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Roscoe Club

#13,861
I got an update from Keith today that put a big smile on my face. He sent pics of my new custom build. I cannot wait to see it after it gets a glossy finish!

Here is the top I chose. It was such a huge board, I wonder if they are going to be able to get two LGs out of it?

IMG_1161.jpg


Here it is in the blonde after sanding
IMG_1255.jpg


And after staining
IMG_1262.jpg
 
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#13,862
JOME77 said:
"I'm a man, yes I am and I can't help but loving it so!"

Well I got home this afternoon and felt super courageous!!!

I pulled my Roscoe out of the OHSC (that nobody uses anymore except JohnnyR) and went to unscrewing access covers and cutting wires!
It is finished! And it sounds really, really good!:bassist::bassist::bassist:

I can't tell any difference in the operation of the master volume prior to the preamp. You just use a 250K in lieu of the STD 25k. I used a .1mF Orange Drop cap and it worked really well. I normally would have used the .047 but I though for using it in a VTC it might sound better.
The different size concentric knobs actually look OK on the bass. The bottom knob is not very tall and the top knob is really close to the size of the standard dome knobs used for the blend and mid controls.

The passive tone control really smooths out the sound as subtly or aggressively as you want. Definitely a nice feature to add. The passive sound of the bass is also really good and actually quite a bit hotter than I thought it might be.

Here's some pics. The jury is still out on the different knob but it might just be OK. What do you guys think?
Click to expand...
I think the different knobs might bother me but I would be able to live with it if it was a mod like this and I'd already had the bass for a while. Congrats on the successful operation! I'm having Keith put the VTC in mine as well. I definitely got used to having it with my other basses. Very useful and I'm very interested to see how it mellows the Bart pre!
 
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#13,863
Brad Maestas said:
In other news, I got an update from Keith today that put a big smile on my face. He sent pics of the body after it's had its stain put on. I cannot wait to see it after it gets a glossy finish!

Here is the top I chose. It was such a huge board, I wonder if they are going to be able to get two LGs out of it?

View attachment 3661695

Here it is in the blonde after sanding
View attachment 3661692

And after staining
View attachment 3661693
Click to expand...
Brad, thanks for sharing those incredible pics. That board is huge! Your top is fabulous. I'm looking forward to seeing it with that high gloss finish. :)
 
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#13,864
JOME77 said:
"I'm a man, yes I am and I can't help but loving it so!"

Well I got home this afternoon and felt super courageous!!!

I pulled my Roscoe out of the OHSC (that nobody uses anymore except JohnnyR) and went to unscrewing access covers and cutting wires!
It is finished! And it sounds really, really good!:bassist::bassist::bassist:

I can't tell any difference in the operation of the master volume prior to the preamp. You just use a 250K in lieu of the STD 25k. I used a .1mF Orange Drop cap and it worked really well. I normally would have used the .047 but I though for using it in a VTC it might sound better.
The different size concentric knobs actually look OK on the bass. The bottom knob is not very tall and the top knob is really close to the size of the standard dome knobs used for the blend and mid controls.

The passive tone control really smooths out the sound as subtly or aggressively as you want. Definitely a nice feature to add. The passive sound of the bass is also really good and actually quite a bit hotter than I thought it might be.

Here's some pics. The jury is still out on the different knob but it might just be OK. What do you guys think?

View attachment 3660270 View attachment 3660271
View attachment 3660275
Click to expand...
It's bothering me that you haven't had custom wood knobs made for that bass, Joe. Not that I don't like them, I think they look fine. But I thought you always had wooden knobs made for your Roscoes. What's up, my friend?:)
 
#13,865
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#13,866
Brad Maestas said:
I got an update from Keith today that put a big smile on my face. He sent pics of my new custom build. I cannot wait to see it after it gets a glossy finish!

Here is the top I chose. It was such a huge board, I wonder if they are going to be able to get two LGs out of it?

View attachment 3661695

Here it is in the blonde after sanding
View attachment 3661692

And after staining
View attachment 3661693
Click to expand...
I just noticed that you've ordered a 6-string LG. Congrats on your choice. I've owned a couple of Roscoe 6-strings, and there is something really special there. The neck shape and playability are so satisfying. I envy you!:thumbsup:
 
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#13,867
Freddy-G. said:
It's bothering me that you haven't had custom wood knobs made for that bass, Joe. Not that I don't like them, I think they look fine. But I thought you always had wooden knobs made for your Roscoes. What's up, my friend?:)
Click to expand...

Hey Gary. I usually only liked the wooden knobs on basses with oil or flat finishes.
Sometimes black knobs just look right on a bass.
 
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#13,869
Brad Maestas said:
I got an update from Keith today that put a big smile on my face. He sent pics of my new custom build. I cannot wait to see it after it gets a glossy finish!

