Bassonata

[quote name='pantherairsoft' post='1334004' date='Aug 9 2011, 07:05 PM']In fact. Buy the Fretless I have for sale![/quote] Another good example, Shep, but I need frets ... not selling your latest addition yet then? Yes, I noticed you'd started the 'Roscoe porn' thread. Nice. Lots of very positive comments here from all you guys, too. I'm certainly tempted but not sure I can quite stretch to showroom prices just yet. 'One for looking at and touching' eh, Bob? I like that! Looking at some of the examples online I can see why. Sheer artistry.

I hadn't come across Roscoe basses in the UK until fairly recently, and from what I've seen from pics here and on the Talkbass forums they look staggering. For those that own, or have owned them, do you feel they're a sound investment, and have you found the quality, playability and long-term stability as good as they way they look? I notice BassDirect have a couple of nice high-end 5 and 6 string Roscoes in cocobolo and blue maple finishes respectively, which look particularly nice. They've been around a while and I can barely believe they haven't been snapped up before now. I don't suppose anybody here has played these or have any impressions, by any chance? Still looking to treat myself to a nice new fretted 5, but tempted to go up market a bit and am now becoming a little spoilt for choice the more I look. Must make a decision soon...

Heck, thanks everybody for the input. Seems like this is one good example of how it should be done. Or was. I've just read on TalkBass that production may actually have been withdrawn, though the only real hint of this I can find is on Yamaha's Canadian website which does indeed show it as 'Discontinued'. So I guess they may have either stopped making these, or are no longer producing enough to export globally. Maybe a reflection of the effects of the tsumani... or the global economy...? What a shame.

Hi everybody, I'm very close to finalising my choice of a new 5 string. But there's one model I haven't yet been able to get my hands on: it's the TRB5PII, one of Yamaha's higher end models with the piezo pickups. I haven't been able to find one to try yet, but would like to rule it out (or in) before I make my decision. In your opinion: • Is this [i]really[/i] an instrument to die for at the price, when there are so many worthy alternatives available these days? • Can anyone recommend where to go to try one (or even buy one)? They seem like gold dust here in the UK at the moment. • Is this model so much better than the lower-range TRB models at less than half the price? I probably wouldn't have thought to even consider a Yamaha if it wasn't for the fact that everywhere I look, owners think the TRB5PII is the bees knees. Hence, I really need to put my curiosity to bed before I make a decision. Is this a bass worth hanging in for at the price, in your opinion? Grateful for any thoughts.