Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Roscoe filed for Chapter 11?
- Thread starter 5fingerfrenzy
- Start date
Your comment is completely out of place, and quite disrespectful.
Keith's got about a 6 month turnaround, and is regularly pumping out basses and meeting deadlines. Nothing has changed about that in the last 3 months.
Warranty claims are one thing, but there is probably another concern: anyone who has paid in full or in part for an instrument and hasn’t received it.
If there are further issues, you become one of many creditors waiting for money.
I prefer not to be that cynical. In my professional life, I have dealt with multiple companies that have gone through bankruptcies. There has been good and bad to that, and we have admittedly lost a few times, but in general, we have been able to monitor more closely, negotiate shorter payment terms, and continue successful relationships with companies that have been in this situation.
I can't argue that there is risk involved, but turning away from companies in bankruptcy helps push them towards a bad outcome.
I also can't promise that I'll order a Roscoe tomorrow. I still have some Christmas debt that will linger into January.
MikeBass
Supporting Member
- Nov 4, 2003
- 11,943
- 3,136
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist- Suhr basses, PedalTrain, GHS, Ultimate Ears
Every single Roscoe I’ve owned, including my current Classic series P5, has been amazing.
Hope they weather this and come out stronger.
Hope they weather this and come out stronger.
I’m the proud owner of a SKB-3006. Keith is amongst the nicest luthiers that I’ve dealt with. He builds wonderful instruments, and stands behind them 100%. I hope everything works out for him and his company.
I’ve played one Roscoe , one time , used @ Nashville GC years ago. No clue what model but I have regretted not taking that bass home many times. It has stayed in my memory and I’ve played a lot of basses since then .
Best wishes moving forward .
Best wishes moving forward .
I don't mean to be disrespectful to anybody. But I have to say that during Chapter 11 his company is going to be disrespectful to people / companies he owes money to. And quite possibly people / companies he has already paid money to. To think that I would personally put a multi $K commitment to a company working chapter 11 or chapter anything is pretty out of the question. I hope he survives, but it will not be pretty for many involved. If enough suppliers get screwed over they may not sell to him any more. If that happens he will have trouble filling orders. And the cycle begins.
Remember - A major US car company filed chapter 11 about 10 years ago and in the process they seriously hurt or bankrupted MANY small companies and suppliers.
Last edited:
Why? He's still producing and meeting deadlines.
Folks here act like they've never supported a business going through Chapter 11 before, or that a business doesn't succeed after filing for Chapter 11.
If you've bought a car, or gas, or an airline ticket, or furniture, or tools, or electronics, or healthcare, etc... you've bought from a company that has gone through these proceedings.
Well you are. You're making accusations that someone won't be able to deliver based on a 3 month old press release about a voluntary legal filing that you probably didn't read. Do you know anything else about the company? Have you dealt with them in the past couple of years?
Being behind on bills is not disrespect- especially when you're a small, family owned and operated, business 2 years into a global pandemic that has turned the economy upside down. If you read the filing, it's not the suppliers that he owes money to, it's on bank notes, and First National Bank of Pennsylvania isn't going under because Roscoe needs to restructure their debt.
Roscoe is not GM. GM has been bailed out by the Government more than one with WAY more money than the debt Roscoe Guitars will ever have over the next 100 years. They've got a handful of folks working in their building- including Keith and his son Kyle. He made a couple of big moves in 2018/2019 when be bought a new PLEK, a new CNC, and moved into a bigger building. (he's since moved into a smaller place). Then the pandemic hit- along with it came all of the parts and supply chain issues with it.
But rather than be supportive the industry, or at least glance and move on, you have chosen the opposite and to try to kick them while they're down.
Were you ever in the market for a Roscoe Bass? If yes, then call Keith and ask him what the Chapter 11 proceedings mean for your deposit, and discuss your concerns with him.
If you aren't, then why say anything?
Are you some kind of spokesman for that company? You are taking this WAY too personal.
I'll go away. Goodbye...
