• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Show Us Your Rob Allen Basses Part III

Status
Not open for further replies.
#162
I have a bad track record. Since I decided to change things up I've had:

Zon Sonus 5 LIghtwave fretless
Zon Sonus Custom 5
Zon Sonus Special 5
Sadowsky Metro PJ5
Sadowsky NYC JJ 5
Sadowsky R5-24
Lull PJ5
Roscoe LG 3005 fretless
Roscoe SKB 3005 fretless
Roscoe C5 fretted
Roscoe C5 fretless
RA Mouse fretted
RA Mouse fretted
RA Mouse fretless
RA MB-2 5 fretless
RA Solid 4
Fender AmStdP
Elrick Gold 4 fretted

I may be missing a few :p

All gone. The survivors:

RA Deep 5 fretless
RA MB-2 fretless
Fender AmDlxP 4 fretted

I regret selling the RA Solid 4. Other than that, have been chasing something but not finding it. Whenever I pick up the Deep5 it is like home.
 
#163
nostatic said:
Gigged the Deep 5 and the new Sadowsky R5-24 last night. Sadowsky is going back. It is a really sweet bass, but I'm way too spoiled by my Rob Allens and just too into the tone and attack of the instruments. So far the only other bass that has managed to stay in the house is the Fender AmDlxP. And I need that one for certain gigs.

I need another RA (yeah...need....that's it). I should have snapped up the 4-string fretted that was for sale here a month or so ago. Arrgh...
Click to expand...

I think it just boils down to you know what you like and what sound you have in your head. The RAs are doing it for you. Nothing wrong with that. I still love P basses just as much (if not more than my RAs). They serve different needs. In reality, I could probably get down to two basses: my '78 P and the new Deep 4. Probably not happening though.
 
#165
For me the big thing is the immediacy of the attack, the bloom, and the treble air/bite. I've had more that one sound guy tell me they couldn't believe how good the bass sounded running direct. And listening to the recordings reveals just how fast the attack is. When you play a note it plays...then you get the huge bloom. I use a Paradriver to roll off some bass and dial up some mids when I want to solo or make it cut a bit more. But running back to back with other "modern" basses has pointed out how the RA supports the song without calling attention to itself. It is somewhat like a P-bass in that manner, but still a different vibe.
 
#167
WOW! SUPER LUXE. I love the way it came together.

Nice use of the classic style tuners!

FenderP said:
Koa top with matching knobs for the mag pickup, piezo controls on the bridge
P7082682.jpg
Click to expand...
 
#168
nostatic said:
I have a bad track record.

I regret selling the RA Solid 4. Other than that, have been chasing something but not finding it. Whenever I pick up the Deep5 it is like home.
Click to expand...

Just teasing with my earlier edits of your posts. You may have turned some of your basses around faster but I've certainly gone through as many over the years.

I too felt bad about selling that Solid 4 but now I feel it was for a good reason. If I hadn't let it go I probably would not be building my new one right now, and I really believe this one will mean more to me.

I have no plans to ever again let go of a Rob Allen.
 
#169
It's here, it's here!!!!! Pictures to come tomorrow, but my Solid 4 has landed. I got 20 minutes with it, now I have to try and sleep so I can get to work early.

It is much more breathtaking in person than in the photos. And what an amazing feel in your hands... silky smooth!

What kind of neck relief are you guys running? It seems a bit high for my liking, but all else is just magic.

Cheers, Phil.

P.S. The pup is not that hot. So it's probably more like nostatic's than FenderP's. But oh-so sweet :-)
 
#175
OK, been playing for a couple of days and the action on my S4 is a bit too high (adjusted the neck relief to 0.015" per an older RA online manual). How can I go about this with the solid bridge?

Otherwise I am happier with the bass every day. It is quite simply awesome.

Tomorrow I get in the RH750 and will see what tonal possibilities unfold.
 
#176
You can try going with no relief (flat) but the reality is RAs tend to have medium action. To really drop it you have to file down the bridge and/or nut. That is one downside to the design - if you like super low action or like to tweak bridges Rob's instruments are probably not the best choice.
 
#177
Rob sets up his basses so that string height adjustment is done through truss rod adjustment, as you tried. I've been able to get mine pretty low. Instead of using a gauge I brought it down to where it began to buzz, then notched it up slightly. That worked for me.
 
#178
I'll take the relief down again as there is NO sign of buzzing.

Just to check, I went back to my J and sure enough I prefer the lowered action. So I might resort to this: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f18/tweaking-setup-rob-allen-mouse-369241/#post4757754. But I'll really work on my finger strength and minimum neck relief before anything like this. I remember reading how tight RA neck/body joints are, and I would not want to compromise that.

Cheers guys!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back