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Roscoe Club

#6,961
Hi fellow Roscoe owners,

Through my experimentation in trying all kinds of strings, including boutique strings, I've come across a set of La Bella Super Steps.

I put them on my Roscoe Custom LG and as it was discussed before, the "tapered" strings don't intonate well on Roscoes, I assume due to the type of bridge on Roscoes. (Picture shown below of the bridge I have on the Roscoe and the strings and how they look on a normal bridge.)

Well, the issue is, I've found my string! But apparently it doesn't work with the Roscoe bridge! The intonation is all over the place, all over.

But the feel is exactly what I have wanted. The tone is great to boot.

I have tried Fodera, Sadowsky, Ken Smith, Thomastik super alloy, And more.

But the La Bella Super steps were the string for me that I was searching for all along.

I guess I should see if the bands, audiences, and myself, can put up with the odd intonation of my favorite strings, on my favorite bass.

Roscoe bridge is on the left in black.


The regular bridge and strings are on the right showing the string tapered at the end

IMG_1219.JPG IMG_1221.JPG


@stevecaronna
(Wow that's terrible news about the lost bass.. I was just thinking to start shipping my bass instead of flying with it, but cancel that now!)
 
Last edited:
#6,963
bassfacer22 said:
Hi fellow Roscoe owners,

Through my experimentation in trying all kinds of strings, including boutique strings, I've come across a set of La Bella Super Steps.

I put them on my Roscoe Custom LG and as it was discussed before, the "tapered" strings don't intonate well on Roscoes, I assume due to the type of bridge on Roscoes. (Picture shown below of the bridge I have on the Roscoe and the strings and how they look on a normal bridge.)

Well, the issue is, I've found my string! But apparently it doesn't work with the Roscoe bridge! The intonation is all over the place, all over.

But the feel is exactly what I have wanted. The tone is great to boot.

I have tried Fodera, Sadowsky, Ken Smith, Thomastik super alloy, And more.

But the La Bella Super steps were the string for me that I was searching for all along.

I guess I should see if the bands, audiences, and myself, can put up with the odd intonation of my favorite strings, on my favorite bass.

Roscoe bridge is on the left in black.


The regular bridge and strings are on the right showing the string tapered at the end

View attachment 1171354 View attachment 1171355


@stevecaronna
(Wow that's terrible news about the lost bass.. I was just thinking to start shipping my bass instead of flying with it, but cancel that now!)
Click to expand...


I used LB Super Steps for years, but they're not cheap at $40 IMO. I thought that they were easier to intonate and the B sounded better than a regular string. I then "discovered" Carvin strings about 10 years ago, that is, I discovered that LB made them for Carvin and they were cheap / the B string had a tapered core (not an exposed core like the Super Steps have or had) and only like $15! I went to buy some last year and discovered that Carvin now sells Dunlop - tried some of those and got a couple bad batches with burrs on the string. I've been on the hunt for the last year or so trying different strings and gauges - found out that for me, 40/60/80/100/120 is a tad light for me - have gone back to 45/65/85/105/125. Long story longer, I'm a new Roscoe owner after having been a Tobias (pre-Gibson) guy for years. I wish I had tested out a Roscoe way back when - I'm already looking for another one! GAS!

Here's what I just ordered last week from Sweetwater to try out on my new (used) LG5:
Dunlop DBN45125 Nickel Plated Steel Medium 5-String Bass Strings
DR Strings NMR5-45 Sunbeams Nickel Plated Medium 5-String Bass Strings
Gauges are 45 to 125 - so, they're close to the "stock" Roscoe gauge.
 
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#6,965
Timmy-Watts said:
Have you tried Dunlop super bright nickels? I have no need for another roundwound string after discovering those.
Click to expand...

I tried them in the beginning a while ago. I think I remember them being pretty good. I'll have to try them again. I'll order some whenni her home from working in a month.

But I called la Bella up and he told me there is. I string like the supersteps and I have to try the Rx series strings if tapered doesn't work on Roscoes.

So I'll have in order when I get home the Dunlop super bright nickels again, and the LaBella Rx set waiting.


I didn't know that about Carvin strings! I wonder how they are now. Have not tried the Carvin strings. Hmmmm
 
#6,968
I saw a lot of talk about strings earlier, and I wanted to interject that my SKB fretless came with the D'Addario rounds that they put on all the basses. A few months later, I picked up an Ibanez bass at a musicians' expo that had D'Addario Chrome Flats on it, and they felt just wonderful. I immediately bought a set and put them on my SKB, and I'll never go back. I never played flats before, but I'm in love with these, and while I know that Keith sets up the basses specifically for those RWs, the flats feel perfect on my fretless. They are 45-65-80-100-132.

+1 for cool cobalt blue thread!

IMG_0331.jpg
 
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#6,969
Active Reasoner said:
I found the description of this Roscoe Century Sig for sale on ebay so wrong it's alarming. So just to be safe, I'm posting a pic. The bass is located in Franklinton, NC. Apologies to the owner in advance if it's an honest mistake....
View attachment 1171947
Click to expand...

The only errors I can really find is that the description lists maple as a fingerboard, it's actually purpleheart; and it lists it as a "VI" (6), and it's actually a 5.

I actually know the seller and the bass very well, it's one of my all-time favorite basses. :)
 
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#6,970
Active Reasoner said:
I found the description of this Roscoe Century Sig for sale on ebay so wrong it's alarming. So just to be safe, I'm posting a pic. The bass is located in Franklinton, NC. Apologies to the owner in advance if it's an honest mistake....
View attachment 1171947
Click to expand...
@Gard that bass looks like Arnold P's Century
 
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#6,971
Forgive the shameless self-promotion, but my blues-rock band is starting to get its sh!t together and play out. We kinda lucked into this gig on the reputation of the front man's prior band - but we stepped up and took it. So this is us, with me on Roscoe SKB 3006 fretless. Check out the Roscoe-cam shots sprinkled in there...
 
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#6,972
Gard said:
The only errors I can really find is that the description lists maple as a fingerboard, it's actually purpleheart; and it lists it as a "VI" (6), and it's actually a 5.

I actually know the seller and the bass very well, it's one of my all-time favorite basses. :)
Click to expand...

Thanks, Gard. Yeah, he went and changed the description after my post. It was originally "redwood top with swamp ash body", didn't mention the wedge neck, and called the center purple heart. He must have been describing one of his other Roscoe's. Anyway I've heard of dummies actually trying to sell stolen instruments on ebay, so I figured it's better to be safe. Thanks and apologies again.:thumbsup:
 
#6,973
Active Reasoner said:
Thanks, Gard. Yeah, he went and changed the description after my post. It was originally "redwood top with swamp ash body", didn't mention the wedge neck, and called the center purple heart. He must have been describing one of his other Roscoe's. Anyway I've heard of dummies actually trying to sell stolen instruments on ebay, so I figured it's better to be safe. Thanks and apologies again.:thumbsup:
Click to expand...

That's exactly what happened, he was describing an SKB Custom 6 he owns for some reason....happens. :)
 
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#6,975
stevecaronna said:
Man I sent my Roscoe in to have it Plek'd and it was there for the 1 day and now UPS has lost it. I was supposed to have it back by Last Thursday and they still don't know where it is. Gard said he watched the UPS guy scan it and watched it leave but now no one knows where it is. Can say how bummed I am right now. I was so excited to get it back and play it and now I don't know if I will ever see what that machine does to a bass.

Updates on my bass as they come in but nothing since June 30th which was still saying that a label was created but it has not been picked up yet. Now it says Exception/We are attempting to verify the package location. How does this happen?

So bummed out. Anyway I hope everyone in the States are having a great 4th of July!!!
Click to expand...

Hey Steve. Any updates on your bass (from UPS)? Sure hope that they find it and get it delivered.
 
#6,976
JOME77 said:
Hey Steve. Any updates on your bass (from UPS)? Sure hope that they find it and get it delivered.
Click to expand...
No updates site still shows exception, they are still trying to locate the package. It is not a package it is my musical Tool. Thank God I have other basses.They said the investigation lasts 8 business days, that will be this coming Wed. I wonder what happens after that, do we just say oh well we can't find it sorry or what? I have never had this happen, Gard said he has not had this happen so we shall see.
Thanks for your concern JOME77, and I will get back with updates once I have some.
Steve
 
#6,978
I'm all giddy and excited here and just wanted to share with my Roscoe brethren :)

My previous band having fallen apart, the guitar player and I continued on and formed our own band with his wife on vocals. She sang a few songs with the previous band but had never sang in public before that. With a mutual friend covering rhythm guitars (and the smarts behind the recordings) we worked on some songs without a drummer for about 2 months. We were getting discouraged but we finally found our drummer about 3 weeks ago and we did some recordings last week and I'd like to share one to get some feedback.

Just keep in mind...singer is new to the game overall. New drummer, this is the THIRD time he has played with us. Basic recording gear is being used. A basic interface into a laptop.

As far as the bass, you're hearing my Roscoe Century 5 string going through a Mesa Subway DI pedal directly to the interface. It really sounds like a Roscoe :)

 
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#6,979
mmbongo said:
I'm all giddy and excited here and just wanted to share with my Roscoe brethren :)

My previous band having fallen apart, the guitar player and I continued on and formed our own band with his wife on vocals. She sang a few songs with the previous band but had never sang in public before that. With a mutual friend covering rhythm guitars (and the smarts behind the recordings) we worked on some songs without a drummer for about 2 months. We were getting discouraged but we finally found our drummer about 3 weeks ago and we did some recordings last week and I'd like to share one to get some feedback.

Just keep in mind...singer is new to the game overall. New drummer, this is the THIRD time he has played with us. Basic recording gear is being used. A basic interface into a laptop.

As far as the bass, you're hearing my Roscoe Century 5 string going through a Mesa Subway DI pedal directly to the interface. It really sounds like a Roscoe :)

Click to expand...


Good recording. The stereo separation sounds cool on your mix. You guys definitely catch the 60's vibe. Your singer sounds really close to Grace Slick too.
Were you guys able to record it live or did you have to lay down each instrument/part one at a time? I use a 2X2 Focusrite audio interface into Reason 9 and have to do everything one track at a time.

Funny thing, I guess that I was just young enough in 1967 that I didn't ever listen to the words to that tune. I had no idea that it was based on "Alice In Wonderland". Crazy times in music.
 
#6,980
JOME77 said:
Good recording. The stereo separation sounds cool on your mix. You guys definitely catch the 60's vibe. Your singer sounds really close to Grace Slick too.
Were you guys able to record it live or did you have to lay down each instrument/part one at a time? I use a 2X2 Focusrite audio interface into Reason 9 and have to do everything one track at a time.

Funny thing, I guess that I was just young enough in 1967 that I didn't ever listen to the words to that tune. I had no idea that it was based on "Alice In Wonderland". Crazy times in music.
Click to expand...

Thanks! I was really surprised on what we did with so little. That was recorded all at one time, everybody in the same room. So there is no masking mistakes. What we play is what we get :)
 

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