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Roscoe Club

#1,221
I recently got to try out my first Roscoe (a 6-string fretless) and I couldn't be more impressed! I'm definitely interested in getting something built for me in the future, I'm just curious how one goes about getting the process started. I've never had something custom built for me, so what's expected of me as a buyer from the builder's perspective. Is it normal to go into it knowing exactly what you want, or is it normal to talk through the process with the builder so that you can both figure out what exactly it is that you need out of the instrument?
 
#1,222
jmattbassplaya said:
I recently got to try out my first Roscoe (a 6-string fretless) and I couldn't be more impressed! I'm definitely interested in getting something built for me in the future, I'm just curious how one goes about getting the process started. I've never had something custom built for me, so what's expected of me as a buyer from the builder's perspective. Is it normal to go into it knowing exactly what you want, or is it normal to talk through the process with the builder so that you can both figure out what exactly it is that you need out of the instrument?
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Talk to the Gardfather ( Roscoe GM). He will get on the right path. Just don't mention to him how the Patriots beat the Saints this year. ;)
 
#1,223
jmattbassplaya said:
I recently got to try out my first Roscoe (a 6-string fretless) and I couldn't be more impressed! I'm definitely interested in getting something built for me in the future, I'm just curious how one goes about getting the process started. I've never had something custom built for me, so what's expected of me as a buyer from the builder's perspective. Is it normal to go into it knowing exactly what you want, or is it normal to talk through the process with the builder so that you can both figure out what exactly it is that you need out of the instrument?
Click to expand...

I second talking to Gard. I had my first and only custom bass( so far...) built by roscoe and Gard was very helpful in the process. I already had an idea about what i was wanting but he gave me some useful info as well. He'll definitely point you in the right direction.
 
#1,226
Bipslapper said:
Talk to the Gardfather ( Roscoe GM). He will get on the right path. Just don't mention to him how the Patriots beat the Saints this year. ;)
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You mean because the ref managed to somehow forget how to call holding (actually, that would have been a good WWF takedown :spit: :scowl: ) on the play that "won" the game? Yeah, no need to mention that at all.

;)

:D

jmatt, give me a shout at the shop anytime (336-274-8810), and I'll be happy to get you pointed in the right direction...even if you are a Patsy fan or something like that. I mean, I'm nice to bip and pacman...heck, I'm even nice to Cowpatty fans, right Ray?

:hyper:
 
#1,227
Gard said:
You mean because the ref managed to somehow forget how to call holding (actually, that would have been a good WWF takedown :spit: :scowl: ) on the play that "won" the game? Yeah, no need to mention that at all.

;)

:D

jmatt, give me a shout at the shop anytime (336-274-8810), and I'll be happy to get you pointed in the right direction...even if you are a Patsy fan or something like that. I mean, I'm nice to bip and pacman...heck, I'm even nice to Cowpatty fans, right Ray?

:hyper:
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Will do!

And for the record, I'm a bit of a Bengals fan. It's okay to feel sorry for me :p
 
#1,229
Well, my wife found a Christmas Elf (that's ElfJoe in the pic) to help her pull a surprise on me this year. A Century Signature Fretless Five. It Sings !!!!!

Yeah, I got it early. I got it early because both our wives thought that Joe was enjoying having it at his house just a little too much (:D)

Yep, she's a keeper !!!

Christmas is my favorite time of year :hyper::hyper::hyper:


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#1,233
The specs:
Amboyna burl top
Swamp Ash Body
Wenge Wedge Neck
Bird's eye Maple Diamondwood finger board
Lined fretless
Graphite Nut
Bartolini pickups
Audere Preamp

HUGE bottom-end !!! (But, gotta fix the knob situation)
 

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#1,234
...and here's one reason why.
I out-clevered myself.
But I had to try...

NonZon.jpg


You can put on one Hipshot Xtender - but not two.
These are actually 'Double-Stop' extenders with the 'double-stop' screw removed - there was even more interference with that in.

Yeah - I was going for that Michael Manring thing, and a 3006 is just not the vehicle...

