• 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

@campbems...look familiar? Just arrived today! Super excited! I've tried to get this one twice, and finally timed it up. Going to do my 'Adam' special, as I've gotten used to with my beautiful used Roscoes:
(1) Scotchbrite the back of the neck to knock down the gloss buildup, returning it to a satin finish.
(2) Dunlop superbright 40-120 (never thought I'd use strings this thin, but it's a great, reliable set, and Dunlop recently took care of me really well with a customer service issue).
(3) Play the crap out of it!

Also, I'm not as fond of the Aguilar pickups/pre as the Barts...I have recently come to realize (via BBG) that the Bart P5 shape is not the same as the Aguilar P5. Are there any P5s that can replace the Aguilar (same size)? I've got a spare Bart 3-band pre that I'll drop in this weekend.

View attachment 3394767

Steelin! You are totally living up to your name!
U-R Sterling all the nice Roscoe’s!
I love the look of that bass!
I bet that The P/J p/u configuration sounds killer in that bass! Congrats!
 
@campbems...look familiar? Just arrived today! Super excited! I've tried to get this one twice, and finally timed it up. Going to do my 'Adam' special, as I've gotten used to with my beautiful used Roscoes:
(1) Scotchbrite the back of the neck to knock down the gloss buildup, returning it to a satin finish.
(2) Dunlop superbright 40-120 (never thought I'd use strings this thin, but it's a great, reliable set, and Dunlop recently took care of me really well with a customer service issue).
(3) Play the crap out of it!

Also, I'm not as fond of the Aguilar pickups/pre as the Barts...I have recently come to realize (via BBG) that the Bart P5 shape is not the same as the Aguilar P5. Are there any P5s that can replace the Aguilar (same size)? I've got a spare Bart 3-band pre that I'll drop in this weekend.

View attachment 3394767

I had my eye on this one as well...
Congratulations!

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts after you make your changes

Beautiful!
 
  • Like
Reactions: steelin4u
I finally got an LG Custom 3005. I have wanted an LG 3005 but the only LG I’ve ever scored was a 4 stringer. But it was a sweetheart. It’s got an Aguilar pre but I prefer the Bart but it wasn’t a deal killer for me.


18437E87-00A0-4974-B834-532DBEF3FF3A.jpeg
13BDAF94-1054-44A7-A164-B398F0F620F6.jpeg
 
I finally got an LG Custom 3005. I have wanted an LG 3005 but the only LG I’ve ever scored was a 4 stringer. But it was a sweetheart. It’s got an Aguilar pre but I prefer the Bart but it wasn’t a deal killer for me.


View attachment 3394926 View attachment 3394927

That's a sexy looking LG! I'm digging the burst look on the swamp ash(?) body.


I'm sure you can get a Bart preamp put in her when you get the desire and the money to back it up!
 
  • Like
Reactions: armybass
That's a sexy looking LG! I'm digging the burst look on the swamp ash(?) body.


I'm sure you can get a Bart preamp put in her when you get the desire and the money to back it up!

Yes it’s an ash body and I think I actually have a Bart 3 band already but honestly I really think the Aguilar sounds pretty good. I like it more than I remember liking it. I’ll leave it stock for a while. But I wonder what these strings are?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Fred312b
I finally got an LG Custom 3005. I have wanted an LG 3005 but the only LG I’ve ever scored was a 4 stringer. But it was a sweetheart. It’s got an Aguilar pre but I prefer the Bart but it wasn’t a deal killer for me.


View attachment 3394926 View attachment 3394927
That's a sexy looking LG! I'm digging the burst look on the swamp ash(?) body.


I'm sure you can get a Bart preamp put in her when you get the desire and the money to back it up!

+1
Looks like a wenge finger board too. That should sound really nice with the solid ash body. Definitely a classy looking finish.
Congrats!
 
  • Like
Reactions: armybass
Man that Cocobolo P/J is stunning!

That gets me thinking...if that were a fully passive P/J Century, how would the sound compare to a Classic P/J? My 4 string Roscoe Classic has really make me appreciate a properly done passive bass (I hate how Fen**r basses feel, sound, and are made) and I want a Classic 5 string P/J now. But I admit I do like the Century body better (Century is the perfect design) so a passive Century may be the ticket....if they have that sound! Is the pickup placement different?

I had a Roscoe classic PJ5 first, then an alder body century PJ5 (sunburst on flame maple, alder body). I really like the sunburst century PJ5, but when the cocobolo became available, I had to snag it. Comparing the 3 PJ5s, the centuries have the body shape and the string spacing that I'm most comfortable with (I never measured, but it felt like the classic 5 was 19-20mm spacing). They all have the Aggie pup/pre.

It sounds to me that you would be super happy with a Century PJ5. Sonically very similar to the classic with the same pup/pre package, just a different 'interfacing' experience for the player. Also, just your luck, I have a great sunburst active/passive century PJ5 with very new strings for sale...:thumbsup:
 
I had a Roscoe classic PJ5 first, then an alder body century PJ5 (sunburst on flame maple, alder body). I really like the sunburst century PJ5, but when the cocobolo became available, I had to snag it. Comparing the 3 PJ5s, the centuries have the body shape and the string spacing that I'm most comfortable with (I never measured, but it felt like the classic 5 was 19-20mm spacing). They all have the Aggie pup/pre.

