Show Us Your Rob Allen Basses Part II

[richnota]

lets just look at this again. oh yeah!

Fantastic figuring.

I like the black tuners.

a few more shots trying to show the top grain

 

[nostatic]

I've now got a few gigs under my belt with the new Deep 5. A few thoughts in no particular order.

Easy to play. Damn easy to play. The neck profile is different from my MB-2 (which was an '06 build iirc) - thinner with less shoulder. The action is about as low as you can get on a RA, and I like it a lot.

Tone is punchier than my MB-2. Part of it could be the new strings, but I like the extra high end grit. Notes speak very quickly. Could be the walnut neck. It also has more upright vibe, especially if I play with my thumb up the neck. I will say that the string balance on the MB-2 is perfect though - never played a bass that was as balanced string to string, B included.

Balance is excellent, but I have to reorient with the single cutaway. Today I called out playing in C when actually when we were in Bb. The relative spacing of body to neck is a lot different, so I have to pay attention since I'm used to double cutaways.

Black hardware rocks.

A Rob Allen 35" scale plays shorter due to the bridge placement and overall length. This was the same with my MB-2, but the Deep feels maybe a tad shorter due to the strap button placement. I do have to adjust my strap when switching basses though - needs to be longer on the Deep 5.

I'm definitely going to order a fretted Mouse. Was playing with a cheap short scale bass today and loved it. My real challenge is to keep from going into debt buying the Solid 4 in the classifieds. Uggh...gas gas gas...

The Deep 5 really isn't a fit with the funk band. Better than the MB-2, but still not enough attack and punch to pull it off. The solid 4 likely would be perfect, and I'm thinking a fretted Mouse might be close enough.

This Deep 5 is awesome. Walnut/ebony 5-piece neck ftw.

 

[richnota]

playing the deep 5 still reminds me of playing one of those beautiful single cutaway, deep bodied jazz guitars.

not a bad thing.

 

[spade2you]

This is not helping my GAS. A Deep 5 would make an excellent addition..........

 

[nostatic]

Saw the 4-string sister of my Deep 5 today at Rob's shop - top from the same hunk of wood. Also a very sweet dark walnut Mouse.

Sorted the details on my Mouse 30f. A quirky 2-tone walnut top, alder body, walnut neck, indian rosewood fingerboard with extension, and black hardware. Mmm, walnut...

 

[longrange]

Saw the 4-string sister of my Deep 5 today at Rob's shop - top from the same hunk of wood. Also a very sweet dark walnut Mouse.

Sorted the details on my Mouse 30f. A quirky 2-tone walnut top, alder body, walnut neck, indian rosewood fingerboard with extension, and black hardware. Mmm, walnut...

I'll be sorting a deposit for a fretted Mouse too very soon. I actually want something very similar to the one you describe -a top that's out of the ordinary, walnut neck, black hardware etc. Probably won't go for the f-hole - not sure this would help achieve what I want the fretted for, that being, to act as my p-bass.

 

[KJung]

I'll be sorting a deposit for a fretted Mouse too very soon. I actually want something very similar to the one you describe -a top that's out of the ordinary, walnut neck, black hardware etc. Probably won't go for the f-hole - not sure this would help achieve what I want the fretted for, that being, to act as my p-bass.

I think the fretted Mouse can pull off a gig that would be appropriate for a P Bass. It won't have the thump and growl of a P, but IMO it will work if you are willing to give up the exact P tone in favor of the short scale and ultra light weight.

Regarding fancy woods, etc., I again (and Rob agrees) don't hear a ton of difference between the wood combinations (I have a fretted Mouse with F hole, Koa top, rosewood board, and a fretless with no F hole, maple top, and the standard Algonco or whatever that wood is called fretboard. They sound very similar.

Rob's standard build for the Mouse (nice flamed maple top, alder, and the Algonco fretboard) is wonderful sounding and looking, and will save you a lot of money.

I have a clip of my fretted Mouse on my YouTube channel, which might give you an idea of the tone you can expect.

IMO and IME!

 

[nostatic]

Actually my heart said walnut top and Rob was suggesting a maple one as they have a tad more snap. I'm looking for the same thing - a light "P-bass". I'm really happy with the way my Deep 5 speaks, so I opted for a walnut neck. I know I like alder with fretted basses, and the walnut has more mids (but this is all pretty subtle). I'm not going with the f-hole mostly because I didn't want to spend more money. The top I chose is a standard walnut, so my upcharges are for the walnut neck (maybe not needed, but I *love* the walnut neck on my D5), extended fretboard (which is just damn cool), and black hardware.

