Show Us Your Rob Allen Basses Part II

[nostatic]

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.

I used to play my Zon Lightwave fretless pretty much all the time, even for blues and funk. Slapped it too...but it isn't the same tone.

If you change your approach to the instrument and use the B string up above 5th "fret", the scale difference becomes pretty negligible. I find that I often will be playing a tune in F and only go down to the nut if I want a really defined attack on a thinner string.

I'm getting really curious about a fretted RA. I'm going to try and play a fretless mouse this week, and if I bond with it will order one. When the Deep 5 comes in I'll likely sell my MB-2, but am wondering about a fretted MB-2. Hmm...

 

[longrange]

Is that blonde walnut? Stunning piece of wood. My Deep 5 will have a blonde walnut top - interested to see it when its done.

Your custom sounds incredible. - I've only seen Koa tops before on a Deep. Out of interest, what is the depth of the Deep 4/5's body? I love the shallowness of the Mouse and MB2 - it just 'fits'...

 

[BassAgent]

Except for Talkbass, what would be the best place to look for used Rob Allen basses? The Low End? Ebay?

 

[KJung]

Except for Talkbass, what would be the best place to look for used Rob Allen basses? The Low End? Ebay?

Talkbass is the best source. There seems to always be at least one up for sale.

I've also seen quite a few come through Bass Northwest. Check their website regularly. They seem to have one a month or so posted.

 

[spade2you]

Talkbass is the best source. There seems to always be at least one up for sale.

I've also seen quite a few come through Bass Northwest. Check their website regularly. They seem to have one a month or so posted.

Those are about the two best places to check. Since it's such a small operation, they're not terribly abundant.

 

[BassAgent]

Talkbass is the best source. There seems to always be at least one up for sale.

Except for now

I've also seen quite a few come through Bass Northwest. Check their website regularly. They seem to have one a month or so posted.

Thanks!

 

[SteveC]

I put on some new strings. Gonna gig it tonight and see. ot sure how old the strings were that I took off, but they seemed too boomy. I emailed Rob and he said that older strings would have that kind of tone and new strings might be more defined. We'll see. I liked the way it sounded at home, but gigs are where you make it of break it.

 

[SBassman]

I put on some new strings. Gonna gig it tonight and see. ot sure how old the strings were that I took off, but they seemed too boomy. I emailed Rob and he said that older strings would have that kind of tone and new strings might be more defined. We'll see. I liked the way it sounded at home, but gigs are where you make it of break it.

I'm a big fan of significant Funk on the strings. I hate new strings.

 

[Andy Brown]

I'm a big fan of significant Funk on the strings. I hate new strings.

A HUGE +1

 

[SBassman]

New strings are like new jeans - they both suck in a very big way.

 

[KJung]

I put on some new strings. Gonna gig it tonight and see. ot sure how old the strings were that I took off, but they seemed too boomy. I emailed Rob and he said that older strings would have that kind of tone and new strings might be more defined. We'll see. I liked the way it sounded at home, but gigs are where you make it of break it.

New strings on a Rob Allen are not a good thing. That's not what those basses are about. I know you sold this bass, but for others, the Rob Allen, with that bridge mounted piezo pickup system, requires significantly different EQing than a 'normal' EB. Just a slight roll-off of the deep low end, and a slightly boosted midrange just makes them sing (in a DB sort of way).

Unfortunately, you issue was most likely user error in not setting your EQ correctly. Given your churn of basses, my guess is you have an amplification issue (i.e., a rig that is not voiced to your liking, or a rig that has some inherent issues with matching to your playing style and instrument choice).

I would strongly consider different amplification. Lot's of good stuff out there

 

[Joe Smithberger]

Steve, with your Genz combo, that bass should be pretty amazing. However, as Ken mentioned, you will have to rethink your EQ settings compared to your other basses. I generally roll off the Bass control a bit with my Mouse. There is so much low end coming off of that piezo that you will still have plenty. With almost every amp I have tried with it, I run the mids about flat and take off the very high and the very low. If you listen to Double Bass, most of the real tone happens in the mids - both the thump and the "air" in the sound.

 

[SteveC]

I haven't sold it yet. I kept the old strings so I can put them back on. I have tried the EQ's you mention and it does help. I can probably still experiment more.

Some of my bass turning lately has been to "double check" my attempt/choice to just keep and use my Yamaha BB605. I wanted to try and make sure that I wasn't "missing" something by not playing a Lakland, Sadowsky, Modulus, or whatever else others here seem to be using. Now, I won't sit here and tell you that my Yamaha sounds as good as a Sadowsky, but for my situation I don't think I need to spend 3-4 times as much for a bass that no one notices I play except me. And I don't feel like I'm denting myself a great playing and sounding bass, either. The Yamaha basically plays itself and I have always received many nice comments on my sound/playing with that bass.

As for the Rob Allen, I think when I play jazz I just miss (need?) the physical part of playing an upright. I like to dig, I like the "feel" of playing an upright when I'm walking/swing hard, you know what I mean?

As for my amp, it seems I should be able to get a good sound from it. Many people do. I think my Yamaha sounds nice, and when I use my friends WAV it sounds good, too. I know Ken thinks I need to rethink my amp - and maybe he's right - but I just don't want to start that merry-go-round. I have no place to go that's close that has any kind of selection. I have to buy and try everything - just like basses.

