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Ever heard of a 34" scale RA Mouse?

calmb4tehpwn

calmb4tehpwn

Jan 2, 2011
607
0
Burnsville, MN
#1
I've always been so intrigued by Rob Allen's Mouse, but never wanted to go short scale. I've always played long scale and can't imagine making the trade at this point. I currently run a long scale Alembic Epic, and with my super long arms, I feel like the transition might kill me. -eek-

Just wondering if these exist anywhere. There's no mention of anything but the 30 scale on his website, and it's all I've ever seen in the FS threads. Is there a structural reason one might choose to never make a long scale mouse? He does it in the MB-2s, so I was just curious if anyone had more info on what these aren't around.

Thanks
 
#3
calmb4tehpwn said:
I've always been so intrigued by Rob Allen's Mouse, but never wanted to go short scale. I've always played long scale and can't imagine making the trade at this point. I currently run a long scale Alembic Epic, and with my super long arms, I feel like the transition might kill me. -eek-

Just wondering if these exist anywhere. There's no mention of anything but the 30 scale on his website, and it's all I've ever seen in the FS threads. Is there a structural reason one might choose to never make a long scale mouse? He does it in the MB-2s, so I was just curious if anyone had more info on what these aren't around.

Thanks
Click to expand...

I was intrigued as well and bought one kind of on a whim, but with the knowledge that they sound a lot like an upright, which is what I was looking for. I just don't have the time to keep up the chops on an upright or EUB so this is a great option.

The short scale is a non issue really. I have no problem adjusting to it. Now, when I go right to my fretted 34" bass it is a bit of an adjustment. I also notice the speed bumps (frets) a lot more. I've been tempted to go fretless but I need a fretted tone for most of what I do where I don't use the Mouse.

I've also had a 35" scale MB2 and it sounded fantastic. Easy to play as well. Felt a lot less like a 35" scale bass than most others. I went Mouse instead of MB2-4 for a couple reasons. I've already had an MB2 so I thought I'd try something new, and the Mouse just sounds and looks so cool I thought I'd give it a shot. It's so fun to play.

I have been looking to sell/trade mine as I don't use it enough to really justify it, but I think I'm keeping it for a while until I can decide what I really want to do as far as basses.
 
#4
The reason I'm resistant to a MB-2, is that I really -really- don't like the look. You say it's just a dc version of the mouse, but it looks like 70% of the guitars out there (classic P or J style) but with an exotic top wood. The Mouse just calls to me. It's calling my name, but that short scale is holding me up.
 
#6
calmb4tehpwn said:
The reason I'm resistant to a MB-2, is that I really -really- don't like the look. You say it's just a dc version of the mouse, but it looks like 70% of the guitars out there (classic P or J style) but with an exotic top wood. The Mouse just calls to me. It's calling my name, but that short scale is holding me up.
Click to expand...

Rob has made the Mouse in 32" scale. The MB2 and Deep basses are 34" scale or 35". You'd have to ask Rob if he's willing or ever done one. If you are serious have the $, just about anything is possible. If not, then it's another I Wish thread.
 
#11
As others have said, no doubt Rob would do a custom one-off single cut 34" scale thin body (you're basically asking for a Deep 4 with a thinner body and no F-hole). I bet it would be north of $4K though as it would in-fact be a one-off custom.

Funny because my g/f likes the MB-2 shape better than the Deep or Mouse single cut. But she still maintains that the Deep 5 is the best sounding of any RA, or any other bass I've owned for that matter. If you want a singlecut 34" scale, I'd say just buy a Deep 4. I have a D4 on order right now as I think the extra body thickness and 5-piece neck make a difference. Plus I like having onboard eq.
 
#13
The deep 4 is a more standard SC bodystyle, and that kills me. The mouse is the only SC I've ever actually liked. I might be over picky, but if it's not a cirrus, epic or a mouse, I probably wont like it.

Maybe I'll just hold out until I'm rich as hell. And give 30" a show in the mean time.
 
#14
In that case you're likely looking at a full custom. I doubt that a 34" scale would work with the Mouse body size/shape. Rob optimizes things to be as compact and balanced as possible so my hunch is he'd have to "grow" the Mouse shape to accommodate the longer scale.

Try the 30" scale. They are really fun instruments. In the end I had a tough time switching between 30" and 34" during the same gig (I normally will swap between fretless and fretted at gigs) but most people don't. Worth the experiment, especially if you find a used one as you can easily flip it.
 
#15
About the only way I could get one at the moment would be to trade my Alembic Epic, so there wouldn't be any going back (atleast not too easily).

I'm just convinced it's the sound I'm looking for. I put nylons on my epic, and it does give a huge sound, but I'd love to put a mouse through my twin Acme B-4s
 
#16
I'd probably assume Rob would simply add a longer neck if he were willing and it would be understood that it would have neck dive rather than retool the body as well, unless you really want to spend some $$$$$$$. I suppose it goes without saying that it would have neck dive, especially as light as the Mouse 30 bodies are.

32" scale has been done, so I'd think there wouldn't be that much of an upcharge. Odds of people knowing it's 32" vs. 34" visually would be difficult.

Given that you like the Cirrus and Epic, I wouldn't think you'd want to start playing something with neck dive. Assuming you're looking at it as a fretless, neck dive makes ya grip the neck and makes the vibrato much more difficult.
 
#17
Maybe spend some dough to custom a heavier body wood and a lighter neck/FB wood. I've also never tried fretless before, so I'm not entirely sure I wont go with the mandolin fretwire option. The 34 inch option is a ways away, and would be after I try a 30 inch. At that point I'll be able to decide if neckdive is worth the extra couple inches. Or for that matter, if sacrificing some of the open tone is worth a few inches. There's a few sacrifices going in, so I might decide against it in the end, I was just wondering if it's been done before (by anyone's knowledge).

Thanks for the input, I've learned a lot, both about what I want, and about what's out there.
 
#18
I've been sizing up my mouse...not sure how well it would take a 34" neck. The body is already super compact. Would probably need to be resized in order to be even reasonably balanced.

The range of RA basses body shapes are pretty limited even when customized. Youre probably ending up with something very Deep 4/5-ish.
 

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