Used the Deep 4 for the first time in a non-jazz setting tonight and it was great. A friend is going to be recording a track in a few weeks and thought it needed fretless, so I brought the D4 as well as my "new" '78 P. The band listened to the mag D4, piezo D4, and the P - they liked the piezo sound the best. Even in the mix of a couple of distorted guitars it blended right in.
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Show Us Your Rob Allen Basses Part III
- Thread starter Bryan R. Tyler
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fwiw I've now gone through a couple of "traditional" fretli with mag pups and I just don't dig the sound/feel any more. Rob's combination is magic. The way that a good piezo speaks really goes well with his fretless neck and body construction.
My D4 should be ready any day now...
My D4 should be ready any day now...
Although I have both the mag and the piezo on my D4, I just generally use the piezo. I've gone back and forth a few times in big band rehearsal between the mag and the piezo and used the mag in the studio, but that's about it. Sounds good, just like the piezo a bit more. I think that's what drove me a little bit with the P when I found it (then again, the black P fretless I had was good, but we just never 100% bonded).
This time around on '78 P fretless, I just put my standard RS77 strings (thick monel flats, not the usual RS88 tapewound set I've always put on my fretless basses) so I have a different sound completely.
To be honest, all of my basses are very different sonically for a reason. It's come in handy in the studio on my project. I think they've all had a turn
What's interesting is that tonight I had the guys feel the hand shaped taper Rob did on the D4 neck and they were pretty amazed. You can feel the difference between a stock neck and what he did. Don't get me wrong - the P neck is good, but that neck on the D4 is perfect. I'm considering contacting Rob to redo the neck on my S4 just like it.
For me it is the immediacy of attack on the piezo. A fretless has a bit less bit due to the lack of frets, and the piezo helps to keep the instrument "quick." I honestly have been fairly ruined by Rob's work. If I want a fretless, that's the bass I want. I have had some stellar "traditional" fretless but it just isn't what I hear/feel/want. It is crazy because I just tracked with a sick mag fretless and it sounded freakin' awesome. But it wasn't my RA and at the end of the day I think that is just what I want in my hands if there are no speed bumps. I suppose it is a little narrow minded but that's where I've come to at this point in my playing. Funny how a year of intense focus on playing has changed my approach and likes/wants. I used to play my Zon Lightwave fretless 5 95% of the time. Now I am probably 50/50 between RA and 4-string fretted (depending on the band - some bands are 100% fretted, other bands are mostly RA).
I'll give you that. The new D4 sets a new high bar for me. People who say that a stock off the shelf bass is as good or better than a custom (and I'm sure it's true in some cases) hasn't played a RA.
For me it's a bit different. The RA, as good as it is, isn't right for some of my arrangements. A good example is my arrangement of Rush's "Cygnus X-1". I've tracked this with fretted and both RA outputs (at the same time - something I love about the new D4 because I can make a decision later). The main part of that song needs a more traditional mag/electric-y kind of sound. I'll probably redo the fretted with the new P fretless because I want a bit of 'mwah'. But I have a couple of swing sections that I may leave the RA.
For what I mostly play these days - standards and big band - the piezo is perfect.
+1
I will be posting some pics and sound samples soon of my custom Mouse 5, it should be here tomorrow!!!!
Spectacular. Love the headstock and the hardware - perfect complements to that top.
If I was a small combo Jazz player, I would be thinking about a fretted six string in this scale tuned like a guitar. I'm sure chords would sound amazing on a Mouse.
What strings are you using here? Bronze like the Turner basses?
What strings are you using here? Bronze like the Turner basses?
Those are TI Acousticores, they are basically like wound classical guitar strings, same as the Turner Rens yup.
The turner was the sound I was going for, I love the sound but did not like the ergonomics or the Ren basses.
The turner was the sound I was going for, I love the sound but did not like the ergonomics or the Ren basses.
Strung E-C I assume? That is awesome. My D4 should be done maybe next week. I'll have to talk to Rob about some possibilities. I think I want to do something fretted...
The Mouse 5 will be production now. He does not have it on the website but he does have all the templates and whatnot done. inquire with him and I am sure he would be stoked to make one for you.
I finally got to play a D4 (fretless) last week in Rob's shop, I think it was Rob's personal one, but that is next on my list for sure. Great round tone and the added eq is nice.
This is indeed E-C
You can see the lighter walnut on the back of the neck good on this shot
Close up of the top:
I finally got to play a D4 (fretless) last week in Rob's shop, I think it was Rob's personal one, but that is next on my list for sure. Great round tone and the added eq is nice.
This is indeed E-C
You can see the lighter walnut on the back of the neck good on this shot
Close up of the top:
I love walnut necks. Have that on my D5 and the D4 ordered, and had MB-2s and Mice with them as well.
Chef
In Memoriam
Chef
In Memoriam
Ghiadub, that is a fine-looking Mouse. Just beautiful.
Rob sent me a teaser photo of my soon-to-be-completed 32" scale fretless MB-2 body.
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Rob sent me a teaser photo of my soon-to-be-completed 32" scale fretless MB-2 body.
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