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Roscoe Club

Question to my Roscoe brethren: I own 3 LG5s with original Barts PU and original Roscoe guts (why not, I love the sound) What are your recommendations (favs) on changing PU or preamps? What should I stay away from? I only plan to change one of them, so no one panic. I am not against trading for other Roscoes, but thought I would try this first. Peace. Zach
 
Question to my Roscoe brethren: I own 3 LG5s with original Barts PU and original Roscoe guts (why not, I love the sound) What are your recommendations (favs) on changing PU or preamps? What should I stay away from? I only plan to change one of them, so no one panic. I am not against trading for other Roscoes, but thought I would try this first. Peace. Zach

I can't speak for the new Aggie combo but I'd definitely drop a Demeter preamp in one of them. It totally changes up the sound from the Bart. That would be a great variation to have. My next favorite would be the Pope Flexcore or East Uni-pre. Both of those would probably require slight mods to your cavity (drill for sw(s) possible route for additional depth in a couple places). They are really cool sounding in a Roscoe. My favorite thing with them is they both come with a pasive tone control and A/P switch which works really nicely with the Roscoe Barts or Bart CB's.
That's my take anyway.
 
I can't speak for the new Aggie combo but I'd definitely drop a Demeter preamp in one of them. It totally changes up the sound from the Bart. That would be a great variation to have. My next favorite would be the Pope Flexcore or East Uni-pre. Both of those would probably require slight mods to your cavity (drill for sw(s) possible route for additional depth in a couple places). They are really cool sounding in a Roscoe. My favorite thing with them is they both come with a pasive tone control and A/P switch which works really nicely with the Roscoe Barts or Bart CB's.
That's my take anyway.

Thanks, JOME! As a teacher (Gov/Econ currently), I never try to invent the wheel if I don’t have to. I know some of you guys have already tested and played around with some configurations. Zach
 
Thanks, JOME! As a teacher (Gov/Econ currently), I never try to invent the wheel if I don’t have to. I know some of you guys have already tested and played around with some configurations. Zach

I would like to throw my hat in the ring for a change in sound whilst not reinventing the wheel. On my century signature 5 with Roscoe barts and Bart preamp, I've disconnected the inner coils of the humbuckers (disconnect lower coil on the neck pup, upper coil on the bridge pup), turning it into a much more open sound. It's brighter, with more definition IMO, and a little less output. I love it. If you like single coil tone, you may love it, too! Also, I didn't have to buy anything.

I disconnected the black and white on the neck pickup, and the red and green on the bridge pickup, and neatly sealed them up with electrical tape in the cavity.
SmartSelectImage_2018-01-06-09-16-36.jpg
 
I would like to throw my hat in the ring for a change in sound whilst not reinventing the wheel. On my century signature 5 with Roscoe barts and Bart preamp, I've disconnected the inner coils of the humbuckers (disconnect lower coil on the neck pup, upper coil on the bridge pup), turning it into a much more open sound. It's brighter, with more definition IMO, and a little less output. I love it. If you like single coil tone, you may love it, too! Also, I didn't have to buy anything.

I disconnected the black and white on the neck pickup, and the red and green on the bridge pickup, and neatly sealed them up with electrical tape in the cavity.View attachment 2866268

And you could also install a switch and have the best of both worlds. I did that to one of my Roscoe's (a couple Century's a o)! :D
 
So I haven’t thought about modding my Roscoe (modding to me usually means doing stuff to a cheap bass) but a friend who builds uses BART soaps and always wires them with toggles for series/parallel/single for each pickup and an active/passive.

Can that be done with the pups and preamp I already have in my Roscoe? I wouldn’t do it myself, but maybe send it to Roscoe? Would this mod give me a “jazz bass” type tone from my soaps? I’d probably need to replace the preamp though with one that can be active/passive if I wanted that option?
 
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I tend to agree with Steve. The thin tops, sides, and backs of acoustics are much more acceptable to drying out than solid body instruments. My Roscoes have been super stable trussrod-wise, as has most every Carvin I've owned.

The only bass I have had humidity or lack of is my SKB in my avatar, it has an ebony fingerboard that really needs to stay moist. I used to leave my Roscoe basses hanging on the wall but I have gas heat so I battled fret sprout. I have to oil the ebony regularly to help maintain moisture. When it is time for a refret I will have Keith cut the tangs shorter like he did on my Classic Custom bass which has binding.
 
So I haven’t thought about modding my Roscoe (modding to me usually means doing stuff to a cheap bass) but a friend who builds uses BART soaps and always wires them with toggles for series/parallel/single for each pickup and an active/passive.

Can that be done with the pups and preamp I already have in my Roscoe? I wouldn’t do it myself, but maybe send it to Roscoe? Would this mod give me a “jazz bass” type tone from my soaps? I’d probably need to replace the preamp though with one that can be active/passive if I wanted that option?

So, quoting myself, can this mod be done fairly painlessly to my Century 5. Can my "stock" preamp/pups be wired in such a way? A toggle to select either coil of each pickup and a 3rd to select series/parallel/single coil for the pair of pups?

I think it would be cool to be able to select either the "neck" or "bridge" coil of each pickup (60's or 70's jazz placement if yo will) and then put the pair of pups in series, parallel or single coil mode.

Not sure who to email or talk to at Roscoe now.

Or do I just get a 5 string jazz bass? I think it would be cool to have it "all in one" so I can make my Roscoe even more versatile.
 
Can my "stock" preamp/pups be wired in such a way? A toggle to select either coil of each pickup and a 3rd to select series/parallel/single coil for the pair of pups?

I think it would be cool to be able to select either the "neck" or "bridge" coil of each pickup (60's or 70's jazz placement if yo will) and then put the pair of pups in series, parallel or single coil mode.

Not sure who to email or talk to at Roscoe now.
Steve, the preamp is certainly capable and not an issue. Not sure which Barts you have in your Century 5, so can't accurately address the wiring capabilities of your pickups.

Just call Roscoe like always: (336) 274-8810. Keith Roscoe ( the man himself : ) often answers the phone, as does Roscoe Production/Assembly Manager Rik Helderman.

Both are very friendly, knowledgeable, helpful, and open to project ideas such as yours.

Finally, I recently sent them a bass for adding series/parallel switches (just got it back today). The pickups were Roscoe Bart soapbars. Roscoe's customer service, workmanship, and pricing were excellent, just like I have experienced in other projects numerous times before.
 
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