Rob Allen Question???

[MrLenny1]

Back to the Op question. FWIW.
I do not have a RA 5 but I do have a Stanbaugh Resonance 5 Hi-C
with Mag & Piezo. I wanted both worlds and got it.
It's a great combination with flexibility.

 

[len13]

Been away...Thanks for all of the input.Just to clarify a bit.The 5 string,34' scale, bass I am interested in is tuned in standard E-G tuning,with the addition of the C,a fourth above.I don't consider this piccolo tuning or a piccolo bass per se.After experimenting with several 5's strung up this way I am sold that it is what I want for my playing.Chords aside,it facilitates access to upper register notes(laterally) and offers a different,more singing/ringing, tonal characteristic than the same notes played in upper positions,on shortened strings.Although there is a place for that sound too!Realistically,it only offers 2 more notes,G#-A,than a 24 fret 4 string.
Back to Rob,we have now spoken at length regarding this bass build and he,as usual,has all the basses covered.The E-C tuned,5 string,fretted, MB-2's,all come with a "compensated"saddle,intonation adjustable bridge.After talking to Rob about this particular tuning,E-C,it was obvious how much specific design effort went into making this work on the MB-2 and how concerned Rob is about retaining the tonal characteristics and playability of his basses.Nobody is more interested in seeing it done right than he is.
Rob also offers a custom made Seymour Duncan magnetic pickup option for this configuration and that would be coupled to a mag/piezo blend nob,with bass/treble control nob as well.Essentially,Deep 4/5 electronics,all on bridge.I am still considering a few more details and then on to ordering!!

 

[KJung]

Been away...Thanks for all of the input.Just to clarify a bit.The 5 string,34' scale, bass I am interested in is tuned in standard E-G tuning,with the addition of the C,a fourth above.I don't consider this piccolo tuning or a piccolo bass per se.After experimenting with several 5's strung up this way I am sold that it is what I want for my playing.Chords aside,it facilitates access to upper register notes(laterally) and offers a different,more singing/ringing, tonal characteristic than the same notes played in upper positions,on shortened strings.Although there is a place for that sound too!Realistically,it only offers 2 more notes,G#-A,than a 24 fret 4 string.
Back to Rob,we have now spoken at length regarding this bass build and he,as usual,has all the basses covered.The E-C tuned,5 string,fretted, MB-2's,all come with a "compensated"saddle,intonation adjustable bridge.After talking to Rob about this particular tuning,E-C,it was obvious how much specific design effort went into making this work on the MB-2 and how concerned Rob is about retaining the tonal characteristics and playability of his basses.Nobody is more interested in seeing it done right than he is.
Rob also offers a custom made Seymour Duncan magnetic pickup option for this configuration and that would be coupled to a mag/piezo blend nob,with bass/treble control nob as well.Essentially,Deep 4/5 electronics,all on bridge.I am still considering a few more details and then on to ordering!!

I was using piccolo very loosely as describing the E to C tuning.

Interesting on the adjustable bridge on the fretted MB-2's. I've only seem them and fretted Mouses with the stock RA bridge. It is 'slanted' of course, or it would be a real mess, but still, the intonation is pretty 'rough', which of course makes sense.

My concern (at least with the standard bridge) is that the general 'loose' intonation would be more apparent as you move up the neck, and further compounded by the range of that C string.

 

[nostatic]

Rob made a 33" scale 5-string MB-2 for Pino some years back, and it had the "compensated saddle". Basically it is split into two pieces so you have a bit more flexibility when setting it up.

That said, intonation will vary based on a lot of factors including the set of strings. I've talked with Rob about this and it is one thing that makes fretless easier from a built perspective - you don't have to worry as much.

 

[len13]

Along with the compensated saddle there is a redesigned bridge just to remedy these potential intonation issues.Rob sent me a couple of pictures, unfortunately I don't seem to be able to downsize them enough to attach them here.In this case especially one picture is worth 1000 words,but I will try and get away with less.On Robs' site,under custom basses,the Pino 33" 5 string is shown.Looking at the bridge in the larger photo, the compensated saddle sits inside of a wooden surround.This surround is attached to the fixed bridge by means of two pins.These pins can be moved/removed to allow fore/aft adjustment of the surround/saddle assembly.That small adjustment could/should make a big difference.An updated version of this setup is what Rob builds into all fretted E-C 5's.This,along with a walnut neck,is part of the upcharge for these E-C 5's.