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Roscoe Club

#19,482
Used both last night. I can’t decide. They each sounded fantastic. Different (Passive P flats and active 5 rounds) but equal.
9FB05F7F-CFC3-4F1A-B1AA-04C9EF2199DB.jpeg
 
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#19,485
pantherairsoft said:
Roscoe family, I need your help!

I need to track down a bass.

Some 10 years ago (maybe a little more) Keith built me an LG Custom 5, in 32" scale (I think I recall Gard saying it was the first 32" out of the workshop since the old MIDI basses?), which was spec'd via Mark @ Bassdirect in the UK. I'm lucky enough to have owned 6 Roscoes over the years, each of them holding a space in the nicest 6 basses I've ever played, but this one... on man.

The best way I can describe that bass is 'an extention of myself'. It made me more creative, made me play better and it fit me like a glove. Buckeye on Swamp Ash, Pau Ferro board on a maple/wenge/purpleheart neck. Diamondwood ramp between the pups. D-tuner on the E string. Glock/Bart electronics. Perfection. I also later added some custom Buckeye knobs to the bass as well. I toured with this bass in 2012 all over Europe and was in love.

Around 6 years ago, I had a finanaical crisis, following a divorce and redundancy. Painfully, I sold the bass to a chap in Spain. I regretted the decision immediately, but it had to be done in order to keep a roof over my head. Since the day I sold that bass, I've felt 'incomplete' as a bass player, even hanging up th ebass for a 2.5 year period.

A year later, when things were brighter (though really not bright enough to be spending that much money on a bass again), I hopefully reached out to the buyer to try and buy it back, but he had sold it on (if I recall, to a chap in Italy). I reached out them to to be told it had been sold to someone in Japan, for the purposes of being put in a museum or high-end personal collection of some form. I tried to contact the buyer but was unsuccessful in opening a line of communication. The forum these discussions took place through archived discussions a few years ago and removed all private conversations older than 3 years, so I can't look back over details I found back then. I have tried reaching out to the chap in Spain again, in an attempt to follow the same trail once more, but so far, to no avail.

In the last month, I have woken up twice dreaming of that bass. Now, as a man who rarely remembers his dreams, that is quite impressive. Though I still play a gorgeous Roscoe today, I'd give up more than I can explain to be reunited with 'my bass'.

So, I ask you all, if anyone has seen, or maybe even owns this spectacular instrument - please try to help me find it! I have considered reaching out to Roscoe in order to spec another 'identical' bass, but I know it won't be 'that' bass. A part of me, just needs that instrument.

Big love, thanks for reading!
Shep
View attachment 4378387 View attachment 4378388 View attachment 4378390 View attachment 4378392View attachment 4378389 View attachment 4378391 View attachment 4378384 View attachment 4378385 View attachment 4378386
Click to expand...

Hey Shep

I am the guy with the two original 32" Roscoe medium scalers, and yes - both RMC midi equipped. I think we touched base via BassChat a number of years ago. I didn't realize that Keith ever made any other medium scale basses until I saw yours. Paul Reed Smith made a medium scaler - #11 for me back in 1977 - and it was the only bass I owned and played from 1977-1999. My band got signed to a new record deal in 1999 and at the advice of a friend I had PRS #11 appraised. Well, I fell off my chair when I found out what it was worth and I knew it could never leave my home and studio again - although I did take it to Manhattan twice since then. Once was to show it to Keith so that he could measure the neck precisely - and duplicate it for the first Roscoe he built for me. The other time was when my friend Jens Ritter was in town from Germany, and he begged me to bring it to Manhattan - so he could see it and get some photos of it. Although, the PRS is now long overdue to go to Annapolis for a tune-up. No one works on it but Paul so I am trying to find the time to get it down there.

Good luck, I hope you can find your long lost Roscoe baby!
 
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#19,486
pantherairsoft said:
Roscoe family, I need your help!

I need to track down a bass.

Some 10 years ago (maybe a little more) Keith built me an LG Custom 5, in 32" scale (I think I recall Gard saying it was the first 32" out of the workshop since the old MIDI basses?), which was spec'd via Mark @ Bassdirect in the UK. I'm lucky enough to have owned 6 Roscoes over the years, each of them holding a space in the nicest 6 basses I've ever played, but this one... on man.

The best way I can describe that bass is 'an extention of myself'. It made me more creative, made me play better and it fit me like a glove. Buckeye on Swamp Ash, Pau Ferro board on a maple/wenge/purpleheart neck. Diamondwood ramp between the pups. D-tuner on the E string. Glock/Bart electronics. Perfection. I also later added some custom Buckeye knobs to the bass as well. I toured with this bass in 2012 all over Europe and was in love.

