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Show Us Your Rob Allen Basses Part III
- Thread starter Bryan R. Tyler
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Loving all the photos.
My new mb2 is killing me.
I alternate between taking it out just to look at it and picking it up to play it.
Everything from the tuners (which are absurdly responsive and smooth), to the sustain (which is so long that I find myself having to change my approach so that my ringout isn't sitting too far on top of the guitar ringout), to the mwah (the E string has that woody upright rattle and the D and G have vocal qualities to them, almost like a cello).
Also the piezo is a good deal hotter than my other main bass (which is active), but with amp and bass all the way up, I can't hear buzz even with my ear to my cab.
Makes me lust after a solid 4 so I can go all RA all the time.
Sorry to gush!
My new mb2 is killing me.
I alternate between taking it out just to look at it and picking it up to play it.
Everything from the tuners (which are absurdly responsive and smooth), to the sustain (which is so long that I find myself having to change my approach so that my ringout isn't sitting too far on top of the guitar ringout), to the mwah (the E string has that woody upright rattle and the D and G have vocal qualities to them, almost like a cello).
Also the piezo is a good deal hotter than my other main bass (which is active), but with amp and bass all the way up, I can't hear buzz even with my ear to my cab.
Makes me lust after a solid 4 so I can go all RA all the time.
Sorry to gush!
The Solid 4 I had is in my small list of basses I never should have sold. I don't really need one though as my PJ covers that. But they are sublime basses.
I just bought and then sold a gorgeous Fender Tony Franklin fretless. I also bought and then sold a gorgeous Roscoe C5 fretless. I also sold my one-of-a-kind Zon Sonus Lightwave 5 fretless that I owned for 11 years (bought it new). Why? I'd rather play my Rob Allens - pretty much no matter what the gig is.
I just bought and then sold a gorgeous Fender Tony Franklin fretless. I also bought and then sold a gorgeous Roscoe C5 fretless. I also sold my one-of-a-kind Zon Sonus Lightwave 5 fretless that I owned for 11 years (bought it new). Why? I'd rather play my Rob Allens - pretty much no matter what the gig is.
I wish RA would do 2 solid designs. The Solid 4 is interesting if you like that look, but I think Rob is capable of a beautiful modern design for a solid body.
If I was designing it
it would look like an MB-2.
Solid, but chambered, with chrome Hipshot bridge and tuners.
If I was designing it
it would look like an MB-2.Solid, but chambered, with chrome Hipshot bridge and tuners.
I wish RA would do 2 solid designs. The Solid 4 is interesting if you like that look, but I think Rob is capable of a beautiful modern design for a solid body.
If I was designing it
Solid, but chambered, with chrome Hipshot bridge and tuners.
Then you'll enjoy the picture of mine in a couple of months
Then you'll enjoy the picture of mine in a couple of months
Ok, no holding out. Tell me every aspect of the design.
Nope, I'm holding out
I've already said more than I planned. I originally intended to say nothing until posting my first photo. Heck, if I have to wait you should too 
That sux.
What if I don't catch your thread?
You gotta track me down and tell me about it when it arrives.
What if I don't catch your thread?
You gotta track me down and tell me about it when it arrives.
Nope, I'm holding out
Kinda how I feel about my new D4; I could have kept quiet about it lol The waiting is the hardest part. I love that Rob will build you what you want as long as it's possible.
BTW I think a more solid MB-2 is a cool idea. When I got my S4, I wished it was a bit thicker and had a slightly different contour. However, I love it for what it is and it's easy to play live. It's not breaking my back.
Sometimes when I'm talking to Rob about my idea for a new bass I start to get embarrassed, that he's thinking - this guy is nuts, this is a terrible idea. Then after he's asked me a couple of questions about what I'm trying to accomplish, usually followed by some quietness on his end, I sheepishly say - if you think this is a bad idea or won't work please let me know. Then Rob says - I think it's a great idea, I'd really like to make this bass.
Rob's told me more than once he really enjoys collaborating on new ideas and that the creative part is what he really enjoys the most. In this most recent case it turns out he had been thinking of something similar for a possible new line of basses. I don't know just how similar my idea is or whether it will result in anything other than my one-off bass, though it does seem that my preference on pickup positioning is something he agrees with and may become more standard - we'll see.
The Solid 4 somewhat came about that way. I had talked to Rob years before about him making me a P-like bass and we dropped it for awhile (originally, it was a fretless idea - solid body). Rob always told me he loved Ps. When I called him at another point about doing something like it (revisiting the concept) he was thinking more serious about it and I signed up without him being done the prototyping, pickup winding, etc. Then I wound up getting the 1st one he shipped. We had a lot of conversations along the way about what I would want on mine, finishes, etc., and am happy with mine.
An almost similar story happened with the Deep. I remember playing the MB-2 at Bass Northwest and loving it. I called him thinking I'd order one and we got to talking about what I wanted in terms of sound and he said he was working on what would become the Deep line (he wasn't sure he'd even make it at that point), so I waited, and got his first production one he made (albeit with some of my preferences).
I hear ya on the crazy part. In making the new Deep 4, Rob's done a few basses for me now so outside of what I'm going for in terms of sound and such, I don't need to really school him on what I like in terms of feel, neck, etc. He's really good at listening and synthesizing and making what you want in practical way. He knows what is possible and impossible, and what would be just a plain ol' bad idea. I sometimes feel like I'm a bit crazy as well because I like stuff that is a bit different than most players (esp. in terms of neck, string action, and strings in general - Rob's done a lot of work on my neck this time out; heck he called me just about it to talk about size and shape). He's told me no before or if things were impractical. A good example: the new D4 and having two output jacks instead of a single blend for tone/volume for both the piezo and mag. Could it be done? Sure. A pain? You bet. Since most of my amps I'd use it with will have two inputs with separate channels, it's no big deal. I'm sure I could have pushed him but in the end I have more flexibility.
