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Greensboro business makes guitars for bass players in big acts

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A Lee Enterprises, Incorporated newspaper. Majority shareholder: David Hoffmann, Hoffmann Media Group.

Greensboro business makes guitars for bass players in big acts

1 of 7

Roscoe Guitars manufactured in Greensboro

Roscoe Guitars founder and owner Keith Roscoe keeps his hand in the work. He carves parts of the guitar and does most of the spray finish work. Roscoe also plays each finished guitar.

Roscoe Guitars manufactured in Greensboro

Gard Lewis of Roscoe Guitars in Greensboro, which specializes in making high-end bass guitars like this bass guitar recently built for bass guitarist Amos Heller of Taylor Swift’s band in Greensboro, NC on Oct. 7, 2015.

Keith Roscoe of Roscoe Guitars in Greensboro tries out a bass guitar the company made for bass guitarist Amos Heller of Taylor Swift's band in Greensboro, NC on Oct. 8, 2015.

Keith Roscoe of Roscoe Guitars in Greensboro tries out a bass guitar the companyjust completed for bass guitarist Amos Heller of Taylor Swift's band in Greensboro, NC on Oct. 8, 2015.

Drew Averett sands guitar necks while Jacob Durham sands a guitar body at Roscoe Guitars in Greensboro.

Tom Beaupre:

in Florida-Georgia Line’s band; plays Century Standard Plus 5PJ model

Vail Johnson:

performs in saxophonist Kenny G’s band and with blues musician Keb’ Mo’; plays Century Custom 5J

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By Dawn DeCwikiel-Kane

GREENSBORO When Taylor Swift performs the songs “Love Story” and “Style” at Wednesday’s sold-out concert at the Greensboro Coliseum, check out the bass guitar played by band member Amos Heller.

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Amos Heller:

bass guitarist for Taylor Swift’s band; plays a Century Standard Plus 5J model

Courtesy photo

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Drew Averett sands guitar necks at Roscoe Guitars in Greensboro, where bass guitars are built that attract musicians like Amos Heller of Taylor Swift’s band in Greensboro, NC on Oct. 7, 2015.

H.Scott Hoffmann / News & Record

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Keith Roscoe of Roscoe Guitars in Greensboro displays the sunbust style on the back of a bass guitar the company made for bass guitarist Amos Heller of Taylor Swift’s band in Greensboro, NC on Oct. 8, 2015.

H.Scott Hoffmann / News & Record

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A Dr. Death bass guitar built in the 1980’s by Roscoe Guitars. Half of the business’ sales are custom orders with prices ranging from $2,000 to $6,000.

H.Scott Hoffmann / News & Record

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Jacob Durham works on a guitar body (left) as Drew Averett sands a guitar neck at Roscoe Guitars. Roscoe and four employees create about 300 electric guitars a year.

H.Scott Hoffmann / News & Record

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Keith Roscoe of Roscoe Guitars in Greensboro checks the neck as he installs string on a bass guitar the company just completed for bass guitarist Amos Heller of Taylor Swift’s band in Greensboro, NC on Oct. 8, 2015.

H.Scott Hoffmann / News & Record

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Keith Roscoe of Roscoe Guitars in Greensboro installs string on a bass guitar the company just completed for bass guitarist Amos Heller of Taylor Swift’s band in Greensboro, NC on Oct. 8, 2015.

H.Scott Hoffmann / News & Record

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Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack

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Jacob Durham positions a router to drill out holes in the back of a bass guitar at Roscoe Guitars, where bass guitarists like Amos Heller of Taylor Swift’s band come to try out guitars in Greensboro, NC on Oct. 7, 2015.

H.Scott Hoffmann / News & Record

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Jacob Durham prepares to use a router to drill out holes in the back of a bass guitar at Roscoe Guitars, where bass guitarists like Amos Heller of Taylor Swift’s band come to try out guitars in Greensboro, NC on Oct. 7, 2015.

H.Scott Hoffmann / News & Record

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Every guitar produced at Roscoe Guitars is photographed for documentation before being sold.

H.Scott Hoffmann / News & Record

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James Cook:

performs in Luke Bryan’s band; plays Century Standard Plus 5PJ model.

