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Roscoe Club
- Thread starter JOME77
- Start date
This one still intrigues me.
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The LG3000 in Fargo is nice but I don't really gain anything other than another pretty Roscoe. This one is at least different with a MM style pickup and a pretty unique top/headstock.
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The LG3000 in Fargo is nice but I don't really gain anything other than another pretty Roscoe. This one is at least different with a MM style pickup and a pretty unique top/headstock.
I've been playing my G&L JB2 Tribute (Hipshot tuners and custom pickups and pots installed) a lot lately for a side project (Weezer Blue album front to back) that is tuned Eb standard. It plays well and sounds good with the new electronics. Looks as good as any bass I have as well.
I used to be a jazz guy but went to soapbars for the last decade or more. But, now that I've been playing a jazz type bass, with that fast little neck and tone that has that bite that a jazz has, I'm kind of digging it again. Kind of like the Classic P. Passive, 4 strings, traditional tone. I have a "half step down" preset on my Stomp for half a dozen tunes we do, but now I'm thinking maybe I'll drag the G&L along. I was also thinking that maybe this is a tone for some other tunes as well. So...4 string Roscoe classic jazz maybe?
I used to be a jazz guy but went to soapbars for the last decade or more. But, now that I've been playing a jazz type bass, with that fast little neck and tone that has that bite that a jazz has, I'm kind of digging it again. Kind of like the Classic P. Passive, 4 strings, traditional tone. I have a "half step down" preset on my Stomp for half a dozen tunes we do, but now I'm thinking maybe I'll drag the G&L along. I was also thinking that maybe this is a tone for some other tunes as well. So...4 string Roscoe classic jazz maybe?
Steve. Wait. I didn't peg you as a Weezer Tribute band kind of guy. I'm not sure why.
But, my Internet friend, that is so very cool.
My recent studio gig was heavily influenced by that album!
Ah yes. The "we got mortared in the rear, we deserve a Combat Action Ribbon" argument.
Nice try. You were safer than riding a bike in NYC. Don't kid yourself.
How many of your friends did you remember this last weekend? I've lost count of mine.
One of us is a warrior. The other looks good in uniform and plays music. Do not forget your place.
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You and MANY others I'm sure.
I'm a little more "hip" than one might imagine. Actually, the guitar player in my cover band (and church) and his friend (also plays at church) are of that age/decade and thought it would be fun to do a show where they played an album front to back. (I have had that thought as well but with different artists/instrumentation.) They wanted something more rock than what we currently do in the cover band (obviously at church) so they thought Weezer's Blue album would be fun. We already have a venue interested in booking it. Drummer from the cover band (and church actually) is going to play as well. I am the most seasoned player by far but they let me do some gigs with them.
The look on stage may not be there - everyone is at least mid thirties except me - but they know I'll kill the bass lines. 
Been working at it for a couple weeks now when I have time. I can get almost through it. Some songs better than others. A couple licks and mostly roadmap to memorize. Trying to get it mostly learned before my hip replacement surgery at the end of June. Then I should be able to fairly easily come back to it and tighten it up for whenever we decide to do the gig.
Here's a great fretless for a great price
https://reverb.com/item/82587239-roscoe-century-standard-5st-fretless-2010s-sunburst-matte
https://reverb.com/item/82587239-roscoe-century-standard-5st-fretless-2010s-sunburst-matte
Yeah, I had a Roscoe six for a short time too. Problem. Was I was coming off several years of not playing and just couldn't figure out the C string or muting. Then Audere preamp was over my head at the time too. I should have stuck with it.
Has anyone on here converted their Roscoe to a fretless? If so did it come out the way you wanted it? Does it matter the fretboard material? I mean, I know it matters but are there certain one's you just can't utilize? Wenge for example? If anyone on here has done the conversion are you happy you did it or regretted it? I speak of the SKB not any of the classic lines.
Speak to an expert, but wenge is not a fingerboard wood that I would ever consider making a fretless. It splinters a lot. Taking out the frets without the board splintering would be very challenging, and you would probably have to coat the board with a hard finish to use wenge for fretless.
Most woods are ok for fretless if you’re going to coat the wood with a hard finish. If you’re not then harder woods only such as ebony and similar are best. Pau ferro makes a great fretless fingerboard, but it will wear more quickly.
I have an old Yamaha that I had converted to fretless. It has a rosewood board and is wearing more quickly than other fretless basses I’ve had…but good lord is it an exceptional sounding fretless bass!
My SKB 6 with an Ebony fingerboard was built as a fretless and converted to fretted/pleked by Keith and company.
I have had the best luck with Ebony, Pau Ferro and Diamondwood for fretless fingerboards.
I have had the best luck with Ebony, Pau Ferro and Diamondwood for fretless fingerboards.
Hi, everybody. I've never owned or even seen a Roscoe bass, but I've been getting interested in them. I've checked out this thread and various YouTube videos, etc. I have a very basic and perhaps ignorant question: Is there such a thing as "the Roscoe sound," or is it impossible to generalize, given all the different styles and pickup configurations? There's a lot of slapping on the videos I've seen, and that gets in the way of hearing the sound of the basses imo. I'd appreciate any insights you might have.
I should let actual Roscoe players describe the tone, but in the meantime, head to the Rocket Music area under Sponsored Forums and listen to Greg's recordings to get a good idea. It's a great Roscoe 101 class including different pickups, different preamps, different models, and yet a common Roscoe family of sounds to my ears.
Sound Clips Featuring Greg Bump | TalkBass.com
I hear rich mids, a warm but tight low end, and an articulate top. To me there is a Smith'esque sound that is a little broader in the mids (the Smith being very focused) and less pingy than the Smith which I would describe as a smoother top end.
Sound Clips Featuring Greg Bump | TalkBass.com
I hear rich mids, a warm but tight low end, and an articulate top. To me there is a Smith'esque sound that is a little broader in the mids (the Smith being very focused) and less pingy than the Smith which I would describe as a smoother top end.
Welcome to the Roscoe thread!
Roscoe basses definitely have a signature sound IMO. Very mid focused, even sound up and down the finger board and a B string that is second to none. You can certainly fine tune the sound by changing up the body, top, neck and finger board woods though. But in the end though a Roscoe still keeps that signature mid focused tone. Definitely the Roscoe Bartolini pickups and preamp contribute greatly to that Roscoe signature tone. You can open the tone up a bit by changing the preamp to a Nordstrand, Pope, East or Demeter (depending on what you want). I've not owned a Roscoe with the Aguilar P4 pickups but a lot of guys state that they also give the Roscoe a more open sound. I know that the Nordstrand DC pickups greatly changed the overall tone of a Roscoe (but I prefer the Bartolini).
Aside from the sound though, one thing that keeps me playing a Roscoe is the profile of the neck. Definitely one of the most comfortable playing necks available.
