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Roscoe Club

#8,641
Debating again the modification of my beloved Roscoe Century Standard Plus 5.
koa 5.jpg

I love this bass. Love how it plays, looks, feels and sounds.
I also play some songs where a P bass tone would be so awesome. I can kind of get that with this bass. Neck pup, add a little mid, roll off some treble, etc. Some times a J bass would be awesome. Bridge pup, add a little bass, etc. I know one bass can't be all things. I also know there are a lot of basses out there with dual coil pups and 3-way toggles for series, parallel and single coil options that people seem to really like.

For those of you Roscoe players that have such things, what have you used and done? Brands? Active/Passive for even more options? Is it worth the cost? I'm guessing I'd have to replace everything:

active/passive 3 (or 4) band 4 knob preamp
mini toggle for each pup
new dual coil pickups
Shipping to and from Roscoe to get it done

This could be upwards of $700 to get done. After all that, would I get what I want? Obviously nothing will sound like a P except a P, a J like a J, I get it.

Thoughts?
Product recommendations?
 
#8,642
SteveC said:
Debating again the modification of my beloved Roscoe Century Standard Plus 5.
View attachment 2941940
I love this bass. Love how it plays, looks, feels and sounds.
I also play some songs where a P bass tone would be so awesome. I can kind of get that with this bass. Neck pup, add a little mid, roll off some treble, etc. Some times a J bass would be awesome. Bridge pup, add a little bass, etc. I know one bass can't be all things. I also know there are a lot of basses out there with dual coil pups and 3-way toggles for series, parallel and single coil options that people seem to really like.

For those of you Roscoe players that have such things, what have you used and done? Brands? Active/Passive for even more options? Is it worth the cost? I'm guessing I'd have to replace everything:

active/passive 3 (or 4) band 4 knob preamp
mini toggle for each pup
new dual coil pickups
Shipping to and from Roscoe to get it done

This could be upwards of $700 to get done. After all that, would I get what I want? Obviously nothing will sound like a P except a P, a J like a J, I get it.

Thoughts?
Product recommendations?
Click to expand...

I think "If it isn`t broken don`t fix it" applies here. I`d look at getting another bass e.g. a Warwick $$ will have dual coil pickups and 3 way switches for each pickup. Or if you have the bucks, a Fodera Monarch or Emperor Standard will have almost everything on your list (except the toggle switch affects both pickups simultaneously). Another option is to assemble a Warmoth with a PJ configuration. I own all 3 of these suggested options so if you have further questions ask away.
 
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#8,643
Bass Viking said:
I think "If it isn`t broken don`t fix it" applies here. I`d look at getting another bass e.g. a Warwick $$ will have dual coil pickups and 3 way switches for each pickup. Or if you have the bucks, a Fodera Monarch or Emperor Standard will have almost everything on your list (except the toggle switch affects both pickups simultaneously). Another option is to assemble a Warmoth with a PJ configuration. I own all 3 of these suggested options so if you have further questions ask away.
Click to expand...

This
 
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#8,644
But I like playing this bass. That’s why I’m debating the mods again. If I can get close with mods, and keep the familiar and comfy neck I’m used to, that’s better than spending money on another bass?

If I get another I’d get one with one of the tones I’m looking for with the mods - a Precesion or a Jazz 4 string that would make me rethink my note choice, lines, playing style, etc

I don’t see myself buying a Warwick or Fodera or something like that.
 
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#8,645
SteveC said:
But I like playing this bass. That’s why I’m debating the mods again. If I can get close with mods, and keep the familiar and comfy neck I’m used to, that’s better than spending money on another bass?

If I get another I’d get one with one of the tones I’m looking for with the mods - a Precesion or a Jazz 4 string that would make me rethink my note choice, lines, playing style, etc

I don’t see myself buying a Warwick or Fodera or something like that.
Click to expand...

You love this bass. Send it in, get the mods, love it more.

Mark
 
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#8,648
Bassworship1 said:
@SteveC

I believe your at a crossroads where if you don't get the mods done your going to be miserable friend. If you like the bass as much as you say send it in and get the work done.
Click to expand...