Sorry for the tangent. I appreciate all the comments, thoughts and advice - even if it seems I don't listen.

 

[longrange]

Steve, with your Genz combo, that bass should be pretty amazing. However, as Ken mentioned, you will have to rethink your EQ settings compared to your other basses. I generally roll off the Bass control a bit with my Mouse. There is so much low end coming off of that piezo that you will still have plenty. With almost every amp I have tried with it, I run the mids about flat and take off the very high and the very low. If you listen to Double Bass, most of the real tone happens in the mids - both the thump and the "air" in the sound.

+1

 

[VroomVroom]

Not trying to throw a bucket of water on someone who just fell in the ocean, but +1 on the strings and EQ. My Rob Allen is just over one year old now, and the strings are finally getting where I want them. From an EQ standpoint, I do dial back the lows on the amp, and I do the same with either the amp's highs or the tweeter on the cab. IME, the Genz Genz Shuttle 6.0-12T is absolutely the perfect rig for this bass. Not too strong in the lows, and perfect happiness in the mids.

One more IMO/IME here, with a strong dose of YMMV on top. Even at that, I'll don my flak jacket now. Ok...here we go. In my experience, the 35" five-string MB-2's don't have anywhere near the upright 'mojo' as the 34" four-stringers. This is based on owning one fiver, and playing maybe a half-dozen other ones of various woods (i.e. ash/maple top, alder/maple top, both body woods with koa tops, etc.) - and comparing/contrasting those against at least a dozen four-string models.

Obviously all of this is subjective and dependent on your sonic goals. For me, the MB-2 is certainly a niche instrument, but one I'm ecstatic to have in the arsenal. I use it for the sole purpose of replicating the upright vibe, and can honestly say that I've gotten - and held onto - gigs because I have it. It took me quite a while longer than it should have to accept the fact that I'm not an upright player, and having this tonal option allowed me to remain the sole-call player for a couple of band leaders. Anyway...

 

[longrange]

Not trying to throw a bucket of water on someone who just fell in the ocean, but +1 on the strings and EQ. My Rob Allen is just over one year old now, and the strings are finally getting where I want them. From an EQ standpoint, I do dial back the lows on the amp, and I do the same with either the amp's highs or the tweeter on the cab. IME, the Genz Genz Shuttle 6.0-12T is absolutely the perfect rig for this bass. Not too strong in the lows, and perfect happiness in the mids.

One more IMO/IME here, with a strong dose of YMMV on top. Even at that, I'll don my flak jacket now. Ok...here we go. In my experience, the 35" five-string MB-2's don't have anywhere near the upright 'mojo' as the 34" four-stringers. This is based on owning one fiver, and playing maybe a half-dozen other ones of various woods (i.e. ash/maple top, alder/maple top, both body woods with koa tops, etc.) - and comparing/contrasting those against at least a dozen four-string models.

Obviously all of this is subjective and dependent on your sonic goals. For me, the MB-2 is certainly a niche instrument, but one I'm ecstatic to have in the arsenal. I use it for the sole purpose of replicating the upright vibe, and can honestly say that I've gotten - and held onto - gigs because I have it. It took me quite a while longer than it should have to accept the fact that I'm not an upright player, and having this tonal option allowed me to remain the sole-call player for a couple of band leaders. Anyway...

I find the Mouse does the equivelant for me. IME/IMO, the bottom end has more upright bounce then the MB2 but both are remarkable instruments.

I'm using both the Phil Jones Bass Buddy and the Phil Jones Briefcase set almost flat with just a little mid-range boost. Exquisite.

 

[SteveC]

Not trying to throw a bucket of water on someone who just fell in the ocean...

It's fine, Jerry. I've had plenty of water dumped on me.

Maybe I should have gone with a 4 string...
Maybe I should put on the old strings and try again...
The keyboard player said the WAV sounded better on the recordings he did...
How can a WAV sound better than a RA?
Maybe I have tin ears...

 

[nostatic]

Your custom sounds incredible. - I've only seen Koa tops before on a Deep. Out of interest, what is the depth of the Deep 4/5's body? I love the shallowness of the Mouse and MB2 - it just 'fits'...

The website says 2-1/8" thick. It's been awhile since I tried one, but I don't recall it feeling that much different than the MB-2, but certainly is thicker.

My Deep 5 is about 3 weeks out. I did get to play a fretted Mouse today and immediately ordered one. It's only money...

 

[Andy Brown]

The website says 2-1/8" thick. It's been awhile since I tried one, but I don't recall it feeling that much different than the MB-2, but certainly is thicker.

My Deep 5 is about 3 weeks out. I did get to play a fretted Mouse today and immediately ordered one. It's only money...

Did the fretted Mouse have tapewound or nickel/steel strings? I've always wondered how frets would be on a Mouse. I've got a fretless due in June and would love to try a fretted.

 

[longrange]

The website says 2-1/8" thick. It's been awhile since I tried one, but I don't recall it feeling that much different than the MB-2, but certainly is thicker.

My Deep 5 is about 3 weeks out. I did get to play a fretted Mouse today and immediately ordered one. It's only money...

You're my kind a fella

Here's my Mb2 - due to be shipped Friday