Roscoe Club

[SteveC]

I’ve been bringing my fretless 5 as my backup bass lately. I entertained the idea of making it my main bass a while back, but for the cover band at least, my fretted 5 seems a more practical choice. I do love my fretless though.

 

[Skip Chucker]

I’ve been bringing my fretless 5 as my backup bass lately. I entertained the idea of making it my main bass a while back, but for the cover band at least, my fretted 5 seems a more practical choice. I do love my fretless though.

There are some songs where a fretless doesn't sound quite right. We're covering some Red Hot Chili Peppers- I hate to say it, but Aeroplane just needs frets...

 

[armybass]

I’m contemplating taking my Fretless tomorrow to one of my gigs that I usually play upright on. I got the ok from the BL since it’s a short in and out gig and amp less with in-ears. But as much as I want to take it, I just put Spirocores on my old Kay and I’m dying to play it out lol.

 

[oren]

I’m contemplating taking my Fretless tomorrow to one of my gigs that I usually play upright on. I got the ok from the BL since it’s a short in and out gig and amp less with in-ears. But as much as I want to take it, I just put Spirocores on my old Kay and I’m dying to play it out lol.

I’ve been enjoying doubling on some jazz gigs lately, playing most tunes on upright but using my Roscoe on some Latin or straight eighth kinds of tunes. It means schlepping a little more, but it sure is fun (and the Grace Felix preamp makes the switching easy). But yesterday at rehearsal when I wanted an electric I grabbed my ‘68 Jazz, and man, that is a hard sound not to love. Nice to have choices!

 

[SteveC]

I’m bringing my fretless for a backup to a cover band wedding gig today. I’m tempted to use it for a set just for fun.

I don’t have an upright, so for jazz gigs I use my P bass with flats. I actually like that better than my fretless. It Hs a more upright sound. My fretless is more of a contemporary jazz sound - like Jimmy Haslip.

 

[JOME77]

I’m bringing my fretless for a backup to a cover band wedding gig today. I’m tempted to use it for a set just for fun.

I don’t have an upright, so for jazz gigs I use my P bass with flats. I actually like that better than my fretless. It Hs a more upright sound. My fretless is more of a contemporary jazz sound - like Jimmy Haslip.

Install some flats or tape wound strings on the Roscoe fretless Steve.
Obviously not for everyone but I found that that sound mixes with a live mix much better than the crazy mwah sound of a fretless. Honestly, that’s what led me to sell/trade my Roscoe fretless basses. The sound that I loved at home just didn’t translate well in a live gig with the music that I played.
All the talk of Roscoe fretless basses got me really Gassing for another Roscoe fretless but my wife reminded me of my history there (6 in 6 out).
Honestly the EB Cobalt flats sound great on a fretless (especially my Gecko 5 with the polyester coated ebony board).

 

[SteveC]

Install some flats or tape wound strings on the Roscoe fretless Steve.
Obviously not for everyone but I found that that sound mixes with a live mix much better than the crazy mwah sound of a fretless. Honestly, that’s what led me to sell/trade my Roscoe fretless basses. The sound that I loved at home just didn’t translate well in a live gig with the music that I played.
All the talk of Roscoe fretless basses got me really Gassing for another Roscoe fretless but my wife reminded me of my history there (6 in 6 out).
Honestly the EB Cobalt flats sound great on a fretless (especially my Gecko 4 with the polyester coated ebony board).

I like the sound of my fretless, I like the mwah, but I think the P/flats just has an overall better “jazz standards” sound.

 

[SteveC]

Here the set up for tonight by the lake…

 

[ArtechnikA]

Never had this happen before... Outdoor gig, no direct sunlight but HOT -- like 95ºF hot and sticky humid. Although the graphite-reinforced neck on my SKB is typically a paragon of stability, I run the action pretty low to develop the level of mwah I like - not too much, not too little. Halfway into the first set I notice the D and G are FLAT ON THE FINGERBOARD!! There was still a bit of action above the 12th fret so I was able to pull off the solo in Smooth Operator and made string choice / fingering adjustments to finish out the set. During the break I made a BIG truss rod adjustment to get everybody back in the game. I'm sure I'll have to back it out today once it re-acclimates to indoor climate levels. Moral of story: ALWAYS carry a truss rod and saddle adjustment tool in your stage bag !

 

[armybass]

I had that happen to me with a Modulus no less and a Stingray. My Stingray 5’s are my outdoor/hot weather Basses for multiple reasons now. Glad you were able to adjust it and drive on.

 

[wellso74]

I just put a deposit on a 5 string headless build- 33”, SKB standard body and rosewood fretboard. Tobacco burst

looking for input. Can anyone comment on the sonic differences between The standard Bartolini humbuckers verse Aguilar that Kieth offers?

 

[emjazz]

I just put a deposit on a 5 string headless build- 33”, SKB standard body and rosewood fretboard. Tobacco burst

looking for input. Can anyone comment on the sonic differences between The standard Bartolini humbuckers verse Aguilar that Kieth offers?

Standard Barts are punchier, have more low mids, and have a bit of compression. The Aguilar DCB's are more even/flat, are more open, and aren't as punchy. Both are on the darker side/have a mellower top end (flat eq).

 

[SteveC]

Go Bart. To me Roscoe tone = Bartolini.

 

[JLY]

Go Bart. To me Roscoe tone = Bartolini.

+1

 

[JOME77]

I just put a deposit on a 5 string headless build- 33”, SKB standard body and rosewood fretboard. Tobacco burst

looking for input. Can anyone comment on the sonic differences between The standard Bartolini humbuckers verse Aguilar that Kieth offers?

Standard Barts are punchier, have more low mids, and have a bit of compression. The Aguilar DCB's are more even/flat, are more open, and aren't as punchy. Both are on the darker side/have a mellower top end (flat eq).

Accurate description IMO.
The Roscoe Barts are quad coil and provide the signature sound. As Andy states, punchy, low mid focus and somewhat compressed.
I love them! But I love them even more with a more open preamp like the Nordstrand, East, Pope or Demeter. Don’t get me wrong, they sound good with the Bart preamp but quite a bit darker and even more compressed.

 

[emjazz]

Accurate description IMO.
The Roscoe Barts are quad coil and provide the signature sound. As Andy states, punchy, low mid focus and somewhat compressed.
I love them! But I love them even more with a more open preamp like the Nordstrand, East, Pope or Demeter. Don’t get me wrong, they sound good with the Bart preamp but quite a bit darker and even more compressed.

I agree with Joe. I LOVE the Bartolini/Roscoe pickups with a more neutral preamp. Best of both worlds for me.

 

[nonohmic]

I just put a deposit on a 5 string headless build- 33”, SKB standard body and rosewood fretboard. Tobacco burst

looking for input. Can anyone comment on the sonic differences between The standard Bartolini humbuckers verse Aguilar that Kieth offers?

Would you be happy to share the upcharge for a custom scale length? Sounds perfect at 33

 

[nonohmic]

I just changed out the TI flats for VW DR Blues on my LG tonight. Dear me, I love love TIs but this thing is siiiinging with the blues on it. Changing strings is so refreshing.

 

[wellso74]

Would you be happy to share the upcharge for a custom scale length? Sounds perfect at 33

I believe $300 for now/ though he was mentioning that they are reconsidering due to the work involved.

 

[nonohmic]

I believe $300 for now/ though he was mentioning that they are reconsidering due to the work involved.

Yeah that seems really reasonable, low even.