• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Roscoe Club

Koa Call!!!!

IMG_0307.jpg
IMG_0428.jpg
 
I'd like to share my 'new to me' Roscoe Classic. I posted about it a few weeks ago and put up some teaser pics. I loved it from the start. Now that I've spent some time with it, got the pickups and stuff properly adjusted, and got my Dunlop Super Bright Nickels on it, I'm just shocked at how good this bass plays and sounds.

See, I've always loved a Jazz Bass. Even going back to grade school (in the 70's!) I remember the high school had a 'jazz band' and of course the bass player had a Jazz Bass and I always thought it was so cool looking. And of course I'm a Geddy Lee freak, although I personally think his Wal is by far his best sound.

So anyway I've had various Jazz basses over the years but none of them stuck. Clunky feel. Shoddy quality. Heavy. Hard to play. Meanwhile, the basses I felt at home with were always high end active basses. I'm a sucker for modern sounding basses with stunning wood finishes. My #1 is my Roscoe Century 5 string, it changed my life when I got it a few years ago. I've also got a bunch of high end 4 strings...all with active preamps and most of them have J/MM pickups, but none of them sound like my Roscoe 5 string.

So after years of searching for a 4 string that I enjoy playing as much as my Roscoe 5 string, I decided to get something the complete opposite of my other 4 strings, and something I would never purposely buy. This bass has everything that I don't go after. It's passive. It's plain. It's white. It does not have wenge or maple fingerboard. It has an aged finish. It has a F*nder-ish body style. I normally would never go for a distressed finish, but to me it works perfectly with this aged white color. I love the finish checking they did!

So, it worked. I just can't put this bass down. The opposite of what I wanted is probably the best 4 string I have ever played. Now I want a 5 string Classic!

Here she is in all her simplicity!

clfront.jpg

clback.jpg

clhead.jpg
 
Here she is in all her simplicity!

That is a great looking bass: congratulations! I have to concur with your opinion about Roscoe's aged finish in 'aged white' color. I wonder if they would do relic'd aged white over ash on a century standard PJ...as soon as I gather the funds, I'm going to ask Keith. :thumbsup:
 
So the tax return deposited into my account and I did a thing. Talked with Keith and he's making me a new bass to go with my fretless.

Here's the rough of the body:
View attachment 3334722

That spalting! those quilts! Be still, my heart!

Fretted LG-3005, dark blue stain, Bartolini PJs and electronics, maple fretboard. 6 weeks can't come fast enough!
Wow that’s great! 6 weeks is a fast turnaround.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Skip Chucker
So the tax return deposited into my account and I did a thing. Talked with Keith and he's making me a new bass to go with my fretless.

Here's the rough of the body:
View attachment 3334722

That spalting! those quilts! Be still, my heart!

Fretted LG-3005, dark blue stain, Bartolini PJs and electronics, maple fretboard. 6 weeks can't come fast enough!

Dark Blue Stain on that killer spalt! No!!!! :banghead::banghead::banghead:

Sorry I'll try to control myself ..... No!!!!!!!! :banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::dead::dead::dead::bawl::bawl::bawl:

Please consider natural.:)
 
Me either. I kind of like that too.

To be honest, Keith has me using my imagination and pressing the "I Believe" button, but I have no doubt that he knows what he's doing, and that it's going to look and sound great.

No doubt, it’s going to be nice!! We are going to like the way that bass is going to turn out! :thumbsup:
 
  • Like
Reactions: Skip Chucker
I'm not a natural stain kind of guy. And after talking with him, there's a way to get some nice color as well as make the wood pop.

But hey, if you're willing to let me spend the money out of your bank account we'll do it your way. ;)

LOL
To each his own.:)

I suppose if you do a really transparent stain it would look good ...

stained-spalted-maple-teapot.png