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Show Us Your Rob Allen Basses Part II
- Thread starter Mark Wilson
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I'm on the fence about having it rewound. I may just leave it alone as I think it's part of the charm of it being different than my '78 P
If we kick back up the Rush tribute band, I'll probably be using the S4. Rob e-mailed me today and we're going to chat, so fingers crossed on the mod.
Hey, are any of you Rob Allen owners in the general Seattle area? I have a session comming up on the 10th and 11th where I could really use that Rob Allen DB like tone. I talked to bass NW and they wouldn't rent me their Mouse they have in stock, or pass along the names of any customers in the area who might so I'm back to talkbass! If any of you are semi-local I would love to pay for the use
of any fretless Rob Allen and would be happy to leave one of my basses as collateral.
of any fretless Rob Allen and would be happy to leave one of my basses as collateral.
Better to think of this thread as motivation. I could retire early but then I wouldn't be able to buy anymore RA's
anyone have any experience with the TC Electronic RH450 and a Mouse? I am looking at one to replace my Contra for more tonal versatility.
Actually, the inhumane part is having one on order, seeing the unfinished body, and waiting for it to be completed...
I don't have any pics yet. The body has a spalted maple top and was built awhile back. Evidently spalted maple is a PITA to work with so Rob doesn't advertise it any more. And given the pieces of Koa he has, there is no shortage of gorgeous tops at his shop. I was going to go with a 34" scale to match my Zon fretless but it is a $500 upcharge and Rob prefers the B-string in 35" scale. I played a Deep 5 he had in the shop and that absolutely sealed the deal. I'll gladly work with 35" scale. That thing just *killed*. My buddy is hoping that I fall head over heels for the RA and then sell him my Zon lightwave 
Maybe I'll try and swing by and get photos as it gets close to completion. I hate to bug builders much though...
Maybe I'll try and swing by and get photos as it gets close to completion. I hate to bug builders much though...
I don't have any pics yet. The body has a spalted maple top and was built awhile back. Evidently spalted maple is a PITA to work with so Rob doesn't advertise it any more. And given the pieces of Koa he has, there is no shortage of gorgeous tops at his shop. I was going to go with a 34" scale to match my Zon fretless but it is a $500 upcharge and Rob prefers the B-string in 35" scale. I played a Deep 5 he had in the shop and that absolutely sealed the deal. I'll gladly work with 35" scale. That thing just *killed*. My buddy is hoping that I fall head over heels for the RA and then sell him my Zon lightwave
Maybe I'll try and swing by and get photos as it gets close to completion. I hate to bug builders much though...
In so many ways, Rob's basses just kill! It would be nice if he could get that low B sound out of 34" scale or less, but I think it would be LaBella (or another string manufacturer) that would need to do the most work.
I'm definitely planning on ordering a Deep 5 some day, although it would most likely be a 34" scale high C guy. Hopefully he has some killer walnut when I'm ready to order!
He had a sycamore top bass in there that was beautiful. I think koa is his favorite from a sound and looks perspective. He's really picky about tone woods (for obvious reasons). I like some of the walnut ones too. I'm just not a quilted or flamed maple kinda guy. But spalted...that slays me.
I know the RA will work great for my jazz gigs. What I'm really interested in is how it can work when the tunes turn more towards the r&b/funk/blues side of things. I have played my Zon lightwave on most everything and it works except when I want a classic fretted slap tone. I think the RA is a different vibe, but I was shocked at how much attack I could get with the Deep 5. It speaks quickly. I think part of that is the 35" scale...not sure how much is attributed to the body relative to an MB-2. I could see getting a Deep 5 though if I'm head over heels with the MB-2. It is gorgeous and just feels right.
If there was a 5-string mouse I'd really be in trouble. Or I'll have to figure out how to play a 4-string again
I know the RA will work great for my jazz gigs. What I'm really interested in is how it can work when the tunes turn more towards the r&b/funk/blues side of things. I have played my Zon lightwave on most everything and it works except when I want a classic fretted slap tone. I think the RA is a different vibe, but I was shocked at how much attack I could get with the Deep 5. It speaks quickly. I think part of that is the 35" scale...not sure how much is attributed to the body relative to an MB-2. I could see getting a Deep 5 though if I'm head over heels with the MB-2. It is gorgeous and just feels right.
If there was a 5-string mouse I'd really be in trouble. Or I'll have to figure out how to play a 4-string again
He had a sycamore top bass in there that was beautiful. I think koa is his favorite from a sound and looks perspective. He's really picky about tone woods (for obvious reasons). I like some of the walnut ones too. I'm just not a quilted or flamed maple kinda guy. But spalted...that slays me.