Around 6 years ago, I had a finanaical crisis, following a divorce and redundancy. Painfully, I sold the bass to a chap in Spain. I regretted the decision immediately, but it had to be done in order to keep a roof over my head. Since the day I sold that bass, I've felt 'incomplete' as a bass player, even hanging up th ebass for a 2.5 year period.

A year later, when things were brighter (though really not bright enough to be spending that much money on a bass again), I hopefully reached out to the buyer to try and buy it back, but he had sold it on (if I recall, to a chap in Italy). I reached out them to to be told it had been sold to someone in Japan, for the purposes of being put in a museum or high-end personal collection of some form. I tried to contact the buyer but was unsuccessful in opening a line of communication. The forum these discussions took place through archived discussions a few years ago and removed all private conversations older than 3 years, so I can't look back over details I found back then. I have tried reaching out to the chap in Spain again, in an attempt to follow the same trail once more, but so far, to no avail.

In the last month, I have woken up twice dreaming of that bass. Now, as a man who rarely remembers his dreams, that is quite impressive. Though I still play a gorgeous Roscoe today, I'd give up more than I can explain to be reunited with 'my bass'.

So, I ask you all, if anyone has seen, or maybe even owns this spectacular instrument - please try to help me find it! I have considered reaching out to Roscoe in order to spec another 'identical' bass, but I know it won't be 'that' bass. A part of me, just needs that instrument.

Big love, thanks for reading!
Shep
View attachment 4378387 View attachment 4378388 View attachment 4378390 View attachment 4378392View attachment 4378389 View attachment 4378391 View attachment 4378384 View attachment 4378385 View attachment 4378386
Click to expand...

UPDATE!

Thanks to a member of the Roscoeheads Facebook group, I have managed to locate this bass!!!

Unfortunately (for me), but as expected, this bass is going nowhere. It has been the main gigging bass of the new owner for over 5 years and they are as in love with that instrument as I was (am). While it isn’t the news I wanted, I guess that it gives me a level of ‘closure’ so I can consider my next step without wondering ‘what if I can find that bass’ constantly.

I am happy that it’s in the hands of someone that’s giving it some real love though!

Time to start planning!
 
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#19,489
pantherairsoft said:
UPDATE!

Thanks to a member of the Roscoeheads Facebook group, I have managed to locate this bass!!!

Unfortunately (for me), but as expected, this bass is going nowhere. It has been the main gigging bass of the new owner for over 5 years and they are as in love with that instrument as I was (am). While it isn’t the news I wanted, I guess that it gives me a level of ‘closure’ so I can consider my next step without wondering ‘what if I can find that bass’ constantly.

I am happy that it’s in the hands of someone that’s giving it some real love though!

Time to start planning!
Click to expand...

I'm glad you got some closure. I'd be interested what you planned to buy next. I thought Keith's offer of a 33" was gracious, but I can see (particularly with the LG shape) that 32 and 33 could feel quite different.
 
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#19,490
nonohmic said:
I'm glad you got some closure. I'd be interested what you planned to buy next. I thought Keith's offer of a 33" was gracious, but I can see (particularly with the LG shape) that 32 and 33 could feel quite different.
Click to expand...

Absolutely. 33" is far more common and I know many builders have made 33" a much more 'standard' offering. There is nothing worse than asking someone to bend to your will if it's not really what they do. I know when I commission that build that it wasn't the norm. I'm considering my options right now and am going to investigate a few avenues, but whatever it is, it needs to be 32".
 
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#19,491
pantherairsoft said:
Absolutely. 33" is far more common and I know many builders have made 33" a much more 'standard' offering. There is nothing worse than asking someone to bend to your will if it's not really what they do. I know when I commission that build that it wasn't the norm. I'm considering my options right now and am going to investigate a few avenues, but whatever it is, it needs to be 32".
Click to expand...


I have a good buddy that Keith built a 30” scale for and he loves it (and the low B is still really good sounding).
I’m sure that he’ll do a 32” scale for you.
 
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#19,492
pantherairsoft said:
Roscoe family, I need your help!

I need to track down a bass.

Some 10 years ago (maybe a little more) Keith built me an LG Custom 5, in 32" scale (I think I recall Gard saying it was the first 32" out of the workshop since the old MIDI basses?), which was spec'd via Mark @ Bassdirect in the UK. I'm lucky enough to have owned 6 Roscoes over the years, each of them holding a space in the nicest 6 basses I've ever played, but this one... on man.

The best way I can describe that bass is 'an extention of myself'. It made me more creative, made me play better and it fit me like a glove. Buckeye on Swamp Ash, Pau Ferro board on a maple/wenge/purpleheart neck. Diamondwood ramp between the pups. D-tuner on the E string. Glock/Bart electronics. Perfection. I also later added some custom Buckeye knobs to the bass as well. I toured with this bass in 2012 all over Europe and was in love.

