Lakelander, have you heard of Roscoe Basses? I have a friend that plays one. It is a beautiful instrument and has got to be the best sounding Bass I have ever had the chance to play with. It runs some kind of Bartolini pickups. His is the only one I have seen.

I have seen them but never played them. Looks like Bartolini soapbars on the models I've seen. I had those Barts on my first Korean-made Lakland and I like them. Some players seem to think they don't have enough punch, though. The Roscoes look very well made and sell in the $3000 range. That's a bit steep for me but not out of line with other boutique manufacturers. Ed Friedlander, who I respect as a reviewer, gave the Roscoe a thumbs up.