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Roscoe Club

#25,581
First gig with a new group, and the Roscoe was rockin!

The bass is a Century Standard 4 that I bought used a while ago. I really don't know a lot about it's history, but it's light as a feather, and I put a D-tuner on the E string.

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#25,583
Danksalot said:
First gig with a new group, and the Roscoe was rockin!

The bass is a Century Standard 4 that I bought used a while ago. I really don't know a lot about it's history, but it's light as a feather, and I put a D-tuner on the E string.

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That bass will get you through almost any gig and sound great - especially with the d-tuner. Really nice. I have eyed a Roscoe LG3000 with a D-tuner at a local Guitar Center but I just can't justify it.
 
#25,585
SteveC said:
I messaged the seller to see what's up. Asked about shipping. I mean someone from Vegas must want a Roscoe, but if shipping were an option, that bass would be gone.
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I know the guy who owned that bass, and it's here in Omaha. If you're really interested, I can go by and give it a once over for you
 
#25,587
Ooops. Wrong copy/reply. I checked out the one in Vegas. It is indeed sold.
Thanks for the offer Jon. The Pale Moon Ebony is really cool but I don't know that I can justify it, even though my wife agrees that it's very original and cool looking. I already have trouble deciding which bass to play and I only have 3.
 
#25,592
I went to a shop in a big city that had many of the "name" brands there to try them all side by side. The Roscoe B string was the one that sounded the best. It sounded most like the other strings. Like it belonged. It was really obvious to me. That and the feel of the neck (5 string especially I think) is what sold me. I also like the way they look, especially the headstock.

I have a couple other basses, but really, I play my Roscoes. I'm a fanboy. I think they are the best bass I have played and I've played ALMOST all of them.
 
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#25,593
Having received my first post-pandemic Roscoe a couple weeks ago (a 2022 model), I noticed a couple of slight upgrades that Keith has added to the new Roscoes. One is the Pure Tone output jack. While it's not visible from the outside it certainly makes for a more dependable output jack (which is quite critical to getting the signal to your amp or board). The other is he's finally changed to all metal knobs (in lieu of that plastic knob for the bass control on the concentric bass/treble stack). Another subtle change is grey shielding paint (verses the former black) and aluminum shielding on the rear access covers (verses the former copper). That's probably a cost savings change since aluminum has 61 percent of the conductivity of copper and is less expensive. But the bass is super quiet, so I'd say it's no impact to the overall quality.
And speaking of the quality, the overall quality is impeccable. This build of this bass is as good as any that I've owned. Basses may roll out of the factory at a slightly slower rate, but Keith and Kyle make a great team! :)

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#25,597
So I actually just noticed that the STD Plus 6 that I just received also has the neck heel scribed to the radius of the body neck pocket (typically only done on the Custom basses; effective a year or two after they introduced the STD model).
Is this something that's now being done on the newer Roscoe STD basses?

Here's a rear view of my newer STD Plus 6
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Here's a rear pic of one of my former STD Plus basses
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#25,598
So I've had a couple weeks to get use to the Roscoe STD Plus 6. Oddly, even though it's been 8 years since I owned a 6 string bass, I adjusted quite quickly. I guess it is kind of like "riding a bike".
I can certainly say "been done that" with a 6 string but I'm approaching this one a bit differently. I'm approaching it like I approach a 5 string bass. Ona 5 string bass, I usually only play the B string when I need a note below the open E string. Outside of that I play a 5 like it's a 4 string bass.
So, with that mind set, I'm only using the C string when I need a note above the G string at the 24th fret or when I need a high note in a riff that I'm playing in position (that's easier to play while executing the riff). Basically, if the note is going to be held for more than a beat a beat or 2, I go up on the G string to play it (because IMO until you get above the 10th or 11th fret the notes sound better on the G). It's been a while since I've heard a Roscoe Bart/Bart pre combo and it's kind of a nice throaty warm tone (in contrast to my fretted Roscoe V with 4 band Pope pre and Roscoe Barts (which is a bit more open sounding). Similar but different.

Without a doubt, a 6 string is probably the best instrument that Keith makes (maybe along with his fretless basses). I hope that I can really make this one stick around a while. ;)

Here's a bass orchestra tune that I recorded (Reason 9) all of the fretted parts (9 tracks) using the Roscoe STD Plus 6. I did very little EQ'ing on the solos. The difference in tones is primarily using a slightly different blend or playing in different positions on the neck. The strings are DR Pure Blues nickel RW's. The fretless part is one of my former Roscoe fretless basses.

I guess even if I don't use the high C at church much, it's nice having it on a bass for when I record the Bass Orchestra tunes.

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#25,600
SteveC said:
I think the 6 is also one of Keith’s best basses. Fretless maybe 1st. Best 5 out there for sure. I sometimes wish I still had my 6 but I already have trouble deciding which or my 3 Roscoe’s to use.
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Nice problem to have!! All 3 you have are wonderful basses for sure. I believe I may have had your fretless for a time
 
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