Can you elaborate? I own a Metro and it's fantastic. I tried a NYC and it didn't strike me as any better.
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Roscoe Club
- Thread starter JOME77
- Start date
Can you elaborate? I own a Metro and it's fantastic. I tried a NYC and it didn't strike me as any better.
Yes. As it relates to the 5 string necks, every NYC had a much better, thinner profile than the Metros. The overall feel of the Metro just seemed cheap to me. The NYC's I've played felt like a boutique whereas the Metros felt like a Chinese made instrument, not to the level of a Sire similar but in that ballpark.
It’s the economy upidstay..... at one point I had 5 Roscoes and most of them were purchased new from Greg. But as their prices increased and their resale value dropped it just no longer seemed like a wise purchase. Still a great bass and Keith is a fabulous human being.... but unless I’m able to snag me of Greg’s blowout new ones, my Roscoe purchases will be used. Such a better value at the current used prices.
Hey Joe, I think I can answer this one fairly succinctly. I don't have that bass anymore but have enough experience with the preamps and pickups in question, including the Bartolinis.
Essentially the reason the Bart preamp uses a 25k volume is that it follows the preamp output, rather than falling between the pickups and preamp input like on most preamps. That's why the blend is still 250k. If you want active/passive switching you can swap to a 250k volume on a Bartolini preamp and it works fine - I've done this before.
With the Darkglass, and others that work like it (Aguilar for another example) you pick your pot values and vol/vol or vol/blend setup exactly like a passive bass, and then the preamp goes between the volume(s) and the jack on the bass. With the Bartolini J pickups on your fretless the stacked 250k vol/vol should be good.
I find the used prices of most high end instruments are going for significantly less than the new price. I own a couple of Fodera's that I bought new. I couldn't afford to sell one now if I wanted to. My cheapest Fodera in an Emperor Standard Classic with matching headstock that I think sells new for $6100. I've seen a few sell used for $4000-4500. That's quite a loss if I wanted to sell. Even the customs aren't pulling as much used as they used to. I believe as it relates to Fodera, there are other factors at play on their resell and perceived value.
My figure-of-merit on _any_ used item is 50% MSRP. (Most items do not sell new at MSRP, but at some discounted 'street price.') A 'like-new' pre-owned bass may be indistinguishable from new - but so is a car after a one-mile drive from the dealership... Is new gear over-priced, or are used items under-valued? I donno. Theoretically, a new item comes with some sort of dealer/maker support in the event of post-sale issues, which should be worth something...
Economics teacher here. Bottom line, like everything else, it is supply and demand.
X is only worth what someone willing to pay for it.
Notice some basses have sat in the classifieds for months on end until they drop to a price they deem appropriate.
Same with Roscoe basses. Now I assume Keith’s decisions are based on market factors andI hope all is well.
X is only worth what someone willing to pay for it.
Notice some basses have sat in the classifieds for months on end until they drop to a price they deem appropriate.
Same with Roscoe basses. Now I assume Keith’s decisions are based on market factors andI hope all is well.
Thanks Jeff. Exactly the info that I needed.
50% of MSRP works for most things but a lot of companies like Sadowsky and Fodera don't allow discounts and sell for their list price. 50% of the sell price seems a bit unreasonable.
I think what happens sometimes is that a bass is bought new for say $4000. That buyer decides to sell and gets say $3000. The next guy gets it and then decides to sell. He has bad GAS and wants to move it quick so he sells for $2500. No big deal, he still didn't lose as much as the original owner. Go through that cycle a couple more times and you may see the same bass that sold used for $3k now sell for $2k. When the market sees a couple sell for that low of a price most buyers aren't willing to pay more although it was no problem for the second owner to pay $3k. Used is used. If the condition stays the same so should the value at least in the short term. But that doesn't appear to be the case.
I think what happens sometimes is that a bass is bought new for say $4000. That buyer decides to sell and gets say $3000. The next guy gets it and then decides to sell. He has bad GAS and wants to move it quick so he sells for $2500. No big deal, he still didn't lose as much as the original owner. Go through that cycle a couple more times and you may see the same bass that sold used for $3k now sell for $2k. When the market sees a couple sell for that low of a price most buyers aren't willing to pay more although it was no problem for the second owner to pay $3k. Used is used. If the condition stays the same so should the value at least in the short term. But that doesn't appear to be the case.
As I was getting into boutiques, I compared and played Roscoes and Foderas at Bass Central. I went with Roscoe for feel, tone and weight. $ was not an issue. I still believe Roscoe has the best wood, and craftsmanship of any bass out there.
I agree that Roscoe build quality is equal to anybody out there but this not really part of the discussion. With that said, I believe build quality is either very overrated or very underrated these days. I say that to ask what does build quality mean? It probably means something different to each of us. If you take one of my Fender Elite Jazz 5 string basses, you would be hard pressed to find any build quality issues. The finish is perfect, the neck pocket is tight, the fretwork is perfect, it plays and sounds great and the neck is very stable. I'm not sure what more anyone can ask for. There are plenty of cheap foreign instruments that for all purposes are without flaw. With the advent of CNC build quality is pretty consistent. I don't find the quality of the wood being used to be that big of deal these days either. It's just not hard to find a good playing, good sounding bass that is likely to last a lifetime. So why do we(I) spend big money on the big names?
Can't speak for any one else...
Roscoe has figured out how to make a neck that fits my hand.
No one else I've tried has.
Your Hand May Vary...
TB classifieds is not an accurate indicator of quality/desirability.
Hmmmm, sounds subjective I.e. all about feel. The NYC I played was a 5 string but I didn’t like the neck anymore than my 5 string Metro.
Build quality, they seem equal. I do prefer the neck on the NYC's I've played/owned, though I like the tighter bridge spacing the Fender has. I owned an NYC WL 5 that had one of the best necks I've felt, just didn't like the tone which is why I prefer the Fender overall. I can used to and comfortable with most any neck.
Of course it's subjective and just my opinion. But the necks were certainly different with the NYC being thinner. Whether you prefer a thinner neck or thicker is up to personal preference.
And I didn't mean to imply Roscoe has the best craftsmanship, but it is equal to any I've ever seen. I stand by the wood though.
I question that almost daily. I LOVE my Roscoe! Could I find a bass for 1/3 the price that would work? Probably. Part of me likes having a bass that is different from everyone else’s. I like the sound, look and feel.
This more than any reason. My hand fits that neck so well. It “plays itself” much as I hate to say it. Could I get used to someting else? In time I’m sure. But now that this is paid for, why would I sell it at a loss to get a “lesser” instrument?
I can’t think of a gig I’ve done in the last 6+ years with this bass (cover, jazz, show, church, etc.) where someone has said that the sound wasn’t on point. No one complains about looks. It’s a small town and fortunately I don’t have to worry about people listening with their eyes. I get a good enough P tone, a good enough J tone and a great Roscoe tone.
I was talking to the bass player for “Love and Theft” when they played here last week. He said he used to play Sadowskys and stuff until he saw a big name in Nashville playing some simple 4 string and thought what am I doing. He’s touring with a pair of P basses. Passive 4 strings.
When I see/hear that I always question why I play my Roscoe instead of a simple P bass. Then I play my Roscoe and think who cares what others play if no one cares what I play as long as it sounds appropriate for he gig.
I keep getting asked to play so I must be doing something right.
I appreciate this about Roscoe. While it's nice to have less expensive options, it's nice to know that when you go to buy a Roscoe you don't have to worry about where it was made. Unlike when shady sellers try to pass off a Warwick Rockbass as a German one or a Squier as a Fender.
