Show Us Your Rob Allen Basses Part IV

[peterpalmieri]

Thanks for the info and links! Right - my question is if the thumb rests need to be permanent (i.e. - if they would ruin the top finish if removed). Since I'm coming from DB after a 17 year layoff from BG, and since I'll be using this at least partially as a travel bass overseas for when the DB's where I travel aren't acceptable, I'll need to figure out where it would need to go for the percussive impact of a DB in that function. Yours look great, but I agree that the shorter one visually looks better.

Chris I'd give it some time before putting anything on. Experiment with a floating thumb technique and playing with your thumb and palm muting. I've got a similar non Rob Allen style bass and thought out of the box I'd need an anchor and I am getting by without it no problem.

 

[FenderP]

As Peter pointed out, the RAs I've owned or played have been easy to deal with - I haven't needed a thumbrest.

You know, I love the thumbrests on my P basses but never attached the ones Rob sent to either D4. I play my D4 more like an upright most of the time anyway, so my technique/approach is often different (but not 100% of the time). They're beautiful and match the wood as in the posts Jeff linked, but thumbrests are a subjective thing. I think P basses without are weird, RAs without are fine. I wouldn't want the fretboard extension version.

When I owned the Takamine TB10, that required a whole different approach to playing and ultimately I didn't bond with it for that and other reasons, and if you take your time with the RA, you'll probably find you may not need it. If you do, there are options.

I would say if you have questions about putting the thumbrest on and wanting to take it off without damaging (or minimal damage) to the top, just e-mail Rob. He'll tell you the best way to attach it.

PS, nice Solid 4, Jeff

 

[cultrvultr]

I've got a similar non Rob Allen style bass .

@peterpalmieri what bass is that?

 

[peterpalmieri]

@peterpalmieri what bass is that?

Kinal Kompact 5

 

[cultrvultr]

Kinal Kompact 5

cool thanks!

 

[Groove Doctor]

Since I'm coming from DB after a 17 year layoff from BG...., I'll need to figure out where it would need to go for the percussive impact of a DB in that function.

Hi Chris, welcome back to the EB side.

For DB tones on my Mouse I've found the only place I look to rest my thumb is the last few inches of the 'fret'board. Much fatter tones had thru there. No need to add a thumb rest for DB tones IME.

Chris I'd give it some time before putting anything on. Experiment with a floating thumb technique and playing with your thumb and palm muting. I've got a similar non Rob Allen style bass and thought out of the box I'd need an anchor and I am getting by without it no problem.

It's a very new technique approach, might take a little while to unlearn old habits, but totally worth the time & effort.

I keep my hand very relaxed - neutral wrist, fingers slightly bend, arm laid across the body using forearm contact as the 'anchor' or reference point. I prefer a stroking motion a bit like patting a kittens head - relaxed and gentle.
- I keep the volume up and play gently to get a nice quick decay like DB. Playing 'through the strings' is key.
- I learned to avoid the brittle clack of strings hitting the board by pulling across the strings, esp E string.
- Left hand muting via slight string release helped dampen sustain & sounding too fretless-like.
- A strong attack sounds more fretlessy. Adding a HPF & comp, it mwahs nicely.
- side of thumb with firm attack plus muting gives a P-like thump.
- dig in hard next to bridge for burpy J tones (the only spot I'd use a thumb rest).

Took me a while to recalibrate my ear & refine/relearn my technique to where I'm 100% happy with it. But totally worth it.

Pics when it arrives please. Let us know how you go.

 

[asbs]

Hi guys,

I have to let go my Deep 5, so if your are interested, just contact me.
For Sale - Rob AllenDeep 5

Thank you.

 

[Jeff Elkins]

'Tis the season... I'm selling the Walnut 2005 mb-2 I picked up in trade from @JFLbass in February. One-in, one-out; she's not getting played, and a new project has me on the hunt for a 5 string (EB MM StingRay Classic 5, to be specific). For Sale - Rob Allen mb-2; Walnut, Ebony, Swamp Ash

 

[Drucifer]

I just bought a Deep 5 fretless from TedW for an acoustic/electric trio. Thinking about effects, does anyone use chorus? Compression? What's your experience with the Rob Allen and effects?

 

[Jeff Elkins]

Mb-2, not a Deep, but I actually run zero effects with my RA fretless. The bass gives me clean notes when that's what I want, but I can pull so much character out of it when necessary... mwah, vibrato, what have you.

 

[Nenor]

Another MB-2. I add some compression with a MXR M87. Great even tone that can go from there safely into any effect. I've tried reverb, chorus, octaver, envelope filter. They all sounded great.

