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Roscoe Club

I think I will pass. Thanks though. It's not a Fender so I thought there might be some quirks that I need to be aware of.
On the contrary, I think Roscoes have several quirks (Fenders do too).

- the 9/64" truss rod wrench has already been mentioned, as was the chance you may have to file down a standard length wrench (I did with one, but not on another)

- the standard string spacing (assuming you have the stock bridge, which looks like a hipshot a style, but has a slightly curved base to follow the contour of the fretboard) is 18.3mm. Most bartolinis and aguilars are bar magnets and covered poles, so no big deal, but Nordstrand makes special ones for Roscoes with exposed pole pieces.

- some Roscoes don't take right angle plugs in their jacks (recessed too far in to the body), and there's a period where the nuts on the jack were epoxied so good luck loosening them, it's just easier to replace the whole "electrosocket" plate and 1/4" jack, and if you leave off one of the washers/nuts, then it'll work.

- the build sheets recommend against using exposed/taper core strings. YMMV.

- there was a period (around early 2015, when my Century 5 was built) where they changed the neck carve and were doing a thicker, more "traditional" shape. They have since changed back, but mine is currently at Roscoe getting its neck carved to the thin, super fast standard Roscoe carve.

- Keith can be hard to reach sometimes.

These are the things I've encountered in owning 2 Roscoe basses, both bought used. But overall, they are well built, great sounding instruments that should provide you a lot of enjoyment.
 
On the contrary, I think Roscoes have several quirks (Fenders do too).

- the 9/64" truss rod wrench has already been mentioned, as was the chance you may have to file down a standard length wrench (I did with one, but not on another)

- the standard string spacing (assuming you have the stock bridge, which looks like a hipshot a style, but has a slightly curved base to follow the contour of the fretboard) is 18.3mm. Most bartolinis and aguilars are bar magnets and covered poles, so no big deal, but Nordstrand makes special ones for Roscoes with exposed pole pieces.

- some Roscoes don't take right angle plugs in their jacks (recessed too far in to the body), and there's a period where the nuts on the jack were epoxied so good luck loosening them, it's just easier to replace the whole "electrosocket" plate and 1/4" jack, and if you leave off one of the washers/nuts, then it'll work.

- the build sheets recommend against using exposed/taper core strings. YMMV.

- there was a period (around early 2015, when my Century 5 was built) where they changed the neck carve and were doing a thicker, more "traditional" shape. They have since changed back, but mine is currently at Roscoe getting its neck carved to the thin, super fast standard Roscoe carve.

- Keith can be hard to reach sometimes.

These are the things I've encountered in owning 2 Roscoe basses, both bought used. But overall, they are well built, great sounding instruments that should provide you a lot of enjoyment.

I suppose no bass is perfect. Most can be tweaked to make it more personalized but some things you just have to learn to live with.
I’ve owned most everything out there and IMO they all have issues that I’d prefer we’re slightly different. But I suppose that’s true with people too. No one and no thing is really perfect!:)
 
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I suppose no bass is perfect. Most can be tweaked to make it more personalized but some things you just have to learn to live with.
I’ve owned most everything out there and IMO they all have issues that I’d prefer we’re slightly different. But I suppose that’s true with people too. No one and no thing is really perfect!:)
But my Roscoes are as close to perfect as I have found. There are a few very high end basses I haven't tried. I'm not sure they would be worth it, but who knows. Fortunately my "trying" days are over, and I'm very happy where I landed.
 
On the contrary, I think Roscoes have several quirks (Fenders do too).

- the 9/64" truss rod wrench has already been mentioned, as was the chance you may have to file down a standard length wrench (I did with one, but not on another)

- the standard string spacing (assuming you have the stock bridge, which looks like a hipshot a style, but has a slightly curved base to follow the contour of the fretboard) is 18.3mm. Most bartolinis and aguilars are bar magnets and covered poles, so no big deal, but Nordstrand makes special ones for Roscoes with exposed pole pieces.

- some Roscoes don't take right angle plugs in their jacks (recessed too far in to the body), and there's a period where the nuts on the jack were epoxied so good luck loosening them, it's just easier to replace the whole "electrosocket" plate and 1/4" jack, and if you leave off one of the washers/nuts, then it'll work.

- the build sheets recommend against using exposed/taper core strings. YMMV.

- there was a period (around early 2015, when my Century 5 was built) where they changed the neck carve and were doing a thicker, more "traditional" shape. They have since changed back, but mine is currently at Roscoe getting its neck carved to the thin, super fast standard Roscoe carve.

- Keith can be hard to reach sometimes.

These are the things I've encountered in owning 2 Roscoe basses, both bought used. But overall, they are well built, great sounding instruments that should provide you a lot of enjoyment.
Thank you. Great post!
 
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I’ve owned basses from some of the most sought after Boutique builders out there from Roscoe, Benavente, MTD, Lakland, Warrior, Devon, STR, Bacchus and more. All of them was great to amazing and would be lifetime basses for anyone that wanted to keep them. Roscoes and Keith’s work are up there with any of them build wise, tone and playability. You could probably nitpick and find faults in any bass ever made.
 
I’ve owned basses from some of the most sought after Boutique builders out there from Roscoe, Benavente, MTD, Lakland, Warrior, Devon, STR, Bacchus and more. All of them was great to amazing and would be lifetime basses for anyone that wanted to keep them. Roscoes and Keith’s work are up there with any of them build wise, tone and playability. You could probably nitpick and find faults in any bass ever made.
Right. For me, it comes down to the sound of course, the feel of the neck, the B string, and I love the headstock design. I hate "4 over 1" 5 string headstocks.
 