I gotta say….
I kinda wish this post had never been made. With respect to the OP, posting this has served no reason except to stir up the collective hornet’s nest known as TalkBass and will cause a lot of speculation and chatter that can’t be helpful to the Roscoe company. And they have enough to deal with at the moment, doncha think?
Nope, no dog in the hunt, my connections to another bass maker are pretty well known. I do have a dear friend who plays a Roscoe that, while not quite my cup o’ tea, is a gorgeous, great-playing, great sounding bass. And he speaks very highly of Keith and the company. That’s says enough for me.
I wish them very well. And I hope this thread doesn’t turn into a big feeding frenzy on them.
I kinda wish this post had never been made. With respect to the OP, posting this has served no reason except to stir up the collective hornet’s nest known as TalkBass and will cause a lot of speculation and chatter that can’t be helpful to the Roscoe company. And they have enough to deal with at the moment, doncha think?
Nope, no dog in the hunt, my connections to another bass maker are pretty well known. I do have a dear friend who plays a Roscoe that, while not quite my cup o’ tea, is a gorgeous, great-playing, great sounding bass. And he speaks very highly of Keith and the company. That’s says enough for me.
I wish them very well. And I hope this thread doesn’t turn into a big feeding frenzy on them.
Chapter 11 is symptomatic.
It’s entirely possible that a company emerges perfectly fine.
It’s also a possibility that they don’t.
If they emerge fine, you get your product.
If they do not, you are not getting your money back in full. You will get some. Hopefully. After awhile.
It’s a free country, people can continue to buy, but don’t you dare suggest that it is without risks to give money to a business in bankruptcy. People deserve to make informed decisions, and if they want to support a company that will have an increased risk of failure to fulfill obligations, then so be it.
Yeah, its not necessarily a good look.
I remember in the late 90s, early 2000s I was up in Richmond doing some work with GWAR. One of the nights I'm in my hotel room and that old national news show 20 / 20 is on. They are doing a hit piece on shock rock. GWAR keeps getting mentioned. So the next day When I see the old lead singer, Dave brockie, I ask him if he saw the piece on 20 / 20. He told me no, but said he had been getting calls all morning about it. I was pissed. Dave just laughed. He asked me how many times they mentioned the band name on national TV for free. I said about 8 times and they showed a few clips of the band. He said excellent. I was shocked. He looked at me and said, "All press is good press. there is no such thing as bad press." A week later Dave is smiling. I asked him whats up. He told me they had a huge bump in sales from the hit piece on 20 / 20 last week.
That moment kind of changed my outlook a little on "bad press". Im hoping in the case of Roscoe they come out of their restructuring fine. This post has gotten alot of people talking about Roscoe. It may even encourage some to buy to help them out when they need the help the most.
Some may look at this as a doom and gloom prediction, while others could look at this as a new start and a rebirth. I guess its all perspective.
Truth is anyone commenting on the future is speculating. As many have pointed out, there are multiple possible outcomes and not anyone here or anywhere for that matter can guarantee. If you want them to be around support them, clearly they weren’t making enough to pay creditors and that’s simple math. You’re making less than you owe.
Not surprising, we’re in the midst of a worldwide pandemic and any small business that made major moves before the pandemic is probably suffering.
I give them credit, they’re doing it right by going through the proceedings; they could have done what others have done in the past and abscond with people’s money. Clearly they’re going through bankruptcy proceedings because they want to continue as a going concern.
Very sad news at the end of the year
The one LG3006 I had briefly sounded awesome, and when I had a few questions about it (despite being 2nd or 3rd order), Keith himself was quick reply to my queries about component details & build history. Sadly the ergonomics of the instrument didn't fit me, but it's become the #1 instrument of the player I sold it to.
Hope they make it through this rough patch, as it would be a shame to lose them from the bass-building landscape
The one LG3006 I had briefly sounded awesome, and when I had a few questions about it (despite being 2nd or 3rd order), Keith himself was quick reply to my queries about component details & build history. Sadly the ergonomics of the instrument didn't fit me, but it's become the #1 instrument of the player I sold it to.
