Thanks! It allows a guy like me who really doesn't have the skill to play a fretless perfectly in tune (especially at fast tempo's and/or when I'm reading) to get 80%+ of the 'classic' RA tone. I'm thrilled with this instrument!
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Show Us Your Rob Allen Basses Part II
- Thread starter Mark Wilson
- Start date
- Status
Thanks! It allows a guy like me who really doesn't have the skill to play a fretless perfectly in tune (especially at fast tempo's and/or when I'm reading) to get 80%+ of the 'classic' RA tone. I'm thrilled with this instrument!
feh - intonation is a guideline rather than a rule 
By contrast - Deep 5 fretless live last Wed
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
By contrast - Deep 5 fretless live last Wed
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Your bass playing rocks, and your bass sounds AWESOME! I am really excited to finally own my D5. Thanks for the clips of your band/s.
I'm not sure that eventually I won't end up with the fretted version myself....after years of the double bass I'm more inclined towards the "guitaristic" sound of frets these days. However if you did want to make the commitment to the fretless there are worse basses you could do it on than a Mouse. Having used a variety fretlesses from the double bass to EUBs to solidbody and acoustic 34" scale bass guitars my new Mouse is without a doubt one of the easiest instruments to play in tune. I think the light weight and the short scale takes a lot of the fight outta the project.
+1 all the way... I was the closest to 'non sucking' on the Mouse, and if I had decided to really focus on that instrument, my guess is with some time, I would have been able to gig it. However, 90% of my gigs require a more traditional EB tone, so that was not going to happen!
+1 though, and a great point, playing the Mouse in tune is a lower hurdle that either the full size Rob Allens or more traditional magnetic pickup fretless EB's.
I'm interested in the used RA solid 4 for sale at the TheLowEnd.
I'm assuming most of the Solid 4 owners are right here....Curious if anybody knows anything about this particular bass.
I'm assuming most of the Solid 4 owners are right here....Curious if anybody knows anything about this particular bass.
I don't but it looks like mine (butterscotch body, black pickguard). The S4 is a great playing bass, so if you want a 50's type P but not a Fender, it's a good option.
A little late since I bought this roughly a month ago, but here's my newest...
Maple over mahogany, cocobolo fingerboard & bridge. This thing is amazing. Back in the day, I owned an ash/maple MB-2 that had just incredible upright mojo. Like an idiot, I sold it - because I "needed" a five-string. Big mistake....although fortunately it eventually ended up in the hands of a good friend from high school. The bastogne walnut (over alder) bass I bought a coupla' years ago was fairly close in sound, and I loved that bass...until hearing this one. Just wow. No sound clips yet, although I will be using it on a Latin jazz recording session next month. I just love the tone, though - a beautiful blossom to each note, with enough focus to prevent the sound from being boomy.
Maple over mahogany, cocobolo fingerboard & bridge. This thing is amazing. Back in the day, I owned an ash/maple MB-2 that had just incredible upright mojo. Like an idiot, I sold it - because I "needed" a five-string. Big mistake....although fortunately it eventually ended up in the hands of a good friend from high school. The bastogne walnut (over alder) bass I bought a coupla' years ago was fairly close in sound, and I loved that bass...until hearing this one. Just wow. No sound clips yet, although I will be using it on a Latin jazz recording session next month. I just love the tone, though - a beautiful blossom to each note, with enough focus to prevent the sound from being boomy.
Hey Joel,
I ended up using a Carnuba/beeswax blend product. I believe Rob recommends Carnuba wax. I'm sure Butcher's wax will work great also (Mike Tobias recommends that for his wenge necks, if I remember correctly). It really brought out the shine and luster and figuring of the wood!
Hi Sam, can you tell me where the controls are on this one
And what are they ... I mean ... how do you manage all three pickups ? 3 vols ? 1 vol and two blends ?
Cheers, Andy
And what are they ... I mean ... how do you manage all three pickups ? 3 vols ? 1 vol and two blends ?
Cheers, Andy
Hi Sam, can you tell me where the controls are on this one
And what are they ... I mean ... how do you manage all three pickups ? 3 vols ? 1 vol and two blends ?
Cheers, Andy
It looks like it's the Deep electronics on an MB-2 (so mag + piezo). My curiosity is if it's one tone and two volumes.
My Deep 4 will be somewhat similar but I'll have two completely different sets of output jacks and knobs (one for piezo, one for mag).
Hi Sam, can you tell me where the controls are on this one
And what are they ... I mean ... how do you manage all three pickups ? 3 vols ? 1 vol and two blends ?
Cheers, Andy
Stacked master volume and piezo/mag blend with a mag blend knob up top. Active 2 band tucked away in the control cavity.
Interesting. When I talked my Deep over with Rob he didn't think blending was the best idea, so I'm going to have two output jacks and sets of knobs for more control and I can blend (or not). Then again, all of the amps I use have two channels. Then again, your bass is also all active. My mag (same one as in the S4) is passive so it's a whole other beast.
I think the hassles he experienced with mine are why he doesn't like doing it. Apparently buffering them to Rob's idea of perfect took a lot of effort and Seymour Duncan really dragged their feet with getting me the pickups timely.
I can see that knowing Rob after all these years and basses later.
I don't mind and it gives me flexibility, so it's all good.
I'm surprised more people don't ask for what we're doing on our basses.
Funny you should mention, I just spoke with Rob yesterday about my idea on what will be my third custom RA bass
- Status
