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Show Us Your Rob Allen Basses Part II

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#761
johnf said:
That is truly a fantastic bass. Congrats. Thinking of something along the same lines myself - but with a high c string. What wood is it made from? Is the bridge saddle a split type? Wondering what the difference between a fretted Deep and a fretted Mouse would be.
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Thank you. It's a curly maple top, alder back and an indian rosewood fingerboard. The fingerboard has a perfect straight grain and been seasoning 40+ years. And yes, it's a split type saddle.
A deep 5 with a high c string must be cool (i like steve swallows playing a lot), but i needed the low b string for my playing in a worship band (i owned a fender roscoe beck 5 before). The fretted deep 5 has a nice clear attack. I'm really glad about my decision.
Greetings
 
#766
kai_ski said:
Congrats on the new Mouse! I played my fretted mouse for an 'acoustic' set at a local music festival yesterday, and it sounded phenomenal. So much so that the band leader asked me to play it all the time. I've been pleasantly surprised by the fretted version this go around, and don't miss the fretless mouse I had at all. I love that RA manages to maintain the tonal characteristics of the fretless Mouse, and I think that you're right that the tiny frets have a lot to do with it.
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Here's a shot of us at the festival:

forkfest.jpg


forkfest2.jpg
 
#769
Hey guys,

Still digging my MB2 (one week in!) Actually, to the point that I'm thinking about a Deep 5 now. I've never played a Deep 5. How different ergonomics wise do they feel? Is it a bass that would be comfortable to play standing for a full set?

Also, sonically, are they "better" than the MB2? I know that's an impossible question to answer but I'm curious as to whether the premium is for the "single-cutaway appeal" factor -- or is it a sonically superior insturment to the MB2?

Thanks,
JC
 
#770
heh...and so it begins. :D

I don't have an MB2, but have both Mouse and Deep5, and have played an MB-2. The Deep5 body will feel different than the MB-2. That extra thickness is noticeable but I find it easy to adjust. I swap between the Mouse the Deep5 in the same set without issue. I've also played the Deep5 for 3-4 hour gigs standing and it is fine. At 7.5 lbs or so it'll be lighter than most any other bass you'll play. Plus you kinda get used to the slightly larger "platform" to hang on. It isn't anywhere close to draping yourself around an upright, but is more involving than a thin little bass hanging on you. I like it.

The CW is that the MB-2 is a bit more focused and the Deep5 is a bit fuller with more overtones. I frankly find the Deep5 to be plenty focused - I think the 35" scale tightens up the sound and that combo with the La Bella strings just kills.

If you compare prices the Deep5 isn't that much of an upcharge if you spec an MB-2 similarly. The one bass in my quiver that isn't for sale is the Deep5. There is nothing else like it, and nothing will do the same vibe as well.
 
#771
nostatic said:
heh...and so it begins. :D

I don't have an MB2, but have both Mouse and Deep5, and have played an MB-2. The Deep5 body will feel different than the MB-2. That extra thickness is noticeable but I find it easy to adjust. I swap between the Mouse the Deep5 in the same set without issue. I've also played the Deep5 for 3-4 hour gigs standing and it is fine. At 7.5 lbs or so it'll be lighter than most any other bass you'll play. Plus you kinda get used to the slightly larger "platform" to hang on. It isn't anywhere close to draping yourself around an upright, but is more involving than a thin little bass hanging on you. I like it.

The CW is that the MB-2 is a bit more focused and the Deep5 is a bit fuller with more overtones. I frankly find the Deep5 to be plenty focused - I think the 35" scale tightens up the sound and that combo with the La Bella strings just kills.

If you compare prices the Deep5 isn't that much of an upcharge if you spec an MB-2 similarly. The one bass in my quiver that isn't for sale is the Deep5. There is nothing else like it, and nothing will do the same vibe as well.
Click to expand...

Thanks man - I was hoping you would chime in.

I can't figure out from the RA site, is the string spacing at the bridge the same on the Deep 5s?

I know I'm going against popular sentiment here but I'd be sticking with the 34" though... I don't mind the B at all on my MB2 - I actually dig it!
 
#772
I have an MB-2 and a Deep 4. The MB-2 is perhaps the most "playable" bass I've ever owned and is extremely flexible in its tone - though mine is fretted with a mag pickup. The Deep is richer in tone as Todd said. It took me a little while to get adjusted to it, versus the playability of the MB-2, but I now find I play it much more than the MB-2.
 
#773
I just got the price quote to basically overhaul my MB2 5 string, which would include a new 34" scale mahogany neck E-C, changing the knob, filling in an area under the bridge and gluing it in, and changing the knob layout to be like my 6 string and a few other small things. I'm not complaining, but the price is enough that I could possibly consider selling it and getting a Deep 5.

Anyway, about how much would you guys think my MB2 5 string mag+piezo is worth? I mostly want to mod it because the top is entirely too beautiful to let go. If'n I weren't married, I'd just get the Deep 5 and keep them both! :atoz:
 
#776
FYI:

Carvin sells LaBella tape wounds at a very good price. Some members asked if they were compatible with the 35" MB2.

Based on the set I have at home, the 5 String set will fit on the 35" scale BM2

The Low "B" on the labella tapes set i got from carvin measures in the range of 37 1/4' from the base of the end-ring to the end of the tape winding (beginning of tuning end silk).

Stretched out on the the 35" scale MB2, the tape winding extends a little past the nut. Will work fine
 
#777
The Low "B" on the labella tapes set i got from carvin measures 37 1/4 from the base of the end-ring to the end of the tape winding (beginning of tuning end silk).

Stretched out on the the 35" MB2, the tape winding extends a little past the nut. Will work fine
 
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