Roscoe Club

[CrashClint]

Look at the Bart's, are they wired parallel or series? If they are wired series measure the ohms and see if you can get Gard to measure a new set to see the difference if you have a curious mind.

And again, this is not an Aguilar vs. Bart thing, as I really thing there is something weird about those Barts that were in my Century 4. I'm mainly excited now that this Roscoe sounds like a Roscoe, as I was really worried that I bought the wrong one of the three Roscoes I was looking at so now that puts my mind at ease!

 

[mmbongo]

Look at the Bart's, are they wired parallel or series? If they are wired series measure the ohms and see if you can get Gard to measure a new set to see the difference if you have a curious mind.

They are in series and they measured right at 2 (dang what is it...kohms?). I completely Forgot to measure the Aguilars, I was too excited to get them in!

 

[Jeff Moote]

Roscoe club folks, I'm working on deciding between a few different top/finish options for a new build and would like some input.

The specs that are not going to change:

• Century Standard or Standard Plus 5
• Mahogany body
• Pau Ferro fretboard
  
• Bartolini pickups "reverse/Haslip slant"
  
• Pope Flexcore preamp (I'm supplying this)
  
• Black hardware

I have a few top/finish options in mind. I won't really say which way I am leaning for now (partly because that changes daily) to see what you folks say.

If I go standard with the mahogany body, it's between natural oil finish on the mahogany or "blonde"/"butterscotch":

@Dave Siff 's bass and Tom Beaupre's bass for examples. Trans-white would be another option but I think the blonde is more interesting.

If I go Std+ I'm thinking either holly over mahogany or flame maple with a yellow or amber stain:

BXLE bass shown for the holly example, Antique Yellow finish shown on a quilt top and custom (gloss) model but gives the general look.

 

[Thumper]

Trans White or Blonde, or Holly would be my choices

 

[mwbonsall]

Jeff, you can't go wrong with any of those options. I personally like the trans white or flame maple, but that's just me.

Good luck!

Mark

 

[mmbongo]

I've always loved trans blonde!

 

[SteveC]

I believe you can only get holly from one shop. It's a limited edition kind of set up.

 

[Dave Siff]

Roscoe club folks, I'm working on deciding between a few different top/finish options for a new build and would like some input.

The specs that are not going to change:

• Century Standard or Standard Plus 5
• Mahogany body
• Pau Ferro fretboard
  
• Bartolini pickups "reverse/Haslip slant"
  
• Pope Flexcore preamp (I'm supplying this)
  
• Black hardware

I have a few top/finish options in mind. I won't really say which way I am leaning for now (partly because that changes daily) to see what you folks say.

If I go standard with the mahogany body, it's between natural oil finish on the mahogany or "blonde"/"butterscotch":

View attachment 774834 View attachment 774833
@Dave Siff 's bass and Tom Beaupre's bass for examples. Trans-white would be another option but I think the blonde is more interesting.

If I go Std+ I'm thinking either holly over mahogany or flame maple with a yellow or amber stain:

View attachment 774832 View attachment 774845
BXLE bass shown for the holly example, Antique Yellow finish shown on a quilt top and custom (gloss) model but gives the general look.

I really like the natural finish on mahogany, but that blonde/butterscotch is pretty sweet, too. I was going for a Warwick kinda natural wood vibe on mine.

 

[CrashClint]

I would go with the gloss finish, it is so more durable. If you don't want the shine, maybe they can put a deglosser in the final coat.

 

[JOME77]

Roscoe club folks, I'm working on deciding between a few different top/finish options for a new build and would like some input.

The specs that are not going to change:

• Century Standard or Standard Plus 5
• Mahogany body
• Pau Ferro fretboard
  
• Bartolini pickups "reverse/Haslip slant"
  
• Pope Flexcore preamp (I'm supplying this)
  
• Black hardware

I have a few top/finish options in mind. I won't really say which way I am leaning for now (partly because that changes daily) to see what you folks say.

If I go standard with the mahogany body, it's between natural oil finish on the mahogany or "blonde"/"butterscotch":

I'd go with a Plus top just for resale down the road. I know when you're building no one says it's going to happen but sooner or later we all seem to sell or trade to get the next one. It's just easier to sell one with a nice top. Personally I'd stay away from the reverse slant too (for the resale reason; if they sounded better with the reverse slant I'm sure Keith would make them all that way).

I'd definitely stay with the Pope flex core pre, mahogany body, and Bart P/U's though ..........
Just my 2 cents worth .......

 

[Jeff Moote]

I believe you can only get holly from one shop. It's a limited edition kind of set up.

The BXLE basses are as the name says a limited edition but they'll do a holly top on other basses. It it won't have a matching headstock or any other special features not available on Standard/Standard Plus models.

