Roscoe Club

[bebass]

Hi all!

After picking up this bass from Shane, I've been struggling a bit to make it sound the way I want it: clear, bright, snappy and articulate. With my Berg and Trickfish amps set flat-ish, the bass sounded really dark with the stock D'Addario Nickels. I swapped in light gauge, and then extra-light gauge Pro-Steels, but those hex core strings seemed too stiff for the bass. I installed DR High Beams, which felt better to me, but they really didn't brighten up the sound. I also lowered the pickups to 5/64ths (G) to 6/64ths (B) per some indirect guidance I found from Aguilar. Tiny bit more open, but not a lot.

So I started chatting with Cesar at Best Bass Gear, and I was about to pull the trigger on a Delano preamp to replace the Aguilar OBP-1 (which I've never liked).

But today, I had an Epiphany!!!

I pulled out an inexpensive TC Electronic BQ500, and after plugging in and getting similar dark-ish results, I started tweaking the amp. I turned all the tone controls fully counter-clockwise, boosted the input gain, and started slowing adding Treble, then Hi Mids, then Lo Mids, then Bass. With the Treble at 10 o'clock, Hi-Mids at 9, Low-Mids at 8 and Bass off, the snap and sizzle I was looking for began to emerge. I kept playing and I've now got 98% (or maybe more) of the sound I want with Treble below noon, Hi-M at 10-ish, L-M at 9:30-ish and Bass at 9.

So I did the same thing with my Berg Forte HP and TF Bullhead, and although the tone control positions are slightly different, the overall results are the same.

This makes me wonder how many basses and amps I've walked away from over the years because I just didn't know how to make them sound good. I guess after 54 years of playing bass, it's about time I figured out how to work my amplifiers!

Yeah, I always start from scratch with a different bass or different amp. Gain structure then subtractive (if possible) EQ. I notice the Roscoe basses amp settings are different than the ones I use for the Dingwall basses; and of course the different pre-amps sound differential. But easy to start from scratch each time I change an amp/cab/bass setup.

 

[GrooveDaddy]

Got this LG a few years back - it's one of the ones from the "The Perfect Bass" run from way back when. Prior owner refinished it in a shell pink . . . wasn't my favorite look, so sent it to Mary Bell down in San Diego for his special sparkle treatment before his official retirement.

Result = gorgeous & attention-getting!

 

[Nightman]

Got this LG a few years back - it's one of the ones from the "The Perfect Bass" run from way back when. Prior owner refinished it in a shell pink . . . wasn't my favorite look, so sent it to Mary Bell down in San Diego for his special sparkle treatment before his official retirement.

Result = gorgeous & attention-getting!

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Looking good! I have the Buckeye Burl LG 5’er that was commissioned by the Perfect Bass store in Greensboro for their grand opening. Killer bass!!

 

[JOME77]

Got this LG a few years back - it's one of the ones from the "The Perfect Bass" run from way back when. Prior owner refinished it in a shell pink . . . wasn't my favorite look, so sent it to Mary Bell down in San Diego for his special sparkle treatment before his official retirement.

Result = gorgeous & attention-getting!

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Wow!
He did a great job on that sparkle finish!
So consistent all over.

 

[SteveC]

Looks nice. I’d really like a shell pink bass, but I’m not sure an LG, SKB or Century is the right body for one. I’ve always liked shell pink “jazz” or “p” bass styles better. This looks great with the sparkle.

 

[MattLplaysBass]

Got this LG a few years back - it's one of the ones from the "The Perfect Bass" run from way back when. Prior owner refinished it in a shell pink . . . wasn't my favorite look, so sent it to Mary Bell down in San Diego for his special sparkle treatment before his official retirement.

Result = gorgeous & attention-getting!

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Dang, that turned out great! I hadn’t heard about his retiring, good for him (and bad for us that want sparkle refins )

 

[Bassworship1]

Marty is the best at the sparkle finish I’ve ever seen.

 

[Mr_O'B]

Got this LG a few years back - it's one of the ones from the "The Perfect Bass" run from way back when. Prior owner refinished it in a shell pink . . . wasn't my favorite look, so sent it to Mary Bell down in San Diego for his special sparkle treatment before his official retirement.

Result = gorgeous & attention-getting!

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Love it!

 

[gregbackstrom]

Yeah, I always start from scratch with a different bass or different amp. Gain structure then subtractive (if possible) EQ. I notice the Roscoe basses amp settings are different than the ones I use for the Dingwall basses; and of course the different pre-amps sound differential. But easy to start from scratch each time I change an amp/cab/bass setup.

