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Roscoe Club

#25,781
Although I've played catch and release with numerous amazing and beautiful Roscoes, there's one keeper that stays. It's the only Roscoe that I had great fortune to commission, happily working with Keith from initial wood choices and specifications to completion. Hard to believe that I've been playing it for 5 years now, receiving it in July 2019. It's definitely the best fretless for me, and all I could ever want in a fretless 5.

SKB Custom 5 fretless, 35"scale, epoxy lined Diamondwood board, Maple/Purpleheart/Maple neck, Swamp Ash body with Maple top, Roscoe Bart soaps, and Bart 3-band preamp

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#25,782
I picked the Koa top (while at the shop) and everything else for my Century 5 with Keith. Kind of special to do it with the guy whose name is on the headstock. It’s been 12 years. I had crazy thoughts of selling it a couple times but thankfully my wife and common sense kicked in. It is easily the best playing, sounding and looking bass I have ever owned.

My fretless Century is almost as good. It’s the best fretless I’ve played by far. It’s maybe even a better sounding bass than my fretted Century. I didn’t spec that one, but I love it like I did.

My Classic P is also just as amazing. It’s my “Pino” bass with flats and like the other two it sounds, looks and plays amazing.

If I ever find the right one at the right price, I wouldn’t mind a passive Classic jazz.
 
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#25,783
SteveC said:
My fretless Century is almost as good. It’s the best fretless I’ve played by far. It’s maybe even a better sounding bass than my fretted Century.
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I feel the same way. My SKB fretted is no slouch by any means but the Century fretless is even awesomer. I’d love to hear it with a fretted neck but a neck swap won’t work as they’re different models.
 
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#25,786
SteveC said:
Sometimes I’m tempted to pull a Jack Bruce and play the fretless for a cover band gig, but I’d probably have to work a little harder than I want to to be sure I’m on tune and not sounding “fretless” too much.
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I do that sometimes. I usually use my Ibanez GWB205. I play different basses with this band and they did not notice that I was playing a fretless so I guess my intonation was good.
 
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#25,789
mr2xbass said:
It's at a GC, just be patient and the price will drop. Or call direct and try to haggle over the phone. When it comes to used gear at GC, its like a used car lot: if you pay the sticker price, you done been had.
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My experience has been they will not negotiate at all the first 2 weeks to a month. After that, the longer they've had it, the better the price.
 
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#25,791
#25,792
ragetoca said:
Probably a dumb question. But could I keep my current SKB body and just order a new neck from Keith that will give me the option to have a 34" bass? Is that even possible? If yes it would save me at least $2-$3k
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Probably not although you’d probably be able to adjust the bridge location as required. Keith would also need the body to build the neck because Neck widths and neck pockets vary slightly (I found that out first hand).
No telling how long it would take for Keith to build you a new neck (or if he’d even agree to do it). Repairs take a back seat to new builds.
 
#25,793
#25,794
Been a bit quiet on the Roscoe thread lately. Is everyone busy with end of summer events and tasks or has the new TB format put a damper on surfing through TB?
I'm starting to find new ways to look at forums, like the "Grid" option in the classified sections, that allows you to see more adds without scrolling the page as often. Much better IMO. I'm sure that there is much more that I can explore in the new format to make it more convenient and enjoyable.

As for Roscoe news (in my world), I did end up selling the Roscoe STD Plus 6 that I acquired 2-3 months ago. Wonderful bass but I finally had to admit that playing a 6 was just a bit overkill for the style music that I play these days and playing a 6, without a real need of the high C string, made my left-hand ache a lot more for no real benefit. Just didn't make sense to keep it.
 
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#25,797
JOME77 said:
As for Roscoe news (in my world), I did end up selling the Roscoe STD Plus 6 that I acquired 2-3 months ago. Wonderful bass but I finally had to admit that playing a 6 was just a bit overkill for the style music that I play these days and playing a 6, without a real need of the high C string, made my left-hand ache a lot more for no real benefit. Just didn't make sense to keep it.
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That was the case for me as well. I really wanted to take to a 6, I mean I tried the same one 3 times, but 5 seems to be my sweet spot. I do like a 4 in certain situations.
 
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#25,798
JOME77 said:
Been a bit quiet on the Roscoe thread lately. Is everyone busy with end of summer events and tasks or has the new TB format put a damper on surfing through TB?
I'm starting to find new ways to look at forums, like the "Grid" option in the classified sections, that allows you to see more adds without scrolling the page as often. Much better IMO. I'm sure that there is much more that I can explore in the new format to make it more convenient and enjoyable.

As for Roscoe news (in my world), I did end up selling the Roscoe STD Plus 6 that I acquired 2-3 months ago. Wonderful bass but I finally had to admit that playing a 6 was just a bit overkill for the style music that I play these days and playing a 6, without a real need of the high C string, made my left-hand ache a lot more for no real benefit. Just didn't make sense to keep it.
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Well, after 2 years, 11 months and 5 days…
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These pics don’t it justice. Looks great, sounds better. It will get it’s inaugural workout this weekend.
 
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#25,800
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