Here is the top I chose. It was such a huge board, I wonder if they are going to be able to get two LGs out of it?

View attachment 3661695

Here it is in the blonde after sanding
View attachment 3661692

And after staining
View attachment 3661693
Click to expand...

Beautiful quilt top! That totally looks like water! Did I miss the finger board type?
Regardless, I'd be so hypnotized and mesmerized by that top that I'd never see the finger board!
Great choice!
 
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#13,870
Brad Maestas said:
I think the different knobs might bother me but I would be able to live with it if it was a mod like this and I'd already had the bass for a while. Congrats on the successful operation! I'm having Keith put the VTC in mine as well. I definitely got used to having it with my other basses. Very useful and I'm very interested to see how it mellows the Bart pre!
Click to expand...

You'll love the VTC. If you don't mind, ask Keith what value cap he's using. I normally use .047uF but after reading up on it, it sounded like .1uF might be better suited for the VTC (the HIGHER the value of the CAP, the more BASS your tone will have when you have turned down the treble of your tone). I'd be curious to know what value he uses. I also used a Orange Drop type.
On the subject of the knobs, I'm really surprised at how well it blends (in person) with the other knobs. Probably because it's located on the opposite side of the other concentric set. That being said, I do have a friend (that has a pin router) fabricating me a couple plastic bushings that will allow me to use the other STD set of knobs (if I decide that I can't live with these). I am a bit concerned though that the top knob shaft might not be long enough to properly engage the set screw (of the top knob). It's going to be close.
 
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#13,873
JOME77 said:
Played a bit more with the modified Roscoe and I’m really impressed with the added versatility. The passive tone control really takes the edge off the sound of the Bart pre and transfers it to a really nice vintage tone (verses the modern of the typical Bart pre). I used the Bart trim pot to balance the output of the active & passive modes of the bass (did that with the EQ set flat).
I’m thinking now “why did I wait so long?”.
I may eventually still install a Nordstrand preamp in the bass though. The highs, mids and lows sound so nice with that pre in my Fender that I can’t help but imagine how it would sound with the Roscoe Bart’s!
Not now though. Just maybe eventually.:)

To be content is to be left behind!:D
Click to expand...

Just because I'm being me, I went ahead and ordered a Nordstrand 3B-4b (2-Pickup 4-Knob 3-Band Vol/Tone Stack - Bl - Treb/Bass Stack - Mid P/P) preamp. I had some credit on my BBG account and figured I'd go ahead and order one for future use (Yeah, anyone that knows me knows that sooner or later I've got to try it in a Roscoe).
Certainly no intention of installing it anytime soon (enjoying the sound of the Bart with the VTC and A/P sw way too much) but when I start getting GAS again for something new I can just pull it out and install it.:)
 
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#13,874
JOME77 said:
Just because I'm being me, I went ahead and ordered a Nordstrand 3B-4b (2-Pickup 4-Knob 3-Band Vol/Tone Stack - Bl - Treb/Bass Stack - Mid P/P) preamp. I had some credit on my BBG account and figured I'd go ahead and order one for future use (Yeah, anyone that knows me knows that sooner or later I've got to try it in a Roscoe).
Certainly no intention of installing it anytime soon (enjoying the sound of the Bart with the VTC and A/P sw way too much) but when I start getting GAS again for something new I can just pull it out and install it.:)
Click to expand...
I predict you’ll have it installed by Friday the 24th at the latest.
 
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#13,877
JOME77 said:
Just because I'm being me, I went ahead and ordered a Nordstrand 3B-4b (2-Pickup 4-Knob 3-Band Vol/Tone Stack - Bl - Treb/Bass Stack - Mid P/P) preamp. I had some credit on my BBG account and figured I'd go ahead and order one for future use (Yeah, anyone that knows me knows that sooner or later I've got to try it in a Roscoe).
Certainly no intention of installing it anytime soon (enjoying the sound of the Bart with the VTC and A/P sw way too much) but when I start getting GAS again for something new I can just pull it out and install it.:)
Click to expand...
I’m a big fan of BBG, very helpful crew. Inquiring minds want to know how the nordy works out.
 
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#13,878
bassWR said:
I predict you’ll have it installed by Friday the 24th at the latest.
Click to expand...

Nightman said:
It’s probably installed already! :roflmao:
Click to expand...

Lol
You guys are a tough group!
I'm telling you, the Bart with the VTC and A/P switch sounds awesome. No way it's coming out anytime soon.
I only bought it because I had the BBG credit and didn't want it to mysteriously disappear (w/o it being due to me having made a purchase).



Laklandfan said:
I’m a big fan of BBG, very helpful crew. Inquiring minds want to know how the nordy works out.
Click to expand...

I'm thinking that it will kill in the Roscoe with the Roscoe Barts. It certainly sounds awesome in my Fender Elite P-bass with the 3rd gen noiseless P/U's.
 
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