Roscoe Club

[Skip Chucker]

Roscoe is about the highest end bass I’ve tried. I did have a Warwick Dolphin Pro 5 a long time ago. Stephan Lessard influence. That had an amazing B string and looked cool but was heavy and of corse didn’t sit on your lap or a stand. I had a pair of Modulus Q5’s (fretted and fretless) that I thought we’re “it” for a while. Had a pair of Ken Smith Anniversary basses. Again really nice. But I really can’t say I’d rather have any of them over my Roscoe’s. I sometimes think I shouldn’t be so singular in my selection - as there are some really nice basses out there - but then after I play one of them, I pick up one of my Roscoe’s and think, oh yeah, that’s why I have 3 of these. And if it’s not a Roscoe for someone that’s great. I just hope they find a bass that they love.

I had a Modulus fretted 5 for a while that I though would be my fretted of choice- but I wished it was a Roscoe-same with the Alembic I won in a cancer benefit raffle at a local music store. My wife told me to get rid of it and to get a Roscoe this last year. I'm glad I did.

My first bass instructor had a fretless 5 from a guy who recently retired from the luthier business (and is renown for his fretless basses). That bass sounded great, it played really well, and he kept offering to trade my Roscoe for his fretless XYZ. He'd joke and say, " C'mon man, trade me your Ferarri for my Lambo!" And we did for a gig or two- but I had the same thoughts you did every time I played my Roscoe after playing something else.

I avoided publicly brand naming as to be respectful to current owners, but there is one bass brand that I’m chomping at the bit to try, and that’s a Fodera, since they are revered as ‘the’ US made bass.
They don’t offer a 18-18.3mm bridge spacing option, so my chances at owning one are very slim!

I haven't been able to try one. I'd like to just to see what the hype is about.

 

[SteveC]

Thank you for that kind gesture. I think I'm going to pull the add for now and wait this out. Would hate to make a mistake in letting one go and this not be as bad as it looks.

if either/both of these are indeed the best basses you’ve played, or you want to make them “lifer” basses and you are worried by the current situation, please take a step back. I was going to sell my fretted 5 a few times and my wife said no way. I’m so glad she did.

 

[Bassworship1]

if either/both of these are indeed the best basses you’ve played, or you want to make them “lifer” basses and you are worried by the current situation, please take a step back. I was going to sell my fretted 5 a few times and my wife said no way. I’m so glad she did.

My wife and I had a good conversation about it today and she told me to pull the add and not let them go. I’ve never been happier with my bass gear in my life like I am right now and would hate to let any one of them go. I believe everything will be alright. May take a while for life to get back to normal but we will be fine.

 

[Nightman]

Next time, lower the price a bit so that we can buy those new basses before your wife knocks some since into you!!

 

[Brad Maestas]

I’ve never played a Fodera but have always wanted to. Most of them seem to be heavy though.

I’ve noticed that, too. A definitely turnoff for me, although they do offer chambering to reduce the weight.
It is so tempting when Sweetwater offers 48 months interest free even for custom orders.

My first one was a 1989 Emperor 4 and it was not bad at all, somewhere around 8 lbs. My second one was a true beast, a 6 string that came in over 13 lbs. and despite its unreal tone I ended up letting it go and went to Sadowsky. I got an Imperial Elite 5 last year (not chambered) and it's a very manageable 9 lbs. They normally don't make it a priority but will if you ask them to.

 

[Bassworship1]

My first one was a 1989 Emperor 4 and it was not bad at all, somewhere around 8 lbs. My second one was a true beast, a 6 string that came in over 13 lbs. and despite its unreal tone I ended up letting it go and went to Sadowsky. I got an Imperial Elite 5 last year (not chambered) and it's a very manageable 9 lbs. They normally don't make it a priority but will if you ask them to.

13 pounds??? Wow, I’ve only had one bass that was close to that and it was a Stingray 5HH at 12 pounds. How do the Sadowskys compare to the great builders like Roscoe and a Fodera and others?

 

[Skip Chucker]

My wife and I had a good conversation about it today and she told me to pull the add and not let them go. I’ve never been happier with my bass gear in my life like I am right now and would hate to let any one of them go. I believe everything will be alright. May take a while for life to get back to normal but we will be fine.

It will be okay. We all have to make choices.

As a guy who is having a house built right now, while also looking at a potential furlough, I get it.

But will selling my favorite bass fix the situation my family is in? No. Will I resent my family for making me sell something that brings me such joy? Most likely yes. My rational brain will tell me that it's worth it, but my irrational, emotional brain will tell me to fill the void with much worse vices.

 

[Brad Maestas]

13 pounds??? Wow, I’ve only had one bass that was close to that and it was a Stingray 5HH at 12 pounds. How do the Sadowskys compare to the great builders like Roscoe and a Fodera and others?

Yes, it must've been some very heavy swamp ash. You couldn't see it though because it had a solid black finish which was pretty rare for them until the Standards came along. It had an ash body, maple neck, and ebony fingerboard. I remember having a Stringray 5 for a time that was also very heavy.

Trying a chambered-body bass for the first time can be an eye-opening experience. I had the chance to try every bass in the Sadowsky showroom over the course of a week back in 2004 (I lived in Brooklyn) and this unassuming black/maple Modern 5-24 PJ jumped out at me. It became my main bass for many years and I still have it. Roger is known for his Fender-inspired designs but the Modern 5 is his original. It is an offset Jazz-informed design much like Fodera's Emperor but even more compact and when you combine that with the chambering, it makes for a ridiculously light bass. I think mine is around 7.5 lbs but it sounds like a Mack truck. It has only gotten better and better as it has aged.

