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Show Us Your Rob Allen Basses Part III
- Thread starter Bryan R. Tyler
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Well, the bass arrived and it is very nice !!
I have a question about string height adjustment. I am sure this has been covered already but I'm not able to go through all of the mega threads.
I like the action as low as possible. I have a Turner fretless bass so I am totally familiar with the process of shimming the neck, adjusting the truss rod and also changing the height of the saddle if needed.
My understanding is that Rob builds the basses with fairly high action.
I have already shimmed the neck with a business card and it helped significantly. I will probably just continue experimenting with neck shimming unless any of you long-term RA owners have any other specific suggestions.
One other question: The finish on the back of the walnut neck is a bit "tacky" feeling. Is this the norm?
Thanks much!!
I have a question about string height adjustment. I am sure this has been covered already but I'm not able to go through all of the mega threads.
I like the action as low as possible. I have a Turner fretless bass so I am totally familiar with the process of shimming the neck, adjusting the truss rod and also changing the height of the saddle if needed.
My understanding is that Rob builds the basses with fairly high action.
I have already shimmed the neck with a business card and it helped significantly. I will probably just continue experimenting with neck shimming unless any of you long-term RA owners have any other specific suggestions.
One other question: The finish on the back of the walnut neck is a bit "tacky" feeling. Is this the norm?
Thanks much!!
The fretless Rob Allen Deep 4 I bought from its original owner had extremely high action. I just had a luthier insert a shim to lower the E and A strings. It's a world of difference - much easier to play, both mechanically and tonally. I have a gig Friday where I'll record the result. I'm super happy with the lower action and wish I had made this move sooner.
P.S. You might check out "Micro Mesh" as a very easy way to get a polished finish on the wood surface. It's an amazing product. http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=17318
P.S. You might check out "Micro Mesh" as a very easy way to get a polished finish on the wood surface. It's an amazing product. http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=17318
They're all quite different.
I think possibly the maple top deep four might have a cocobolo fingerboard. If you were to clean and lightly sand it it could give a nice contrasting redish hue.
I call that medium action. I've had higher. The neck was reinforced to handle it. Glad you're customizing it to your needs, though.
Sorry...been trapped at work.
The MB2 on the right has an HG Thor epoxy board. Given the bulletproof nature of the hard surface, I have it strung with roundwound nickel strings. It sounds really cool. A bit more aggro than the usual tape wound loveliness.
I'll try to get a sound sample up.
FYI..the necks on the 5's are a different profile from the 4's. The 5's are flatter like an Ibanez 5 or 6. They are incredibly comfortable, the finish on my walnut neck is like a thin sheet of glass. The radius pf the back of the neck on the 4's are more round.
Rob will even do different necks at your request. I know none of mine are stock and he tailored them to my tastes. Not surprisingly, mine are thick and mimic my '78 P. The neck on my second D4 is the best neck I've ever played.
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