This new-to-me process of “subtracting” tone controls first, setting gain structure, then adding back tone until I have “enough” (and readjusting gain as needed) works pretty well for all of my basses.

 

[LightGroove]

This new-to-me process of “subtracting” tone controls first, setting gain structure, then adding back tone until I have “enough” (and readjusting gain as needed) works pretty well for all of my basses.

So your saying that set flat, the bass is too dark sounding? Interesting hearing that about Aguilar as they tend to be on the brighter scale for me. Ive never been fond of anything Aguilar if im being honest though . I found them too aggressive and upper mid focused for my liking. I currently use a Delano and like it a lot but it is what it is. Nothing magic about it. I still subscribe to Demeter as my favorite in a Roscoe with stand Bart pups. Have not tried the Nordstrand yet but others mention it is similar.

 

[Life of Brian]

Man...would love to have a 33" scale Roscoe 6. Such great basses.

I have a 34 " scale LG that's perfect in every way.

 

[bebass]

This new-to-me process of “subtracting” tone controls first, setting gain structure, then adding back tone until I have “enough” (and readjusting gain as needed) works pretty well for all of my basses.

With the passive Roscoe 6, I am finding no EQ needed - flat on the amp. Which is amazing to me, as I usually do a bit of sculpting when using an active pre, and always try subtractive first. I did adjust the bass pickup blend just a bit.

 

[bebass]

I have a 34 " scale LG that's perfect in every way.

6-string? I cant imagine the 33” low B, haven’t heard one, floppy B? But not a great deal of difference with the 34/35 though I prefer the 35”.

 

[emjazz]

6-string? I cant imagine the 33” low B, haven’t heard one, floppy B? But not a great deal of difference with the 34/35 though I prefer the 35”.

I've used a 33" scale low B for many years now. It's different, but can be huge...and yields a warmer tone throughout the range of the instrument. I'm eventually going to try a 32" scale 6 string (headless) for travel.
(sorry this isn't a Roscoe...but to prove the point)....

 

[bebass]

I've used a 33" scale low B for many years now. It's different, but can be huge...and yields a warmer tone throughout the range of the instrument. I'm eventually going to try a 32" scale 6 string (headless) for travel.
(sorry this isn't a Roscoe...but to prove the point)....

If it works for you then that is all that is needed.
I guess I am used to the really defined and equal tension low B of the 37” multi-scale basses. The Roscoe 35” has less floppyness and more definition than any 34” I have tried, but have not yet tried a 34” Roscoe.. We had one 34” 5-string in here and I had to change the low B to a hex core to get anything close to usable.

And I can see the other strings may sound better with a lower than 35” scale.

 

[emjazz]

If it works for you then that is all that is needed.
I guess I am used to the really defined and equal tension low B of the 37” multi-scale basses. The Roscoe 35” has less floppyness and more definition than any 34” I have tried, but have not yet tried a 34” Roscoe.. We had one 34” 5-string in here and I had to change the low B to a hex core to get anything close to usable.

And I can see the other strings may sound better with a lower than 35” scale.

Ah...if you are into the extended scale, then we have different goals for sound for sure. Great time to have such choices!

 

[bebass]

Ah...if you are into the extended scale, then we have different goals for sound for sure. Great time to have such choices!

I like all sorts of basses, actually. I just appreciate equal tension strings and really cant stand floppy low B. But on a 4-string, I would even go to a 32”, although my longest used 4-string is a 35”.

 

[emjazz]

I like all sorts of basses, actually. I just appreciate equal tension strings and really cant stand floppy low B. But on a 4-string, I would even go to a 32”, although my longest used 4-string is a 35”.

I can really pull on my B string for certain effects with the lower scale, and it growls. No side effect for what I like sound wise.

 

[Charlie Tuna]

Bass is coming along good. Headstock and body looks nice.
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DIBS! Seriously, send me a message if you don't get along with it. Or if you want to send your buckeye down I-64 to Louisville.

 

[bebass]

Got this LG a few years back - it's one of the ones from the "The Perfect Bass" run from way back when. Prior owner refinished it in a shell pink . . . wasn't my favorite look, so sent it to Mary Bell down in San Diego for his special sparkle treatment before his official retirement.

Result = gorgeous & attention-getting!

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Wow! I like that!