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Roscoe Club

#2,862
Dave Siff said:
Requesting a little advice from the Roscoe tone experts. I'm looking to brighten or "open up" the sound of my Century Std. 5. It's got Bart humcancelling J pickups (JB placement) and the NTMB pre. Would you guys suggest single-coil pickups, a different pre, or both?
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I'd go the preamp route first....maybe an OBP-3?

I ALWAYS advise against changing both at the same time - you don't know which thing changed what part of your tone, and if you get it wrong, you're not sure what part might be right or wrong, or if both are. One at a time. Preamp is easiest, IMO.
 
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#2,863
Dave Siff said:
Requesting a little advice from the Roscoe tone experts. I'm looking to brighten or "open up" the sound of my Century Std. 5. It's got Bart humcancelling J pickups (JB placement) and the NTMB pre. Would you guys suggest single-coil pickups, a different pre, or both?
Click to expand...


I went the opposite route as Gard, and swapped pickups. I found the top end opened up, but the bass got less "clanky." So, more detail in the highs, but less bright. Cool trick.
 
#2,865
If I remember correctly your bass is solid mahogany, right? There is one small tick against getting extra brightness but not much.

I have the same Barts that you have (six string) with an OBP-3 and it is very bright when set flat. But, I also have an ash body and wenge fretboard to help it out. I love everything about this setup and wouldn't change a thing. I actually picked the OPB-3 on a whim when I ordered it.
 
#2,866
Thanks for the tips, guys. It is a solid mahogany body and a wenge fretboard. I'm not looking for a really bright sound, just a bit more than what I'm getting right now.
I remember Gard saying the NTMB is voiced a little darker than some other preamps. Aguilar could be the way to go, plus I've read glowing things about Demeter in this thread.
 
#2,869
mmbongo said:
I've found the opposite. I've used the NTMB many times to open up the sound of a bass. Especially my Warwick.
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+1

IMO the sound of the Bart NTMB is totally dependent on which pickups it's paired with.

I've found that of the two, pickups or preamp, the pickups by far influence the sound more.

I'd go with some SC pickups Dave. IMO that would more than likely get you where you want to be tone wise.
 
#2,871
I'm a very happy new owner of a roscoe century standard plus 5!:) Sorry to go off topic though;)

image.jpg
image.jpg
 
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#2,874
Bassfreakz said:
I'm a very happy new owner of a roscoe century standard plus 5!:) Sorry to go off topic though;)

View attachment 459639 View attachment 459638
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Beautiful!!! Not off topic at all. This is the Roscoe thread and that's one killing Roscoe!!! :bassist:

I love that top! ... and of course the mahogany body and wenge finger board are my favorite combo's. Congratulations!
 
#2,878
Dave Siff said:
A set of Nordstrand NJ5s is on its way!:bassist:
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Cool Dave! Let us know how it sounds with the Nord's installed. Do the pole pieces on that model line up OK on the Roscoe?

On another topic (yet similar), I played my first gig with Queen Koa with the new Demeter preamp installed and man did it sound good! That bass sounds so much like Mahoganut (also mahogany body, Roscoe Barts and the Demeter pre). Such a nice phat (yet open) sounding tone. All of the harshness is gone. So smooth sounding. Definitely glad that I took the chance and made the change.
 

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