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Roscoe Club

#4,243
Hey guys, finally got the SKB I posted about earlier, and she came in a few hours ago, all the way from Bass San Diego (Chris is a nice guy). She is not only better-looking in person, but set up with beautiful action. I lowered the saddles, tweaked the truss about a 1/4 turn, and got a dead-flat neck like my other SKB. Please excuse me for the blurriness of the photo, too...hard to hold my phone still at that angle. I'm throwing my old Peavey's walnut control knobs on, and I can't wait to get some Elixirs on her!!
 

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#4,249
Gard said:
Even more on the topic, a bit of a "story". ;)

Back it my "BR*" days, when I worked at an unnamed bass-centric retailer in a Central Florida city for a few years, I got to know a fella by the name of David Nordschow. Nice guy, not a player per se, but someone with both an interest in our fair instrument, and the knowledge to do good stuff for it. At the time, he ran a little outfit called Eden Amplification, you might have heard of it ;).

Once he was visiting, and my rig was in the shop for some reason or another, and he was noticing it had 2 of his cabinets, and his excellent power amplifier, but it had "another manufacturer's" preamp in the rack (specifically, Demeter HBP-1). He questioned me as to why I didn't have the Eden Navigator in there. My response will sum up my philosophy neatly:

"Too many f***ing knobs."

;)

I did elaborate a bit, and he listened intently, and he "got" where I was coming from - mainly my previous post that between my primary tone controls (right hand, blend knob) and my secondary tone controls (3-band preamp built into bass), I had all of the EQ I would ever want or need, and all "more knobs" would do is give me the ability to f**k up my tone, not make it better.

He then jokingly said he was going to go back to his workshop and create a preamp with an input, a volume control, the ability to take a microampere signal from the bass and raise it enough to drive the input section of a power amp, and and output jack. He was going to name it "The Gard". :eek:

I was amused by this (and quite thankful he was not serious! ;) ).

About a year later, the newest version of his power amp showed up, and he made a point of telling me that the input level on the amp was sensitive enough to be driven with an active bass guitar - eliminating the need for a preamp if so desired. I can't claim to be the inspiration for it, but who knows. I never asked, just said "good idea!". Never bought it, sadly, because I just can't justify carrying around a 1200 watt amp these days. :)

"Less is more" indeed. :cool:

(*Before Roscoe)
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Hey Gard

I certainly didn't mean to disparage the idea of using onboard preamps, I have a couple myself, and I know it's big business for you guys. I also didn't mean to stray a bit off-topic. Just trying in my own way to contribute on the basis of your "less is more" concept, which I certainly agree with. Thanks for posting - this is a great story.

It's funny, my go to stage rig since 1999 has been the Eden Metro combo, even on 40' X 60' stages it works well for me as what it is - simply a stage monitor. I keep the wheels on and set it directly in the road case tray with another set of wheels - so it has double protection against stage coupling. I don't touch the EQ on either channel unless there is a room gremlin, which is rare - the double sets of wheels clean the gremlins up a lot. I love it for the ability to switch between the tube growl and the solid state cleanliness. However, as stated - there are way too many knobs, I agree wholeheartedly and I am glad to hear you were able to impart that wisdom to David.
 
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#4,250
I just ordered a Radial Bassbone OD and put the Ampeg SVP up for sale in the classifieds. I was just going to get the JDI and be done with it but, I still can't pull myself away from having those little eq knobs. I think they are like a security blanket more than anything. There's also something nice about carrying a bass, a pedalboard and nothing else to a gig.
 
#4,251
JoelFT said:
I just ordered a Radial Bassbone OD and put the Ampeg SVP up for sale in the classifieds. I was just going to get the JDI and be done with it but, I still can't pull myself away from having those little eq knobs. I think they are like a security blanket more than anything. There's also something nice about carrying a bass, a pedalboard and nothing else to a gig.
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I guess I'm just an old fart ...... If I can't feel the air created from my speaker cabinet then I'm going home to watch a Bama football rerun! I've tried to move away from the good old days but I always end up where I started. Now I'm totally loving the Demeter HBP-1/Crest power amp/Berg rig. I've turned down gigs because they said that I had to use the in-ear system.
 
