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Roscoe Club

#3,542
JOME77 said:
Beautiful bass Fretno!

And just for the record, they did a survey, and it was determined that players typically play 25% less bad notes on a 3 string bass verses a 4 string bass!:)
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tee hee oh good thing I wasn't there it would have thrown off the results and did they test for the amount of ghost notes on a 3 string . I'm sure that is very high :smug:. Thanks JOME77 !
 
#3,545
TapyTap said:
:D I get where you're coming from. It is far more intuitive for me to play in fourths than fifths. Funny thing is, I'm considering going to a 5-string tuned EADGC...go figure.

However you tune your 3-stringer, it's a cool bass!:cool:
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That is a great way to tune a 5ver , oh I put the 3 banger on the scale today,she's feather weight
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#3,546
TapyTap said:
:D I get where you're coming from. It is far more intuitive for me to play in fourths than fifths. Funny thing is, I'm considering going to a 5-string tuned EADGC...go figure.

However you tune your 3-stringer, it's a cool bass!:cool:
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I don't know how difficult to adapt it would be, but tuning an electric bass in fifths is an interesting idea. You could cover the range of a five string bass in a four string format.
5-string in fourths: B E A D G
4-string in fifths: Bb F C G

I'm curious what string gauges might have to be used for equal tension with this tuning?
 
#3,547
5StringPocket said:
I don't know how difficult to adapt it would be, but tuning an electric bass in fifths is an interesting idea. You could cover the range of a five string bass in a four string format.
5-string in fourths: B E A D G
4-string in fifths: Bb F C G

I'm curious what string gauges might have to be used for equal tension with this tuning?
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Here is a great tool for determining your desired string set: http://liutaiomottola.com/formulae/tension.htm
 
#3,548
Thanks, that's a useful link for string selection. Ever since I switched over to 5-string I've had no interest in playing 4-string because I use that extended range often and like the additional positions it adds for playing lower scales. I'm thinking of taking up cello because I love the way it sings and wondered if it might help having a 4-string fretted bass strung and tuned like a cello but an octave lower to help learn the fingering positions and make it easier to switch back and forth. Shifting the proposed intervals up 1/2 step, a 4-string tuned in fifths with open strings C G D A might also benefit from a 32" medium scale which should make first finger diminished and 4th finger augmented note shifts easier.

Also found this to be helpful
http://www.notreble.com/buzz/2010/10/18/common-upright-bass-tunings-part-1-of-2/
Tuning in Fifths
An alternative tuning, which has been in existence since the origins of the upright bass, is tuning in 5ths, one octave below the sound of a cello, C G D A:

fig3.gif


Some notable players who advocate this tuning are: Joel Quarrington (soloist and principal bass of the Toronto Symphony) and the late jazz great Red Mitchell. Supporters of this tuning dismiss concerns of increased left hand workload and cite the increased resonance of the instrument as a relevant factor, among other things.

Not all string manufacturers produce a set of strings for 5ths tuning, but some do. Those who produce them denote them as either “Red Mitchell” or simply “fifths tuning.” If you don’t like the brands, or production lines, of strings available as a fifths tuning set, you can create your own out of other orchestral and solo tuning strings:
  1. Take a low B string (originally designed to be lowest string on a 5 string bass) and tune it up 1/2 step higher to C
  2. Take an F# solo string and tune it up 1/2 step higher to G
  3. Use an orchestral tuning D string and a solo tuning A string to complete the set.
  4. You are now in fifths tuning!
 
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#3,550
Y'all feel me on this one -
I play twice a week at a decent size church and my main player for years has been a USA Cirrus 5. I also have an MTD 535 and other decent instruments. Anyways, I bought my Century Standard 5 used and when I received it there were some electronics issues. I could tell right away that I LOVED my Roscoe. The perfect balance, light weight, playability, feel and look were just what I was looking for. I was disappointed that I couldn't just plug in and play that next Sunday but thankfully I only live a little over an hour drive from the Roscoe shop. Keith and Gard were very easy to deal with and it was cool to see where these fine basses are born and meet the man behind them. I am in a bit of a financial bind and when I realized that my Roscoe was the first production unit of that series I decided to list it for sale because I knew it would be extra desirable to a Roscoe fan. Here's where I'm at though, I got it back all ready to go from the crew at Roscoe and fell in love! It is now my "A" bass for playing out and my MTD is now for sale :). I still cant beat the sound and "fastness" of my Cirrus but she breaks my back and is getting old. With the Roscoe being so light and nearly as great sounding and playing as my Cirrus she just can't be beat. I don't know what the real point of this post is other than expressing my love for my Roscoe. You can see her in my profile pic (no, I don't still play through that Peavey head. It's now a Mesa M6 and that's a whole other story of love).
 
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#3,551
MeridianJoe said:
Y'all feel me on this one -
I play twice a week at a decent size church and my main player for years has been a USA Cirrus 5. I also have an MTD 535 and other decent instruments. Anyways, I bought my Century Standard 5 used and when I received it there were some electronics issues. I could tell right away that I LOVED my Roscoe. The perfect balance, light weight, playability, feel and look were just what I was looking for. I was disappointed that I couldn't just plug in and play that next Sunday but thankfully I only live a little over an hour drive from the Roscoe shop. Keith and Gard were very easy to deal with and it was cool to see where these fine basses are born and meet the man behind them. I am in a bit of a financial bind and when I realized that my Roscoe was the first production unit of that series I decided to list it for sale because I knew it would be extra desirable to a Roscoe fan. Here's where I'm at though, I got it back all ready to go from the crew at Roscoe and fell in love! It is now my "A" bass for playing out and my MTD is now for sale :). I still cant beat the sound and "fastness" of my Cirrus but she breaks my back and is getting old. With the Roscoe being so light and nearly as great sounding and playing as my Cirrus she just can't be beat. I don't know what the real point of this post is other than expressing my love for my Roscoe. You can see her in my profile pic (no, I don't still play through that Peavey head. It's now a Mesa M6 and that's a whole other story of love).
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Cool! Great to hear that Keith, Gard and the boys took care of you! They're a great bunch of fellows for sure.
I'm not surprised that you love you Cirrus, what with a name like "MeridianJoe" (since Peavey's based out of Meridian Mississippi)! :D I've got a good friend that's been with Peavey for close to 40 years. Hartley sounds like a great guy to work for.

I've played some really nice playing and sounding Cirrus basses but I can't really say that I've ever played a Cirrus that's any where as nice as my Roscoe's but it's such a subjective thing ......... Glad that you really like the Roscoe.

And of course, welcome to the Roscoehead world!:)
 
#3,558
5StringPocket said:
Beautiful bass! That one's got a very unique top. How do you like the Nordy dual coils?
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I'm really happy with them. They give you more options. A little more open sounding. More pronounced mids and clear highs. Not quite as much low down growl and compression as I've experienced with others (i.e. Bart's), but it will come close.

I think I heard Gard say that these were custom wound, but I could be mixing conversations here.
 
#3,559
JohnnyR said:
I'm really happy with them. They give you more options. A little more open sounding. More pronounced mids and clear highs. Not quite as much low down growl and compression as I've experienced with others (i.e. Bart's), but it will come close.

I think I heard Gard say that these were custom wound, but I could be mixing conversations here.
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They're the standard DC's, in custom covers. Good sounding pickups. :)
 

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