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Show Us Your Rob Allen Basses Part II

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As mentioned previously, I had HG Thor convert my four string fretted MB2 to fretless epoxy--I'm not suggesting you mod your RA but the fretted MB2 just got no use.

Don't have photos yet since I'm too busy playing. The coating changes the attack and sustain characteristics a fair amount but it still sounds like a Rob Allen (albeit with a bit more edge).

The super smooth fb feels delightful under your fingers and is a ton of fun to play. I still am using tape wounds but may experiment with something round round.

Aesthetically, the epoxy really brought out the red in the fingerboard. It blends nicely with the bass' Walnut face. Photos to come.

hgthorroballen.jpg
 
Anyone play their RA with a pick ?
I played one of my fretted basses the other night for a couple of hours at practice and ended with some nasty blood blisters on my right fingers.
Anyways too much pain right now to play fingerstyle and have a gig tonight so I starting playing with a pick. Man I really like the sound of my RA with a pick. Never played it with one before but can really get some cool sounds with it. I'm not good at palm muting playing fingerstyle but with a pick I can and palm muting sounds great. I think I'll have to add it to my playing from now on maybe not every song but it will be a nice change once in a while.
 
Anyone play their RA with a pick ?
I played one of my fretted basses the other night for a couple of hours at practice and ended with some nasty blood blisters on my right fingers.
Anyways too much pain right now to play fingerstyle and have a gig tonight so I starting playing with a pick. Man I really like the sound of my RA with a pick. Never played it with one before but can really get some cool sounds with it. I'm not good at palm muting playing fingerstyle but with a pick I can and palm muting sounds great. I think I'll have to add it to my playing from now on maybe not every song but it will be a nice change once in a while.

I tried a nylon pick for some pseudo McCarney sounds and it was pretty cool.
 
My requirements were: fretted 4 string, drop D tuner, maple top with f-hole, cocobolo fingerboard and bridge, passive pickup with tone control on the bridge, no piezo pickup. Rob's excellent suggestion was to use a Solid 4 pickup (with fewer windings) placed in the neck position. I told him I was a neck player ;)

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My next RA will look similar to this bass. I'm thinking pickup closer to a P location and maybe with the contoured body.

Hope you don't mind JxBass :D
 
My next RA will look similar to this bass. I'm thinking pickup closer to a P location and maybe with the contoured body.

Hope you don't mind JxBass :D

I don't mind at all ;)

I really love this bass. I don't want to be politically incorrect and say I like it more than my Solid 4 ... but .... :hiding:

Check with Rob on his thoughts on pickup location. It was his (great) suggestion to put it in the neck position, but he may have played around with it in his shop, placing it in different locations to see how it changed the overall tone.
 
I keep forgetting to post this, but here is my custom MB-2 5 string that I received in September. High C, "drop-top", custom Koa top, ash body, walnut neck, ebony fingerboard, 34" scale. This bass is everything that I was hoping it would be. It is my main bass now.

Here are some photos that Rob took. These photos are nice, but they do not do this bass justice. The top is so cool looking in person, very 3D look to it.

Cheers,

Jeff

jw1.jpg


jw2.jpg


jw3.jpg
 
I've been lurking on this thread for a while and it's time I contributed something.

Introducing Mouse 30 #350

Walnut top
Birdseye neck/Goncalo fingerboard
Ash body (not sure)

I bought it used from a fellow TB-er around Thanksgiving. It had a cracked saddle, so I had a new one carved in SF at SF Guitarworks (they do great work) and they raised the action a bit while they were at it so now I can dig in a bit more to achieve that great acoustic sound the Mouse is known for!

IMG_0303.jpg


IMG_0302.jpg


IMG_0304.jpg
 
I keep forgetting to post this, but here is my custom MB-2 5 string that I received in September. High C, "drop-top", custom Koa top, ash body, walnut neck, ebony fingerboard, 34" scale. This bass is everything that I was hoping it would be. It is my main bass now.

Here are some photos that Rob took. These photos are nice, but they do not do this bass justice. The top is so cool looking in person, very 3D look to it.

Cheers,

Jeff

jw1.jpg


jw2.jpg


jw3.jpg

Wow, that is stunning! Every time you think you've seen it all, Rob still manages to find stunning tops that make your jaw drop!
 
I keep forgetting to post this, but here is my custom MB-2 5 string that I received in September. High C, "drop-top", custom Koa top, ash body, walnut neck, ebony fingerboard, 34" scale. This bass is everything that I was hoping it would be. It is my main bass now.

Here are some photos that Rob took. These photos are nice, but they do not do this bass justice. The top is so cool looking in person, very 3D look to it.

Cheers,

Jeff

that is magnificent. pure simplicity.
 
Ive been checking out Rob's solid 4, but im curious as to how anyone here would describe it tonally. Just looking at the design i figuered it would sound similar to a P-bass but i dont want to judge. The single coilpickup interests me alot since i have a 68 telecaster bass (which essentially was a reissue of the 51 Pbass). Im interested in it alot but havent found one to try. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated :D
 
I can chime in when I get mine next week, but from all accounts I have found sounds like a fat, warm, classic P tone with a very broken in feel.

There are a few TB'er that own one with some comments in the forums

I jumped on the chance to grab it since it was the first I have seen for sale


Ive been checking out Rob's solid 4, but im curious as to how anyone here would describe it tonally. Just looking at the design i figuered it would sound similar to a P-bass but i dont want to judge. The single coilpickup interests me alot since i have a 68 telecaster bass (which essentially was a reissue of the 51 Pbass). Im interested in it alot but havent found one to try. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated :D
 
Ive been checking out Rob's solid 4, but im curious as to how anyone here would describe it tonally. Just looking at the design i figuered it would sound similar to a P-bass but i dont want to judge. The single coilpickup interests me alot since i have a 68 telecaster bass (which essentially was a reissue of the 51 Pbass). Im interested in it alot but havent found one to try. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated :D

I've had my Solid 4 about 8-9 months. I'd describe it as "P-Like" in tone, but with it's own Rob Allen character that I'd attest to Rod's choice of woods, pickup design, thru-body string design, etc. I love it - so much that I ordered an MB-2 shortly afterward :)
 
How does the neck feel on it? Is it thin, wide, chunky, etc

I will find out soon enough, but just curious

I've had my Solid 4 about 8-9 months. I'd describe it as "P-Like" in tone, but with it's own Rob Allen character that I'd attest to Rod's choice of woods, pickup design, thru-body string design, etc. I love it - so much that I ordered an MB-2 shortly afterward :)
 
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