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Poor Man's Rob Allen Mouse?

krovx

krovx

Thump or Bust
Supporting Member
Mar 11, 2003
2,649
613
Michigan, USA
#1
I have heard a lot of samples and demos of the Mouse and it is a great sounding bass. I probably would never have the cash to afford one unless I was really lucky.

My question is, what suggestions do you have for getting in the ball park of such a 'woody' almost upright tone?

I know there are many factors and it isn't as easy as putting flats or tapewounds on a hollowbody bass.

Curious to what others have tried and the results.
 
#3
Kala U-Bass
Short-scale ABG with tapewounds and a feedback buster in the sound hole
Short-scale solidbody BG, with piezo bridge added, route away most of the top wood except for where the bridge and neck screw in and an 1" to 1/2" around the perimeter. Get a pickguard that covers most of the top. String with tapewounds.

You'll get the "mwah" by choosing fretless or defretting versions of the above.

Check out krappyguitars.com. Kevin could probably make you one of those things on the cheap, if you're willing to buy and send him the hardware and pickups you want. It's always a compromise.
 
#4
krovx said:
I know there are many factors and it isn't as easy as putting flats or tapewounds on a hollowbody bass.
Click to expand...

IMO it's closer to "that easy" than a lot of people would have you believe. I'm not knocking the Mouse at all, but I've gotten great pseudo-upright thump and string "click/whine" with a few different hollow and semi-hollow basses and LaBella flats. I'd say give a few of those options a try before discarding the idea that they could do the job. Another thing is, a good portion of the Mouse sound is the piezo pickup--so you can get a cheaper old semi-hollow bass and replace the bridge with a piezo saddle bridge, and get very, very close to the same tonal turf.
 
#6
Maybe you are right bongo...I was thinking of trying a Carvin and if I didn't dig it just return it you know?

Yellowfury,

Thanks for pointing out the Zenith...Never heard of that one before. Going to do a bit more research.


Thanks everyone!
 
#7
Piezos+tapes is most of it. Having some Rob Allen basses with pickups, those don't sound much like the piezo of a Rob Allen.

A fretless Godin with LaBella tapes is about the best thing I can think of, although if you're looking for the short scale equiv, I don't know of much that can cop that vibe.
 
#9
I am pretty sure if you put a set of the strings Rob uses, LaBella Black tape flats, on any piezo equippted bass you would be very close.

I have a full scale Rob allen and two mice and the short scale does make a little difference. Mostly just a lot less sustain. I would think a foam mute might get you a little closer to a mouse if your bass is not a short scale.
 
#10
krovx said:
I am wondering how much the short scale factors in...it seems to be most of the other acoustic piezo basses are full scale...hmmm
Click to expand...

I don't think there are enough people wanting a short scale semi-acoustic for it to become a production bass.

I think the short scale matters. You could potentially detune a bass like the Godin to get a similar vibe, but there's a lot more than just an upright sound to the Mouse 30. It sustains and even sounds great in dropped D, which most short scale basses can't do very well.
 
#12
I don't get the "no sustain" comment on the Mouse. That certain isn't the case with the two I've had.

But when you say "Poor Man's Mouse," are you talking just a soundalike or a playalike? For sound, as has been mentioned, La Bella tapes on a piezo equipped bass will get you in the ballpark. The feel otoh is another thing.

How about take a Gretsch Eletrowhateveritis Jr, install a piezo on it, and run tapewounds? Fairly cheap experiment...well, except for the piezo part.

Also the Kala would be an interesting alternative.
 
#14
I think you guys are right about the short scale... it gives the mouse a sound that is distinctive and 'better' IMO for the woodier tone of an upright.

Not into the whole bass modding thing. Sometimes you get what you want, often you just end up wasting a bunch of time and money selling the thing at a loss and getting what you want in the first place.

The problem with the Mouse it is just SO expensive for me. You know, wanting champagne on a beer budge ;)

Anyone ever flirt with those piezo pbass/jbass bridges?
 
#15
krovx said:
Anyone ever flirt with those piezo pbass/jbass bridges?
Click to expand...

You might get a similar sound, but probably won't nail it. Most RMC type piezos get a similar response, but when you compare a metal bridge and saddle vs. a wooden (glued in) bridge with a bone saddle, there are going to be differences in tone. My Conklin has a piezo and different strings, but doesn't have much of a Rob Allen type of vibe.
 
#17
spade2you said:
You might get a similar sound, but probably won't nail it. Most RMC type piezos get a similar response, but when you compare a metal bridge and saddle vs. a wooden (glued in) bridge with a bone saddle, there are going to be differences in tone. My Conklin has a piezo and different strings, but doesn't have much of a Rob Allen type of vibe.
Click to expand...

That is what I figured. I notice most instruments that are electric but are marketed as an acoustic/electric piezo sound typically have an acoustic wood bridge.

Peredur said:
As has been said already, Kala ubass. You might need to team it up with a sympathetic pre-amp (my HPF-pre does it very nicely).

No, really.
Click to expand...

I was actually impressed with the samples I heard of the Ubass. However, I would feel like a puttz playing that lil thing! I know beggers cannot be choosers, but a man needs to have some standards :p
 
#18
krovx said:
I was actually impressed with the samples I heard of the Ubass. However, I would feel like a puttz playing that lil thing! I know beggers cannot be choosers, but a man needs to have some standards :p
Click to expand...

it really is a blast to play. You take it out of it's case and everyone laughs. You plug it in and no one is laughing then. Also it is SO SMALL. That in itself is pretty attractive.
 
#19
Peredur said:
it really is a blast to play. You take it out of it's case and everyone laughs. You plug it in and no one is laughing then. Also it is SO SMALL. That in itself is pretty attractive.
Click to expand...

It seems so small that it would be tricky to play...as if the frets are too close together. How much milage do you get out of the special strings?
 

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