Show Us Your Rob Allen Basses Part III

[77PBass]

Yeah, I should have mentioned E to C. I have a 4 string mouse but find it hard soloing above the 15th fret. A high C string would solve that issue.

[Talisker]

I've got four Rob Allen instruments on hand these days. I don't think any of them has been highlighted on this forum before, but I've loved following these threads over the years - this is a great community of passionate Rob Allen players. I've never found a maker whose instruments are so close to my own heart.

My current stable is as follows:

• Mouse 30: 4-string unlined fretless, walnut top, matching headstock, ebony fingerboard with thumb extension, birdseye maple neck, f-hole
• MB-2: 4-string unlined fretless, koa top, matching headstock, birdseye maple neck, tiger ebony fingerboard
• Solid 4: tortoise and cream pickguards, Brazilian rosewood fretboard
• Six-string Guitar: Seymour Duncan humbucking pickups, highly laminated walnut neck

The MB-2 was my first and still my favorite. I think Rob still has a photo of it on his web site at http://www.roballenguitars.com/images/mb2Koa4-horiz.jpg.

The Mouse is magical, too. Makes you wonder why short-scale basses aren't the standard. Just massive, wonderful sound, and so nice to play while sitting the couch (this walnut is from Marin County in California, just a few miles north of my home.)

I probably play the Solid 4 the most of any of these, since it's just more practical for gigs. Usually I go with the tortoise pickguard, but Rob originally shipped it with the white/cream, which does look great. I wonder if there's an opportunity for a stacked humbucking/silent pickup in this bass, but I would hate to mess with Rob's handwound pickup.

The six-string guitar is special. I believe it predates Rob's move into basses, and might be the same model Rob made and played on his jazz record "Mysterious Measures". Super light body, very slick laminated walnut neck, yet some heavy-duty humbucking pickups. Not the most versatile guitar, but a pleasure to play.

Along with the photos included in this post, I've got more of each guitar in a Flickr collection at the following location. It includes some early wood shots that Rob sent along, also the Solid 4 with both the cream and tortoise pickguards.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/eprater...7632341659598/











Thanks again for being part of such a great community and for sharing your instruments with us all.

[tedw]

Originally Posted by 77PBass

Yeah, I should have mentioned E to C. I have a 4 string mouse but find it hard soloing above the 15th fret. A high C string would solve that issue.

I believe that I've seen that Rob is offering a 5-string Mouse (E-C) on his website. I'm having trouble getting to his website right now to confirm that.

[chuck3]

Originally Posted by Talisker

[77PBass]

You are right. He offers it on his price list. I had not noticed that before. There are no pictures.

This is good news!

Originally Posted by tedw

I believe that I've seen that Rob is offering a 5-string Mouse (E-C) on his website. I'm having trouble getting to his website right now to confirm that.

[jmceachern36]

Originally Posted by 77PBass

You are right. He offers it on his price list. I had not noticed that before. There are no pictures.

This is good news!

Look for one in this thread. There is a pic of the first one he made

[spade2you]

He is also making 32" scale E-C Deep 5s.

[77PBass]

Found it on the thread. It is taking all my strength not to order it today.

Originally Posted by ghiadub

[fish slapper]

I had to share a fun "Mouse moment" I had last night. A group of us amateur Jazz Jammers have a standing gig at a local bistro. We were short a drummer so one of the guys put an ad on the list of craig and we snagged someone we hadn't played with before (which is unusual as the population of middle-aged hobby standards players in the western Portland metro area is pretty finite).

His first reaction when I pull the Mouse out of the gig bag is to confuse me with the guitar player. When the git picker shows a couple minutes later, he counts strings and figures it out.

At the first break, he asks, "what is that thing?" I tell him it's a Rob Allen Mouse. He remains confused. "Well, I see that it's fretless, and it's small, but when I'm not looking at you I swear we're playing with an upright player... and a good one! Whatever it is, its the best bass I've ever heard!"

Thought I'd share the love.

[77PBass]

Originally Posted by spade2you

He is also making 32" scale E-C Deep 5s.

