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Show Us Your Rob Allen Basses Part IV

#561
Chris Fitzgerald said:
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!
Click to expand...

It makes a lot of sense and should be to bad tension wise since it's like having a capo on a standard 5 string b-g at the 5th fret
 
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#563
Chris Fitzgerald said:
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!
Click to expand...
Have you discussed this with Rob? You may be putting too much pressure on the neck.
 
#564
Yes, we spoke about it before I did it. He said he thought it would be fine and gave me some instructions for how to do it gradually. I just recently took it to a local luthier to check in and he told me the neck was perfectly straight and could actually use a bit of relief.
 
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#566
Chris Fitzgerald said:
I just recently took it to a local luthier to check in and he told me the neck was perfectly straight and could actually use a bit of relief.
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The neck is perfectly fine being perfectly straight, it doesn't 'need' any relief... It is YOU who may be needing it. I strongly advice keeping the neck as straight as possible to get the most even tone response all across the board.
Just my 2 cents.
 
#567
Nenor said:
The neck is perfectly fine being perfectly straight, it doesn't 'need' any relief... It is YOU who may be needing it. I strongly advice keeping the neck as straight as possible to get the most even tone response all across the board.
Just my 2 cents.
Click to expand...

There were a couple of notes that were a bit buzzier than I cared for, which is why he suggested the relief. So far, just 1/8 of a turn seems to have relieved it.
 
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#568
FM-2.jpg

It's going to be a long almost-week: got the shipping notice from Rob, the bass should arrive by the evening of Monday the 8th. Due to some package theft in our neighborhood I had him ship it to my place of employment which means I may not have it home until next Tuesday...

This has me pretty happy: " The bass sounds phenomenal, I played it quite a bit yesterday, I can't possibly make a you a better sounding bass:) "

I'm inclined to believe him. :)
 
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#569
Hi Chris,

Congratulations on your amazing Mouse. The Mouse continues to be my favorite Rob Allen model. Lately, I've experimented with eq'ing. For me, setting the eq flat (acoustic image clarus), the Mouse has it's natural warm feel. Cutting the lows and low mids radically get's to more of an MB-2 tone for me. Anyway, congrats on the new bass.
 
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#570
And it's here. Looking forward to plugging it in when I get home from work.

Initial impressions:

1. stunning construction and materials, it's simply beautiful
2. great unplugged tone
3. lovely neck, very comfortable
4. it's tiny, I completely understand why Rob decided to call it the Mouse
5. the Protec gig bag seems very solid and well-made

Hopefully I'll be able to record a quick sample later this evening. My son has hand-foot-mouth and my wife stayed home with him today and she will no doubt need a break from parenting.
 
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#571
Too many interruptions so I haven't been able to record anything, but I have plugged it in and oh my, what a tone. It just sings. That said, it is not a bass that is forgiving of sloppy technique, so I have a welcome challenge on my hands!
 
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#572
Congrats on that gorgeous beast!

Marial said:
... oh my, what a tone. It just sings. That said, it is not a bass that is forgiving of sloppy technique, so I have a welcome challenge on my hands
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It rewards you for good technique and punishes you for bad technique.... as you will become very aware. Consistency is key.

A HPF, compressor, mild OD, palm muting, fingernails/plectrum, thumb downstrokes, and fleshy side of index finger all give amazing variations in tone from standard fingerstyle playing.
 
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#576
Wow! Can't wait to see that one come to life. Kinda wish my deep mouse had mandolin frets too.

Here is my contribution. I bought it from another TB'er after a year of looking. Deep mouse with f-hole and Bastogne top. Such a beauty and an incredible tone.
IMG_0764.JPG
kevk said:
Recently started a Deep 5 build...koa, rw board, mandolin frets, 34", e-c, no f-hole or binding, black hardware
Click to expand...
 
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#578
Hi guys,

I am on my way to order a RA fretted.
I don't know yet if I want a Mousse or Mb2, 4 strings.
Looking for organic sound, and fretted because I read many different tunes and want to be in tune more easily than with my Deep 5 Fretless.
I play jazz most of the time.

Some of you can comments them experience with fretted RA ?

Right now, Mb2 have an advantage because of the extra frets.
But the more "Db" tone of the Mousse looks as a good choice also....

Thank you for your comments.
 
#579
I had a fretless 4 string Mouse that I used for my jazz gigs a while back and it was amazing. Sounded more like an upright than a mic'ed upright. I know you are looking for fretted but maybe try a Mouse? I had an MB-2 4 and 5 string fretless as well and everyone I played with - myself included - preferred the Mouse.
 
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