But my Roscoes are as close to perfect as I have found. There are a few very high end basses I haven't tried. I'm not sure they would be worth it, but who knows. Fortunately my "trying" days are over, and I'm very happy where I landed.

Totally agree Steve. Nothing else (boutique) out there interest me anymore.
But While there’s absolutely no issues with my current Roscoe, I’ve owned enough different Roscoe’s to have a few that weren’t perfect. One cost almost a grand to repair (and it was a build issue). Unfortunately that can happen with every brand.
 
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Speaking of preamps, out of nowhere My wife said that I got a FedEx scheduled delivery notice from Bestbassgear yesterday. I looked at it last night and it appears to be the Nordstrand preamp for my Roscoe. Looks like it’s finally on it’s way!
If anyone want’s a Bart 3-band with an active passive P/P and passive tone control let me know. I’ll probably be selling it once I satisfactorily install the Nordstrand pre. I’ll even let it go with the customized concentric knobs that I had to have modified to work with the Noll concentric pot (it won’t come with the other std black dome knobs though).

Well the Nord preamp did indeed arrive, but without the black electro-socket and required 2 sets of concentric knobs. I spoke to BBG.com and they said that the supplier for those items were still shut down due to Covid-19. No telling when they will be back up and running.
I guess that I'll just hurry up and wait!:)
 
I had a few minutes this morning before starting on my next yard project so I plugged in the Roscoe and just started messing around a bit. I ended up recording a short soundtrack in Reason. Nothing special but I thought I'd post it. I have a set of 1+ year old D'Addario Chromes on the bass and they still have a decent sound (IMO). These strings last forever!
 

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I had a few minutes this morning before starting on my next yard project so I plugged in the Roscoe and just started messing around a bit. I ended up recording a short soundtrack in Reason. Nothing special but I thought I'd post it. I have a set of 1+ year old D'Addario Chromes on the bass and they still have a decent sound (IMO). These strings last forever!

I'm hearing a little Stanley Clarke influence in there (whether you meant to or not :)). All you need to complete the tone is an Alembic Piccolo bass. :thumbsup:
 
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I had a few minutes this morning before starting on my next yard project so I plugged in the Roscoe and just started messing around a bit. I ended up recording a short soundtrack in Reason. Nothing special but I thought I'd post it. I have a set of 1+ year old D'Addario Chromes on the bass and they still have a decent sound (IMO). These strings last forever!
Nice playing and tone. Joe, did you lay all the bass parts to tat tune?
 
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Got my wood covers today from Roger at THGKnobs and they fit perfectly. The Bubinga ones can’t be tried yet until my Buckeye bass gets back from Roscoe with the new preamp Monday. The Wenge ones on the Koa bass look really nice.
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Tracked down a previous owner of my bass and found out it is a 2007. Still haven't heard anything back from Keith but that was mainly what I wanted to know. I moved the rear strap button from the B to over the G string to improve the balance and I have some Gotoh Res-o-lites on the way. The stock tuners are 64 grams each and the Res-o-lites are 31 grams. That will decrease head stock weight by 6 ounces. Combined with the strap move it should completely eliminate neck dive (hopefully). Also got the right truss rod tool and now have the action set up beautifully. Still waiting on some Ken Smith Slick Rounds to try, but I put on some regular Slinkys and they are really quite good. The bass is inherently very bright and I play with a pick for the Phish tribute so I need something a little rounder in the string department. It has a beautiful fingerstyle tone as is. I am not a great slap player but this bass is really made for slap and makes it really easy to sound great on slap stuff.
 
Haven't posted in here for quite some time.
I suppose I own what is probably the most "non-Roscoe" Roscoe bass, ever.
LG Standard 4. Pau Ferro fretboard, one-piece ash body, bartolini T4CBC pickup in "P" spot, passive volume/tone.
Light, excellent playability, tone is solid.
At some point, I'll add a bridge pickup in the Stingray position, a 3-way mini-switch for pickup selection, and maybe swap the standard time control, for one of those Fender TBX controls.
 

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Tracked down a previous owner of my bass and found out it is a 2007. Still haven't heard anything back from Keith but that was mainly what I wanted to know. I moved the rear strap button from the B to over the G string to improve the balance and I have some Gotoh Res-o-lites on the way. The stock tuners are 64 grams each and the Res-o-lites are 31 grams. That will decrease head stock weight by 6 ounces. Combined with the strap move it should completely eliminate neck dive (hopefully). Also got the right truss rod tool and now have the action set up beautifully. Still waiting on some Ken Smith Slick Rounds to try, but I put on some regular Slinkys and they are really quite good. The bass is inherently very bright and I play with a pick for the Phish tribute so I need something a little rounder in the string department. It has a beautiful fingerstyle tone as is. I am not a great slap player but this bass is really made for slap and makes it really easy to sound great on slap stuff.

Glad to hear you obtained a little bit of the history on the bass. I guess that Keith and his son Kyle are having to optimize their time working on basses these days and clerical type tasks are on the back burner. I’m sure that he will eventually get back with you.
Sounds like the sound you’re eventually going for is in the neighborhood of what I get with the D’Addario Chrome flats. Great pick sound IMO.
 
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