Roscoe Club

[Jeff Moote]

Ok the final new family member arrived tonight and it is also a Roscoe with a hell of a pedigree among TB forumites. I feel very fortunate to have this bass. Some of you who've been around will recognize it I'm sure.
View attachment 4118300 View attachment 4118301

I played this at Greg's shop when he had it, and yes it's a hell of a bass. What pickups and preamp are in it now that you have it? It had seen a few different setups with Nordstrand single coils standing out to me as one of the best sounding in that bass.

 

[armybass]

It has the Nordstrands in it and an Aguilar OBP1 preamp. The original Audrey preamp is in the case too.

 

[JOME77]

I played this at Greg's shop when he had it, and yes it's a hell of a bass. What pickups and preamp are in it now that you have it? It had seen a few different setups with Nordstrand single coils standing out to me as one of the best sounding in that bass.

Yes! The last time that I played that bass it had the Nordstrand pickups and an Aguilar OBP-1 pre (as I remember). It sounded phenomenal!
Of course it had many, many different pre's and p/u's during it's life with Greg! Greg has never been one to just wonder what something else might sound like.

 

[Nightman]

Nice!!

 

[armybass]

Yes! The last time that I played that bass it had the Nordstrand pickups and an Aguilar OBP-1 pre (as I remember). It sounded phenomenal!
Of course it had many, many different pre's and p/u's during it's life with Greg! Greg was never been one to just wonder what something else might sound like.

LOL. Well that's why he can give educated opinions about vast amounts of gear.

 

[JOME77]

Well I would like to get back the bass I sent to Keith in April to get a new neck, but we'll see how many "2 more weeks" i get
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Well I guess that I should stop poking fun at you about the "2 more weeks" time line. I sent "blondie" to Keith this week for the spa treatment.
At least she can maybe comfort your bass while it waits for the neck transplant.
She just left and I miss her already. I'm not worried though. It shouldn't take but "2 more weeks"!

 

[SteveC]

They turned my spa treatment bass around the same day.

 

[Bassworship1]

I've had Keith build me a bass in 8 weeks. I will say that the one he turned around that short period wasn't as good as the rest of the Roscoe's I've played. It was still a good bass but lacked some.

 

[JOME77]

I've had Keith build me a bass in 8 weeks. I will say that the one he turned around that short period wasn't as good as the rest of the Roscoe's I've played. It was still a good bass but lacked some.

No disrespect intended Shane but the time required to build a bass rarely affects the overall quality of the instrument. The best overall bass that Keith ever built me took 5 weeks from start to finish. I hit the next build queue the week they were starting it and it ran through like clockwork.
Granted a builder can take shortcuts that could affect the overall quality but that's just something Keith would never do.
If the last bass you had built fell short of your expectations it would most likely be due to the sum of the parts. A single piece of wood can change the overall sound of an instrument (through no fault of the luthier). If you build 5 basses using the exact spec's they will all sound and play slightly different.

 

[Bassworship1]

No disrespect intended Shane but the time required to build a bass rarely affects the overall quality of the instrument. The best overall bass that Keith ever built me took 5 weeks from start to finish. I hit the next build queue the week they were starting it and it ran through like clockwork.
Granted a builder can take shortcuts that could affect the overall quality but that's just something Keith would never do.
If the last bass you had built fell short of your expectations it would most likely be due to the sum of the parts. A single piece of wood can change the overall sound of an instrument (through no fault of the luthier). If you build 5 basses using the exact spec's they will all sound and play slightly different.

I can only go on my experiences and I'm not sure that the short build time was the problem. Not all wood is created equal lol. It wasn't the last bass but the Myrtle Burl one I had.

 

[SteveC]

The carrot of being able to pick up my bass in 6 weeks at a GTG at the shop was the last enticement to get me to pull the trigger. That was a great bass. The 6 string Century Standard Plus with jazz pups and that amazing quilt maple top and wenge board. I wish I could make a 6 work. That was my first build from Roscoe. It looked as good as a Custom to me.

 

[Afc70]

Just got this yesterday from the Tb classifieds in a nice trade..

Custom Century 5, Boxelder Burl Top, ash body, wenge fingerboard, 18v bart pre/bart pups.. Wonderful, low, buzz free action...
My favorite Roscoe so far. What a tone!

 

[staccatogrowl]

I've had Keith build me a bass in 8 weeks. I will say that the one he turned around that short period wasn't as good as the rest. .

Hmm. I would say that you either must be on Mr. Roscoe's preferred customer list, or just totally lucked into a sweet shortened build time. 8 weeks from order to delivery is rare, even bordering phenomenal in the custom-build world. However, Mr. Roscoe has been building for a long time, with production means and methods entirely in place.

It sounds like Joe has the record build time of 5 weeks, SteveC 6 weeks, and Shane 8 weeks. Please note that these times are still longer than the "timeless" quote of "just 2 (more) weeks."

As far as each Roscoe sounding the same? Good luck with that. Every Roscoe baby is different, each with its own voice and personality. Just like any other baby bass, really.

It wasn't the last bass but the Myrtle Burl one I had.

"Ouch," says the new owner. Hopefully that person found great happiness and satisfaction with their gorgeous new bass.

 

[JOME77]

Just got this yesterday from the Tb classifieds in a nice trade.. View attachment 4118817 Custom Century 5, Boxelder Burl Top, ash body, wenge fingerboard, 18v bart pre/bart pups.. Wonderful, low, buzz free action...
My favorite Roscoe so far. What a tone!

Great looking bass Arthur!

I've always had a sweet spot for box elder burl! My 2nd new build from Keith was a fretless with a box elder burl top.
Your pic looks great but pictures just don't do those tops justice. Box elder burl has such a beautiful marbleized look in person.
Great score!

 

[Afc70]

Great looking bass Arthur!

I've always had a sweet spot for box elder burl! My 2nd new build from Keith was a fretless with a box elder burl top.
Your pic looks great but pictures just don't do those tops justice. Box elder burl has such a beautiful marbleized look in person.
Great score!

Thanks Joe! I've had 2 other Roscoes that I let go of..They both sounded good , but this one really has a huge tone & sounds great both fingerstyle & slap. It's a keeper ! I'm diggin the Wenge board ...
My other Roscoe is a lined fretless lg 3005 ( diamondwood board)

 

[Afc70]

I've always had a sweet spot for box elder burl! My 2nd new build from Keith was a fretless with a box elder burl top.
Your pic looks great but pictures just don't do those tops justice.

I agree Joe! When I opened up the case, it was a stunning suprise how beautiful that Boxelder Burl is !

 

[JOME77]

Well I officially have both my Roscoe Bart basses back in my possession and man do they both play and sound good. 2021 is starting off better already lol. View attachment 4115298 View attachment 4115299

Shane.
Do these have the wooden rear access covers?
I was thinking that these were the basses that you first had them made for (which led to my lusting to have some made for mine).
I almost forgot that I had them until I recently changed out the batteries.
Definitely a nice subtle touch of class.

 

[Bassworship1]

Shane.
Do these have the wooden rear access covers?
I was thinking that these were the basses that you first had them made for (which led to my lusting to have some made for mine).
I almost forgot that I had them until I recently changed out the batteries.
Definitely a nice subtle touch of class.

I've got them on the Buckeye one and put a order in for a set from Roger on the Koa one.

 

[armybass]

Do Keith and the gang post pics of current/new Basses leaving the shop? Would love to see what's happening in the magic factory these days.

 

[JOME77]

Do Keith and the gang post pics of current/new Basses leaving the shop? Would love to see what's happening in the magic factory these days.

The Real Roscoe Guitars Facebook page is where you can see those Scott.