I played a fretted Mouse shop bass and it still is very much a Rob Allen sound. But, you can slap it and it gets a great tone to my ears. It is almost the opposite of a J-bass though. Mostly I want the comfort that 5.5 lbs and short scale are going to get me.

 

[fish slapper]

Saw the 4-string sister of my Deep 5 today at Rob's shop - top from the same hunk of wood.

That'd be the bass of my dreams.

Rob's standard build for the Mouse (nice flamed maple top, alder, and the Algonco fretboard) is wonderful sounding and looking, and will save you a lot of money.

According to the website and confirmed with a phone call with Rob last year, the standard Mouse with Maple top build is a Mahogany body and Goncalo Aves fingerboard.

I personally am struggling between a Maple Mouse with F hole or a Deep 4. Of course money is a key factor in that decision!

 

[jsb22257]

This is my beloved Koa top Deep 4, I asked Rob not to put binding on it.

 

[nostatic]

I personally am struggling between a Maple Mouse with F hole or a Deep 4. Of course money is a key factor in that decision!

Funny, because those basses are totally different and very similar at the same time. If you did a blind listening test, I doubt you'd be able to tell the difference, especially in a band setting. But playing them, the scale difference is obvious. Luckily Rob's craftsmanship is so high, his lowest price bass (Mouse) is impeccable. The Deep, which he says is the best he can make, is jaw dropping. So to me that choice comes down to a few factors:

30" vs. 34"
$2.25K vs. $3.8K
one-piece vs. 5-piece neck

The other bits (eg vol only vs. eq) are mostly non-issues imho. I leave the eq on my D5 flat.

The other thing to consider is how you play the instrument. If you like to play a lot high up the neck, then the single cutaway will impact your approach somewhat. In that case an MB-2 might be a better choice.

 

[fish slapper]

30" vs. 34"
$2.25K vs. $3.8K

Exactly the issues I'm debating (one piece neck is fine). I have no experience with 30", only 34" and 35" 5ers. Since I'm partial to unlined fret-less, change in scale is scary. However, I do have health issues and climbing up in age so a short light bass sounds good for comfort.

The other bits (eg vol only vs. eq) are mostly non-issues imho. I leave the eq on my D5 flat.

Good to know. I've been able to audition a Mouse and an MB-2 up here at Get Togethers but have never had my hands on a Deep 4/5. I'm familiar with the "Rob Allen sound" so if the Deep 4/5 is that with more knobs, I'm good.

The other thing to consider is how you play the instrument. If you like to play a lot high up the neck, then the single cutaway will impact your approach somewhat. In that case an MB-2 might be a better choice.

Yeah, I discovered this last time I got my hands on a Mouse. I do a bit of soloing in my Jazz combo and the high register is nice. Not happening on a Mouse. But then again, I sucked at thumb position on DB and learned to solo fairly well in the first 5 positions or so where suck-a-tude was less. I'm guessing I could adapt. To be honest, I like the single cut away aesthetic. I asked Rob when I spoke to him if he'd consider a single cut away MB-2 and his reply was that he was too busy with his current model line up to go that far into custom.

 

[nostatic]

Rob is pretty slammed these days. All of the RAs are light (I'd guess my D5 at a little over 7lbs). I'm not going to get a fretless Mouse any time soon unless I really bond with short scale. I have some arthritis creeping in that makes playing at the nut a little uncomfortable with a 34" or 35". One reason I like 5-strings is that I can just play up the neck and still have the low notes (although with a different tonal character). I now have 34" and 35" unlined fretless and don't have much of a problem switching between the two, although I wouldn't bring them both to the same gig. I briefly tried a fretless Mouse and found it to be a bit of a challenge due to my muscle memory, but certainly I think it would be manageable with practice. But I also flip to guitar for some gigs so I'm used to scale changes. In fact today I'll be starting with a set on my Martin acoustic guitar, then swap over to the D5 for the next set, and then jump on my Grosh EJ to finish the gig. We'll see how confused I am by the end of the evening...

 

[fish slapper]

I now have 34" and 35" unlined fretless and don't have much of a problem switching between the two, although I wouldn't bring them both to the same gig. I briefly tried a fretless Mouse and found it to be a bit of a challenge due to my muscle memory, but certainly I think it would be manageable with practice.

Yes, I also have those scale lengths in unlined and like you say, it's not much of a difference but wouldn't want to go back and forth in an evening. But I think 30" is WAY different. Especially in a Jazz sitch where you're reading too so you can't be staring at the dots (or lines) all night. And like you point out, muscle memory is important in fret-less and you can't argue with 30+ years of the hands feeling 34" scale.

