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Show us the Rob Allen basses!

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#441
Thanks, all, for your replies ... Rich, I'll check those threads.

FenderP said:
{SNIP} ... but realize that if you want an upright sound 100%, you'll have to play an upright. Even EUBs like the NS Design ones sound like fretless basses more often than not and not as organic as a real upright.
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I know it all too well ... that's why I phrased the question "given the choice between a Deep 4/5 and a mouse" :) . I have acquired a beaten up upright, and an EUB, but I'm starting to wonder if they'll either of them ever make it to a gig. (Two reasons, time required to acquire the chops, and the practicalities of gigging with those monsters.)
.
 
#442
richnota said:
No. Unfortunately that's how i afford them:)
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An unfortunate fact of life isn't it ... similar situation here. It's not unusual for me to feel a bit guilty after talking about my basses with some earnest, aspiring to be pro, very talented young bassist who can't afford anything like the gear I've got.

Doesn't last though ... I've never acted on the guilt, besides lending an instrument on the odd occasion. :/

Rich .... lovely collection of basses you have there :)
 
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#444
Another shot of blondie and my Deep 5....

The 5 string MB2 is a very different beast. Non of my Rob Allen's have maple necks (walnut and koa). Gives it a subtle different vibe.

Spade2You has explored different woods with Rob...i can see how it can really color the bass.

deep5andblondie.jpg
 
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#445
BigBeatNut said:
An unfortunate fact of life isn't it ... similar situation here. It's not unusual for me to feel a bit guilty after talking about my basses with some earnest, aspiring to be pro, very talented young bassist who can't afford anything like the gear I've got.

Doesn't last though ... I've never acted on the guilt, besides lending an instrument on the odd occasion. :/

Rich .... lovely collection of basses you have there :)
Click to expand...

I started playing bass like 3 months ago, though I've been a player for like 20 years (keyboards), got me a nice inexpensive peavey fretless fiver for a start and when I can sight read bass in about 130 bpm and make it swing, I will start lookin at those Rob Allen babies, an mb-2 fretless with f-hole seems very sexy. Until then, I can hardly see any need for another bass, I will probably never get a fretted bas, and another fretless would just make me confused about which one to play.

But keep them photos comin, it's really nice to look at these beauties!

;)

D.Don
 
#446
BigBeatNut said:
I know it all too well ... that's why I phrased the question "given the choice between a Deep 4/5 and a mouse" :) . I have acquired a beaten up upright, and an EUB, but I'm starting to wonder if they'll either of them ever make it to a gig. (Two reasons, time required to acquire the chops, and the practicalities of gigging with those monsters.)
.
Click to expand...

As much as I loved playing the Mouse when I tried it, I don't regret getting my Deep 4. Let's put it that way. It's close enough for me.

The reality is that you need to think of the context: other than some purists, does the person sitting in the last row really care it's a fretless bass vs. an upright? Other than bowing, once you put a pickup on an upright, well, it becomes much like a fretless bass with a bit more organic sound.

Bottom line: what matters the most to you?
 
#447
FenderP said:
As much as I loved playing the Mouse when I tried it, I don't regret getting my Deep 4. Let's put it that way. It's close enough for me.

The reality is that you need to think of the context: other than some purists, does the person sitting in the last row really care it's a fretless bass vs. an upright? Other than bowing, once you put a pickup on an upright, well, it becomes much like a fretless bass with a bit more organic sound.

Bottom line: what matters the most to you?
Click to expand...

Good post and +1. I've heard many, many, many DB's sound absolutely horrible out in the room, and some sound like very good P Bass in a mix:cool: However, obviously some gigs call for DB (both the exact tone, and more importantly IMO, the look).

In a reasonably large room that requires amplification and especially if front of house support is required, most would not be able to tell the difference in tone between a DB and the Mouse or other Rob Allen. That's one of the things that is quite amazing about these instruments.

On the other had, if Gary Peacock came out on stage with Jarrett with a Mouse, I guess I would be disappointed.... that is, until about the 4th bar of the first tune:smug::D
 
#449
FenderP said:
Bottom line: what matters the most to you?
Click to expand...

I used to agonise over the 'right answer' to this: Not any more.