Hope they make it through this rough patch, as it would be a shame to lose them from the bass-building landscape
A lot of companies will be having a rough ride after Covid. This is through no fault of theirs.
Best wishes to Roscoe. They make fantastic instruments and will bounce back.
Best wishes to Roscoe. They make fantastic instruments and will bounce back.
I agree that one thing that happens with a post like this is speculation but another thing that happens is support. Genuine support. True there is a degree of cynicism and disrespect on TB, it has always been that way (much worse in years past) Plus folks just love the idea of doom and gloom and failure far more than basic common sense or practical business application, renewed success etc.. Still, there is alot of love for those who have been around.
This community is Kieth's and Kyle's community also. Roscoe basses are staple as a long time 'boutique' builder before it was a buzz word. I know my own first gut reaction was how can I support. It's an interesting time we live in. Business models do change. Old ways of working don't work the same. New partnerships are born, new ideas are born. Pivot, re-evaluate, get creative... not to mention the affects of the past 2 years. It's true, sometimes businesses over-extend themselves as they grow. As long as there is a genuine spirit and passion for moving forward and staying in business, change is inevitable. I agree with @Skip Chucker - if folks have any doubts or concerns about a build, call and talk. Good people are good people.
It sounds like Roscoe made an investment [ based on a loan ] in new machinery and a larger space at just the wrong time . This is a case of bad luck not fraud and they appear to be trying to restructure properly given the circumstances . They didn't take the money and run as some have or stall on their delivery's as others have . To state that they are now a risky investment if you want a new guitar is not fair to them nor necessarily a certainty at all . We here should be wishing them well not casting aspersions . Just my two cents ... Kelly
Actually, he is a spokesperson. He is one of many loyal and satisfied repeat customers, like me. While Roscoe Guitars may seem to be just another company to many, there is a warm, welcoming, good-natured face behind the brand. Keith Roscoe is that person, founding the company he continues today.
Keith Roscoe personally continues to craft his original designs. He is still a main builder, working with his son Kyle, to whom he hopes to pass his legacy. These 2 are the main people in the shop, and often work 7 days a week, well into the night. Call their web listed phone number and often find Mr. Keith answering the phone, happy and willing to talk with customers. Try calling Leo Fender to do the same. . Wait. . His successor? Oh well. You get it.
At a time when most manufacturers have offshored their work, and many other boutique "builders" have become assemblers of parts made by others, the Roscoe shop still builds. "If one doesn't see sawdust and wood in the build shop, you know they aren't making basses. . . " - K. Roscoe. And, Roscoe has invested in, and implemented technology to streamline their build approach, while remaining "hands-on" supplying the artistic, and unique approach to each bass.
Making basses is something that Keith Roscoe does with a passion. There is no offshore production. Want a bass? Spec it entirely to your desire and need. Choose the wood, the body style, the number of strings (3-7), the scale length, the neck configuration (laminate number and wood type), the hardware, the electronics, the finish type, the color, and the case type. Have a completely custom-built instrument in hand in about 6 months, straight from beautiful North Carolina. Even travel to their shop to pickup your bass personally. This has been the Roscoe mode of operation as long as I have known about them.
One only needs to look at Real Roscoe Guitars Facebook page to understand the artistry and devotion that Roscoe Guitars has to bass players and their instruments. To me, there is no one that comes close to what Roscoe offers in a bass, at a price point that is accessible to many players.
Maybe the opportunity for Roscoe Guitars is to double their prices, so that they approach their value. 5-figure price points are now common for hand-built custom-spec basses. Maybe Roscoe Guitars should consider this pricing strategy moving forward. Meanwhile, players have opportunity to spec and order a bass in a way that no other maker offers at a similar price point. It's an old-school company that is fighting for its survival, and the least I can do is continue in my hope and support of their efforts.
Last edited:
