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Rob Allen Mouse has arrived
- Thread starter SteveC
- Start date
Wow, 30" is significantly shorter, isn't it. What a beautiful instrument. It arrived in tune. It feels wonderful. Of course, every instrument does the first day, right. Sounds great. Like an amplified upright. Wish I had a gig to try it out, but I don't for like a month. Maybe I'll play in tune by then.
Can I put my Straplocs on this?
Can I put my Straplocs on this?
Chef
In Memoriam
Straplocks are a very reversible mod. Do it.
To me, the Mouse was one of those fretli I picked up and played in tune quite readily.
I'm jealous, I want one of my own.
To me, the Mouse was one of those fretli I picked up and played in tune quite readily.
I'm jealous, I want one of my own.
Yes, it is...it was a stumbling block / turnoff for me...but plenty of players fly on it.
Hope it works for you.
Yes, it is...it was a stumbling block / turnoff for me...but plenty of players fly on it.
After many moons on 35" scale basses, the transition was surprisingly easy. It has been very long since the last band, but part of the set involved me jumping from my 35" scale Conklin 6 for a few songs to my Mouse 30, then to my 35" scale Rob Allen MB2 5 string.
Nice!
I enjoy my MB-2 quite a bit. I nearly went with a Mouse as well but felt the scale length might throw me if I swapped basses mid-set, which I'd be doing with my RA (most of the stuff my band plays is classic rock).
Congratulations! You'll love playing it, I'm sure.
The only downside to a RA is that they're tough to part with. If you start playing it, you'll want to keep it even if it's not your main player and doesn't get much gig time. They're just way too cool.
I enjoy my MB-2 quite a bit. I nearly went with a Mouse as well but felt the scale length might throw me if I swapped basses mid-set, which I'd be doing with my RA (most of the stuff my band plays is classic rock).
Congratulations! You'll love playing it, I'm sure.
The only downside to a RA is that they're tough to part with. If you start playing it, you'll want to keep it even if it's not your main player and doesn't get much gig time. They're just way too cool.
Well, I've been playing through some standards and the scale seems to be a non issue. (I know, I thought that with the 35" Roscoe as well.) It actually feels better as I get lazy sometimes and let my hand collapse in - which puts 1/2/4 in exactly the right places on a short scale instrument.
We'll see what happens when I switch to my fretted 34" Skyline. I love the tone and it seems easy to play. Again, so beautiful.
We'll see what happens when I switch to my fretted 34" Skyline. I love the tone and it seems easy to play. Again, so beautiful.
RA 4-strings do not have wafer thin necks, but there also is some variation. I approach the instrument with more of an upright mindset. Last night I was swapping between the MB-2 4-string and the new Fodera YYS. Totally different instruments and if I took the same approach to both I'd likely end up hating both of them.
fwiw I had trouble going between 30" and 34" during the same gig but have no problem going between 35" (fretless) and 34" (fretted or fretless) so it just depends on the individual. imho it really just depends on if you want to make it work. I find the RA neck a bit beefier and you invariably have a bit higher action that other basses. But the tone is so good, and the feel of the bass is so good if you work with the feel rather than against it, it is worth the effort to me.
fwiw I had trouble going between 30" and 34" during the same gig but have no problem going between 35" (fretless) and 34" (fretted or fretless) so it just depends on the individual. imho it really just depends on if you want to make it work. I find the RA neck a bit beefier and you invariably have a bit higher action that other basses. But the tone is so good, and the feel of the bass is so good if you work with the feel rather than against it, it is worth the effort to me.
I can probably get used to the neck. I do love the radius on my Lakland, but as you say, the tone of a Rob Allen is so unique it's worth a little extra effort maybe. I do try to have a more "upright" approach as well. I wish I had a gig so I could try it in a band context. If anything, the scale could be the downfall. I like how everything is compact and an easy "reach" - the entire range of the instrument is right there for you. It does make going to the 34" back to back a little weird. I may justice the RA on jazz gigs thought. I certainly works - in it's own way - on the nontraditional stuff too - Al Jarreau, Spyro Gyra, etc. Again, I need a gig to experiment a little. I wonder if I should have just gone with an MB-2 and played it safe with the scale instead of experimenting again. You'd think I'd learn one of these days, but I love to try stuff out.
Well, I have a wedding reception tomorrow night so I'll finally get to try this at a gig. I thought I was going to do something else, but I'm going to give it a try and switch - when appropriate - between then and see how it goes. I'm guessing there'll be plenty of "standards" to test the "uprightness" of the tone - and my technique/style.
Still up for sale, but maybe not after the weekend. Hopefully the gig will help me decide.
Still up for sale, but maybe not after the weekend. Hopefully the gig will help me decide.
I had a chance to actually gig it tonight and I think I need to keep it for a little while longer before I make a decision. It plays and sounds great for my standard jazz gig, but it still may be a little too specialized for me in the long run.
Of corse, knowing me it'll be up for sale again soon anyway...
Of corse, knowing me it'll be up for sale again soon anyway...
Listened to a couple recordings from the gig last week and...the Mouse is staying. It sounds so amazing. Looks cool, too.
Now I need a 5 for the smooth jazz stuff...and church. Gonna try to sell the 44-02 and get a Sadowsky 5 string jazz I think.
Now I need a 5 for the smooth jazz stuff...and church. Gonna try to sell the 44-02 and get a Sadowsky 5 string jazz I think.
