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Show Us Your Rob Allen Basses Part II

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#521
nostatic said:
"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.
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Oddly enough, this guy wasn't against 5-6 string basses, just adamant that you can't play the 2nd octave without lines and he has published instruction books, although on guitar. I guess he got irate when he didn't win the argument. :ninja:
 
#523
spade2you said:
Oddly enough, this guy wasn't against 5-6 string basses, just adamant that you can't play the 2nd octave without lines and he has published instruction books, although on guitar. I guess he got irate when he didn't win the argument. :ninja:
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I think that was the same guy who felt that all 'front ported' cabs were boomy, since he played a couple of front ported cabs he didn't like:hmm:
 
#524
KJung said:
I think that was the same guy who felt that all 'front ported' cabs were boomy, since he played a couple of front ported cabs he didn't like:hmm:
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Doesn't surprise me. He doesn't seem to like much and develops strong opinions without exception on the spot. Fortunately, it's very easy to defeat him in arguments, but he's a very sore loser....and might tell you your music sux. :rolleyes:
 
#525
ok, insane gas thought for the day. I'm settling in on my Deep5, learning the nuances of the instrument and have been playing with various settings and pedals to see how far/wide I can push it. I'm back to wanting to play fretless most of the time (my Zon Lightwave was my primary bass, but I need to have some work done on it and a buddy has been bugging me to sell it to him for 10 years now). I need a fretted though for some of the bands I play in - just have to have a bit more attack and snap. I've got a Zon 5 which is great, but the thought of a 7lb bass is attractive, especially if it feels like the Deep 5. So I'm wondering about an MB-2 5 fretted, and maybe with a magnetic pickup. I have a fretted Mouse coming, but that will be for a different thing as I'm a 5-string guy.

Any 5-string fretted guys or mag guys (spade?) have thoughts?
 
#526
Well, last night around 6PM I was anxiously waiting for UPS to get here, which is right around the time I had to leave for practice. Anyway, 2 minutes after I leave, my wife calls and said the guy just dropped it off, so needless to say, I turned around and got it. Just as I remember my first two Mice, this one absolutely killed! It's even more stunning in person, not to mention one of a kind fingerboard (G-extension). At the last minute, I broke down and got the hard shell with it, love that too. I'll post some "in my hands" pics tomorrow.
 
#527
nostatic said:
Any 5-string fretted guys or mag guys (spade?) have thoughts?
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I don't dislike the mags on my fretli, but don't particularly feel that they add much dimension that the piezo can't. I wish I had recording capabilities, but they more or less sound like the piezo (depending on hand position) but without the finger noise that a piezo will bring out. With super clean technique, you can get that sound.

I can't add anything regarding fretted RA basses, but might think a mag (or two) might be a little more of an advantage, depending on desired sound(s). I've only played a few fretted acoustics with a Fishman bridge, but thought they were a lot noisier than something with a mag instead. If I were to order a RA fretted bass, I'd consider a mag or two, although Seymour Duncan will take their sweet time while you and Rob wait.
 
#531
I suspect the solid 4 pup won't work so great on a 5 string ;)

My thought is that the mag would add some low mid and mids that aren't that present in the piezo. The fretted applications I have are all about percussive punch as opposed to big fat bloom. My sense from Ken's videos and conventional wisdom is that the Mouse will be big and fat due in part to the short scale. I'm thinking/hoping that an MB-2 5-string would be able to cop a bit more of an immediate attack and cut.
 
#532
AJ Brown said:
Well, last night around 6PM I was anxiously waiting for UPS to get here, which is right around the time I had to leave for practice. Anyway, 2 minutes after I leave, my wife calls and said the guy just dropped it off, so needless to say, I turned around and got it. Just as I remember my first two Mice, this one absolutely killed! It's even more stunning in person, not to mention one of a kind fingerboard (G-extension). At the last minute, I broke down and got the hard shell with it, love that too. I'll post some "in my hands" pics tomorrow.
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Amazing instruments and yours does look to be special. I have an MB2 as well as a fretless Mouse and have to say that, whilst the MB2 is phenomenal, the Mouse is my favourite of the two. There is something special about a Mouse IMO.

Enjoy;)
 
#533
Just incase anyone is interested, I'll be using my Deep 4 (Rob's 1st) Sunday during a show with a community big band (the Suburbanaires) here in MA. We start at 7PM. It's a free outdoors show.

I'll also have my '78 fretless P along. Still deciding between the Polytone and the B-15 for an amp for this gig. I used the Polytone tonight in rehearsal.

Here's the info on the location:
http://www.norwoodma.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=211&Itemid=301
 
#534
Yesterday was 3 gigs - two in the afternoon with the jazz/oldies collective, then a club gig with my funk band. I used the RA for the first two just like always. This time I added an FEA Labs dual band compressor and I have to say I'm impressed. It tightens up the huge low end on the bass a bit, yet you can still let is "breathe" on the top end. In addition the drummer flaked so I was carrying the rhythm for keys, 2 guitars, trumpet, sax, and 2 vocalists. One beauty of an RA is that you can whack the strings and get an upright type of "thunk" sound that makes for a good metronome.

For the night gig I took the RA along with my Zon fretted 5. At the last rehearsal I played most of the set with the RA, then swapped over to fretted for a few tunes. I was running the Markbass Compressore (my second one, and I'll be selling it - deja vu) along with the Paradriver with a bit of mid boost. It worked well, but still didn't quite have the attack that you kind of need for songs like Cabbage Roll and Still Dreaming.

At any rate, the club has a backline with Ampeg stuff - in good working order but certainly not the same sound as my MB/Berg combo and not working in favor of more punch/cut from the Deep 5. I brought both basses along with my pedalboard, with the FEA comp on the board. Ran into my pedals (use MicroPog for a thicker keyboard cover, AF-9 for some wah), then out to the DI and amp. Started the set with the Deep 5 and never took it off. Finished the 50 minute set soaked in sweat.

The band's ex bass player came up right afterwards and was asking me a bunch of questions about it. Then the soundguy came up, I thanked him for the show, and he started raving about the bass, saying it is one of the best bass sounds he's every had coming to the board.

So crazy idea #319 - go Rob Allen only? My Deep 5 certainly covers any jazz stuff, and now I've got it dialed in for funk. I don't slap much, so that isn't a big consideration. The only current situation I'm in that I've stuck with the fretted is a Steely Dan tribute band, and mostly that is because for some of the songs I'm reading/playing fairly complex stuff and frets are "easier". But for that I have a fretted Mouse on the way. That said, I think I may be a 5-string guy and worry about switching between 5 and 4 at the same gig. So I'm thinking maybe an MB-2 5-string fretted. I'd sell both my Zons, giving me my 3 bass setup:

Deep 5 fretless (probably be what I'd play 90% of the time)
MB-2 5 fretted
Mouse fretted

Anyone doing RA-only?
 
#535
For those interested in some sound samples, here is the Deep 5 in action. Stereo mix taken from the soundboard at the Saturday gig. Forgive the rough spots with the band, only the second show.

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all fretless, all the time - gratuitous photo

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#536
I already posted these in a separate NBD thread, but here they are. In-hand pics are always different (sweeter) than the shops pics. I'll be gigging her for the first time on the 31st.


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#540
nostatic said:
For those interested in some sound samples, here is the Deep 5 in action. Stereo mix taken from the soundboard at the Saturday gig. Forgive the rough spots with the band, only the second show.

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all fretless, all the time - gratuitous photo

icd-mm.jpg
Click to expand...

It sounds great!!
 
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