New-to-me, 6 string content (It's a Roscoe)

[JBFLA]

Quick first impressions:

 

Description: Glorious OK -

Roscoe SKB3006

Redwood Burl top

Mahogany body

Maple accent layer between top and body

(Ridiculous) Birdseye Maple fret board

Maple/Purpleheart 3 piece neck

Roscoe Bart pups and Bart Pre

Black Hipshot hardware

 

Condition - This bass is 10 years old and yet, I cant find a single flaw in the neck, body or finish. The original owner must be as CDO as I am about taking care of instruments.. The only issue was that the pups were marked by the strings. Those pups were set soooo high that there is less than 1/16 from the bottom of the C string without the string being fretted. Maybe the original owner had a (very!) light touch, but obviously the round wound strings (of unknown make) grooved some marks in the Barts. No big deal, I moved them down to a height similar to my LG3005 and its all good.

 

Playability - uh: It plays great, the player not so much. Ive got standard fivers and a fretless five tuned E-C so I know the notes, but Ive never had a sixer. My brain and muscle memory are in the midst of a civil war. This one is going to be a keeper - Ive put away all the others (but my fretless basses) and Im gonna shed this one until its second nature.

 

Build quality/workmanship - Its a Roscoe. Next question?

 

Tone - Ahhh! I have four Roscoes; three have swamp ash bodies with different necks and tops, but they are all similar in tone (+/- a little): a fretted 4 and 5 and a fretless 4. This one is a different body style (SKB vs LG on the other 3). The SKB is slightly larger body with a longer upper horn (better balance). I think that the wood combination is more a part of the distinction of tone differential. The tone seems more focused on the fundamental while retaining the punch and cut of the others.

 

Great bass, as my expectations for a Roscoe would be; and a challenge for me to master. Couldnt ask for more OK - maybe a fretless six?

 

SteveC - you almost bought this one, its all your fault. Thank You! Cant wait to hear your reaction to that bass you have coming your way!

 

I know the rules: no pics, no bass:

 

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll253/JBFLA/Roscoe%20SKB%203006%20-%206%20string%20bass/SKB30064654018.jpg

 

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll253/JBFLA/Roscoe%20SKB%203006%20-%206%20string%20bass/Forum%20pics/SKB30064654010-L.jpg

 

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll253/JBFLA/Roscoe%20SKB%203006%20-%206%20string%20bass/Forum%20pics/SKB30064654008-L.jpg

 

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll253/JBFLA/Roscoe%20SKB%203006%20-%206%20string%20bass/Forum%20pics/SKB30064654004-l.jpg

 

 

 

 

Mo betta and bigger pics here

[Pernax]

That's officially hot!

 

-P

[Matt S.]

That is a beautiful acquisition!!

[Wally Malone]

Nice!

 

Wally

[EddiePlaysBass]

Wow. Just ... wow!

 

I used to have a Yamaha TRBII 6 string and the neck was wide. Perhaps it's the picture but this Roscoe seems even wider

 

Very pretty, though. I don't think I will ever go the 6-route again, but I have a 5-string Ibanez BTB which is not being used so I may end up restringing it E-C at some point.

 

In conclusion: wow!

 

 

[JBFLA]

Thanks everyone!!

 

To Eddie:

Wide? Aircraft carrier flight deck comes to mind.

 

Just thinking more "vertical" playing vs "horizontal" playing at this point. The width of the neck (in 1st position) is no worse than my fivers in 2nd/3rd - or so I've convinced myself.

 

Bottom line - disposable income can be a b**ch. Ten years ago this would have been a dream. Today, it's a moment of reality, for me.

 

Plangent had it right - to a point.

Boutique instruments don't necessarily play/sound better; but (in my case) they allow me to play what I hear in my head.

 

Just tools - yes. But sometimes, the tools allow you to create what you want to produce, where others allow you to create what is expected.

 

Plangent just couldn't allow for the individual reaction to an instrument and it's ability to inspire.

 

When I have one of my Roscoe's in my hands, I can (and will) play the best part I am capable of.

