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Roscoe filed for Chapter 11?

#61
g-dude said:
In what way is there a limited or incomplete understanding? . . I recently ordered a bass, and the person requested that I use PayPal in a manner that affords me no protections (the friend/family style transfer). I considered the cost of the bass, the likelihood it would be fulfilled, and I took an educated risk - fully appreciating there was a chance I just flushed money down the toilet. This is FAR different than just closing my eyes and saying, “person on the internet told me it’d be all right”.
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The latter statement is an interesting way to prove stated C11 points, especially considering the PayPal user agreement for both buyer and seller. The transaction described violates PayPal's terms of service by both parties, stealing their rightful commission in a fraudulent way in avoiding a clear goods/service deal. That this is considered "educated risk" makes one wonder about the overall quality of educated thinking in a broader sense.

So, one was interested in transacting in this fraudulent manner because "a person on the internet (seller) said that it would be alright?" LOL. Sidebar: If the transaction includes a Talkbass seller, it's also a user agreement violation with clear penalties.
 
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#63
I've owned two Roscoes. One that was stolen about 15 years ago and another that I still own. Of all of the basses I've owned, none felt more like home to me than those. I've talked to Keith many times over the past 20 years and he's been nothing but helpful and kind, even though he's never made a cent off of my since I bought both basses used. I wish him the best and I hope they can pull through because I'm hoping to order a custom SKB in the next few years (gotta take care of some home expenses first).
 
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#64
I don’t think anyone is really questioning the quality or service. My Plek job was turned around in less than 12 hours! My first bass was built in 6 weeks to accommodate a visit to the shop to pick it up.

My Roscoe Century 5 has been my main (and for a while only) bass for 10 years. The neck is the finest I’ve ever played. I’ve been through over 60 basses My Roscoe Classic P has moved into the main spot as it seems to work better for me these days. I’m kind of going through a Pino Paladino/Sean Hurley thing.
 
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#66
I've known Keith since the early 90's and consider him a friend, though it's not often that I get see or talk to him anymore. I hate to hear this about his company but I totally believe he'll get through. I wouldn't hesitate ordering a bass from him. If for some horrible reason all his equipment get's repo'd, he'd still find a way to build the bass and get it to the customer. He's just a solid dude.
 
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#67
I have a Roscoe guitar, which is very nice. I joined their Facebook group, and they have posted new builds, or shown pieces of raw figured wood available for someone to order a bass.

I would like a Roscoe bass at some point - I mean, I’m not past the skill level of a Squier bass and after 35 years now, I doubt I’ll be getting much better any time soon! But that never stopped me before - so a Roscoe bass is “on my list”. I hope they’re still around going forward. I wish them the best of luck.

When I had a question about my guitar, I emailed the company, and Keith was quick to respond answering all my questions - on a guitar he made 30 years ago that I didn’t buy from him. That’s service!
 
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#69
Corigan said:
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.
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This thread made me go look at their website, so yes pretty much any publicity is good publicity.
 
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#72
No skin in the game for me, but I wouldn’t fault a person in the slightest for being concerned about this if Roscoe were on a short list of custom builders they were considering. I’ve seen too many threads here about “builder X, Y, or Z hasn’t delivered on time and won’t take any phone calls or answer any e mails.
 
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#73
Fender_Bender said:
No skin in the game for me, but I wouldn’t fault a person in the slightest for being concerned about this if Roscoe were on a short list of custom builders they were considering. I’ve seen too many threads here about “builder X, Y, or Z hasn’t delivered on time and won’t take any phone calls or answer any e mails.
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I would hate to see Roscoe wind up a sticky on page 1! Hopefully, the situation resolves itself. They make an awesome bass. I own 2.
 
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#76
Fender_Bender said:
No skin in the game for me, but I wouldn’t fault a person in the slightest for being concerned about this if Roscoe were on a short list of custom builders they were considering. I’ve seen too many threads here about “builder X, Y, or Z hasn’t delivered on time and won’t take any phone calls or answer any e mails.
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If you have any experience with Keith Roscoe you know that this wouldn't happen.

As @WorktheWood said- if he loses the CNC and Plek, he'll still deliver you one hell of an awesome, hand built, bass. 24 years after he built my fretless, I had him PLEK mill the fingerboard. The PLEK barely took anything off. It was simply a light refinish. I stand by the statement that no one builds a finer fretless bass than Keith. Nothing compares to his necks.

I've got 2 basses from Keith. I am going to put money down on a third soon.

Why? When I picked up my latest bass from his shop two things happened- one is that he wanted me to absolutely love everything about it- He and Kyle went over every little piece, what their challenges were with the spalted maple, why they chose to carve the body the way they did, how the finishing process went, why they love how the birdseye maple and the sienna burst came out together. How the pickups and electronics just sounded so sweet.

Two is that they asked me more questions about my job than I did theirs. There were 3-4 other guys in their lounge- guys who play the bass for a living, guys who tour or are in recording sessions with guys that I will always have to pay to be in their presence (I still regret not going in and shaking hands and talking with them- I get the feeling that I would have been welcome by the way Keith made me feel). But Keith didn't dismiss me, or kick me out, he told them he'd be with them when he was done and we talked for another hour plus. He was as interested in my story as I was his.

Not only did I get a world class, custom built, one of a kind, bass that ticks off all of my specs and desires and wants, but I was treated like I was one of the family, like a long lost friend. They shared with me other projects they were working on- Kyle's skull guitar. A "secret" thing for a guy whose name rhymes with "blah blah blah" who endorses someone else live (for the money) but records with Keith's basses.


The family is the real deal. They'll weather the storm.


BTW- his wife is a world renown furniture designer with a really cool story of her own.
 
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#77
Unfortunately, I do not currently own a Roscoe bass, but have had four in the past. They were, without a doubt, impeccably built and ranked among some of the best playing basses I've ever owned. While I've moved back over to more traditional tones and looks, I'm always browsing listings for Roscoe basses and contemplating ownership of another. I hope Keith, family, and crew weather this storm; my best to them!

Edited for some pics!

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#78
I’ll 2nd the best fretless in the business. I’ve had 2 of his fretless basses. They are almost perfect. My Century Plus 5 is the finest fretted 5 string I’ve played. Period. My basses were built before the CNC and Plek days. I, too, hope this is just a bump in the road.
 
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#79
g-dude said:
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.
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True, that! However, numerous reorganizations have occurred in which production more or less continued - case in point: the airline industry. Hoping the best for the Roscoe crew and customers.
 
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