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Roscoe Club

#7,262
bassfuser said:
Hi guys,

I posted about getting my Roscoe Century Custom 5J a few weeks ago and I have some questions after playing for a few weeks. Mahogany body with Redwood Burl top. Aguilar OBP-3 preamp with Nordstrand NJ5FS pickups which replaced the original Barts. The bass plays great and I love the neck but I don't really like the sound. The signal is so hot that it's over driving my amp and it's hard to get a clean sound without turning the bass volume down real low. It looks like it has DR strings that are steel rounds. Could this be the problem? Maybe pickup height? I've tried making them lower but they seem to be as low as I can get them. I'm having this problem with both pickups when I isolate them.

I'm not sure what to try other than maybe installing some nickel strings or reinstalling the Barts. Is it typical that the preamp would be so hot?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Dave H.
Click to expand...

Congrats Dave! That sounds like a nice Roscoe.
The Aguilar OPB-3 pre is really aggressive sounding. I suspect that the bass might sound better with the OBP-1 or 2 preamp. I'm not a huge fan of the Bart J pickups and the Nord J's that I've heard sound good. You might really prefer the sound of Aguilar J pickups though. The best sounding 5J style Roscoe that I've heard was the one that Greg (Rocket) had loaded with the Aguilar j pickups and the Aguilar OBP-2 (I believe). That bass really sounded nice.
 
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#7,263
The OBP-3 has an overwhelming bass control (in a bad way). I just don't like the sound of the eq. But if you boost the bass even a little, your signal will get very hot. I much prefer the Nordstrand 3-band, which is much more useable through the full control range and sounds more natural (and has a trim pot too). No matter what pre you get, I recommend wiring it with an active/passive switch, and a passive tone that works in both both modes.

Good luck!
 
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#7,264
SteveC said:
Is there a trim pot on the back cover? I have a bart pre in mine so I don't know if the Aguilar has one. Lots of experts here. Someone will fix your problem. The 5's have the best neck out there.
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The Aggie pre is a "unity gain" design, so there is no trim pot. The output of the preamp with all controls "centered" should be the same as the pickups with zero boost at all. If you're getting overdrive/hot signal issues, it could be several things, but diagnosing it via posts on TB or e-mail etc etc is next to impossible.

I would check several things first - start with making sure you don't have one of the three controls "dimed" (turned all the way up), in particular the bass control, which is centered very low (40hz) and has significant boost available. If you are still having an issue, my next question would be whether the input gain on your amp or whatever you are using that is giving you this issue is too sensitive for the output of the pickups - if you don't have any other active basses and are using a very low output passive instrument, the input gain on your amplification could be set too high to handle the output of this bass, and you will need to adjust to compensate. Last, check to see if you have dead or dying batteries - it may seem counter-intuitive, but it will cause significant distortion if you do, and that can make it seem like a "hot signal", when it is actually just a LOT of preamp distortion from the dying batteries.

Those are the only three "easy" fixes to check for. If that doesn't address the issue, give me a yell at the shop (336.274.8810) and we can talk through what's going on and see if we can figure out how to get you straight. :)
 
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#7,265
Has anyone tried a Pope 3-band preamp circuit? My fretless SKB5 has Bart Js in the "JB" position and a Bart active preamp, which is great for that bass. However, if I procured a fretted Roscoe, I'd likely go EMG or another active pickup with a Pope Flexcore circuit. I LOVE the way it sounds in another bass that I own.
 
#7,266
Thanks for all the prompt replies.

Gard,

I have adjusted the tone controls and replaced the battery so they shouldn't be the cause. Good idea with trying a different bass. I have a Bongo 5 that also has an 18 volt supply so I'll try that. I did play my P bass and it seemed okay but I haven't tried the Bongo. My amp is a Genz Benz Shuttle Max 9.0. I can't remember if there is a switch to lower the input gain or not. I know there is one to boost.

I'll try a few more things and let you know what I find.
 
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#7,267
Duh, operator error. I almost always use headphones while practicing so I run the DI out my amp into my mixer. I had the DI switch on my amp set to Line Out instead of the Mic setting and I run it into the balanced mic input to the mixer. Flipped the switch and problem solved.
 
