Show Us Your Rob Allen Basses Part II

[KJung]

Actually, this is where I thought my Mouse really performed. At the jam last Sunday, someone called "Perdido" which I maybe played once or twice before so my nose was definately in the book. He must have had a latte before we got together since he counted it in and we were off to the races. I did my usual MO of hanging as much as possible in first position and using as many open strings as possible (some good disipline from DB lessons) and it wasn't bad. As a matter of fact, I found it even easer to be in tune as I didn't have as far to reach for the next position.

But don't ask me, I still have that new Rob Allen owner smell.

+1 I was totally talking about my shortcomings as a player, not the instument at all. I actually 'suck less' on the fretless Mouse than any other fretless I've played. Very easy to stay in tune with those strings and the short scale, and the general, forgiving deep tone.

 

[BassistForHire]

A picture of the body and neck of my Mouse 30 that's in the shop now.

 

[KJung]

A picture of the body and neck of my Mouse 30 that's in the shop now.

That's a unique look... cool bookmatching with that center light part of the wood. Beautiful!

 

[Bernie Connors]

As great looking and sounding as these instruments are, I would look like I was playing a ukulele if I tried to play one.

I think a 6 string MB-2 is the only one that would look close to being normal on me.

 

[nostatic]

Rob always has some interesting tops and it is not just the "usual suspects" in the fancy top world. Definitely an artist as well as luthier.

I'm hoping the Mouse fretless works in my hands. I've messed with one in the past and had trouble, but it had fretlines and those usually give me fits. The fretted is a good "cheater" bass though. Besides the frets making sight-reading a little less stressful, the light weight and short scale make it really easy to play when you're tired. Or maybe I just need more exercise...

 

[fish slapper]

As great looking and sounding as these instruments are, I would look like I was playing a ukulele if I tried to play one.

I think a 6 string MB-2 is the only one that would look close to being normal on me.

My hesitation all along. Now that I have one, I'm not looking back.

 

[nostatic]

I'm 6'1", and while it is smaller than my other basses, it is about the same size as an electric guitar, so not too out of place

Deep5

Mouse

Mouse

Solid4

 

[KJung]

As great looking and sounding as these instruments are, I would look like I was playing a ukulele if I tried to play one.

I think a 6 string MB-2 is the only one that would look close to being normal on me.

The Mouse is about the same size as a strat or Les Paul, so zero issue there.

 

[kai_ski]

I'm a big guy too, 6' 230# and I love the mouse. I played it last night for a couple of hours in an acoustic duo gig I do with myself and a Uke player/singer at a local NY style Pizzeria. The bass sounded great, looked great, and I had more compliments than I've had in a long while. Too bad compliments don't fill the tip jar!

I'm really enjoying the fretted mouse. I primarily play folk/country and the precise fretted note maintains the full bass of the mouse, but with a very clean attack.

 

[spade2you]

I'm small, so perhaps this is a strong reason I love the Rob Allen basses.

 

[Joe Smithberger]

Being 6'4" the most common comment before I play the Mouse is "what's up with the little bass?" Usually the same person will come up later and ask "what is that again?"

 

[FenderP]

The Deep 4 sounds great in that clip.

Thanks.

 

[nostatic]

How are you recording the Deep 4?

 

[FenderP]

How are you recording the Deep 4?

DI + mic'd '63 B-15N, and use a blend of the two.

 

[nostatic]

Interesting. I'm hearing a fair amount of piezo type high end - does that come through on the B-15? I'd expect it DI, especially if there isn't a voiced preamp in-between.

Sounds like a fun band though. I miss playing in a big band.

 

[FenderP]

Interesting. I'm hearing a fair amount of piezo type high end - does that come through on the B-15? I'd expect it DI, especially if there isn't a voiced preamp in-between.

Sounds like a fun band though. I miss playing in a big band.

I recorded the D4 a year ago (that session was October, 2009), don't remember my settings exactly on the amp. The B-15 is a pretty good match for the D4, and I've gotten some nice tones out of it in a live situation.

In this rough the DI may be louder than the amp signal; we haven't touched the mix in a long time except for a few fixes last night which had nothing to do with bass. I'm going to deal with overall tonality in the final mixes.

It's a little big band (relatively speaking - it's not 5-4-5 for the horns; I generally have two trumpet parts, one or two bone parts, and three saxes + occasional flute). I had to make it manageable if I wanted to play it out live. I will be adding the extra parts so I can sell the arrangements, though.

 

[richnota]

did a bad bad thing.

she's deep and she's blond.

more to follow.

 

[nostatic]

ruh roh Scooby. Used Rob Allens are just a gateway drug to ordering new ones...

I did a bad thing too today...but for once it didn't involve a RA

 

[richnota]

I've been longing for a blond Rob Allen Deep. This one needed a good home. Whats a RA fanatic supposed to do?

Cocobolo semi-lined fingerboard. It has fretlines AND no fretlines! its an unlined, lined bass (goes great with my lined, unlined MB2).

Not sure if the finger rest is going to stay (then again not sure how solid its attached). Gorgeous laminated 34" mahogany neck. Hipshot. Yeow!

Shortly on its way from sunny California.

Some photos by the seller:

 

[nostatic]

That is a nice looking piece of alder for the body (at least I'm assuming it is alder - very open grain though). Deeps are sweet - very resonant.