+1
Steve,
The good news is, with the mods you'll still be able to the sounds that you get today. The great news is, the mods will probably give you some cool added tones to choose from.
The only bad news is that you'll be without the bass for a few weeks and .... you have to spend some money.:greedy::greedy::greedy::)
 
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#8,654
One of the first “ads” I read was that Roscoes were a P bass that sounds like a Steinway. So what did I do? Bought the Smith BMT elite G. Struggled never loving the tone. Did a lot of live shows and studio and albums. Then read that a Nashville session bassist turns his bass and treble controls all the way up. That got me almost there. Then I sold it and got a Roscoe. Saved $$ and ended up with a P that sounds like a Steinway. So that sound may be in there. It may be in your head rather than in changing something. It could be that you aren’t doing something obvious with your controls.

Ultimately enjoy your search but let me say string changes are the cheapest and possibly most transformative change you can make to a bass.
 
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#8,655
I’m not ready to do anything drastic yet. I did just put new strings - D’Addrio Nickels on it and like that. Maybe I’ll do more eq experimenting. I know Jimmy Haslip also cranks his eq a lot as well.
 
#8,656
staccatogrowl said:
Your closest Precision™ tone for your Roscoe is probably with your existing neck Bartolini wired as it is, in its fat sounding series configuration. You've already solved the puzzle to work with your Roscoe's flexible 3-band eq to get the rest.

Succumb to the idea that you will only achieve true Precision™ tone with a Precision™ configuration:
• Two big single coil pickups, unlike your Roscoe
• Two staggered horizontal pickup planes, each varying in distance to bridge and neck, unlike your Roscoe

Realize that your Roscoe already has two similar attributes of Precision™ tone
• Your soapbar pickups are wired in series like a Precision™
• Your soapbar pickups are humbucking like a Precision™

Doesn't your G&L give a good Jazz™ tone? If so, maybe you're already covered there. Otherwise, good luck finding mythical Swiss Army knife tone, whereby one bass does it all. Consider thinking more like a painter, realizing that to achieve specific textures and detail, more than one brush is required.

It's a great tone, for sure. Sort of confusing though: a Precision™ that sounds like a Steinway is not really the same as a Precision™ that sounds like a Precision™. Have never really heard anyone say, "I would like a Precision™ that sounds like a Steinway."
Click to expand...

All good points. I just go crazy sometimes. I certainly get "close enough" for my live needs with pan, eq and right hand placement.

My G&L is pretty good all things considered. It has a nice neck that is pretty fast to play and I like that. It has a real strong hi mid presence (for lack of a better description) that I wish wasn't there. I am debating changing the pickups to a set of these:

Bartolini 9CBJD S/SB 4String Deep Tone Jazz Bass Pickup Set - Best Bass Gear

Both pickups are the same (short) length so it's tricky to find pickups to fit and are wound neck/bridge. I've always liked Bartolini so that's a plus.
 
#8,657
SteveC said:
But I like playing this bass. That’s why I’m debating the mods again. If I can get close with mods, and keep the familiar and comfy neck I’m used to, that’s better than spending money on another bass?

If I get another I’d get one with one of the tones I’m looking for with the mods - a Precesion or a Jazz 4 string that would make me rethink my note choice, lines, playing style, etc

I don’t see myself buying a Warwick or Fodera or something like that.
Click to expand...
Why don’t you get another Roscoe with the PJ configuration? Then you would have the Roscoe neck shape you like so much.
 
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#8,658
Bass Viking said:
Why don’t you get another Roscoe with the PJ configuration? Then you would have the Roscoe neck shape you like so much.
Click to expand...

I have debated that as well. Something like this:

Rocket Music - RoscoeCenturyStandard4ButterscotchNEWOLDSTOCK

Active/Passive P/J would certainly check some boxes.

or this:

Rocket Music - RoscoeClassic4PJOlyWhite

Don't really have $2,600 so...

This is a great deal. Not a P/J but a great J

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The thing with the Classics is they have a "traditional" neck which is ok I guess, my G&L has a "traditional" neck and I like it fine. It's just not the "modern" Roscoe neck I really love.
 

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