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Roscoe Club

#3,601
Jared Lash said:
So I got to check out a Roscoe Fretless SKB 3005 with the Bart Classics, Bart 3 band, mahogany body and a Diamondwood fretboard. Really nice fretless and had me thinking about saving for one of my own. My big question would be about electronics. I've seen Roscoes with Bart CBs, the Roscoe Barts, Aguilar DCBs, and Nordstrand Dual Coils. And I've seen preamps ranging from the Bart NTMB, Aguilar OBP-3, Nordstrand 3 band, Demeter, Glock, Pope Flexcore etc. I have experience with all but the Demeter & Glock preamps but I haven't tried any of the pickups listed.

So I guess my questions are:

How do Roscoe Barts compare to Original Bartolinis that I have some experience with?
Which pickups would you choose for a smooth, modern fretless tone?
What preamp would you pair those pickups with?

Thanks.
Click to expand...
  1. Roscoe Bartolinis = custom wound but similar overall to the regular Bartolini tone. A bit fatter and more compressed maybe, and compliments the pickup placement well. The Bart CBs sound closer to the Nordstrand DCs but maybe a little less detailed in the midrange.
  2. For the tone you describe, either the Roscoe Barts or CBs will get you there, depending whether you want fatter/compressed/mid forward or more even and clear up top. Aguilar DCBs could do it too, but would be a little brighter and overall more aggressive.
  3. I'd pair them with a Bart NTMB to start, even though it's not my favourite preamp. It's the stock option (no up charge) and a good starting point. Then you can swap it for something else if you feel it is necessary.
 
#3,602
Jeff Moote said:
  1. Roscoe Bartolinis = custom wound but similar overall to the regular Bartolini tone. A bit fatter and more compressed maybe, and compliments the pickup placement well. The Bart CBs sound closer to the Nordstrand DCs but maybe a little less detailed in the midrange.
  2. For the tone you describe, either the Roscoe Barts or CBs will get you there, depending whether you want fatter/compressed/mid forward or more even and clear up top. Aguilar DCBs could do it too, but would be a little brighter and overall more aggressive.
  3. I'd pair them with a Bart NTMB to start, even though it's not my favourite preamp. It's the stock option (no up charge) and a good starting point. Then you can swap it for something else if you feel it is necessary.
Click to expand...

Hey Jeff, thanks for the response and it's pretty close to what I'm thinking. The 3005 with the Bart Classics had a bit more upper midrange which I'd want on a fretted but not necessarily on a fretless so the Roscoe Bartolinis seemed like the right choice. And I like the NTMB well enough but I've really dug the Pope Flexcore lately, especially having a tone control in both active and passive modes. I've used both pres but in different basses so I have no idea what swapping out the Bart for the Pope would do to the tone.

If it helps, this fretless tone is very much along the lines of what's in my head:
 
#3,603
Jared Lash said:
Which pickups would you choose for a smooth, modern fretless tone?
What preamp would you pair those pickups with?
Click to expand...
I don't have any other experience but I have asked many of these same questions.
I'm glad to share with you what I have been told...

The Roscoe Barts with the Bartolini preamp is the bees' knees for fretless, especially with the Diamondwood fingerboard.
It's what I have and I have not found it to be lacking in any way.

I had just about allowed myself to be convinced that the Demeter pre was the way to go, especially in light of their uncertain future availability, but then the response came: "Fretless? Stick with the Bartolini..." So I did.
 
#3,604
ArtechnikA said:
I don't have any other experience but I have asked many of these same questions.
I'm glad to share with you what I have been told...

The Roscoe Barts with the Bartolini preamp is the bees' knees for fretless, especially with the Diamondwood fingerboard.
It's what I have and I have not found it to be lacking in any way.

I had just about allowed myself to be convinced that the Demeter pre was the way to go, especially in light of their uncertain future availability, but then the response came: "Fretless? Stick with the Bartolini..." So I did.
Click to expand...

The Demeter is one of the only onboard preamps that I haven't tried but from all indications it seems like it's a very bright one which to me doesn't scream fretless. And I think you're right that the Roscoe Bart/NTMB seems like the way to go.

I am curious if anybody has paired the Pope with Roscoe Barts though.
 
#3,605
Jared Lash said:
So I got to check out a Roscoe Fretless SKB 3005 with the Bart Classics, Bart 3 band, mahogany body and a Diamondwood fretboard. Really nice fretless and had me thinking about saving for one of my own. My big question would be about electronics. I've seen Roscoes with Bart CBs, the Roscoe Barts, Aguilar DCBs, and Nordstrand Dual Coils. And I've seen preamps ranging from the Bart NTMB, Aguilar OBP-3, Nordstrand 3 band, Demeter, Glock, Pope Flexcore etc. I have experience with all but the Demeter & Glock preamps but I haven't tried any of the pickups listed.