I was going to ask him if he makes a 32" scale E-C mouse.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by fish slapper

I had to share a fun "Mouse moment" I had last night. A group of us amateur Jazz Jammers have a standing gig at a local bistro. We were short a drummer so one of the guys put an ad on the list of craig and we snagged someone we hadn't played with before (which is unusual as the population of middle-aged hobby standards players in the western Portland metro area is pretty finite).

His first reaction when I pull the Mouse out of the gig bag is to confuse me with the guitar player. When the git picker shows a couple minutes later, he counts strings and figures it out.

At the first break, he asks, "what is that thing?" I tell him it's a Rob Allen Mouse. He remains confused. "Well, I see that it's fretless, and it's small, but when I'm not looking at you I swear we're playing with an upright player... and a good one! Whatever it is, its the best bass I've ever heard!"

Thought I'd share the love.

I've had similar experiences with my Mouse.

It starts out 'what the hell is that thing?', and then quickly changes to 'what the hell IS that thing?

[tedw]

I've always thought of my part of the country as not having a humidity problem. But I've been tracking humidity in our house, and it's relatively low (20 to 35%). Considering this, I'm wondering if I need to do something to raise the humidity (e.g., a room humidifier for my practice room, or case humidifier) to protect the deep 5 and mouse. Any recommedations would be appreciated.

[Chef]

I have a "whole house" humidifier "good for 3500 sq ft" running in my house.
I run thru 14 gallons every other day, and I still barely am able to keep 30% humidity.

This worries me more for my DB than any electric bass, but, I have had to tweak trussrods more this year, and one bass now has fret sprout...it's been hella dry here this year.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by tedw

I've always thought of my part of the country as not having a humidity problem. But I've been tracking humidity in our house, and it's relatively low (20 to 35%). Considering this, I'm wondering if I need to do something to raise the humidity (e.g., a room humidifier for my practice room, or case humidifier) to protect the deep 5 and mouse. Any recommedations would be appreciated.

I think big swings in humidity are more of a problem than low humidity, in general. However, 20% is getting pretty dry. Like Chef, I have a humidifier attached to my furnace, with a very accurate digital humidity gauge where I keep my instruments. I'm between 38 and 45% all Winter, and between 45% and 60% all summer with a dehumidifier running when it is really hot and moist. Never had an issue.

Getting a humidier attached to your furnace is inexpensive, and good for the whole house, assuming you live far enough North where it would actually run.

[jasper383]

Try to keep it above 40% at all times, I have been told by a local luthier.

[Chef]

Shoot, I can't get it above 32 or so right now.......I'm tryin' though!

[tedw]

Thanks. I'll look into the furnace attachment approach. I've put the Mouse in it's case with one of those case humidifiers in the meantime.

Originally Posted by KJung

I think big swings in humidity are more of a problem than low humidity, in general. However, 20% is getting pretty dry. Like Chef, I have a humidifier attached to my furnace, with a very accurate digital humidity gauge where I keep my instruments. I'm between 38 and 45% all Winter, and between 45% and 60% all summer with a dehumidifier running when it is really hot and moist. Never had an issue.

Getting a humidier attached to your furnace is inexpensive, and good for the whole house, assuming you live far enough North where it would actually run.

[jazztonebass]

I am in the process of putting together a small/light rig for a fairly loud fusion/jazz type project. Ken(KJung) has been gracious with his opinion via pm's but I thought I would put this out amongst the RA enlightened here too.

I am about to aquire a Deep 4 and am also looking for a pre-loved Solid 4/Mouse or MB-2 for depth. The only other bass I will probably play through this rig is a J-bass.

I have narrowed my amp choices down to an Aguilar TH500 or a Tecamp Puma 500. Would love feedback on those.

For a cabs, I believe I will order the new Bergantino Neo 2x12 (4 ohm) being released in March. The model # eludes me at the moment. Thoughts? Alternatives?

Finally, I am curious about preamp/eq options like the Monique and the Fdeck HiPass . I would like to be able to shape the mid-voice a little better and perhaps minimize the piezo quack and low end boom.


Thanks in advance for your guidance.

[Hou]

Anyone here play a 33 scale tuned E-C?

[steve_rolfeca]

Originally Posted by Hou

Anyone here play 33 scale tuned E-C?

No, but maybe if you hum a few bars...