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Roscoe Club
- Thread starter JOME77
- Start date
I can’t be perfectly sure, but I believe that board is Bolivian rosewood that they had that was two toned. Very nice
Add me to the list of Koa with Birdseye maple being exactly what I wanted, and, boy, did Keith deliver! BTW, his guy who does the fretboard inlays works magic!
I'll not stop kicking myself for selling this SKB. I loved the tone of those pickups mounted close to the bridge. It really had a nice jazz bass vibe to the tone.
Yes. When Gard came on board it was mostly mahogany and Spanish cedar bodies with a few ash (but not the grain enhanced version that Keith does today). Gard also opened the door to Roscoe offering preamps other than Bartolini and Aguilar and pickups other than Bartolini (and don’t forget gig bags).
As for the quintessential Roscoe, I think to us old school Roscoe lovers, it’s definitely the spalted or sapwood Purple Heart or rosewood fingerboard board with amber quilt or flamed top. That said, Keith hasn’t made those for years now and the younger Roscoe lovers probably identify more with the exhibition Koa or bubinga tops with BEM or wenge finger boards.
One thing has never changed though, and that’s the beautiful tops the Keith has always used. Prior to seeing Roscoes in the 90’s, I had never seen basses with tops as beautiful as what Keith was using.
Myrtle, burl, boxwood elder burl, exhibition cocobolo, Koa, ziricote, etc….
Here's an example of a pickup-placement compromise between your examples. Everything about this bass and it's sound are just right, IMO.
I had a fretted Century 6 with this ^^^^ configuration. Was so awesome. My first Roscoe build. Kind of with I still had it but I just didn't get along with the 6 strings. I do have a fretless Century with a unique (not one of a kind but unique) pickup placement. I wouldn't say it only does one thing, but it's not a huge varitation. Fortunately, the thing it does is magnificient.
Loaded in, sound checked and ready for tomorrow night.
Considering a sweet Walnut top SKB 5 up in the classifieds. As mainly a hard rock / metal guy this example has the Bart CB pickups. I own a Dingwall ABZ with the Glock preamp and FDE pickups and it sounds wicked clean and powerful. I admire the actual tone from each instrument I play and use a compressor and a couple of drive pedals. I shoot for 2-3 tones. A good clean tone with some tube warmth for the more mellow rock stuff I play, to a biamped clanky tone from my XB driver. I also play a streamer LX with jazz pickups and a Euro 5 kitted with an SNC pre with their 40 P/J pickups. The snc is a bit too gritty for my taste as my pedals react differently than the wick and the dingwall.
What features for you heavier players do you like about the Roscoe SKB’s?
I hear nothing but greatness on the build quality and clarity from these instruments.
What features for you heavier players do you like about the Roscoe SKB’s?
I hear nothing but greatness on the build quality and clarity from these instruments.
I haven't -- but I bet I'd like it. I lean a little bit towards the neck pickup as it is.
This is the Spanish Cedar body I should have never let go. Cocobolo Top , Cocobolo fingerboard and matching headstock. That bass was born in the pocket.
If you happen to own it hit me up.
That's stunning, Dennis. I'm sure Keith Roscoe could help you find that beautiful bass once again (think equally desirable similar substitute)
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Not to nitpick, but 'unique' literally means 'one of a kind.' ...
I know. I just didn’t use the right words to convey my thoughts. Unusual may be a better choice.
That walnut/ash bass is a beautiful instrument. For the style rock and metal style, I would think that an ash body would best suit the more aggressive tone you’d want. The walnut top would smooth it out some but dialing in some upper mids would get you where you want to be tone wise. The Roscoe Bartolini pickups (with the Bartolini 3-band preamp) are a bit more compressed and dark sounding in tone (which I love). If it’s too warm/dark sounding for your taste you could always change them out for a pair of Nordstrand DC or Aguilar pickups, which have more high end and/or a Nordstrand or Pope Flex Core preamp (which are more open sounding preamps than the Bart).
The walnut bass has a wenge fingerboard (one of my favorite Roscoe fingerboards) and IMO it’ll help add sone growl to your tone.
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A previous member posted this in the Facebook group, and given his track record I knew it would be for sale soon. This is an insane spec Roscoe imo. Koa, BEM, and non-slanted pups. But with my Bordwell being built there's just no way I can swing it. Suck. Dang pretty to look at tho.
MInt Roscoe Custom LG3005 Mastergrade Koa Top Loaded https://reverb.com/item/85552336?ut...are&utm_campaign=listing&utm_content=85552336
MInt Roscoe Custom LG3005 Mastergrade Koa Top Loaded https://reverb.com/item/85552336?ut...are&utm_campaign=listing&utm_content=85552336
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