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Roscoe Club

#661
Gard said:
That is exactly what we came to for the final shape, the upper horn will be approximately 1" longer, the back of the body will extend to cover the tuners on either side as well as be "under" them with a "scoop" to allow clean access to the tuners. We're still thinking about how the lower bout will end up, definitely more "sculpted", and probably about the same position (it actually works quite well seated with the shape it has). The primary desire is to keep the size as compact as possible, but still functional - it is intended for travel, but we want it to be a fully functional ROSCOE bass at the same time.
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Makes sense.

It's nice to see that the new Hipshot system is getting some traction within the bass community. I've been lugging a double gig bag for years and it would make my life a lot easier dealing with a shorter overall length. As short as I am, I still gotta duck in most doorways. On the bright side, I can typically get my amp and both basses in one trip.
 
#663
Wow, these are easily some of best looking basses I have ever seen! The tops on them are incredible.

Do Roscoe's have a tone that they're famous for, or can the builder make your bass sound however you want it to sound?
 
#664
jmattbassplaya said:
Wow, these are easily some of best looking basses I have ever seen! The tops on them are incredible.

Do Roscoe's have a tone that they're famous for, or can the builder make your bass sound however you want it to sound?
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Yes, there is absolutely a Roscoe tone that cannot be duplicated with any other bass! The big reason why is because Roscoe has specially made pickups from Bartolini that can only be gotten from Roscoe. When you hear about the Roscoe growl, these are generally the pickups we are talking about. They are modern sounding dual coils with a low-mid girth to them.

Now, with that being said, there are many more pickup configurations that Roscoe uses. They range from very modern to ultra vintage. But, they all have a Roscoe flavor to them.

Bartolini CB dual coils are similar to the Roscoe Barts but, a little more open and airy.

Bartolini JJ single coils are the more modern sounding jazz pickups which can be placed in a traditional setup or in the JB placement a la Zon.

One of my personal favorites is the JM option which is a Bartolini Musicman and a jazz pickup. You can even split the MM into single coil mode and get a pretty nice jazz bass tone.

Roscoe has just started putting Aguilar pickups in their basses. They are using the ultra vintage P and J pickups and the very modern sounding DCB dual coils. I've played two basses with a PJ config and one with the DCBs. All I can really say is HOLY CRAP! Mark my words, I will own one bass with the PJ and one with the DCBs. Aguilar hit it out of the park with these.

So, you can see that there are many options available from Roscoe and they hit all the major sounds and tones bass players are looking for. I think what most people consider the "Roscoe tone" will be evolving over the next few years.
 
#665
Nice summary Joel. Having the more classic vintage JJ and PJ tones from the Aguilar stuff but with the quality and feel of a Roscoe has been THE answer to a lot of my bass desires. I couldn't imagine anything better. To complete the family of classic tones, I've got a Century with MM pickup on order.

I do see myself coming home to the classic Roscoe pickup placement either with the new Aguilar DCBs or some Bartolinis. That's what got me hooked with my first Roscoe that I picked up in a trade, and I want to spec almost a clone of that one but with a few tweaks now that I have a better idea of just what I want.
 
#668
Jeff Moote said:
Nice summary Joel. Having the more classic vintage JJ and PJ tones from the Aguilar stuff but with the quality and feel of a Roscoe has been THE answer to a lot of my bass desires. I couldn't imagine anything better. To complete the family of classic tones, I've got a Century with MM pickup on order.

I do see myself coming home to the classic Roscoe pickup placement either with the new Aguilar DCBs or some Bartolinis. That's what got me hooked with my first Roscoe that I picked up in a trade, and I want to spec almost a clone of that one but with a few tweaks now that I have a better idea of just what I want.
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+1 That post pretty much summed it up.

To add just a touch more flavor, the 'classic' Roscoe with Bart soapbar tone is somewhat driven by the pickup placement IMO. The basses that sound the most similar to the Roscoe are the Ken Smith, the Sadowsky Modern and the Peavey Cirrus (IME), which all have somewhat similar 'modern sounding soapbars' stacked close to the bridge.... lots of initial, explosive attack at the front end, resulting in a very articulate 'bap bap bap' sort of feeling when playing. VERY responsive.