I would go with the gloss finish, it is so more durable. If you don't want the shine, maybe they can put a deglosser in the final coat.

Going with a Standard or Standard Plus this time around. If I was getting a Custom I'd probably get the gloss finish, but that's not in the cards for this one.

I'd go with a Plus top just for resale down the road. I know when you're building no one says it's going to happen but sooner or later we all seem to sell or trade to get the next one. It's just easier to sell one with a nice top. Personally I'd stay away from the reverse slant too (for the resale reason; if they sounded better with the reverse slant I'm sure Keith would make them all that way).

I'd definitely stay with the Pope flex core pre, mahogany body, and Bart P/U's though ..........
Just my 2 cents worth .......

Valid points as always Joe. I don't think the reverse slant is such a deal breaker. For some it will make a difference, but I don't think so much that it would be hard to sell. I am also considering making this one a headless, which throws resale out the window altogether (regardless of whether I or anyone else like it, that's definitely an option where you'll pay more up front and it will resell for less than a conventional neck).

 

[coyoteboy]

I know i already mentioned it, but the mango they just got in looks great. Lite mapley color with tight graining seems to be the area your looking aesthetically.

 

[JoelFT]

Going with a Standard or Standard Plus this time around. If I was getting a Custom I'd probably get the gloss finish, but that's not in the cards for this one.

You might want to call Gard about that.

 

[crossover]

Looking to put this SKB 3005 / Custom 5 into some Roscoe-loving hands. Amazing playability and tones at a nice price, details here (<- click that)

 

[JohnnyR]

I would go with the gloss finish, it is so more durable. If you don't want the shine, maybe they can put a deglosser in the final coat.

I seem to recall that the gloss (hard) finish is only available on Custom and Signature models.

 

[JoelFT]

I seem to recall that the gloss (hard) finish is only available on Custom and Signature models.

Might want to talk with Gard about that.

 

[JohnnyR]

Had a few musicians show up at the old homestead yesterday for a jam. Thought I'd share. They may lack in experience, but they are full of energy.

They're mostly Roscoeheads to!

 

[Gard]

Well, being the party animal that I am, my Friday night consisted of installed the Aguilar DCB's in my Century 4.

The verdict? Holy CRAP these things sound good. They are a HUGE improvement over the Barts that were in this bass. It's almost incredible how much better they are, which kinda reassures me of my initial gut feeling that there was either something wrong with those Barts or they just weren't right for this bass. Like I said before, they sound nothing like the Barts in my Century 5, and sound nothing like any other Bart I've ever used. They were highly compressed sounding and had no upper harmonics or something. No matter what strings I tried they all sounded like flats. Fat bloated bottom end, and a dead thunk on top. No snap, and I had to cut a lot of mids on the preamp just to get some clarity. Now I can run the preamp flat like I normally do.

So yes I'm thrilled with the DCB's, they sound fantastic. They sound very much like the Barts in my Century 5 and that was the whole goal. I still love some Barts but now I won't hesitate to use Aguilar as well. And again, this is not an Aguilar vs. Bart thing, as I really thing there is something weird about those Barts that were in my Century 4. I'm mainly excited now that this Roscoe sounds like a Roscoe, as I was really worried that I bought the wrong one of the three Roscoes I was looking at so now that puts my mind at ease!

OK, now I have a good mental picture of what was going on an what you most likely had installed - those were the custom-wound Barts, not the CB's, and the DCB's and CB's really are very similar, so it makes sense you'd like the Aggies.

 

[Gard]

Might want to talk with Gard about that.

...who...me???



...sigh. OK.

The new 2016 pricing is still "under construction" (mostly because we're trying to clean up the aesthetics and make it a bit more "user friendly" - numbers and option changes are done), but there are a couple of interesting tidbits I will be happy to share here:

All models are going up ~5% across the board (not options, just base prices).

Gloss finishes are now a $300 option. On ALL models (i.e., no longer a no-charge on Custom and Signature, now an option on Standard and Standard Plus) - the standard finish options for all models is now either oil (for natural) or our satin finish for colors and some naturals (for example, Buckeye does not "play well" with oil, needs more "build").

Headless is now a $500 option, not a $750 option.

FYI any order placed before 1 February will be at the "old" base price, so it's a good time to order (I'll also honor the new options and pricing for any of those orders, so you can still get a headless Century for 2015 base price, add the gloss finish, and get the headless version for $500, if you'd like! )

 

[Jeff Moote]

I know i already mentioned it, but the mango they just got in looks great. Lite mapley color with tight graining seems to be the area your looking aesthetically.

I wasn't sure if this would be an option given they still have to process it all and make it into tops, but after talking to Gard this may just be the leading option now.