It sounds to me that you would be super happy with a Century PJ5. Sonically very similar to the classic with the same pup/pre package, just a different 'interfacing' experience for the player. Also, just your luck, I have a great sunburst active/passive century PJ5 with very new strings for sale...:thumbsup:

I didn't think about string spacing. This is also one of the things that make a Century the perfect design. It's 18.3mm. I could probably deal with 19mm (I have a 19mm 5 string Lakland as well) but not sure about 20mm. An adjustable Hipshot A style bridge would be handy in this situation!

Century PJ5 for sale, eh? Hmmm...
 
I finally got an LG Custom 3005. I have wanted an LG 3005 but the only LG I’ve ever scored was a 4 stringer. But it was a sweetheart. It’s got an Aguilar pre but I prefer the Bart but it wasn’t a deal killer for me.


View attachment 3394926 View attachment 3394927
I love these more simple looking Roscoe basses. A 6 string headless version of something similar would be deeeeeeelicious.
 
  • Like
Reactions: armybass
I love these more simple looking Roscoe basses. A 6 string headless version of something similar would be deeeeeeelicious.
I am also a fan of the "simple" Roscoe. I've had a couple of the "Custom" versions and they are obviously really nice, but I get plenty of compliments on my "Standard Plus" bass.
koa 5.jpg
 
These guys are teasing me in the classifieds. I put my Standard Century 5 up for trade for a Roscoe Fretless or a six and now all of these Roscoes are listed and nobody is looking to trade. Oh well, I’ll wait. It always works out in the long run. ;)
Not telling you how to live your life, but this guy had this up for a LONG time (and just pulled his reverb ad recently, but it’s not showing up as sold), so maybe that’d work for you? Plus it’d end the temptation for me (I am no 6 player, but that’s a sweet bass).

No longer available - RED DEVIL Roscoe Century 3006j
 
  • Like
Reactions: armybass
Well, after a short affair with the '90s Roscoe LG-3005 I got back in December, I have decided to sell it. The weight being over 9lbs, combined with the 35" scale, just makes it too uncomfortable for me to play over the course of a 4-hour gig. It sounds amazing, and plays like butter, but I'm resolute in my decision to move on from 5-strings altogether.

Pax

View attachment 3397184

That's too bad.My Century Standard is 7.8 pounds. I barely know its there.
I didn't like the feel of the 35" scale at first. So much so that I almost gave up. That was on an SKB body. Once I tried a Century (the "hang is different as the upper horn makes it to the 12th fret) I was fine with the 35" scale. Didn't feel much different from a 34" bass as far as the reach to the first fret.

I hear you on the 4 string thing. I LOVE my 5 string. It's the best bass I have owned. I hav ebeen reading Geddy's Big Book of (4 string :cool:) Bass. Lots of cool stuff. I dug out my G&L JB-2 Tribute last night and played it for a while. Old Rush, Tower of Power, things I used to play back in the day on a 4 string jazz. I have to admit it was fun. I'd never sell my Roscoe 5, but I am seriously thinking about adding a passive 4 string (P or J can't decide) again. My G&L is a fine bass for what it is and what my wife aid for it, but I don't know if I'd gig it as is. It needs a little help. Geddy also has me wishing even more for a "birth year" bass. Unfortunately for me that means '66 and that means $$$.

Maybe one of those new YYZ preamp pedals would help. :cool:
 
Yeah, my specific problem pertains to back/neck issues. Two herniated—and surgically repaired—disks mean that I now (and going forward) have to be acutely aware of many factors to play a full gig.

35" scale means I have to hold my arm higher to reach further. That causes pressure on the nerves. That makes my hand starts to "fall asleep" ... Etc. By the same token, 9 pounds or more causes too much pressure on my neck (by way of my shoulder), and I compensate by slightly leaning my head/tilting the other shoulder down. That causes pressure on the nerves. Yada-yada-yada.

The balance point of the instrument is also big part of the puzzle. The LG-3005 just doesn't hit the "sweet spot" for me, i.e. hanging on the strap naturally at a point where I completely forget about its location. I am constantly trying to reposition it to be there while playing, which detracts from my focus. I tried multiple straps, at various intervals of length, to no avail.

And lastly, I honestly find that I don't play on the B string. I occasionally get down there, but for the most part, it doesn't authentically fit in the music I play 99% of the time. It's like an afterthought that I feel comes across that way, "Oh! That's right, I have a B string! I should play some notes on that soon!" Not worth it, especially given that the additional hardware makes for a heavier instrument, etc.

All this said, what I find works best for me now is a good ol' Steinberger XL-2, just like I had almost 35 years ago. The '88 Newburgh model I just bought weighs 7.8 pounds, balances perfectly on the back plate, and positions in such a way (on my body at least) that the 34" scale feels more like a 30" scale. Added up, it's going to be taking the number 1 spot for the foreseeable future.

Note: all of the above is specific to me and my personal experiences/issues/feelings. Not dumping on Roscoes specifically (love them) or 5-strings in general (just not for me).
 
35" scale means I have to hold my arm higher to reach further.
And lastly, I honestly find that I don't play on the B string.
By all means, do what works best for you.
I find that the B string means I never (OK - very seldom...) have to reach farther up the neck than the 5th fret.
The balance point issue is common to the SKB and LG; I put up with it because I like the rest of how the SKB fits me. Century has a different balance point due to the upper horn landing around halfscale rather than the 14th fret.
Glad you're finding a solution that lets you keep playing!