I know the RA will work great for my jazz gigs. What I'm really interested in is how it can work when the tunes turn more towards the r&b/funk/blues side of things. I have played my Zon lightwave on most everything and it works except when I want a classic fretted slap tone. I think the RA is a different vibe, but I was shocked at how much attack I could get with the Deep 5. It speaks quickly. I think part of that is the 35" scale...not sure how much is attributed to the body relative to an MB-2. I could see getting a Deep 5 though if I'm head over heels with the MB-2. It is gorgeous and just feels right.
If there was a 5-string mouse I'd really be in trouble. Or I'll have to figure out how to play a 4-string again
Even though I don't play my MB2 5 string nearly as much as my Mouse 30 or 6 string, I simply can't part with a spalt top like that!!!!
Several years back, I had attempted to get a Mouse 5 string together, but it was virtually impossible to find several people to go in at the same time to split the tooling costs. I really should ask Rob if he like installing the active 2 band, but the active 2 band he has used can make an MB2 sound pretty close to a Mouse 30 and he can build the MB2 in something like 32" scale. I've thought about seeing about getting a 32" scale neck for my MB2 5 string....but then I couldn't get a Deep 5.
I'm not a 6 string guy and probably never will be - I just don't hear that in my head, and I double on guitar so having 6 strings tuned in straight fourths would really confuse me 
Not sure if a B string would work on a 30 or 32" scale. I'm mixed about eq. I have two band on the Lightwave but can count on one hand the number of times I've actually used it. I'm no purist, but I do tend to like to run things flat and instead (hopefully) use my finger attack to "eq" the bass. Doesn't always work though...
Not sure if a B string would work on a 30 or 32" scale. I'm mixed about eq. I have two band on the Lightwave but can count on one hand the number of times I've actually used it. I'm no purist, but I do tend to like to run things flat and instead (hopefully) use my finger attack to "eq" the bass. Doesn't always work though...
I have the 2 band EQ in my Mouse. It works wonders for different tones and helps me sit in the right place in the mix of different bands. I have the bass turned down a tad in my folk/gypsy group, the treble down in acoustic gigs and both at center in fusion settings. I bet it would have an even more dramatic effect on the MB-2.
there was an upcharge for routing, I can look it up if you're interested.
I'm not a 6 string guy and probably never will be - I just don't hear that in my head, and I double on guitar so having 6 strings tuned in straight fourths would really confuse me
Not sure if a B string would work on a 30 or 32" scale. I'm mixed about eq. I have two band on the Lightwave but can count on one hand the number of times I've actually used it. I'm no purist, but I do tend to like to run things flat and instead (hopefully) use my finger attack to "eq" the bass. Doesn't always work though...
The 32" scale is intended for high C applications, although I think was available in 4-5 string. Although, oddly enough, the Mouse 30 has a phenominal dropped D in 30" scale.
I've always been an active guy, but up until 2-3 years ago, I had never touched the EQ knobs. Oddly enough, my Rob Allen basses caused me to use the EQ more, mostly to get a stronger signal out of other basses to get roughly the same volume of a RA bass. On a whim, I ordered the 2 band on my 6er even though piezos tend to have much more tonal range from a more dynamic style of playing. One day I cranked the bass all the way and cut the treb all the way. The end result made my 6 string sound so much like a DB, it blew my mind, even after playing the Mouse 30 for several years.
Over the years, I've become a 4 or 6 kind of guy.
Rob can install it inside the control cavity if needed, which requires no additional routing and allows for the glue-in bridge. If you really want one, you could potentially ditch the volume knob to avoid routing.
Much inhumane than that is: knowing I'll never have the money for such an order.
I think Rob is the greatest living builder. These basses are works of art, and every one of you who has one is very blessed.
Not sure there is a single "greatest" but Rob certainly is on the short list. Totally agree on the second point.
Rob certainly is an awesome builder with a nice balance of detail and artistic nature. He's definitely the best at doing what he does! Oddly enough, RA basses are about the only basses on TB that people won't/can't attack.
Definitely blessed to be playing the basses. They have an amazing tone that is probably one of the most beautiful tones on the market. On top of that, they're simply stunning visually AND comfortable as heck!
I wonder if he could do a two band on the control plate itself using trim pots like the standard Mouse "tone" control. I would love to be able to get more control of my Mouse. The volume is crazy hot compared to my other conventional basses and I could use a little more tone sculpting capability.
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