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Roscoe Club

#25,601
JOME77 said:
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.

View attachment 5444992
Click to expand...

Stunning Bass, Joe!
 
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#25,602
JOME77 said:
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.

View attachment 5444992
Click to expand...

That bass sounds awesome Joe! I've been very fortunate to have owned most boutique brands and I can honestly say that my Roscoes have had the upper edge on majority of them. No Roscoe have ever received a rating under but rather equal to any boutique bass I've owned. And we're talking some very highend, very expensive axes that are the comparisons.

I hadn't played nor owned a Roscoe in maybe 6 or 7 years and when I finally got my hands on one this year, I remembered just how special they are! Absolute top-notch instruments that I'll put against any other brand.

And that Century Signature definitely wins the most sexiest bass in the world award IMHO :drool:Roscoehead4-life! :bassist:
 
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#25,603
JOME77 said:
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)
Click to expand...

I started playing 6's quite a while back and have developed a different approach. On a 6 or 5 string that has a good B string...like a Roscoe..I frequently play up the neck using all the strings and play across the fingerboard rather than up it. I will typically have my 1st, 2nd finger or my pinkie on the root note depending on what other notes I have in mind.

I play upright mostly and use completely different fingering than I do on electric bass and find that switching between various string configurations on electric is most challenging to me when I play a 4 string electric bass.

I remember vividly when I bought my first 5 string electric bass and how alien it was for a while. Then I began taking lessons from a guy who played mostly 6's and that is when I made the switch. All those hours of reading Dotzauer cello etudes paid dividends in helping me develop my technique.

I've watched other players whose technique is very different from mine and they sound lovely so we each must find what works best for us.
 
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#25,604
Chuck M said:
I started playing 6's quite a while back and have developed a different approach. On a 6 or 5 string that has a good B string...like a Roscoe..I frequently play up the neck using all the strings and play across the fingerboard rather than up it. I will typically have my 1st, 2nd finger or my pinkie on the root note depending on what other notes I have in mind.

I play upright mostly and use completely different fingering than I do on electric bass and find that switching between various string configurations on electric is most challenging to me when I play a 4 string electric bass.

I remember vividly when I bought my first 5 string electric bass and how alien it was for a while. Then I began taking lessons from a guy who played mostly 6's and that is when I made the switch. All those hours of reading Dotzauer cello etudes paid dividends in helping me develop my technique.

I've watched other players whose technique is very different from mine and they sound lovely so we each must find what works best for us.
Click to expand...

Totally get your approach to playing a 6 Chuck. I play across the fingerboard when I’m reading music or a chart. Great way to utilize the C string (and playing in position keeps me from having to look at the neck).
 
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#25,605
Nine-and-three-Quarters said:
That bass sounds awesome Joe! I've been very fortunate to have owned most boutique brands and I can honestly say that my Roscoes have had the upper edge on majority of them. No Roscoe have ever received a rating under but rather equal to any boutique bass I've owned. And we're talking some very highend, very expensive axes that are the comparisons.

I hadn't played nor owned a Roscoe in maybe 6 or 7 years and when I finally got my hands on one this year, I remembered just how special they are! Absolute top-notch instruments that I'll put against any other brand.

And that Century Signature definitely wins the most sexiest bass in the world award IMHO :drool:Roscoehead4-life! :bassist:
Click to expand...


Thx Deon.
I hate to admit it but the Century body style has slowly grown on me. I still love the SKB but the longer upper horn on the century does make the bass more ergonomically balanced.

Time for @SteveC to chime in … :D
 
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#25,609
While drinking my coffee this morning I decided to take a trip down Roscoe memory lane. That eventually took me to Rocket Musics Roscoe archive page. No other music store built as many nice Roscoes as @RocketMusic (Greg)! So many gorgeous basses! And I was amazed that almost all of them cost less than what folks are asking for used Roscoe's today!
Crazy! Around 166 Roscoe basses that Greg had built. And of course, there may have been more (that didn't get uploaded to the archive site).

Roscoe (Archive) - all - Rocket Music
 
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#25,610
JOME77 said:
While drinking my coffee this morning I decided to take a trip down Roscoe memory lane. That eventually took me to Rocket Musics Roscoe archive page. No other music store built as many nice Roscoes as @RocketMusic (Greg)! So many gorgeous basses! And I was amazed that almost all of them cost less than what folks are asking for used Roscoe's today!
Crazy! Around 166 Roscoe basses that Greg had built. And of course, there may have been more (that didn't get uploaded to the archive site).

Roscoe (Archive) - all - Rocket Music
Click to expand...
A couple of mine never made it to the site. Ordered through him but must have just shipped from Roscoe? I don't remember as it was a while ago now. But yeah, I stumble across that page now and again. Fun times watching those builds come together.
 
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#25,611
Another pic from a recent performance...
IMG_FC81429B0937-1.jpeg
 
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#25,620
JOME77 said:
Yeah. We lost the AFRES band at Warner Robins several years ago and really miss them. Fortunately several retired here and I still get to see and play some with them.
Click to expand...

I know a few of them too, Joe. Some good people. I went to NIU with the keyboardist/pianist and got to be good friends with the guitarist, too. Some gigs together, too. One is in Virginia/DC, one in Nashville now.
 
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