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Show Us Your Rob Allen Basses Part II
- Thread starter Mark Wilson
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![A2[1].jpg](/data/attachments/2668/2668571-404847464c23e7f7bd17b39ef422a97b.jpg?hash=QEhHRkwj5_)
![andy1[1].jpg](/data/attachments/2668/2668572-c842692648cd3bb675c974088571f20e.jpg?hash=yEJpJkjNO7)
Is that blonde walnut? Stunning piece of wood. My Deep 5 will have a blonde walnut top - interested to see it when its done.
I'm counting the days myself
Certainly walnut although only a standard top believe it or not so no extra charge.
Rob says that the walnut neck (with black flecks) is the finest example he's ever seen. The back too kis exceptional apparently as Rob says it has a particulalrly beautiful swirly pattern to the grain.
The Mouse is the first mono-chromatic Rob made i think - came as a result of my wanting the fret lines less visible so a lighter piece was used for the fingerboard.
You win with that oneAbsolutely perfect!
Thank you! I really can't stress just how good it is but i guess all you guys with a RA know this already...Still, yet again, just a standard top.
I'm interested to know how much 'punchier' the MB2 will be. I know I'll lose a little of the punch due to the f-hole but not too much according to Rob. Staccato is apparently a good deal better on the MB2 over the Mouse.
The MB2 I had was ash, maple top, ebony board... so conceptually the 'brightest' of the RA spec. It sounded 'a little' different from my Mouse (alder, Alvanco whatever, maple top).... slightly less bloom down low (I assume due to the 35" scale versus the 30's) and just a smidge quicker attack (I assume due to the ebony board... a bit more lower treble at the start of the note attack). However, 85% similar, and if I just moved my hand position a bit closer to the neck, and dialed down the treble cut pot, I could get them really close.
Interesting. I find that the Mouse is suprisingly versatile. For example, playing back near the bridge I can do a reasonable 'Donna Lee' for which, of course, an amount of attack is required. The MB2, I guess, will step up the staccato a notch or two...
I'm addicted to Rob's work but I guess at some stage I'll need to add something from the other end of the spectrum.
+1 Hand position makes a huge difference with these. I could almost do a pop gig with my Mouse if I chose to!
Did you have a thumb rest fitted to your MB2? I've gone for the rail as I play close to the bridge much of the time.
My MB2 was a 5 string, so the B string acted as a nice thumb rest. For a 4 string, the rail should work great.
I couldn't agree more. I don't even ask Rob how long it will take for him to make a bass for me, he'll do it as soon as possible while giving it and every other instrument he makes the attention to detail it deserves.
Although I'm on my third Rob Allen bass I've only spoke to him twice and I try to keep email to only what's necessary. I believe his work time should be spent as much as possible making basses. That said, my conversations with him have been most pleasurable. A pure gentleman as you said. Plus, the enthusiasm and love of his instruments is evident just listening to him.
My turn to agree wholeheartedly. It's tempting to speak with Rob at greater length than is necessary but, as you say, the demands on his time are obvious.
I'm two or three weeks away from the MB2 and i can't wait to compare and contrast it to the Mouse. I was fortunate enough to write a review of the Mouse for BassGuitarMagazine - a British publication (October 09). Nothing too technical but it was a pleasure to be able to do something for Rob.
What are your three RA's?
My first was a Solid 4. Next was a custom MB-2, fretted with Solid 4 pickup instead of piezo. They can be viewed in my avatar and profile pic. I also have several pics of the MB-2 earlier on this thread .... page 3?
On order is a custom Deep 4 that will have the same features as my MB-2 but with different woods: Myrtle top; Brazilian rosewood fingerboard, bridge, and pickup cover.
I don't have any of my own pics yet, but so far I'm loving my MB-2 5 string. Maple body, Myrtle top, cocobolo board. I don't use the B string much as this is my "upright substitute" bass, but it's there if/when I need it and of course makes a nice thumb rest when not in use. So far the 35" scale doesn't seem to be an issue and my toughest critics (really want me to play a WAV or something similar) are quite impressed - and my hand doesn't hurt like it did when I played a WAV or similar EYB.
I'll have to get some pics up on of these days. I gig all weekend so maybe next week.
I'll have to get some pics up on of these days. I gig all weekend so maybe next week.
Glad to hear it's working out. For whatever reason the 35" scale on the RA doesn't really feel long at all. As far as attack and staccato, I'm finding that amp makes a difference. The LMTube seems to have more "attack" than the RH450 (or the AMB500 had).
I'm using the Phil Jones Briefcase - pure, clear sound and the Mouse rings out like a piano.
How do you find RA's for harmonic's?
My Genz Benz seems to have plenty of attack.
I am liking the sounds I get and how I play as I get more used to this bass. We have a few "pop" and "pop jazz" tunes in the set that I have been using my fretted bass for, but I'm hoping maybe someday to just use the RA for the entire set.
There are a few tunes (if we do them) that really require some slap, and some more "pop/rock" or "sooth jazz" bass tones. If we weren't doing those I'd just play the RA for sure.
Really unique tone and fun to play. I feel the scale a little bit, but for the sounds I get with this bass, I'm going to try and work through it.
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