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#7,268
So I've been reading this thread for the last few weeks and I'm up to around page 210. It's kind of weird that I'm getting to know you guys without interacting. @SteveC, how many Roscoe basses do you have now? The last I read was your build on the 5 string fretless.

I already have around 10 basses and you guys are giving me GAS for a fretless of my own and I've never even played one. I guess that's what Talkbass does to you. :bassist:
 
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#7,269
I guess it's according to what pickups they are paired with but the Aguilar OBP-3 is by far my favorite preamp I've used. I've paired with great success with USA Dual Barts, Nordstrand DC-5's, Big Singles and the Custom Barts used in Ibanez Prestige basses. A little goes a long way but have never not been able to get a great full, clean bass tone normally set pretty flat.
 
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#7,270
bassfuser said:
So I've been reading this thread for the last few weeks and I'm up to around page 210. It's kind of weird that I'm getting to know you guys without interacting. @SteveC, how many Roscoe basses do you have now? The last I read was your build on the 5 string fretless.

I already have around 10 basses and you guys are giving me GAS for a fretless of my own and I've never even played one. I guess that's what Talkbass does to you. :bassist:
Click to expand...

I just have two. My Century 5 and 6 fretted.

Sold off the fretless 5 as I didn't seem to use it. Kind of wish I had it back as I would maybe use it more than my 6 string.

I bought the 6 back - again - because I wasn't in anything and thought I'd try some solo or recording stuff, and because I felt nostalgic when it came up for sale again. My first Roscoe build, lesson with Jimmy Haslip on it, etc. I'm not usually very sentimental at all but for some reason I thought I should have this bass back. I love how it plays and sounds, but I just don't use the C string much at all any more. I used to play some contemporary/smooth jazz and used the C string but that is no more and there aren't any venues for jazz around here anyway. I've thought about selling it again but my wife may lose her marbles if I do.

My Century 5 is my main gigging bass for the cover band and church. I don't even have to think. I just play it. I've had that bass about as long as any in my storied history. It's light, looks as good as any Roscoe I've seen (standard to signature) and certainly has a variety of tones in it from "P" to Roscoe.

I think about a Classic sometimes, but money is tight these days. A Roscoe 5 string P bass is sure an intriguing thought. Truth be told, I could live a happy life and cover any gig with my 5.
 
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#7,271
I'm a bit intrigued with the thought of a 6 string. Mainly for playing chords. I kind of shut that one down though because I started out playing guitar and I have a nice Gibson 335 I can use if I want to put something together that requires a rhythm part.
 
#7,272
as i sit here in the pouring rain thinking of the basses that got away, i keep thinking of my old warwick thumb basses, MTD serial #28 and my myrtle top lg-3005...been thinking a lot about what i would want in another lg-3005...i'm thinking wenge, and an ash body... @Gard ...do you guys do onyx finishes without the grain enhancement? i'm thinking straight up matte black would be pretty hot
 
#7,273
neptoon said:
as i sit here in the pouring rain thinking of the basses that got away, i keep thinking of my old warwick thumb basses, MTD serial #28 and my myrtle top lg-3005...been thinking a lot about what i would want in another lg-3005...i'm thinking wenge, and an ash body... @Gard ...do you guys do onyx finishes without the grain enhancement? i'm thinking straight up matte black would be pretty hot
Click to expand...

Dude, how the heck you been?!

Yeah, we can do that, no sweat. 8-)
 
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#7,274
Ryan L. said:
Pardon the crappy cell phone pics and 4 separate posts, I am sitting in Cleveland right now posting from my phone. .....
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Gard said:
Dude, how the heck you been?!

Yeah, we can do that, no sweat. :cool:
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hey brotha! :D been doing alright...still in the Navy, stationed in Charleston...we are getting some of the wet stuff from Irma...i didn't think that would be a tall order
 
#7,275
neptoon said:
hey brotha! :D been doing alright...still in the Navy, stationed in Charleston...we are getting some of the wet stuff from Irma...i didn't think that would be a tall order
Click to expand...

Interestingly, I was born in the hospital on the base you're stationed at. Even though my dad was in the Air Force. :D Glad you're still 'round, you should come hang at the shop, we're only a few hours away!
 
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