I am thinking in getting another used bass. I have 2 in mind a older Roscoe Bass LG3000 4 strings or a Warrior Bass 5 strings witch one would you prefare
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.
what would you choose Roscoe or Warrior Bass
- Thread starter otto B
- Start date
I own an SKB3005, and have briefly played a Warrior 4 string.
My experience with the warrior was that it balanced a little better than my Roscoe, but the neck was too thin and narrow for my liking. The Roscoe is a little chunkier, which fits my tastes better.
After taking some chances with the Roscoe Demeter preamp, I have found "my sound." I love Roscoe's thick tone (when the mids are cut, because I found that flat there was too much mid presence. Still get a real nice mid punch with the knob turned down). I can't comment too much on the Warrior tone, since when I played it, it was coming out of a little Peavey 110 combo at a session.
My experience with the warrior was that it balanced a little better than my Roscoe, but the neck was too thin and narrow for my liking. The Roscoe is a little chunkier, which fits my tastes better.
After taking some chances with the Roscoe Demeter preamp, I have found "my sound." I love Roscoe's thick tone (when the mids are cut, because I found that flat there was too much mid presence. Still get a real nice mid punch with the knob turned down). I can't comment too much on the Warrior tone, since when I played it, it was coming out of a little Peavey 110 combo at a session.
I'm a Roscoe fan, so biased, and have zero experience with Warrior, but I don't like their shape so much, I hear the missing area where the arm contour would be on a more Fenderish shape puts a lot of strain on your arm.
Thanks for your opinions. I do owned a Roscoe SKB but I was thinking about another bass. The only thing about warrior bass is that there aint that many people that owned them. I wounder how long this company started to build basses. I can't find any reviews
This is an interesting question. Both are respected boutique marques that hail from the Southeast. Both have devotees in Gospel although Roscoe has a stronger presence in Jazz. Both have had reputations for quality issues in the past that I think have been solved. I owned a Roscoe, and I really liked it fingerstyle although the slap tone was dead. That, however, was likely a byproduct of wood choice, I have heard plenty of Rosoces sound just fine slapping. Personally, Warriors appeal to me a bit more, but I can't see a player losing by choosing either one.
Roscoe, me thinks. But thats only because I like the look of them better, and anything containing the word Roscoe makes it great. 
Right, Darkstrike?
Right, Darkstrike?
Roscoe, me thinks. But thats only because I like the look of them better, and anything containing the word Roscoe makes it great.
Right, Darkstrike?
Hey, least I'm honest in my utter bias.
Its also a fact, I've been using a sharpie to add "Roscoe" to my other basses headstocks, all have had a 30% tonal increace, 45% ergomonic increace, and a 10% hotness increace.
Lulzorz.
I just write Bubba Was Here on the input jack. They become scared that if they dont work Ill call him again.
Lulzorz.
I just write Bubba Was Here on the input jack. They become scared that if they dont work Ill call him again.
Never knew Bubba was a luthier!
I have owned 2 Warriors I still have one of them and have had it for almost 7 years. I love the bass. I live just a few miles from the Warrior factory and have been there many times and have played ones as early as serial # 0002. I used to go to church with the guy who owns it. IME Warriors can be a bit inconsistent. I have played many that were incredible and a few that were just OK. There is a wide range of Warrior basses even within the same model name. If you can play it first, go for it. That can make some killer basses.
Also, someone asked how long they have been making basses. They started in the mid 90s I believe around 96 or so. My bass is a 99.
I have played a few Roscoes and Liked the ones l played. Great basses and very beautiful. I have played Warriors that were much better, but then a few that were much worse. I would say, if you could play the Warrior and it was killer, I would go for it. If not, I may choose the Roscoe.
My $.02
Also, someone asked how long they have been making basses. They started in the mid 90s I believe around 96 or so. My bass is a 99.
I have played a few Roscoes and Liked the ones l played. Great basses and very beautiful. I have played Warriors that were much better, but then a few that were much worse. I would say, if you could play the Warrior and it was killer, I would go for it. If not, I may choose the Roscoe.
My $.02
bongomania
Commercial User
The Roscoe LG3005 I owned was stunningly beautiful and fantastic sounding, but the ergonomics were remarkably poor--that's the only reason I sold it. The Warriors I've seen have a similar vibe to me, in that they look sharp and have woods and electronics that suggest good sound, but the ergonomics just look "off" to me. I've never tried one in person though.
If you like the feel of your current Roscoe, then I'd say get another one--that way you have an idea of how it will feel beforehand.
If you like the feel of your current Roscoe, then I'd say get another one--that way you have an idea of how it will feel beforehand.
Hey Bongo, what didn't you like about the LG?
I'd be very interested to know, IIRC you like espcially thin 5ers...
Maybe PM, if you don't want to take the thread off topic, though, it probably is on topic!
bongomania
Commercial User
I do love thin 5'ers, although the LG was a more normal 19mm spacing. My problems were (a) the distance from the top strap button to the 12th fret made the outer positions hard to reach, and (b) the neck profile had "corners" like [ instead of a smooth gradient like ( , very uncomfortable for my thumb.
Hmm, odd. I thought all LG 5ers were, 18, adjustable to 17 mm spacing, mines at about 17.5mm, and has a little adjustment in either direction.
The short upper horn I do understand, but its not a problem I face, having a long reach, plus I play pretty low, giving the neck a little more angle, and thus drawing the nut in closer, I can see where it'd give most people trouble though. Quite like a Thunderbird, or an Explorer.
As for the profile, this is the one area I don't honestly understand, mine feels smooth, like the ( you mention. Of course, I came from the huge Fender/Squier 5er profile, which is pretty much a 6er neck with one less string.
bongomania
Commercial User
Yeah others have said that the neck profile on mine was not typical, or at least that Roscoe neck profiles aren't all that way.
This isn't going to help, but a Roscoe 4 string, in my opinion, isn't really a Roscoe. Roscoe's are known for their B strings and with good reason.
Thanks for your opinions. The problems that I see form Warrior Basses is that I can't find any stores that sales them and I had only found very few reviews of them, I have a concern about this basses because it looks like is a hit or miss to get a good bass, and Of course I would get it used so by this, once I buy it I am stuck with it. I think I may have to pass on the Idea of getting a Warrior bass. I may have to look for either a Roscoe bass or a Warwick Streamer Stage 2
Having tried both, my vote goes to Warrior (I own one, too). Very nice neck, great playability. I was unhappy with the Barts and once I put Villex pickups on, there was no turning back. It's a keeper