 

[Groove Doctor]

I just bought a Deep 5 fretless from TedW for an acoustic/electric trio. Thinking about effects, does anyone use chorus? Compression? What's your experience with the Rob Allen and effects?

HPF to tighten the lows + comp for a P bass tone, a little OD helps too.
Reverb + boost 500-1000Hz for fretless bite.

They're fussy about amp & cab choices too. Sometimes just changing one of those can really alter its tone/timbre.

 

[tedw]

I just bought a Deep 5 fretless from TedW for an acoustic/electric trio. Thinking about effects, does anyone use chorus? Compression? What's your experience with the Rob Allen and effects?

Hi Drew,

I hope you're enjoying the Deep 5. I see it as pretty much a perfect Rob Allen bass, but since I owned four of them (now three), I figured something had to go and it turned out to be the Deep since I'm primarily a 4-string player. Setting that aside, it's an amazing instrument and I hope it's working well for you.

Regarding effects with the Rob Allen's, I use an Acoustic Image head for it's transparency to let the pure sound of the instrument come through. That head does come with a high pass filter and some nice reverb effects. The high pass filter is great for fighting any boominess and for some solo pieces, I've used a little reverb.

That's just me, and have fun experimenting.

 

[Marial]

My Mouse 30 is in the sanding and finish stage and will be assembled soon, according to Rob. I believe him when he says it's looking gorgeous. No photos yet, but I'll post them if he sends any. I'm confident in saying I've never looked forward to an instrument more.

 

[Marial]

Rob just let me know the bass will be completed over the weekend with photos available Monday evening. So close!

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Here's my crazy-but-beautiful Mouse 5 with high C strung with a TI flat B-G set tuned up a 4th. Getting ready to take it overseas as carry on for 2 clinics in Columbia. I'm not as good playing it as I'd like to be yet, but it's an amazing instrument that I hope to grow into for years to come.

 

[Groove Doctor]

Here's my crazy-but-beautiful Mouse 5 with high C strung with a TI flat B-G set tuned up a 4th. Getting ready to take it overseas as carry on for 2 clinics in Columbia. I'm not as good playing it as I'd like to be yet, but it's an amazing instrument that I hope to grow into for years to come.

Gorgeous. Photos just don't portray the craftsmanship of them.

So responsive to technique and fussy with amps/cabs.
Are you taking a preamp/DI/micro head with you?
My Fishman PPBDI has worked well into FX return of borrowed amp; DI straight into PA.

How's the tension/feel of the tuned-up TI's? Esp compared with the Tapewounds? Any recordings yet?

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

I'll be taking a Phil Jones Bass Buddy, since it's a front end I know well from the combos i regularly use and love. A shame they replace the brilliant limiter on the combos with a compressor on the Bass Buddy - the compressor is basically useless for what I do, but the rest is the great PJB sound I'm used to, and I think it will travel well and give me a starting point with whatever backline I encounter overseas. If I ever get a real travel DB in the future, it would be great for that too, so...

The tension of the tuned up TI's is insane, but in a really intriguing way. Compared to the tape wounds at regular tuning, it's a completely different instrument. I had the tape wounds tuned up a 4th for a minute, and liked them better that way. In regular tuning, the instrument is just too buzzy/mwaaahh-ish for my taste. Tuned up, it's much cleaner and punchier. No recordings yet, but once i get more comfortable, I'm sure that will come in time.

 

[cultrvultr]

@Chris Fitzgerald can you please explain what you mean by 'insane' here? I have the stock tapes on my mouse but wanted a tighter/faster feel And stay nice and Thuddy. Do the TIs fit that bill?

The tension of the tuned up TI's is insane, but in a really intriguing way. Compared to the tape wounds at regular tuning, it's a completely different instrument. I had the tape wounds tuned up a 4th for a minute, and liked them better that way. In regular tuning, the instrument is just too buzzy/mwaaahh-ish for my taste. Tuned up, it's much cleaner and punchier. No recordings yet, but once i get more comfortable, I'm sure that will come in time.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

@Chris Fitzgerald can you please explain what you mean by 'insane' here? I have the stock tapes on my mouse but wanted a tighter/faster feel And stay nice and Thuddy. Do the TIs fit that bill?

I have a B-E-A-D-G set of TI flats tuned up a 4th to E-A-D-G-C. The tension is very high, but very fast and still thuddy. The TI strings in normal tuning were too floppy for my taste, and I hated every high C string I tried. So on a lark, I put a TI G string on as a C and tuned it up. I liked the feel and sound, so eventually I ended up changing out all the strings that way. You could experiment with this concept by tuning up of your stock tapes up a whole step or so and seeing if you like the response. For me, it was a real pandora's box!