That being said, something about the Roscoe necks results in quite a different B string experience from the other basses I mentioned above. Every Roscoe I've ever played (all with Barts soaps in either the standard Roscoe or 'slant' configuration ... I have no experience with the Aguilar pickups or the J pickups in a Roscoe) has had a simply amazing, open, non compressed, non boomy, articulate B string. Quite something... round and 'bappy', but big as heck.

The Bart soap loaded Roscoes have that unique 'Bart warmness down low (lots low low mids), a VERY relaxed upper mid response (no grind... very clean and pure) and that unique upper treble 'ping' that reminds me of basses with Ebony boards (regardless of fretboard wood on the Roscoe.

Really amazing basses for the price (quite frankly, for any price), and (at least in their relatively standard Bart soap configuration) having one of the strongest 'inherent voices' in the industry IMO.
 
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#670
Not nearly as exciting as the headless prototype but also from the latest update we saw a big stack of bodies being glued up and another after rough shaping. There's not much to see (yet!), but it's no less exciting to know mine is in there:

1146480_597093413676992_1809542321_n_zpsea6b4db3.jpg


I need to get a proper family photo together but here they are separately for now:

CS5+J with Nordstrand NJ5FS and Aguilar OBP-1 preamp (for sale here):
Like the currently offered AG-V option with the same pre/controls, and the NJ5FS which IMO are in the same family as the Aguilars. Sounds awesome.
82FD3AD1-0382-42C3-BCBA-2B79A285B99C-7658-0000036B7B4280AE_zps3edc5943.jpg


Pictured stock, but the CS4 fretless now has Nordstrand NJ4SE pickups and an Aguilar OBP-1 as well:
e0271_zps7012a9e5.jpg


Finally my CS4+PJ which was one of the first to come from the shop with the AG-V option (Aguilar 4PJ-HC + OBP-1)
e0494_zps62ff32c6.jpg
 
#671
Jeff Moote said:
Not nearly as exciting as the headless prototype but also from the latest update we saw a big stack of bodies being glued up and another after rough shaping. There's not much to see (yet!), but it's no less exciting to know mine is in there:

1146480_597093413676992_1809542321_n_zpsea6b4db3.jpg
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My favorite thing about this picture is mine is in there, too! :hyper:
 
#673
Happened to notice this picture of a stack of bodies in work at RoscoeLand. The best thing about it is, the one on the top of the stack is mine.

Century Custom, Mahogany body, Wenge shim and a Walnut top.

Schweet !!!!
 

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#674
Yup, saw Moote's and Packard's basses while I was there Saturday. Looking good!

Also, saw Kieth's finished body on the shelf. With a 30" scale and the awesome black gold finish it is going to be one interesting bass for sure. Hopefully it will be done in time for the GTG.
 
#675
JoelFT said:
Yup, saw Moote's and Packard's basses while I was there Saturday. Looking good!

Also, saw Kieth's finished body on the shelf. With a 30" scale and the awesome black gold finish it is going to be one interesting bass for sure. Hopefully it will be done in time for the GTG.
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Both Keith & Johnny R will be rockin' some new stuff by GTG time!

:bassist:

...and, Greg & I have already been making plans for a road trip, so...if momma gives me a hall pass, and there's a place for me to watch my Saints the day after, we're probably there.

:D
 
#676
Gard said:
Both Keith & Johnny R will be rockin' some new stuff by GTG time!

:bassist:

...and, Greg & I have already been making plans for a road trip, so...if momma gives me a hall pass, and there's a place for me to watch my Saints the day after, we're probably there.

:D
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Can't wait to hear that 'B' string coming through all that Wenge and Mahogany
 
#678
Gard said:
...and, Greg & I have already been making plans for a road trip, so...if momma gives me a hall pass, and there's a place for me to watch my Saints the day after, we're probably there.

:D
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Do you still get S3B's? If so, I will hook Greg up and then I could just pick yall up at ATL if you don't want to drive. Of course, the way non-reving has been going recently it could just end up being a much bigger PITA.
 

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