Roscoe on a budget??

[TrevorOfDoom]

I know i’m bordering on blasphemy here, but hear me out.
I have a Roscoe Century Standard. I really do like the bass, and if money weren’t an issue, i’d keep it.
But money’s an issue.
The Roscoe has a great sound and feel, but it rarely gets the call to gig.
So i’d like to sell the Roscoe, and with the profit, buy something comparable but less expensive.
I’ve looked at some of the Ibanez offering, especially those with Nordstrand pickups.
I’ve also eyed Cort, as it looks like they make a good product,
Does anyone have any other suggestions for quality modern/fusiony 4 strings?
The only caveat i have is that it must have the ability to go passive.
Other than that, hit me with your best shot!

 

[ShadowGroover]

Surprised that your Roscoe won't be called to the gig, but an Ibanez or Cort will.

Maybe provide some detailed info for us to be helpful, like your music genre(s), types of gigs, band format, geographic location(s), amplification scenarios, etc

 

[Bass Viking]

Regarding “it rarely gets the call to gig”? Do you mean that you can’t justify an expensive bass because you rarely gig?

I have an Ibanez SR1200 and I really like it. It has Nordstrands, exotic woods, and the preamp can be switched to passive (unlike my Roscoes). And it costs a fraction of a Roscoe.

 

[armybass]

Post pics of the offending Roscoe.

 

[Bass Viking]

Suggestion: a used American Peavey Cirrus. The ones I’ve played were very impressive.

 

[P Cheen]

I second the Ibanez SR suggestion. Those are killer and especially for the price. You can get a used Premium for just under 1k. You might not like the preamp on those - emphasis on might - but that’s a pretty easy swap.
The stock ones do have an active/passive switch.

 

[TrevorOfDoom]

I’m a fulltime musician (or what passes for one during these troubling times. Ninetynine out of a hundred times one of my Pbasses is the tool for the job. If it’s not a P, it’s my 5string. Like i said, i really enjoy having the Roscoe, but it’s not the right sound for the majority of my gigs. I like how the Roscoe makes me think and play differently.
So it’s not that it’s too expensive or whatever. It’s that i can’t justify keeping a bass that nice when it’s just for me, and i need money more than i need a nice bass.
Does that make more sense?

Surprised that your Roscoe won't be called to the gig, but an Ibanez or Cort will.

Maybe provide some detailed info for us to be helpful, like your music genre(s), types of gigs, band format, geographic location(s), amplification scenarios, etc

Regarding “it rarely gets the call to gig”? Do you mean that you can’t justify an expensive bass because you rarely gig?

 

[Jefenator]

I hear you, OP - I've got a couple of items in my arsenal that may not be earning their keep - enough to justify keeping 4 figures of $$$ tied up in them.
Ironically, my recently arrived Roscoe Century Standard P/J 5-string is not one of them. With its weight, playability, response and tone, I expect it will become one of my main workhorses.
Is the pickup configuration part of the issue with your Roscoe? (I have a couple of instruments with soapbars at "modern" spacing and it's not exactly my "bread & butter" sound.) If so, maybe you just need to trade for another Roscoe with the right layout.

 

[songwriter21]

Suggestion: a used American Peavey Cirrus. The ones I’ve played were very impressive.

I second this...insane U.S. quality for the money. Also, I recommend used Carvin or Kiesel. My Icon and B5 stack up to any basses I've owned/tried (there's been a TON), and the money I paid was unreal for the quality.

 

[Blues Bass 2]

I also think the SR Premium would be a good move . I had two of the 5 strings and the quality of the build was just great . The tone from the Nordys was very jazz like with the harmonics and open like sound . I liked the preamp in those too . The bass sounds just about as good in passive mode and in passive mode the treble knob becomes a passive tone . Very nice basses .

 

[P Cheen]

I second this...insane U.S. quality for the money. Also, I recommend used Carvin or Kiesel. My Icon and B5 stack up to any basses I've owned/tried (there's been a TON), and the money I paid was unreal for the quality.

View attachment 4130224

Recently got a Kiesel myself. Mine is a Vanquish V59K (5 string). Even though it is going back (the neck is too thin for my liking and the 19mm spacing is too wide for me I found), I can attest to the quality. Best bang-for-your-buck American-made custom guitars.

I’m actually getting an Ibanez Premium SR1100B to replace the Kiesel. Just gonna have to take it to my tech to have it BEAD-converted.

 

[Killing Floor]

Maybe look at Valenti?

But I get it. It may be the perfect bass for someone else. KR makes great basses. But if it’s not magic in your hands it’s not helping you.
Best of luck.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

CME has a Roscoe Standard 4 listed as very good for $1495. That was listed 5 months ago. What are you anticipating to sell the bass for?

 

[TrevorOfDoom]

Honestly, i LOVE the pickups and their configuration.
It has Nordstrand Big Singles.
The issue here is that i played a Roscoe 15 years ago with this setup and fell in love.
So i filed it away, saying “eventually i’ll get one.”
Then, mid 2019, i found THE bass on Reverb. Got it for over half off.
Onyx finish, maple neck. Perfect.
But in the time between falling in love 15 years ago, and getting one of my own, my tastes and needs changed drastically.
I was playing more fusion and prog back then, and only part time (once or twice a week), and the Roscoe was the dream bass. Now i play jazz, R&B, country, church music, rock, whatever, up to 5 times a week, and the Pbass is the right tool. My black and maple P will be buried with me.
So i’m sitting on a high dollar bass that i really only bring out a couple times a month, and it’s just because i can.

Is the pickup configuration part of the issue with your Roscoe? (I have a couple of instruments with soapbars at "modern" spacing and it's not exactly my "bread & butter" sound.) If so, maybe you just need to trade for another Roscoe with the right layout.

 

[TrevorOfDoom]

CME has a Roscoe Standard 4 listed as very good for $1495. That was listed 5 months ago. What are you anticipating to sell the bass for?

Honestly, somewhere in that ballpark would be great.

 

[SirMjac28]

Sell the Roscoe and don't buy anything until the need arises for something other than a P bass which right now is all you need. In the meantime, I would take a look at Maruszczyk basses incredible value for the money and he can build you anything you want.

 

[superheavyfunk]

Sell the Roscoe and don't buy anything until the need arises for something other than a P bass which right now is all you need. In the meantime, I would take a look at Maruszczyk basses incredible value for the money and he can build you anything you want.

This is the correct answer given that OP is seemingly desperate for cash atm.

Doesn't make sense to sell the dream bass and use the money to buy something inferior when you've already got the tools you need for your job and apparently don't even need to use the dream bass at all.

 

[songwriter21]

Sell the Roscoe and don't buy anything until the need arises for something other than a P bass which right now is all you need. In the meantime, I would take a look at Maruszczyk basses incredible value for the money and he can build you anything you want.

Yup, the configurator is fantastic.

Link Removed

 

[TrevorOfDoom]

This is the correct answer given that OP is seemingly desperate for cash atm.

Doesn't make sense to sell the dream bass and use the money to buy something inferior when you've already got the tools you need for your job and apparently don't even need to use the dream bass at all.

Well, i wouldn’t say i’m desperate for cash...
But cash is more useful than a bass at the moment.

 

[Eidolon0274]

Ibanez with bartolinis in it. A used 5005 will have a mahogany body and barts, same configuration as a Roscoe, cheap too.

A large part of Roscoe tone is Barts and body woods that are mid focused like mahogany and pine or Spanish cedar. Ibanez will get you there.