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#4,253
Totally understand Joel! In your situation you probably have qualified sound guys running a really nice system. A lot of the times at the churches where I play the sound folks are typically volunteers that can barely EQ a car stereo with bass/treble/pan/fade more less effectively EQ and control everything on a house board. Although I can't control my house sound, I need to at least be able to get a good bass tone on stage. I just don't perform very well when I'm hearing an uninspiring bass tone.
 
#4,254
Oh how I wish! We tried the professional sound guy thing and he actually made it sound worse. So, the drummer (who owns the PA) and I run sound from the stage. Him and I set it all up and get everything set on autopilot for the show. Any tweaking can be done via iPads. During sound check I'll go out front since I'm on wireless or I'll run a loop in the looper to set levels.
 
#4,255
BassHappy said:
Hey Gard

I certainly didn't mean to disparage the idea of using onboard preamps, I have a couple myself, and I know it's big business for you guys. I also didn't mean to stray a bit off-topic. Just trying in my own way to contribute on the basis of your "less is more" concept, which I certainly agree with. Thanks for posting - this is a great story.

It's funny, my go to stage rig since 1999 has been the Eden Metro combo, even on 40' X 60' stages it works well for me as what it is - simply a stage monitor. I keep the wheels on and set it directly in the road case tray with another set of wheels - so it has double protection against stage coupling. I don't touch the EQ on either channel unless there is a room gremlin, which is rare - the double sets of wheels clean the gremlins up a lot. I love it for the ability to switch between the tube growl and the solid state cleanliness. However, as stated - there are way too many knobs, I agree wholeheartedly and I am glad to hear you were able to impart that wisdom to David.
Click to expand...

Oh, I'm all about onboard preamps, every bass I have has one. That is a big part of why I don't want/need a bunch of EQ power at the amp, I prefer to use my onboard so I can make any required adjustments on the fly, without going back to the amp. :)
 
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#4,256
You know, my only complaint about the OBP-3 (and it's a common one) is the sensitivity of the bass knob. If I do anything with it I just crack it open. If they were to make a three band pre that was boost only on the bass and treble I'd be all over it. I absolutely love the sound of the Aggie though.
 
#4,257
JoelFT said:
You know, my only complaint about the OBP-3 (and it's a common one) is the sensitivity of the bass knob. If I do anything with it I just crack it open. If they were to make a three band pre that was boost only on the bass and treble I'd be all over it. I absolutely love the sound of the Aggie though.
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Yeah, the OBP-3 is anything but subtle, pretty much all the Aguilar onboard pre's are guilty of that. The good thing: It's better to have too much and not need it, than need it and not have it. ;)

Speaking of Aguilar, OBP-3, and basses, SOMEONE will be getting a nice surprise on Thursday, it appears. Well, really TWO, but the Rush concert isn't exactly a "surprise". :cool: :bassist:
 
#4,258
Gard said:
Oh, I'm all about onboard preamps, every bass I have has one. That is a big part of why I don't want/need a bunch of EQ power at the amp, I prefer to use my onboard so I can make any required adjustments on the fly, without going back to the amp. :)
Click to expand...

Hey Gard

I remember seeing some photos of some of your basses here and there, if my memory serves, you have at least one upright, and I think a 5-string ash body? I think you have a couple of other Roscoe's - and I think you should update the Gard fans here with a nice photo spread of how many you are up to...

Including the ones you sneak out the door and take home for a test drive when Keith isn't looking....

:smug::smug::smug::smug::smug:

I know I am interested...anyone else?
 
#4,259
BassHappy said:
Hey Gard

I remember seeing some photos of some of your basses here and there, if my memory serves, you have at least one upright, and I think a 5-string ash body? I think you have a couple of other Roscoe's - and I think you should update the Gard fans here with a nice photo spread of how many you are up to...

Including the ones you sneak out the door and take home for a test drive when Keith isn't looking....

:smug::smug::smug::smug::smug:

I know I am interested...anyone else?
Click to expand...

...."Gard fans"?!?!? :confused: The only fans I have hang off the ceiling, right? Why would an appliance want to see photos of my basses?

For the record, right now, my "stable" is 3 basses:

Century Standard 5 JB Fretless, Trans White over ash, Bart J's in "JB" spots & Bart 3-band, unlined fretless Black Diamondwood ("Stormtrooper")
Century Standard 5M Fretted, Charcoal Burst over ash, Aggie AG-5M & OBP-3 preamp, Bird's Eye Maple fingerboard ("Vader")
NS Design CR5M

That's it, not much to talk about there, my tastes are pretty simple actually.
 

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