So chances are it may be the 1st in a new line based on my experience.
I honestly can't think of what I'd want Rob to build differently than my Deep 5 and MB-2. I've bought and sold a couple of different fretli over the past year thinking I had a sonic "gap" but ended up flipping them. I've got a Skjold fretless 5 on order but I fear that will end up hanging on the wall in lieu of the Deep 5.
Maybe something fretted. I had a fretted Mouse but it wasn't my cup of tea but that was due to scale length. There was a fretted 4 MB-2 in the classifieds that I should have snapped up to mess with. That said, my PJ covers most of what I need so I'm back to figuring out what I'd really want. Rob won't do a Solid 5 - I asked
Maybe something fretted. I had a fretted Mouse but it wasn't my cup of tea but that was due to scale length. There was a fretted 4 MB-2 in the classifieds that I should have snapped up to mess with. That said, my PJ covers most of what I need so I'm back to figuring out what I'd really want. Rob won't do a Solid 5 - I asked
I think the allure of having Rob build something is that even a bit custom, it'll still have RA sonic characteristics, but you can get a neck shape/woods/whatever to your taste or specs. It's not like piecing together a parts bass a la Warmouth or Fender spare parts.
Rob is intuitive and just inherently understands what you're going for. Heck, he even flat out told me the neck on the D4 is as big as he can pretty much make it (lol). Most manufacturers would have scoffed at me. It's great to hear Rob excited when you're on the phone with him describing things and how certain things will have this or that effect (i.e. more sustain or whatever). In a custom instrument, I don't want a paint-by-numbers.
I guess I'm lucky in that my Deep 5 is about perfect - nothing I'd change on it. With my MB-2, the only thing I'd change would be black hardware (which I can do if I want to spend the money) and in a perfect world I'd have a concentric knob with bass/mid boost/cut integrated on the bridge along with the treble pot in the cavity. Hmm, maybe I do have something
I actually talked with him about doing a sunburst S4. That would be pretty sick...but I really don't need another 4-string fretted. I hate to have duplication with my gear though I must admit that with Rob's stuff I'm more willing to entertain that possibility.
I actually talked with him about doing a sunburst S4. That would be pretty sick...but I really don't need another 4-string fretted. I hate to have duplication with my gear though I must admit that with Rob's stuff I'm more willing to entertain that possibility.
I agree with everything FenderP said above. And with regard to Nostatic's comments I understand where he's coming from as well. I originally got rid of my S4 because I felt I had everything I needed covered by my MB-2 and D4, both of which came after my S4. But after awhile the more I thought about it I felt that the was a space in between the S4 and MB-2 I'd like to explore. Talking it over with Rob confirmed that it made sense.
Bottom line, never say never. And like P said, there's something special about being involved in the creative process, making it more personal and unique to you.
Bottom line, never say never
. And like P said, there's something special about being involved in the creative process, making it more personal and unique to you.
You guys are very blessed to have the resources to imagineer this stuff and have someone as talented as Rob actually build it. Fantastic.
My bass designs, post Lotto, will be:
- MB-2 shape, shrunken body, solid but chambered, 30" scale
- MB-2 shape, shrunken but hollow, 30" scale.
Not sure why he doesn't offer the MB-2 shape on the Mouse. The MB-2 shape is - beautiful. I definitely like the Mouse body shape Less. It's nice, but the MB-2 body is a work of art.
My bass designs, post Lotto, will be:
- MB-2 shape, shrunken body, solid but chambered, 30" scale
- MB-2 shape, shrunken but hollow, 30" scale.
Not sure why he doesn't offer the MB-2 shape on the Mouse. The MB-2 shape is - beautiful. I definitely like the Mouse body shape Less. It's nice, but the MB-2 body is a work of art.
They're all quite different.
Very nice.
Is that a epoxied fingerboard on the end? (right side of picture)
How does it sound?
I guess I'm lucky in that my Deep 5 is about perfect - nothing I'd change on it. With my MB-2, the only thing I'd change would be black hardware (which I can do if I want to spend the money) and in a perfect world I'd have a concentric knob with bass/mid boost/cut integrated on the bridge along with the treble pot in the cavity. Hmm, maybe I do have something
I didn't really want another D4 until going through a bunch of other basses and 10 years or so into owning mine. So it's not like I got mine, and two months later, was dissatisfied with it. Owning things like the Takamine TB10 and my current P fretless have given me ideas which made it into this iteration of the D4. I look at it as "refining the process".
If you want to see black HW, wait 'til you see my new one
When we were talking about the S4, and mine specifically, Rob didn't want to do sunburst and we had a discussion why. It makes sense for him not to do it very often based on what we talked about and even now, I think he's going away from the butterscotch and just doing natural. Trust me, I tried to get him to do sunburst. I really wanted that or a blueburst
I've got three fretted 4 stringers, all similar, yet have different voices. My '78 P will always be my main bass, period. All of my basses have made at least one appearance on my new recording.
And like I said, chances are it'll be a new line. I had the same thought when I was going for another fretless - something more P like, but very RA (including piezo, etc.) but not an MB-2. I was thinking originally just a fretless S4, or something inbetween a S4 and D4 which is what I wound up with. I'm curious to see how your design ends up.
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