Photo courtesy of Roscoe Guitars

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Jamareo Artis:

performs in Bruno Mars’ band; plays LG Signature 4 model

Photo courtesy of Roscoe Guitars

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Keith Roscoe of Roscoe Guitars in Greensboro sprays lacquer on the neck of a bass guitar the company made for bass guitarist Amos Heller of Taylor Swift’s band in Greensboro, NC on Oct. 8, 2015.

H.Scott Hoffmann / News & Record

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Guitar bodies hand in the lacquer room.

H.Scott Hoffmann / News & Record

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Contact Dawn DeCwikiel-Kane at (336) 373-5204, and follow @dawndkaneNR on Twitter.

Want to know more?

To learn more about Roscoe Guitars, go to its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/roscoeguitars.

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Roscoe Guitars manufactured in Greensboro

Roscoe Guitars founder and owner Keith Roscoe keeps his hand in the work. He carves parts of the guitar and does most of the spray finish work. Roscoe also plays each finished guitar.

Keith Roscoe of Roscoe Guitars in Greensboro checks the neck as he installs string on a bass guitar the company just completed for bass guitarist Amos Heller of Taylor Swift’s band in Greensboro, NC on Oct. 8, 2015.

Gard Lewis of Roscoe Guitars in Greensboro, which specializes in making high-end bass guitars like this bass guitar recently built for bass guitarist Amos Heller of Taylor Swift’s band in Greensboro, NC on Oct. 7, 2015.

Jacob Durham works on a guitar body (left) as Drew Averett sands a guitar neck at Roscoe Guitars. Roscoe and four employees create about 300 electric guitars a year.

Guitar bodies hand in the lacquer room.

Keith Roscoe of Roscoe Guitars in Greensboro installs string on a bass guitar the company just completed for bass guitarist Amos Heller of Taylor Swift’s band in Greensboro, NC on Oct. 8, 2015.

w

A Dr. Death bass guitar built in the 1980’s by Roscoe Guitars. Half of the business’ sales are custom orders with prices ranging from $2,000 to $6,000.

Jacob Durham positions a router to drill out holes in the back of a bass guitar at Roscoe Guitars, where bass guitarists like Amos Heller of Taylor Swift’s band come to try out guitars in Greensboro, NC on Oct. 7, 2015.

Amos Heller:

bass guitarist for Taylor Swift’s band; plays a Century Standard Plus 5J model

Keith Roscoe of Roscoe Guitars in Greensboro sprays lacquer on the neck of a bass guitar the company made for bass guitarist Amos Heller of Taylor Swift’s band in Greensboro, NC on Oct. 8, 2015.

Jacob Durham prepares to use a router to drill out holes in the back of a bass guitar at Roscoe Guitars, where bass guitarists like Amos Heller of Taylor Swift’s band come to try out guitars in Greensboro, NC on Oct. 7, 2015.

Keith Roscoe of Roscoe Guitars in Greensboro displays the sunbust style on the back of a bass guitar the company made for bass guitarist Amos Heller of Taylor Swift’s band in Greensboro, NC on Oct. 8, 2015.

Every guitar produced at Roscoe Guitars is photographed for documentation before being sold.

Keith Roscoe of Roscoe Guitars in Greensboro tries out a bass guitar the company made for bass guitarist Amos Heller of Taylor Swift's band in Greensboro, NC on Oct. 8, 2015.

Keith Roscoe of Roscoe Guitars in Greensboro tries out a bass guitar the companyjust completed for bass guitarist Amos Heller of Taylor Swift's band in Greensboro, NC on Oct. 8, 2015.

Drew Averett sands guitar necks at Roscoe Guitars in Greensboro, where bass guitars are built that attract musicians like Amos Heller of Taylor Swift’s band in Greensboro, NC on Oct. 7, 2015.

Drew Averett sands guitar necks while Jacob Durham sands a guitar body at Roscoe Guitars in Greensboro.

James Cook:

performs in Luke Bryan’s band; plays Century Standard Plus 5PJ model.

Tom Beaupre:

in Florida-Georgia Line’s band; plays Century Standard Plus 5PJ model

Vail Johnson:

performs in saxophonist Kenny G’s band and with blues musician Keb’ Mo’; plays Century Custom 5J

Jamareo Artis:

performs in Bruno Mars’ band; plays LG Signature 4 model

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