Title pretty much says it all. These basses are hard to audition as they are expensive and pretty much built to order. Anyone have experience with the 4 string fretless version and care to comment?
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Anyone Play or Played a Rob Allen Deep4 Fretless?
- Thread starter Randy Howard
- Start date
I had a lined fretless MB2 for a couple of months.
It was a beautifully made instrument and sounded full, fat and warm, with a wonderful Mwahhhh type bloom to every note. I loved the sound, but all my enthusiasm didn't cover the fact that these days I'm neither a fretless or 4 string player. I sold it to a guy who made it sing in a way I was never going to be able to do.
There's a YouTube video of Peter Krasner playing an MB2. The videos of Deep basses don't come up to the quality of that one.
In reality, I would imagine the Deep model should sound even better than the MB2.
IMO, they are just wonderful instruments. I'd buy one and see if you can find a reason to sell it.
It was a beautifully made instrument and sounded full, fat and warm, with a wonderful Mwahhhh type bloom to every note. I loved the sound, but all my enthusiasm didn't cover the fact that these days I'm neither a fretless or 4 string player. I sold it to a guy who made it sing in a way I was never going to be able to do.
There's a YouTube video of Peter Krasner playing an MB2. The videos of Deep basses don't come up to the quality of that one.
In reality, I would imagine the Deep model should sound even better than the MB2.
IMO, they are just wonderful instruments. I'd buy one and see if you can find a reason to sell it.
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It is probably the closest tone to a DB that you will find. Very well made, and of course, beautiful. I was even using it for rock covers. Having to sing limits my use now, but there is nothing bad to say. It comes down to whether you need that tone as part of your sound color palette.
Deep 4 is very nice. Feels and plays brilliantly. But Not radically different from other Rob Allen instruments with the same scale.
I have an MB2 - have owned it for over 15 years, and still love it. The MB2 has a deep, round sound, and gets reasonably close to a DB sound. It does not do the "Jaco" thing all that well. The only bass that I would trade my MB2 for would be the right Deep 4, which to my ears, sounds even more like a DB than the MB2.
The difficulty is in the wood choice - if you don't have a local dealer, you'll have to rely on advice from the manufacturer. Rob Allen has an excellent explanation of his various models on his web page, and of course is willing to answer any specific questions you may have.
The difficulty is in the wood choice - if you don't have a local dealer, you'll have to rely on advice from the manufacturer. Rob Allen has an excellent explanation of his various models on his web page, and of course is willing to answer any specific questions you may have.
I own a MB2 and a Deep4. The Deep4 sounds more acoustic. Perfect in small bands. It fills like nothing else. Sometimes I roll off the bass -3db. (BoseL1 2xb1,Preset flat)
Peter Kastner video: It is the player not the instrument. In his hand every piece of wood sounds great.
My personal sound and feeling ist better with the Deep4. My MB2 is Koa/Maple, the Deep4 is Walnut/maple !!!
Peter Kastner video: It is the player not the instrument. In his hand every piece of wood sounds great.
My personal sound and feeling ist better with the Deep4. My MB2 is Koa/Maple, the Deep4 is Walnut/maple !!!
I have and play a deep 5 since 3 years now. Really love this bass. I use it in jazz music, and it match all my needs.
I also play a Fodera and I considere those 2 basses are egual in build quality and finish.
I plan to order a MB2 the next year, but with frets.
I also play a Fodera and I considere those 2 basses are egual in build quality and finish.
I plan to order a MB2 the next year, but with frets.
Amazing basses. Kind of pigeonholed as a "db substitute" but I've used mine on funk gigs. Rob is a really nice guy to boot.
Rob Allen Deep 4 fretless w/black nylon tapewounds mic'd w/large diaphragm AKG condenser on a Crazy8 cab/Puma 900.
