I understand all of this, the only thing i dont fully understand is all the solidbody fretless basses with the fully adjustable bridges;
anyone who can share a light here?
anyone who can share a light here?
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Show Us Your Rob Allen Basses Part II
- Thread starter Mark Wilson
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Actually my Deep 5 has fairly low action, and I love it. Not as low as my Zons, but certainly on what I'd call "medium-low" side of things.
As for the solid body with adjustable bridges, odds are they are just using the same hardware they do on their fretted models. Acoustic guitars usually don't have adjustable saddles, and they seem to do ok.
As for the solid body with adjustable bridges, odds are they are just using the same hardware they do on their fretted models. Acoustic guitars usually don't have adjustable saddles, and they seem to do ok.
I think you might be right there
The fretboard is probably the only thing changed on those instruments.
One thing that puzzles me though (bit of an ignoramus on these things) is how one decides the angle on which the bridge saddle is positioned (the low strings are a bit longer then the high strings).
Is there a formula for this or would this be hands on experience?
The fretboard is probably the only thing changed on those instruments.
One thing that puzzles me though (bit of an ignoramus on these things) is how one decides the angle on which the bridge saddle is positioned (the low strings are a bit longer then the high strings).
Is there a formula for this or would this be hands on experience?
Any idea how these bridges work?
Did anyone see the "inner workings" of those?
Beautiful things, great sound too, i especially like the sound of the deep 5
Did anyone see the "inner workings" of those?
Beautiful things, great sound too, i especially like the sound of the deep 5
You can go to Rob's website and see pics.
How he calculated the angle of the bridge? I don't know but I'm sure it's something he learned to do when he was learning to build instruments.
How he calculated the angle of the bridge? I don't know but I'm sure it's something he learned to do when he was learning to build instruments.
been there, done that, but that gives no insight
in the way this bridge works whatsoever
The Rob Allen's are meant to be an acoustic instrument, like an acoustic guitar or a double bass. Hence, he uses that bridge design. Since the vast majority of his instruments (I would say 99%) are fretless, intonating the bridge exactly is a moot point.
That being said, the bridge is adjustable, since the corian (I think that's what it is made from) bar that the strings rest on is movable. This results in a decent amount of adjustability for his fretted instruments.
I have a fretted and fretless Mouse, and have no issues with the bridge design. Actually, the 'traditional' wooden bridge with piezo pickup has IMO a lot to do with the DB-like tone of the instrument.
been there, done that, but that gives no insight
in the way this bridge works whatsoever
I would suggest contacting him directly but that would take his time away from building instruments and would make our wait even longer so I'm not going to suggest that.
Are you trying to build your own version of this?
I am indeed in the process of building a bass but not necessary in his line.
What i AM looking for is a design that is as uncluthered as can be so i want to use
some amplification that works on the bridge.
This might be a setting like robs or it might be a setting like the optical
pickup.
Unfortunately the latter isnt sold to third parties anymore so im searching
What i AM looking for is a design that is as uncluthered as can be so i want to use
some amplification that works on the bridge.
This might be a setting like robs or it might be a setting like the optical
pickup.
Unfortunately the latter isnt sold to third parties anymore so im searching
Rob mentioned he was making a second one....I've seen it on sale before (and quickly checked my bass-room to be sure mine was still there). The seller is offering it for a good price. However I can't vouch for him/her. Can be a serial killer for all i know.
REPEAT: i have nothing to do with this seller or the evil twin of my bass
mine....
the evil twin on ebay....
http://cgi.ebay.com/Beautiful-Rob-A...90?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Guitar&hash=item3a5ca9ea3e
Amazing likeness.
REPEAT: i have nothing to do with this seller or the evil twin of my bass
mine....
the evil twin on ebay....
http://cgi.ebay.com/Beautiful-Rob-A...90?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Guitar&hash=item3a5ca9ea3e
Amazing likeness.
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If it were unlined I would have already bought it. I played a lined mouse the other day and I just can't do it - having the dots centered totally throws me off...
I was the same when I got my first unlined fretless (Lakie HB). After learning fretless on unlined, lines plus centered dots was definitely a case of too much information. You do get used to it though. Sorry, I got used to it, YMMV.
Andy
My fretlesss D4 has lines + dots on the side (as Rob's first, I'm not sure how it changed over time). My fretless P just has the dots on the side with an unlined neck. At this point, I do prefer the unlined neck on a fretless so I rely more on my ears than my eyes. That siad, it's really not an impediment, so if you like a bass and it happens to be a lined fretless, other than visual, it shouldn't really make a huge difference.
i prefer lines and dots on center (matching up with a trad fretted neck)...suspenders and belt.
I have an R bass with dots on the line with very faint dark lines. Confuses me to no end.
As an complete alternative, my Shuker has lines on the side of the fingerboard. Gives an optical illusion of a lined fb. from the players perspective. Works great.
I have an R bass with dots on the line with very faint dark lines. Confuses me to no end.
As an complete alternative, my Shuker has lines on the side of the fingerboard. Gives an optical illusion of a lined fb. from the players perspective. Works great.
Nope - no can do. I have played unlined for 10+ years now. I get a quick visual cue off the dots, along with muscle memory and my ears. My two existing fretless are unlined. No way I'll buy a lined fretless - just too confusing for me. If I really want a fretless Mouse I'll just order one from Rob.
I also think that in general lined fretless is a bad idea, but that is a whole 'nother set of threads
Having the lines on the fingerboard does me no good. When I'm standing and playing I can't see the fingerboard I only see the side of the neck. My Birdsong has dots at the 1st, 3rd ect and has lines wood burned in between. Works great for me. I'd love to do the same for my Mouse but I don't think I could trust myself not to screw up the lines.
Nope - no can do. I have played unlined for 10+ years now. I get a quick visual cue off the dots, along with muscle memory and my ears. My two existing fretless are unlined. No way I'll buy a lined fretless - just too confusing for me. If I really want a fretless Mouse I'll just order one from Rob.
I also think that in general lined fretless is a bad idea, but that is a whole 'nother set of threads
LOL, the guy who said unlined folk can't play above the 12th position send me a nasty PM that my music reflects a lack of practicing. It hurted my feelings.
"unlined folk" - does that mean they ran out of coke?
What is interesting is that I have far less of an issue swapping between the RA (35" scale) and Zon (34" scale) unlined than I do when I pick up a lined fretless (no matter what scale).
Playing above the 12th fret is for wankers anyway. Well, so are 5/6 strings, and for that matter anything other than a P-bass with flats. And even then anyone who uses the G-string is suspect and may have to be taken into custody.
What is interesting is that I have far less of an issue swapping between the RA (35" scale) and Zon (34" scale) unlined than I do when I pick up a lined fretless (no matter what scale).
Playing above the 12th fret is for wankers anyway. Well, so are 5/6 strings, and for that matter anything other than a P-bass with flats. And even then anyone who uses the G-string is suspect and may have to be taken into custody.
Rob mentioned he was making a second one....I've seen it on sale before (and quickly checked my bass-room to be sure mine was still there). The seller is offering it for a good price. However I can't vouch for him/her. Can be a serial killer for all i know.
REPEAT: i have nothing to do with this seller or the evil twin of my bass
mine....
the evil twin on ebay....
http://cgi.ebay.com/Beautiful-Rob-A...90?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Guitar&hash=item3a5ca9ea3e
Amazing likeness.
OMG! That's local for me. Hmmm... I've been lineless for all the above reasons as well and last time I played lined, yes I was confused by the dots being between hand positions instead of on. But also have been considering lined on a Mouse since I don't have any experience with 30" scale.
Again, Hmmmmmm.....
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