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RA strikes again!

#21
I think it looks great but the one single coil was a bad move. Put a bridge pickup on that puppy and it would be much more attractive. The bridge is beautiful but I agree that the string length thing is nonsense. I guess though since it's a new bridge design anyway it's not like he wasted a lot of money doing it.
 
#22
Very cute instrument, but I won't be needing one since my DIY SCPB has all that rounded over fingerboard attention to detail and is about 1.5 lbs lighter. Rounded contours or slab doesn't matter to me but I can always change my slab to a softer, gentler profile.

Curious though, how is the bridge intonation adjusted?
 
#23
Lokire said:
Sweet bass! The bridge design is cool, but the theory behind string lengthening makes me cry a little :bawl:

"The string anchor is also inset into the body 3/8” deep, and allows for lengthening of the E and A strings. This produces a subtle difference in the feel of the string, creating a slightly punchier vibe. The D and G strings pass through the anchor, fastening further into the body with their own ferrules. This creates a shorter string length, creating a warmer, fuller sound for these two strings."
Click to expand...

May be just hype, but coming from Rob I'll give it benefit of doubt.
 
#26
I love the bridge and the knob placement. They really make this bass "IT" for me!
I'm a fretless player and to me the idea of a non-adustable bridge makes a lot of sense. Much less to go wrong, fewer parts to twiddle. That lets me concentrate on the really weak link in the whole sound chain.....ME!!!
Seems odd Jazz guitarists will pay tens of thousands for a primo Archtop guitar with a non-adjustable bridge, and Violinists pay Millions for a Stradivarius with no adjustable bridge. But us electric bass types seem to feel that if we don't have a metal bridge with individual bridge saddles with side to side, height, and intonation adjustments our instruments are somehow inferior. Take a look at the incredible multi-adjustable bridge that Jamerson used on his P!

I think that a mouse fretless and one of these P's would be a full arrray of basses for me.
What a beauty. I've played and looked at Numerious Rob Allen basses, and he's nailed it every time as far as I'm concerned.
And they lucky gent who has this bass should really post some soundclips!!!!!
(hint hint!!)
 
#27
dlmarquez said:
I think that a mouse fretless and one of these P's would be a full arrray of basses for me.
Click to expand...
I'm thinking the same thing (as far as four string basses go - there's always room for an additional Bass VI or two in my stable), only, the P would have to be short scale. So, I gues I'll just have to wait for a Mouse-based P model to materialize... (I have a regular, and fantastic, fretless Mouse already)

dlmarquez said:
And they lucky gent who has this bass should really post some soundclips!!!!!
(hint hint!!)
Click to expand...
Indeed! Nudge nudge. ;)
 
#30
dakpluto said:
Agree with above, I don't think I would like the knobs so close to the bridge like that. Looks wise it's nice, but I just don't know if I would like it from a practical stand point.
Click to expand...

How often are you adjusting things? Honestly, it's rare I tweak a lot, and placement to me is natural. I didn't find it a problem on a gig.
 
#31
FenderP said:
Nice to see Rob gave it a name finally. :)

And yes, that is my bass (literally).



To be fair, you can get a fretted version of his other basses. But they ain't a P ...



As for price, I did pay over $2000, and I'm not sure what I paid will be final price either so out of respect to Rob, I will just say that I have yet to play a P-type bass - even one from the Fender Custom Shop - as nice as this.

Well, it's like the original P where it was a single coil. Think Sting's '51. It's tonally similar, but also different, than the humbucker which you find on the P we all know and love now. I have no problem with both basses being in my arsenal.



Considering I own literally the only one at this point, you'd be correct. I know he was working on a limited batch after mine, but I have NO idea when anyone else will get a chance to play this amazing bass.



Looks better in person.

And since you live in Boston, you may even see me around gigging with it. You never know ...
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. It certainly sounds like it will be a winner. No, I don't live in Boston, or I'd jump at a chance to hear you play it. I live in Hamilton, Ontario. The nearest place that handles Rob's basses is Club Bass in Toronto. So, if I want to try one, that's probably where I'll have to go. An easy one hour drive from here.

Thanks again and enjoy your
bass.

One more question--what strings are you using on it?
 
#33
Actually I have figured out Exactly what I'd like Rob to do for me!
Same bass but:
standard hipshot ultralights, not cloverleafs.
Fretless, unlined ebony board
No Pickguard
Natural finish on the body
Maybe just do away with the tone control
It would sound awesome I'll bet using either TI jazz flats or LaBella Tapewounds (The love of my fingers!)
 
#34
FenderP said:
My standard set on my fretted basses - Rotosound RS77LE.

Rob to take some pics and do some testing had roundwounds on but even he said once the flats went on it was just right.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I just emailed Rob yesterday and got a fairly prompt reply. He said he wasn't sure of the exact price yet but somewhere in the $3000 range. He confirmed your description of the bass's sound.

It may be a while before I will be able to justify buying one, but I sure like it from the looks and described sound and that nice light weight is another plus.

The Rob Allan I tried once had a wonderful neck too.
 
#39
dlmarquez said:
I'm a fretless player and to me the idea of a non-adustable bridge makes a lot of sense. Much less to go wrong, fewer parts to twiddle.
Click to expand...

I play fretted and fretless electric bass guitar as well as upright. On fretless electric or upright a stick bridge is ok since you can intonate by ear on the fly. Muscle memory also comes into play to get you where you need to be.

Not so with fretted. If you want accurate intonation on a fretted bass with your choice of strings (intonation on a fretted instrument changes with string guage and setup) then a bridge adjustable for string length is pretty much mandatory.

Oddly enough, many fretless bass guitars have bridges that are adjustable for intonation.

dlmarquez said:
Seems odd Jazz guitarists will pay tens of thousands for a primo Archtop guitar with a non-adjustable bridge, and Violinists pay Millions for a Stradivarius with no adjustable bridge.
Click to expand...

On archtop Jazz guitars the bridge is often already compensated somewhat in the carve and it also floats so the player can move it around to adjust for intonation. Violins aren't fretted either so the player intonates by ear on the fly (also using muscle memory again) just like on upright or fretless.
 
#40
From what Rob told me, intonation is achieved moving the saddle under the strings.
Changing its angle will take care of intonation issues.
That's a clever design, and a beautiful instrument
 

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