again. The Warwick is trying to get me off my game.

I wouldn't think twice about selling a Fender instrument, plenty more of them out there, but try finding another Roscoe! I have yet to see any in my city of 1 million people.

 

[Chuck M]

We all have our own experiences and opinions. The neck could have easily been corrected by a friend who is a gunstock maker. He can make any wood surface even. Wenge is quite porous so it will never feel as smooth as a close grain wood like Maple but it certainly could have been even as opposed to lumpy/bumpy.

I did not bother to have the neck worked on because I preferred my Pedulla.