Of course, the asthetic problem with a Mouse is you're playing an instrument that's the same size as (gasp) a guitar player. Folks expect a big instrument for that big sound even though I'm convinced from hearing it myself that a Mouse has all of that "big" tone. But that digresses the debate back to the whole argument that it should be a DB to play "real" Jazz.

 

[longrange]

I think the fretted Mouse can pull off a gig that would be appropriate for a P Bass. It won't have the thump and growl of a P, but IMO it will work if you are willing to give up the exact P tone in favor of the short scale and ultra light weight.

Regarding fancy woods, etc., I again (and Rob agrees) don't hear a ton of difference between the wood combinations (I have a fretted Mouse with F hole, Koa top, rosewood board, and a fretless with no F hole, maple top, and the standard Algonco or whatever that wood is called fretboard. They sound very similar.

Rob's standard build for the Mouse (nice flamed maple top, alder, and the Algonco fretboard) is wonderful sounding and looking, and will save you a lot of money.

I have a clip of my fretted Mouse on my YouTube channel, which might give you an idea of the tone you can expect.

IMO and IME!

Sound advice as ever and the maple is growing on me...

 

[longrange]

Actually my heart said walnut top and Rob was suggesting a maple one as they have a tad more snap. I'm looking for the same thing - a light "P-bass". I'm really happy with the way my Deep 5 speaks, so I opted for a walnut neck. I know I like alder with fretted basses, and the walnut has more mids (but this is all pretty subtle). I'm not going with the f-hole mostly because I didn't want to spend more money. The top I chose is a standard walnut, so my upcharges are for the walnut neck (maybe not needed, but I *love* the walnut neck on my D5), extended fretboard (which is just damn cool), and black hardware.

I played a fretted Mouse shop bass and it still is very much a Rob Allen sound. But, you can slap it and it gets a great tone to my ears. It is almost the opposite of a J-bass though. Mostly I want the comfort that 5.5 lbs and short scale are going to get me.

Black hardware is a must for me since getting my Mb2. Regarding the extended fingerboard, I've noted that since moving exclusively to Rob's basses (I own no other type now) I've developed a floating thumb technique. As such, neither the ext.fingerboard on my fretless Mouse or the thumb rail (yet to be fitted) on the Mb2 get used.

I can get a very nice p-bass tone out of the both RA's but suprisingly to me, the Mouse is more 'on it' than the Mb2. That they are both fretless only alters the tone occasionally.

To be honest, the purchase of a fretted Mouse is probably unnecessary but I'm a man of few financial vices and I work hard so Rob's work is how I choose to spend my money. Nothing quite like it although saving a few dollars going maple might be the way forward.

 

[longrange]

That'd be the bass of my dreams.



According to the website and confirmed with a phone call with Rob last year, the standard Mouse with Maple top build is a Mahogany body and Goncalo Aves fingerboard.

I personally am struggling between a Maple Mouse with F hole or a Deep 4. Of course money is a key factor in that decision!

I think it's very easy to underestimate the Mouse. It is a phenomenal bass and very nearly half the price of the Deep. Although whether the Deep is nearly twice as good is a question for Nostatic and others, I guess...

 

[longrange]

But I also flip to guitar for some gigs so I'm used to scale changes. In fact today I'll be starting with a set on my Martin acoustic guitar, then swap over to the D5 for the next set, and then jump on my Grosh EJ to finish the gig. We'll see how confused I am by the end of the evening...

That's just asking for trouble...

 

[nostatic]

That's just asking for trouble...

Actually the gig went well. Except for me forgetting my pedal board and turning back around in LA traffic halfway there. Played a few tunes on acoustic, then flipped to bass, then mostly electric guitar for the rest of the night, except for a mini set back on bass. And of course this was with a drummer I'd never met. And the other two players I have played with many times, but never together and on different instruments (I play bass with Sam, guitar with Harry). Then there were the 4 or 5 cop cars that showed up, but they were for the neighbors not us (even though we were playing outdoors).

On an unrelated note, picked up a QSC K8 and K10 for PA use and they kill. Can use them for bass in a pinch. And back on-topic, Harry played my Deep 5 for a bunch or tunes. I have the feeling he may be figuring out how to pick one up...

 

[longrange]

Actually the gig went well. Except for me forgetting my pedal board and turning back around in LA traffic halfway there. Played a few tunes on acoustic, then flipped to bass, then mostly electric guitar for the rest of the night, except for a mini set back on bass. And of course this was with a drummer I'd never met. And the other two players I have played with many times, but never together and on different instruments (I play bass with Sam, guitar with Harry). Then there were the 4 or 5 cop cars that showed up, but they were for the neighbors not us (even though we were playing outdoors).




Tell Harry to start saving