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Post subject: Roscoe Beck V Bridge
Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 7:37 am
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I need some reassurance with parts for the Fender Roscoe Beck V Signature Jazz Bass.

I know the bridge by Gotoh was discontinued. I checked with a distributor with no luck. There isn't an immediate issue, I was just hopping to have parts that would eventually wear or break on hand.

Unlike, other typical Fender parts, this could be a problem in the distant future, so I would like to stock up to avoid a complete bridge change.

Thanks :!:


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Post subject: Re: Roscoe Beck V Bridge
Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 11:25 am
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This is the same as the Big Block bridge but with some sadle lock screws. The lock makes a big difference for sustain and shimering.

I just installed a Roscoe Beck IV Bridge on a 2004 USA Jazz Bass. I was looking for a BadAss III but it is discontinued. The Babicz was my first choice but it cannot be installed as a replacement for 3 screws string through bridge. The Babicz really seems the best option if you have 5 screws fender bridge.

Installing the Roscoe Beck IV Bridge:

Even though I am happy with the results, while instaling the bridge I felt just the same as when I use a cheap piece of hardware made in china. My first thought was:

- did the engineer actually tried this on an instrument?
- and did they compare it with a traditionnal fender briege?

Here is why I had problems.

Hard to intonate properly and hard to set the hight as low as I use do.

Intonation: Right now, I use GHS Boomers on that instrument. On the E string, I could hardly set the intonation properly because I could not move the saddle back enough to do so. The saddle is too long and the spring compresses to the max before getting to the max position. I had to relmove the spring to set up the E string properly. Ridiculous. The spring is the only remaining piece of this bridge that will keep some sort of vintage sound to this bridge. Beside the sonic capability, the spring is useless on that bridge because the saddle is tightly locked with a screw.

Also most of the intonation screw could not go deep enough in the saddle to get the proper intonation. I have to try to look for replacement screws from my Home Depot, otherwise I will not be able to set the intonation properly.

String height: The saddles are to high to set the G string height properly. I own exclusively USA made instruments desighed by Leo Fender. I play fast figures and I purchase good instruments and strings so I can adjust strings as low as possible for my needs. With this bridge I could not set the G string as low as I use to. I had to take the saddle off and grind 1 mm of material underneath in order to be able to adjust it properly. Fortunately, the saddle material is very soft, and some how I cold do a decent job with my bench grinder. So I could get off a quite flat 1 mm without messing up the whole thing.

Tone wise, I'm verry happy with the results. Serious improvement in sustain, and much more prominent mids and highs. Clearly lost the vintage tone though, but if you want Geddy Lee or Chris Squire grits, this seems like the only way to go on a string through instrument.

Sustain is a major improvement. On Fender basses, the fondamental does not sustain very well, and is mainly focussed on harmonics. With a bridge like this, WOW, the fondamental sustains much longer. That's what I was looking for and that's what I was willing to sacrifice vintage coloration for. You can play as hard as you want, but the systain has more dramatic improvement when you strike the string vertically, such as poping.

Another upside is that it did not require to alter the instrument, so I can put back the stock bridge anytime if I need, and that's nice.

If you are not as handy as I am and you own a standard USA with string through, I suggest to pass on this, unless you can easily get a refound. You may be happy with it as is, but just in case you are not, you must be able to get a refound on this and try something else.

However, if you own a non USA or a vintage, I rather recommand the Babicz. It is VERY WELL engineered and way more flexible then the Roscoe Beck or the Bick Block. The Babicz was designed by an independant engineer and seems far more flexible for height and intonation.


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Post subject: Re: Roscoe Beck V Bridge
Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2012 10:43 pm
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Location: Athens, Greece
The Roscoe Beck models are no longer made.


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Post subject: Re: Roscoe Beck V Bridge
Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2012 3:21 pm
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chromeface wrote:
The Roscoe Beck models are no longer made.


Hence my concern for replacement parts for the RB-V as stated clearly in the initial post :!: :o

The IV was discounted at a later date with a different bridge.


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Post subject: Re: Roscoe Beck V Bridge
Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 2:28 am
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Location: Athens, Greece
The RB4 featured a locking convertible bridge.


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