Roscoe Club

[Ryno1330]

Just worked out a deal with Keith to install Nordstrand DC Pickups in my Buckeye Bass along with a Nordie preamp. Going to get the single coil, parallel and series switch. I love the tone of the Bart’s in smaller settings but at times in a really busy band mix it can get lost. This Nordie setup is the same as I’ve loved and have in my Devon basses.

To clarify - is this the "best bass I ever had" that's been in the classifieds?
It's a gorgeous bass - I hope the electronics change...changes the character of the bass for you?
By the way, does Keith sound annoyed when you ask for changes on a new high end custom bass? I ask partially sarcastically but partially seriously as I am going to ask him about refinishing a newer bass I bought (but bought used). I'm not big on the color but love the bass.

 

[Nightman]

Makes me every time!! The writing is always on the wall!

 

[bgartist]

Thursday of this week?

Yes!

 

[bgartist]

Do you get a jazz bass vibe with both pickups in single coil mode?

That’s my goal. We’ll see.

 

[steelin4u]

Do you get a jazz bass vibe with both pickups in single coil mode?

In my experience, the single-coil 'openness, air, and snap' is there (in single-coil mode on Roscoe-spec barts), but the modern positioning that Keith uses doesn't end up sounding like a jazz bass to my ears. The jazz sound, to me, comes from the positioning and the spacing between the 2 pickups, in addition to their, um, 'single-coil-ness'. The distance between the 2 is what gives them that characteristic mid-range scoop.

That being said, the single-coil mode on Roscoe Barts in the standard Roscoe positioning is still one of my favorites! So, some of the jazz bass vibe is there (slapping and popping sounds open and bright, it has some jazz bass qualities and openness), but the Roscoe Barts in 'Roscoe position' sound different compared to a jazz bass. Here's my Century Signature next to my SKB with Bart single jazz pups in 'jazz position' for comparison.

 

[bgartist]

Thanks for your input. I knew it would not sound exactly like a jazz due to the pickup positions. The option for that more open, traditional single coil tone is what I wanted.

 

[fretno]

 

[SteveC]

I guess I don't expect a standard placed Roscoe pickup to sound like a jazz. I do like the option of a different tone available more than getting an "exact" copy of a single coil jazz tone.

 

[JOME77]

Thursday

Thursday of this week?

Yes!

I predict some some long days and nights between today and Thursday when it arrives!

Anticipate does make it all that much sweeter!

 

[Nightman]

How many agonizing hours is Thursday from now!?!

 

[JOME77]

Here we go again ....... As some of may remember, I've been going through the process of installing Nickel RW's and Daddarrio Chrome, TI Jazz or EB Cobalt flats on my Roscoe over the last year. I love the feel of the flats! The RW just feel so rough. The problem has always been that I really like the sounds of the nickel RW's in my music room (which is where I'm doing most of my playing these days. However, when I jam with my buddies, the flats sound really good in the mix. IMO they actually sound better than the Nickel RW's which get a bit more lost in the mix.
So my dilemma is this. When I jam with my buddies, the Roscoe gets played a couple songs and then when I pick up my Fender Elite Precision with the Dunlop flats, I end up playing through the rest of the jam using the Fender because of how well it sounds in the mix. I know it's the flats that I'm primarily hearing because I remember how the Roscoe sounding in the mix with the Chromes installed several months ago (plus both basses have the same Nord preamp).
So, do install the flats back on the Roscoe so I can get the sound that I want in a live jam and worry about how it sounds while playing by myself in the music room?
I guess that I could take them on and off as required since both strings intonate very closely.

And don't anyone say purchase another Roscoe and install flats on one and nickel RW's on the other.
I'm retired now and that's not likely to happen.

 

[SteveC]

I solved that issue by having flats my Classic P and nickel rounds on the 5's.

 

[steelin4u]

So, do install the flats back on the Roscoe so I can get the sound that I want in a live jam and worry about how it sounds while playing by myself in the music room?

If I were you, I'd keep it as-is. Nickel on the Roscoe, flats on the P. Play the Roscoe at home, bring both to the jam and switch when you want to. There's no rule that you have to play the Roscoe every minute of the jam. The only rule is that you know in your heart (and proclaim out loud) that the Roscoe clearly and always will be the better bass!

 

[Nightman]

Play your Roscoe at home and your XYZ with the boys!




Or buy another Roscoe and put flats on it!

And give the XYZ bass to your grand baby!!

Somebody had to go there and it was taken Fritz too long!!

 

[JOME77]

If I were you, I'd keep it as-is. Nickel on the Roscoe, flats on the P. Play the Roscoe at home, bring both to the jam and switch when you want to. There's no rule that you have to play the Roscoe every minute of the jam. The only rule is that you know in your heart (and proclaim out loud) that the Roscoe clearly and always will be the better bass!

That’s kind of what I’ve been leaning on doing (which is the way it’s been the last couple months) but for grins I installed the Chrome flats on the Roscoe and I’m going to see how they sound on the Roscoe though the new Mesa TT-800 SW 220 rig.

 

[JOME77]

Play your Roscoe at home and your XYZ with the boys!




Or buy another Roscoe and put flats on it!

And give the XYZ bass to your grand baby!!

Somebody had to go there and it was taken Fritz too long!!

I knew that you or Fritz would throw the above solution out there. And it would be a good solution but I always end up loving one Roscoe the most and the other one stays in the case.
I’m just a one Roscoe kind of guy now.

And I LOVE my one Roscoe!

 

[Nightman]

Either way one, two, three or more basses to play and you are still able to play always count as blessings!!

 

[JOME77]

Either way one, two, three or more basses to play and you are still able to play always count as blessings!!

Blessings indeed!

 

[SteveC]

If I were you, I'd keep it as-is. Nickel on the Roscoe, flats on the P. Play the Roscoe at home, bring both to the jam and switch when you want to. There's no rule that you have to play the Roscoe every minute of the jam. The only rule is that you know in your heart (and proclaim out loud) that the Roscoe clearly and always will be the better bass!

I was able to solve that by getting a Roscoe P for my “P with flats” option.
no “xyz” bass issues here.

I use my basses pretty interchangeably. There are, of course, times where one may be the “obvious” choice and I will often take that path. Sometimes though, I’ll go another direction. I played a jazz gig last weekend. Fretless seems like the obvious choice, and I’ve used it in the last. But with my sore shoulder, I decided to take my lightest bass which is my Classic P - with flats. It has a nice “uprighty” sound with the flats and worked well. The guys actually may have liked it better than the fretless. Different kinds of great. It’s nice to have choices, all of them correct!

 

[JOME77]

...... I decided to take my lightest bass which is my Classic P - with flats. It has a nice “uprighty” sound with the flats and worked well. The guys actually may have liked it better than the fretless. Different kinds of great. It’s nice to have choices, all of them correct!

In most live mixes flats just sit in the mix better. RW’s have such a broader sound that they spill over into other instruments in the mix and can reduce the clarity of not just the bass but other instruments as well. Of course that’s just my opinion.

I do like how the RW’s sound during solo’s though!