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Roscoe Club
- Thread starter JOME77
- Start date
I have had a long time struggle with string choice for my LG3000. I think I have tried at least a dozen different strings, some I found ok, some, not so good.
As with most strings, it takes a bit of break in time to decide if it's what you are looking for etc.
So, the other day I tried some R Cocco's stainless. They have only been on for a couple of days, but so far, I am impressed. They seem to have a mid-range character that I really like and I find the bass definition to be excellent. They balance well across the bass and I have also found that the character of the notes is fairly even, playing the same note on different strings.
Anyone else in Roscoe land like their Cocco's?
Fishheadjoe
As with most strings, it takes a bit of break in time to decide if it's what you are looking for etc.
So, the other day I tried some R Cocco's stainless. They have only been on for a couple of days, but so far, I am impressed. They seem to have a mid-range character that I really like and I find the bass definition to be excellent. They balance well across the bass and I have also found that the character of the notes is fairly even, playing the same note on different strings.
Anyone else in Roscoe land like their Cocco's?
Fishheadjoe
CrashClint
I Play Bass therefore I Am
I haven't tried these but the last time I tried stainless a few years ago it really cut my frets so I have been afraid to try them again. When I bought my used Century Standard it came with a set of Sadowsky Nickels that actually feel and sound good. I have used Sunbeams for a couple years but I may order a set of Sadowsky so I can hear what a new set sounds like.
I just bought a Century Standard 5 over the weekend, its got the factory D'Addario's on it from when it was made in 2009. The bass is NOS. On my previous 5 string and the one before that I've been using the 130 Sadowsky Nickel sets with the tapered B. I'm going to put them on the Roscoe tonight and see how they work. It's been my go to string from the last several years for both my MM and Warwick 5 strings.
CrashClint
I Play Bass therefore I Am
I've been pretty happy with the D'Addario Nickel Round (EXL170) that I believe is the factory string on my 3006 fretless. But I just heard the video review of the new FlexSteel (FXL170) so I'll be giving those a try. They're supposed to be 'more flexible' and I did like the sound.
Early reports describe them as 'slightly rougher than ProSteel' but it was suggested that the ProSteels were no problem for the Dymondwood fingerboard so - we shall see. I've never touched a ProSteel so the comparison doesn't help me... They'll come off at the first indication of board wear - or if I just don't like the sound. Got a backup set of EXL's...
Early reports describe them as 'slightly rougher than ProSteel' but it was suggested that the ProSteels were no problem for the Dymondwood fingerboard so - we shall see. I've never touched a ProSteel so the comparison doesn't help me... They'll come off at the first indication of board wear - or if I just don't like the sound. Got a backup set of EXL's...
CrashClint
I Play Bass therefore I Am
When I get another fretless I will use either tapewounds or black beauties. I heard a Roscoe LG Fretless with tapewounds and it had the most amazing mmwwaaah.
Well, see, this is my confusion...
Half the time I see 'you gotta have rounds for mwah' and then there's posts like yours proclaiming the virtues of tapes...
I have a fretless with GHS DeepTalkin'Flats and I like them, but I don't actually play it enough to try to coax any mwah out of it - I'm concentrating on bonding with the Roscoe, which has more strings and a different scale length.
For a time I had an ebony-board fretless and liked half-rounds on it. I'm not really that fond of rounds but I put up with them for the sound. If there's mwah to be had with tapes I'm all for trying them.
Here's a new family portrait. The fretless is awaiting pickups. I'm going to try to get some after the guys at Roscoe get back from NAMM.
I meant to get back with you about them. Sorry about that. I love, love, love them! They are really awesome pickups and I was planning on putting some in this fretless but, Gard talked me into the Barts.
I recorded a Gospel album two weeks ago (wish I had the fretless) and a modern country tune with the DCBs. I was running into two channels, one was a miked SVT fridge (for air) and the other (primary) was through a REDDI. After a little compression the bass sounded perfect. I think I finally found that sound in my head.
I recorded a Gospel album two weeks ago (wish I had the fretless) and a modern country tune with the DCBs. I was running into two channels, one was a miked SVT fridge (for air) and the other (primary) was through a REDDI. After a little compression the bass sounded perfect. I think I finally found that sound in my head.
CrashClint
I Play Bass therefore I Am
Crank the mids all the way up and roll the blend toward the bridge pickup a little at a time until you dial in the mwaah
Here's something interesting I noticed about the "new to me" fretless SKB, you can really see the differences between the different "vintages". The fretless is just over 600 numbers newer than the fretted so, I'm guessing that equates to about six-ish years. First, the bridge is about a half inch closer to the pickup which also places the neck pocket a half inch further out. Also, the lower cutaway is more angled on the older fretless than on the newer SKBs which are an almost semi-circle. Lastly, the upper bout is much flatter on the older one whereas the newer one has a very gentle curve towards the back.
I wonder if this is the difference between Keith and Tony or if the design has been tweaked over the years. It's neat owning three Roscoes each from a different era. They are all about six or seven years apart.
I wonder if this is the difference between Keith and Tony or if the design has been tweaked over the years. It's neat owning three Roscoes each from a different era. They are all about six or seven years apart.
I re-strung my bass tonight. Before I took of the D'Addario's I plugged it into my trusty Eden Navigator which is connected to a single DNA112. I backed off about 5dB at right around 900Hz and then what looks like 4.1kHz probably again about 5dB and that got it in the ball park. At a gig I would have probably not cut so drastically on the lower frequency but I was in the house (with wood floors). Then I went and re-strung it the Sadowsky Nickel's tamed the hi-end "pingy" sounds so I set the gain on the hi-mid eq back to zero and I'm going into practice tomorrow like that. I did have to lower both pickups on the treble side just a touch, give the truss rod a little nudge and then adjust the D and G saddles up. All of the fantastic mid-growl is still there. Man I can't wait to go to practice tomorrow night.
One other thing I noticed when I was stringing it... The D tuner is backward!
I know it's not real unless there is a picture so here it is:
One other thing I noticed when I was stringing it... The D tuner is backward!
I know it's not real unless there is a picture so here it is:
I've found that the single most effective mwah-producing factor is to press the string down to the board more gently with my finger pads and not the finger tips...
One other thing I noticed when I was stringing it... The D tuner is backward!
I know it's not real unless there is a picture so here it is:
They must have grabbed a bass side tuner and installed it on the treble side. I would have thought they'd discover it when they strung it up.