For me, even his Fender designs are among the upper echelon not only because of the care they put into the selection of tonewoods and their synergy but also their legendary neck carving, fretwork, and setup. I also had a flashy Modern 5-24 with a quilted top for a time and it was a real looker but up against a carved Fodera or Roscoe in the looks department, they're definitely a bit more tame - however - when judged solely on playability, player feedback/resonance, and overall tone quality and flexibility, they're up there with the best in my opinion.

 

[Nightman]

13 pounds??? Wow, I’ve only had one bass that was close to that and it was a Stingray 5HH at 12 pounds.

I had one of those and sold it to get into boutique basses and bought a MTD Kingston ZX5, which is a surprisingly good bass!

 

[MattLplaysBass]

There’s a ton of good builders out there. I wish I could be a one bass guy, but I don’t know what to get rid of.

I’ve heard mixed things about Foderas (I’m sure some of it just because of the price), but this guy makes it sound good (which, to be fair, is his job as he’s trying to sell it to you). The versatility really appeals to me, a “do it all” bass

 

[Nightman]

I’ve entertained getting down to one bass or one bass builder, but I do like variety and having different basses to inspire me, plus the wood art work on my wall not all looking like Fenders. The thought of that just feels weird!!

 

[Life of Brian]

Roscoe is about the highest end bass I’ve tried. I did have a Warwick Dolphin Pro 5 a long time ago. Stephan Lessard influence. That had an amazing B string and looked cool but was heavy and of corse didn’t sit on your lap or a stand. I had a pair of Modulus Q5’s (fretted and fretless) that I thought we’re “it” for a while. Had a pair of Ken Smith Anniversary basses. Again really nice. But I really can’t say I’d rather have any of them over my Roscoe’s. I sometimes think I shouldn’t be so singular in my selection - as there are some really nice basses out there - but then after I play one of them, I pick up one of my Roscoe’s and think, oh yeah, that’s why I have 3 of these. And if it’s not a Roscoe for someone that’s great. I just hope they find a bass that they love.

I’ve owned Modulus Pedulla and Warwicks and an MTD US . I’ve played Ken Smiths. I think Roscoes are the best in build quality and offer a singular sound that I tell people sounds like if A Ken Smith and an MTD had a love child. When it comes down to it they are all really nice basses it comes down how they balance and how the neck feels on a gig and to “me” that’s what sets the Roscoe a part

 

[Brad Maestas]

Hey all, I posted this snippet on my build thread but figured I'd share it here as well. I finally got to put together a little demo with my new bass on a Scott Kinsey tune called The Harvest off his album We Speak Luniwaz. This track features Jimmy Haslip on the very bass that inspired my build.

Right now I'm in the process of tracking a couple projects but since they're unreleased I can't post those tracks with the Roscoe for obvious reasons.

In the beginning of this track you will hear Jimmy enter then I will echo. I mixed myself slightly higher throughout the track. Enjoy!

Details:
The Harvest by Scott Kinsey from the album [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
First take, no overdubs, no edits (except fadeout)
2020 Roscoe Custom LG 3006 flat, pickups down the middle
Lava Cable Ultramafic ¼"
Noble tube preamp flat, gain at 12 o'clock
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2
ProTools 19.12, 16/44.1 AIFF, no plugins

 

[JOME77]

Certainly lots of nice boutique basses out there but when the carousel stopped turning for me, Roscoe's just checked all of the boxes. And I've owned and/or played them all.

 

[Bass Viking]

Hey all, I posted this snippet on my build thread but figured I'd share it here as well. I finally got to put together a little demo with my new bass on a Scott Kinsey tune called The Harvest off his album We Speak Luniwaz. This track features Jimmy Haslip on the very bass that inspired my build.

Very cool! Has a Weather Report vibe to it.

 

[JOME77]

Man! Playing my Roscoe 5 some this morning makes me realize how long it's been since I played a 5 string regularly. I've played a 5 or 6 exclusively since 1992 and in just one year (of playing mostly 4's) I've messed up a lot of my overall technique on playing a 5. It just feels a bit strange (like what's that extra string that I feel under my hands!).

What's up with that ?!?

 

[Bass Viking]

I hope that everyone is doing well and staying healthy.
I don't think that we've seen anything quite like the worldwide reaction to the Coronavirus.
Probably a good time to take some time off, stay home, play your basses and pray for America and the rest of the world.
Stay safe Roscoeheads!

Agreed, I think the key word is reaction. And now is a good time to woodshed!

 

[Bass Viking]

13 pounds??? How do the Sadowskys compare to the great builders like Roscoe and a Fodera and others?

Sadowsky is absolutely in the same league as Roscoe and Fodera. I've owned all three. Sadowsky is the one I would keep if I could only own one.

 

[Nightman]

I found it hard trying to adjust to playing that Roscoe 6’er or my other basses that had other than 18-18.3mm BSS. Sold them all, except for the MTD KZX5, which I replaced the bridge.
My hands and brain are much happier staying and playing in one sandbox.

 

[Bass Viking]

I avoided publicly brand naming as to be respectful to current owners, but there is one bass brand that I’m chomping at the bit to try, and that’s a Fodera, since they are revered as ‘the’ US made bass.
They don’t offer a 18-18.3mm bridge spacing option, so my chances at owning one are very slim!

I’ve never played a Fodera but have always wanted to. Most of them seem to be heavy though.

I've owned a Fodera Monarch and recently got to play an Emperor at Guitar Center. They are very nice and play great. But if you own a Roscoe, you're not really missing out on anything quality-wise. My Monarch was quite versatile and very playable. But at the end of the day I just prefer the sound of my Roscoes. I actually traded my Fodera + some $$ for a Roscoe and F bass package deal. No regrets!