So I pulled off the bass-side and reverted to the stock tuner, leaving the treble side. I like the way Manring does the drone-tone modulation but since I had to choose, I decided it was less useful to drop a B to an A (or below...) and I'd rather be able to do that modulated-harmonic effect on the top string.

I don't think there is room between the tuners for the levers on anything but the top and bottom string - and even at that - you get to choose one.

I figure I'll keep the bass-side Xtender in case I change my mind ;-)
 
#1,237
Gard said:
We probably could do a custom build with a slightly larger headstock to accommodate multiple Hipshot D-tuners, but we'd need to do that from the ground up for it to actually work....


:eek:



....I'm going to regret posting this, aren't I?

;)
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:p I would employ the Mike Tobias strategy on stuff like this 'sure, if you want a neck through, we can do it..... $3000 extra dollars'. That typically takes care of the issue:D
 
#1,238
Gard said:
We probably could do a custom build with a slightly larger headstock to accommodate multiple Hipshot D-tuners, but we'd need to do that from the ground up for it to actually work....

....I'm going to regret posting this, aren't I?
Click to expand...

It'd be an interesting design challenge for sure. Having the top and bottom tuners aligned makes it more difficult. On my SKB 3006 there is just barely enough room for the baseplates to fit without touching. And as you can see in the picture, you need -even more- room for the drop-pitch tuning thumbscrew. And more yet for the double-stop screw.

So I really like the shape and proportion of the headstock - how to keep the 'Roscoe shape' without making it look like a canoe paddle and still provide clearance - interesting...

It might help if the small "anti-rotation" mounting screw were drilled more inboard, allowing the keys to 'droop'. I donno if that could be done without interfering with access to the first fret position. And it would look different, for sure. Would you then want all the pegs mounted at the same angle for consistency? Be some pondering, I'm sure...

I might have to see just how much the small screw would have to move to make room with the standard headstock shape and size...

This is definitely a discussion I'd want to have if I were in a position to commission a build, and I think it speaks volumes about the Roscoe family that you'd even bring it up, much less in a public forum!
_________________
The more I think about it, the more I realize that while twisting the baseplates would allow more room for the drop-tuning mechanisms to not interfere, there is no room because the baseplates already almost touch... Maybe - with a much smaller and shorter drop-tuner screw, there could be room. But it'd be more of an Allen-screen adjustment (like the 'half-step' adjustment already is on the double-step flavor).
 
#1,239
Pacman said:
You can't get the music that's in you out if you don't know what that is. So stop, breathe, and listen inward until that sound is clear. *Then* you'll know where to go.
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I might not know this yet (although I have stopped to noodle on the cheap LTD 6 at a local store a couple times) but...

…I did do a fill in gig last night with my old quartet - guitar, keys, drums and me. The Koa 5 sounded pretty damn good. The player was rusty after almost 2 years of not gigging but I had a few moments. I panned to the neck pup for almost the entire 3rd set and it sounded really nice. Good "P" type tone for Spooky, Use Me, My Old School, stuff like that. Of course, panned to bridge with a little eq boost for the Yellowjackets tunes and a few others. My old 6 string would have been nice for those. :p:help:

Pretty versatile bass though.

I have an upright and piano duo gig next Thursday. That'll be interesting. No amps or anything, just piano and upright bass doing standards for a swanky reception. Need to do some practicing as I have not played upright much lately. Thankfully the hour set is broken up into two 1/2 hour sessions with an hour between to recover!
 
#1,240
So you decided to keep it. Nice! That's a killer bass. One I would call a "lifer".

I've been thinking about grabbing a 5 string Precision style bass(Sadowsky or Lull), but I might end up leaning towards a century with soap bars. How do you guys find them in terms of approximating that type of tone? I know a lot of the Bartolini pickups have that split coil magnet orientation.



Off topic regarding upright gigs when you are a bit out of shape... Try sitting on a stool. It will allow you to put a bit more downward pressure on the strings with your arm weight and reduce fatigue.
 

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