Around 6 years ago, I had a finanaical crisis, following a divorce and redundancy. Painfully, I sold the bass to a chap in Spain. I regretted the decision immediately, but it had to be done in order to keep a roof over my head. Since the day I sold that bass, I've felt 'incomplete' as a bass player, even hanging up th ebass for a 2.5 year period.

A year later, when things were brighter (though really not bright enough to be spending that much money on a bass again), I hopefully reached out to the buyer to try and buy it back, but he had sold it on (if I recall, to a chap in Italy). I reached out them to to be told it had been sold to someone in Japan, for the purposes of being put in a museum or high-end personal collection of some form. I tried to contact the buyer but was unsuccessful in opening a line of communication. The forum these discussions took place through archived discussions a few years ago and removed all private conversations older than 3 years, so I can't look back over details I found back then. I have tried reaching out to the chap in Spain again, in an attempt to follow the same trail once more, but so far, to no avail.

In the last month, I have woken up twice dreaming of that bass. Now, as a man who rarely remembers his dreams, that is quite impressive. Though I still play a gorgeous Roscoe today, I'd give up more than I can explain to be reunited with 'my bass'.

So, I ask you all, if anyone has seen, or maybe even owns this spectacular instrument - please try to help me find it! I have considered reaching out to Roscoe in order to spec another 'identical' bass, but I know it won't be 'that' bass. A part of me, just needs that instrument.

Big love, thanks for reading!
Shep
View attachment 4378387 View attachment 4378388 View attachment 4378390 View attachment 4378392View attachment 4378389 View attachment 4378391 View attachment 4378384 View attachment 4378385 View attachment 4378386
Click to expand...

Brother, I wish you great luck. I had one that I let slip away as well. My first, and favorite Roscoe. Last I heard it was being played in a vineyard NoCal with the current owner not responding back to my emails.
 
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#19,496
armybass said:
I brought the LG down to the Magic Kingdom today. She’s gonna get Plek’d and gutted to get the Nordstrand electronics and pickups out and refitted with the factory spec’d Roscoe Bartolini’s. Best part was visiting my new bass build and getting to talk to Keith and Kyle for a while. What a great day.
View attachment 4383336
Click to expand...

beautiful bass Scott

She’ll be even nicer once Keith is done with her
 
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#19,497
LightGroove said:
Shane, Didnt you have a set of Roscoe Barts you were trying to sell a little while back?
Click to expand...

I did have a set of the Quad barts that I sold at the first of the year. Actually ordered a set of the Classic Barts with 4 wires to wire in as Series-parallel- single coil. Just got back from the tech and it sounds great. Much more open than the Quad barts. Single coil sounds great on these barts.
 
#19,498
pantherairsoft said:
UPDATE!

Thanks to a member of the Roscoeheads Facebook group, I have managed to locate this bass!!!

Unfortunately (for me), but as expected, this bass is going nowhere. It has been the main gigging bass of the new owner for over 5 years and they are as in love with that instrument as I was (am). While it isn’t the news I wanted, I guess that it gives me a level of ‘closure’ so I can consider my next step without wondering ‘what if I can find that bass’ constantly.

I am happy that it’s in the hands of someone that’s giving it some real love though!

Time to start planning!
Click to expand...

LightGroove said:
Brother, I wish you great luck. I had one that I let slip away as well. My first, and favorite Roscoe. Last I heard it was being played in a vineyard NoCal with the current owner not responding back to my emails.
Click to expand...

Sorry to hear that but you guys did what you could. I sometimes wonder how I would react if I had the bass someone was looking for. I'd probably keep mum for fear of the previous owner hounding me!
 
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#19,499
staccatogrowl said:
The irony is that the Classic Barts that you now prefer come stock with the Standard+ basses you order, but you spec them all for Quads or Nords as an "upgrade."

No insult here, just irony. As beauty is in the eye of the beholder, favored tone is in the ear of the beholder. Enjoy the Classics!
Click to expand...

Actually they don’t. I asked Keith before I ordered them and he verified they are different. His doesn’t come with 4 wires and can’t be done in coil tapping.
 
#19,500
Hmm. Interesting. The backs of the Classics I've seen have 4 wires. This matches Bartolini's description, too. Others in this forum (@SteveC) have been told that their Standard + basses can be wired Ser/Par/S. Here's a pic of a Classic Bart from a Roscoe Standard+ with 4 wires:

Roscoe Bart CB.jpg


Here's another pic of a Classic Bart from a Standard+, still installed in a bass that I was considering buying, with 4 wires:

bart classic.jpg
 
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