So I guess my questions are:

How do Roscoe Barts compare to Original Bartolinis that I have some experience with?
Which pickups would you choose for a smooth, modern fretless tone?
What preamp would you pair those pickups with?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Easy answer on the fretless thing.

Get the Bart 3-band preamp.

Pickups: if you want a big fat round warm tone, get the custom wound Roscoe-Barts, if you want a more modern "Jaco on steroids" vibe, get the Bart J's in the "JB" locations.

(drops mic, walks off stage)

:cool:
 
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#3,606
From my experience, stick with the 3 band Bart preamp. In a fretless the Demeter and Pope are just a little too open sounding, and an Audere just didn't do it for me.

Pick your pickups and placement to get "your sound". The best compromise I've experienced is either Roscoe Barts (for a more compressed, MWAH rich, sound) or dual coil Nord's (more open, less MWAH but still has that unique Roscoe fretless sound).

You want that "Grandma slapped the taste out of your mouth" leved of growl the "J's" will get you there.

The best recommendation I can offer, describe exactly what you're looking for to da'GardFather and then listen closely. :cool:
 
#3,607
JoelFT said:
Sweet! I'm looking forward to hearing that one.

I've also gone back to the lead sled. I'm now running a Genz GBE 1200 through two Uber Quads. I really like the definition that the class A/B amps give me.

Although the 1200 and my ShuttleMax sound similar and both hit just as hard I think the SM has more of a softer tone overall. I don't know what it is exactly that makes the boat anchor react better to my ear but, whatever it is I like it. I guess I'm just an old school solid state kind of guy.
Click to expand...

I've played through JohnnyR's GBE1200 & GBE750 and those are really good sounding amps! Hopefully you'll get a chance to check out the Demeter/Crest rig at a GTG in March. :)
 
#3,613
I was so excited for today to come. You see, today was the day my 3005 was to be delivered. Not knowing that it was a signature required shipment, I went to practice as usual (with my other Roscoe of course). The whole time I'm just itching to get back home and see if my Roscoe has arrived. Much to my chagrin, there is a note from FedEx on the door saying they will try again monday....arrrrg. I experienced that sinking feeling of disappointment, especially because I need her to fill in while I have the mid pot replaced again on my Century. Anyone else have an issue with the push/pull pot for the mid EQ going out on them?
 
#3,614
MeridianJoe said:
Anyone else have an issue with the push/pull pot for the mid EQ going out on them?
Click to expand...
Had an issue with the volume pot, but I let a small quantity of DeOxIt wick down the outside of the shaft into the pot and many twists later, it was back. Get the kind with the needle applicator - it will last a lifetime. I bought replacement volume pots but I haven'r replaced it yet...

Sucks on the delivery issue, but I'm finding that 'signature required' thing to be more prevalent.
As if people who are able to buy stuff of sufficient value to require a signature don't have jobs to pay for them...
 
#3,615
ArtechnikA said:
Had an issue with the volume pot, but I let a small quantity of DeOxIt wick down the outside of the shaft into the pot and many twists later, it was back. Get the kind with the needle applicator - it will last a lifetime. I bought replacement volume pots but I haven'r replaced it yet...

Sucks on the delivery issue, but I'm finding that 'signature required' thing to be more prevalent.
As if people who are able to buy stuff of sufficient value to require a signature don't have jobs to pay for them...
Click to expand...

Thanks, I'll try that. Where can you find DeOxIt? I hope it works, I'm not wanting to pay for shipping and wait weeks/months for it to get fixed again.
 
#3,616
#3,617
ArtechnikA said:
I bought it at Musicians' Friend, like so:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/acce...ml-with-needle-applicator?rNtt=deoxit&index=3

Amazon also has it, looks to be more, but free shipping with Prime, and I'm sure elsewhere. But this is the stuff.
When I did my volume pot, Gard mentioned it was pretty much the only Roscoe-approved magick goo.
There may be other stuff that works, but this (FWIW) gets my recommendation too...
Click to expand...

DeOxit is the "official stuff" because it works best without any follow-on issues. DO NOT DO NOT DO NOT use the "tuner cleaner" from RattioSlack or elsewhere - they are oil-based, and will end up doing more damage (by attracting and holding onto dust/dirt) than helping.
 

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