 

For others, it may be a Squire or an Ibby or a Lakie...

 

We are driven (and inspired) by our instrument of choice.

There should be NO predetermined judgement of instrument choice - what works, works.

 

...but you already knew that...

[Seamy ALB]

That is a nice Bass!!

 

Health to play.

 

Once you get onto a 6 you'll never look back!!

[Wally Malone]

That is a nice Bass!!

 

Health to play.

 

Once you get onto a 6 you'll never look back!!

 

I'm looking at selling my Alembic Orion Six. I'll be going to Santa Rosa this week and have now called Alembic a couple of times and didn't get a call back. I'm surprised since I left messages, the first time voicemail and the second with a person and asked to speak with Mica. Mica knows who I am and had mentioned to the person who answered the phone that I would like to bring in my bass for some work and was told I needed to speak with Mica to make an appointment. I want them to take a look over and get it into tip-top shape including putting on a set of their strings, that ship with this bass. I also want to get a handle on what these now sell for since they have increased their pricing over the years. I also thought it would help my sale with a purchaser knowing it had the factory look over before the sale.

 

Wally

[SteveC]

A beautiful bass for sure. I can't wait for my "custom" Roscoe to be done in a couple weeks. Even better will be going to the shop to "pick it up" and have a lesson with Jimmy. The Century body seems like a better fit for me, but it seems no one has just one Roscoe so we'll see.

 

Enjoy!

[jeremy c]

That's a beautiful instrument. It's hard to believe that it is used.

 

Did the original owner never play it (or never take it out of the house)?

[b5pilot]

Very nice!

[JBFLA]

Did the original owner never play it (or never take it out of the house)?

 

Looks like it was never taken out of it's case. I bought it from the same Roscoe dealer that I got my blue fretless from. He didn't really know what the history was.

[jcadmus]

Oh my. I have to sit down.

[JBFLA]

Oh my. I have to sit down.

 

I had the same response after the big brown truck dropped it off.

And, I'd already seen pics.

 

This beauty is turning in to a joy to play. I'm still grabbing the C string when going for the G on occasion; similar to playing the B when I wanted the E on my first 5 string. I think forcing myself to play only this bass - OK, hardly "forcing"; this bass calls out my name when I get home - really helps muscle memory thru repetition. I can see this being my regular bass except for certain situations call for something different.

 

...school was never this fun.

[SteveC]

I want to go to school...come on June 14th.

[JBFLA]

I want to go to school...come on June 14th.

I am envious Steve.

I'll be in Arizona during the Roscoe GTG. Beware Gard's fretless Six...it's mesmerizing. You won't want to put it down for a moment!

 

Fair warning...

[kenfxj]

Beautiful Jim!

 

I have a cheap-ass Ibanez six that I really enjoy. I can only imagine how great that Roscoe is to play.

 

Enjoy!

[JBFLA]

 

I've been playing this bass now for 2-3 hours every day since I got it.

 

Mostly playing along with rehearsal CDs from previous bands where I know the material on 4 or 5 string so it's not like the songs are much of a surprise. Tones from this monster are so versatile - either by tone controls or right hand placement - covering everything from rock to Motown, funk/R&B, Top 40, modern jazz (Quiet Storm/Adult contemporary jazz)... still forgetting that C string on occasion and fingering it like it was the G. Practice, practice, practice...

 

But slap - maybe not. The tone is there but I'm so used to slipping my index/middle finger under the G string. Don't know how Jimmy H. and others do it (besides constant practice), but I think a 4/5 string would suffice if asked to focus on that.

 

All said, this bass is more than I expected - and I expect a lot from a Roscoe.

 

Steve C. - I've seen the progress pics from your new Roscoe build, and I know you're no stranger to Roscoe's, but I have a feeling you're going to have that "keeper" you've been looking for!

 

[SteveC]

Thankfully I don't slap a lot so hopefully that won't be an issue. I'm anxiously awaiting the next update - Gard said it won't be until next week. If this bass is close to Ryan's than - as long as I can get used to the 6 string part - I'll have a fantastic sounding bass.