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Roscoe Club
- Thread starter JOME77
- Start date
Right. I get that. It's just EQ. I guess i'm just stuck in the "old school flats on a P or J" thing. When I think of my Roscoe I tend to think "modern" whatever that means. I do use the EQ and pan to get "P-ish" and J-ish" kinds of tones, so why not flats.
I played my SKB 3005 at practice last night (Country) and it delivered a very strong P tone (nickle rounds). This bass has Noordies and an OP-3.
I don't know if Centuries have a different vibe, having owned 3 SKBs, 2 LGs (all but 1 SKB Bart equipped), but aren't Roscoes reputed to be Ptoned in general?
As for the P thing, I had a Fender P5, and a Squier VMP5, and kept the VMP5. There's a Fender loaded one in the classifieds for $375, just saying, a cheap way to scratch that itch...
Also want to add, I have a CS '59 NOS P, and a JPJ 4, a Modern Telecaster 4, and owned a Fender Roadworn P, Fender Antigua P, and a '76 P, and don't touch any 4s, including my '66J. So I don't get the gotta have a 4 crowd. My point being, I know what a P should sound like, and my VMP5 delivers (in fact I have Fender guts for it, they're still sitting unused).
I don't know if Centuries have a different vibe, having owned 3 SKBs, 2 LGs (all but 1 SKB Bart equipped), but aren't Roscoes reputed to be Ptoned in general?
As for the P thing, I had a Fender P5, and a Squier VMP5, and kept the VMP5. There's a Fender loaded one in the classifieds for $375, just saying, a cheap way to scratch that itch...
Also want to add, I have a CS '59 NOS P, and a JPJ 4, a Modern Telecaster 4, and owned a Fender Roadworn P, Fender Antigua P, and a '76 P, and don't touch any 4s, including my '66J. So I don't get the gotta have a 4 crowd. My point being, I know what a P should sound like, and my VMP5 delivers (in fact I have Fender guts for it, they're still sitting unused).
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I use nickel rounds (D'Addario EXL170's) on my Century as well. Love them.
Yeah, "P bass on steroids" used to be a description of Roscoe basses. And I do get a "P-ish" tone with the blend to neck, a little mid and bass boost and a little treble cut while playing closer to the fingerboard. One reason I haven't pulled the trigger on a 2nd bass is for ease of use and flow (no switching between songs during the set) fr gigs. I've been fine with just using my Century 5 for everything.
I'm just feeling a little GAS and really the only other bass I "need" is a passive 4 string Precision or maybe a Jazz. I play a little differently on a 4 string. Might be a nice change. I don't usually go cheap when it comes to basses...or anything really. Kind of a fault I have.
Yeah, I get it, I don't cheap either, just got the VMP5 for a backup. Spent $4700 on my Dingwall, $2700 on my SKB, $2700 on my Lull T5 Thunderbird, etc. I also get that some people play different on a 4, i personally don't, but did use them when I was singing lead in a Rock band so I didn't have to worry about muting on top of everything else. I'm just gobsmacked by how great the VMP5 is, so I'll get off my soapbox. BTW, edited my first post on this issue.
Flats are the bomb. They can deliver more lows and low mids than you might be used to with rounds, so it might take a slightly different EQ setting to get a sound that isn't boomy/muddy. I find with flats that I end up scooping more than I do with rounds. Somewhere between 100-200 Hz, there's probably some low mid content that you may want to tame. Then you can add a smidge of 600-900Hz to get some presence and definition.
Once you get a sound that's not boomy with flats, it generally has a bunch of fundamental in the sound. That's why some folks feel it sounds better in a band setting. It sort of sits "in" the mix instead of cutting "through" the mix. It's really solid and pure down low.
At least that's my $0.02.
Once you get a sound that's not boomy with flats, it generally has a bunch of fundamental in the sound. That's why some folks feel it sounds better in a band setting. It sort of sits "in" the mix instead of cutting "through" the mix. It's really solid and pure down low.
At least that's my $0.02.
You know, Bass Player started that back in 94-95 when they reviewed a Roscoe 3005 and I guess that I always believed it ... Until I purchased my first P-Bass in 35 years. Just not the same.
It can get in the neighborhood but it's just not the house on the corner of the street that you've always wanted to live in!
You know, Bass Player started that back in 94-95 when they reviewed a Roscoe 3005 and I guess that I always believed it ... Until I purchased my first P-Bass in 35 years. Just not the same.
It can get in the neighborhood but it's just not the house on the corner of the street that you've always wanted to live in!
Right. I can get "close enough" but it isn't a P bass. Just have to decide if "close enough" is "good enough" for what I need to do. Playing in a cover band, I do like to have some options without taking time to swap basses. That's why I stick to my active 5. On the other hand...people swear by their P basses with flats. Let the circular logic continue.
One reason I play a 5 is that for the cover band we play "Uptown Funk" for example. I've heard bands try to do that tune with a 4 and it just doesn't sound good. There are a couple others but that's it. I could play a 4 string for 98% of our tunes and get by just fine. At church, we do lots of key changing so it's nice to have the 5.
Yes, I suppose people would get used to me being on a 4 with flats if I changed and liked it, but I just don't know...and maybe it's OK to be the Roscoe 5 guy.
Either way your right Steve. But I'd at least get a MIM Fender P-bass loaded with La Bella Deep Talking flats to play at home (just to see where it takes you). You may play it one night, go to bed and dream of Motown!
You know, Bass Player started that back in 94-95 when they reviewed a Roscoe 3005 and I guess that I always believed it ... Until I purchased my first P-Bass in 35 years. Just not the same.
It can get in the neighborhood but it's just not the house on the corner of the street that you've always wanted to live in!
Not everyone wants to live in that house though Joe lol.
Either way your right Steve. But I'd at least get a MIM Fender P-bass loaded with La Bella Deep Talking flats to play at home (just to see where it takes you). You may play it one night, go to bed and dream of Motown!
I'm sure Greg has a set he could toss on that Roscoe Classic P. I think he plays DTF's.
That is a special P and you do like to go for the good stuff so go for it you got nothing to lose .
After I watched that 'How many guitars do you need' video from a while ago, I was into the logic. However, I came to my senses. Each of us are doing different things with our basses. Some are more collectors, some tour part-time, some play at church, teach, gig/tour full-time, just jam with friends once a month...and don't even get started on styles of music out there!
IMO, the bottom line is that, if we are fortunate, we will own the right bass(es) for the job we are called to do. I think we could all share stories about how our bass needs have changed over the years (some of you have more years under your playing belts than me, some less), and what we own can change with the times and our ears.
In other news...I ordered a Delano P5 pickup for my Roscoe Century PJ. I am NOT a fan of the Aguilar P + OBP 2-band boost-only setup. I also wanted to change out the pre to a Bart. That preamp is glued so strong to the side of the elec. cavity, I don't know if I can ever get it out! Tried a jewler's screwdriver, heat gun (gently), no budgey. Any advice besides the obvious 'send it back to Keith'?
Absolutely no need to march with the (P)lemmings. .
Sorry, said I’d quit posting but...I just heard Chicago at a great outdoor venue tonight. Only 3 original guys left (after 40+ years I guess that’s pretty good) but they sounded great. Really tight. 3 basses in the rotation - P bass, 5 string J and something with soap bars that I didn’t recognize. The P was the best sounding bass, no doubt. My wife thought so as well. I almost emailed Greg from the show...
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