I want to get 'that sound' ... the sound of a real upright ... and I have two routes to that end ... the real upright and the EUB. I can play those at home, work up the technique, and maybe someday I'll be more or less satisfied with where I've got to.

There are the practicalities of playing live however. The range of material I'll need to cover with any band I can foresee playing with, means I'll need both a upright and a BG on stage. And with the kind of gigs I get, that's not practical. Bottom line, in order to gig, I still need a BG that sounds as close to an upright as I can get.

Hence my 1st question :)
 
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#450
BigBeatNut said:
Bottom line, in order to gig, I still need a BG that sounds as close to an upright as I can get.

Hence my 1st question :)
Click to expand...

Get a Mouse and call it a day...Definitely more of an upright vibe.

If you're seriously considering a Rob Allen, send Rob an email through his website. I've picked his brain about various models and wood options without buying a thing. :ninja: He even emailed me pictures of models with options similar to the kinds I was inquiring about. He's a great guy.
 
#451
BigBeatNut said:
I used to agonise over the 'right answer' to this: Not any more.

I want to get 'that sound' ... the sound of a real upright ... and I have two routes to that end ... the real upright and the EUB. I can play those at home, work up the technique, and maybe someday I'll be more or less satisfied with where I've got to.

There are the practicalities of playing live however. The range of material I'll need to cover with any band I can foresee playing with, means I'll need both a upright and a BG on stage. And with the kind of gigs I get, that's not practical. Bottom line, in order to gig, I still need a BG that sounds as close to an upright as I can get.

Hence my 1st question :)
Click to expand...

Talk to Rob. I'd suggest a Deep Mouse which is roughly twice as thick with a Mahogany body, walnut neck, and Brazilian rosewood fingerboard. That will sound uber deep! I kinda wish I did that with mine.

You can also order a 32" scale MB2, which would also allow you to have a high C if you want one.
 
#454
spade2you said:
Special order. Don't quote me, but I think it was a $200 option. I kinda thought about it, but I wanted ash and I think you can only do that with mahogany. I think it's a new(-ish?) option and I'm not sure how many he has built.
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Rob only does ash bodies on the 5- and 6-string basses and I think ash would be too bright for a Deep model. Anyway, that's great to know, because I'm really leaning towards a Mouse. When I get a deposit together, I'm going to ask him about that option. I think it would sound amazing.
 
#455
The RA P is showing up the week of the 21st. I'm excited about that.

The Takamine TB10 showed up today, and I won't really get a chance to do any playing on it or comparisons with the Deep 4 probably 'til that week of the 21st.
 
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#456
buckminster said:
Rob only does ash bodies on the 5- and 6-string basses and I think ash would be too bright for a Deep model. Anyway, that's great to know, because I'm really leaning towards a Mouse. When I get a deposit together, I'm going to ask him about that option. I think it would sound amazing.
Click to expand...
Actually, he's made at least a few all ash Mouse basses too. I considered such a configuration (he had an already finished body to offer), before I settled on alder and spruce for the Mouse I now own and treasure.
 
#457
buckminster said:
Rob only does ash bodies on the 5- and 6-string basses and I think ash would be too bright for a Deep model. Anyway, that's great to know, because I'm really leaning towards a Mouse. When I get a deposit together, I'm going to ask him about that option. I think it would sound amazing.
Click to expand...

He has done plenty of ash Mouse 30s, which is what mine is made from. It adds a certain degree of articulation and brightness (but not too much) that allow it to be very useful in other contexts. The harmonics really shine.
 
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#459
buckminster said:
I stand corrected...That makes sense since I think Rob will build just about anything you want, within reason. A "Deep Mouse" with an ash body would be incredible. Got me thinking...Ash body, koa top, birdseye maple neck and ebony fingerboard...:bassist:
Click to expand...

It would be, but I don't think he can get pieces of ash that thick. I don't know lumber like Rob, but it sounded like mahogany was the only one you could cut that thick (without having to piece it together).
 
#460
I just sold my MB-2 5 with the idea of going back to a 4, but I'm also wondering about a Mouse. Unfortunately, I've never seen one in person, let alone heard or played one, so here are a couple MB-2 vs. Mouse comparative questions.

Does the Mouse have as much sustain as an MB-2, or does the shorter scale length result in less string tension and less sustain?

Does the jump to the short scale throw you off coming from a 34" scale?
 
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