Show Us Your Rob Allen Basses Part IV

[tedw]

Just thought I'd share my experience with the Acoustic Image UpShot speaker. I don't get much of a chance to use speakers outside of my home because most of my playing is at church, where we use IEM's almost exclusively (I use a Noble DI with a Lull or RA bass in that setting). At home, I like to have a rich, organic sound. I've tried several really nice amps (genz benz, aguilar, puma), but I have always preferred Acoustic Image, especially with my Rob Allen basses. So a couple of years ago I bought an AI Coda combo and it sounds perfect to my ears. The few times that I've needed a live amp to perform (usually in a smaller chapel), the Coda with an extension speaker has worked very well. When the AI UpShot speaker came out recently, I thought I just had to try it. I love that it is tiny and yet it sounds rich and full. It sounds Amazing with my RA basses. It really communicates the natural RA vibe. Playing the Mouse with the Clarus and Upshot is a delight. A rich but transparent sound. It may not be the best setup for cutting through a full mix, that's not an issue for me. Next time I get the chance to play live with an amp I'm taking the Coda and the Upshot and I know it will sound awesome. I've been meaning to post this as a true AI / RA believer. Hope it's helpful.

 

[cultrvultr]

Just thought I'd share my experience with the Acoustic Image UpShot speaker. I don't get much of a chance to use speakers outside of my home because most of my playing is at church, where we use IEM's almost exclusively (I use a Noble DI with a Lull or RA bass in that setting). At home, I like to have a rich, organic sound. I've tried several really nice amps (genz benz, aguilar, puma), but I have always preferred Acoustic Image, especially with my Rob Allen basses. So a couple of years ago I bought an AI Coda combo and it sounds perfect to my ears. The few times that I've needed a live amp to perform (usually in a smaller chapel), the Coda with an extension speaker has worked very well. When the AI UpShot speaker came out recently, I thought I just had to try it. I love that it is tiny and yet it sounds rich and full. It sounds Amazing with my RA basses. It really communicates the natural RA vibe. Playing the Mouse with the Clarus and Upshot is a delight. A rich but transparent sound. It may not be the best setup for cutting through a full mix, that's not an issue for me. Next time I get the chance to play live with an amp I'm taking the Coda and the Upshot and I know it will sound awesome. I've been meaning to post this as a true AI / RA believer. Hope it's helpful.

Ditto. love my upshot with my Rob Allens. I've been using the upshot with a new Genzler head. The Genzler is a noticeable sonic upgrade over the older Genz Benz heads.

Next up is a shootout between the Upshot and the MAS16

 

[FenderP]

Interesting about the Upshot. I've been happy with the PJB Double Four. I've been eying something a bit more powerful (including PJB and the AER Amp One), but I'll have to add the AI stuff to my list. The problem is a lot of it is hard to find to audition. I know the PJB stuff well.

 

[cultrvultr]

FYI no connection to the seller but this is a pretty amazing deal for an MB-2 [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[BargeOn]

The Phil Jones Double Four.
Someone here recommended this amp a while back. I made a mental note at the time but couldn't get my hands on one until a local shop recently became a dealer. Finally!

Yeah, I see the point. Full bass from 2 4s and plenty of power for a small space with enough left to ride over an ensemble. Sound is always variable, subjective and hard to describe, but "transparent" when set flat seems fair enough. The three tone controls give me all I need.

I still have a soft spot for the old 12" x100 Fender, but this little baby is probably all I need for the low key stuff I do.

Anyway, thanks for the good word.

 

[FenderP]

The Phil Jones Double Four.
Someone here recommended this amp a while back. I made a mental note at the time but couldn't get my hands on one until a local shop recently became a dealer. Finally!

Yeah, I see the point. Full bass from 2 4s and plenty of power for a small space with enough left to ride over an ensemble. Sound is always variable, subjective and hard to describe, but "transparent" when set flat seems fair enough. The three tone controls give me all I need.

I still have a soft spot for the old 12" x100 Fender, but this little baby is probably all I need for the low key stuff I do.

Anyway, thanks for the good word.

That was probably me The Double Four pretty much solved my amp gas and it's been my go to amp for years now. It just works.

 

[FenderP]

Snapped yet another E string (.115) recently. Seems like I only do it on this bass, and like once every five or so years. This was the Galli nylon tapewound set I've had on my D4 for a few years now. These had a good sound but I think my standard RS88 set was better if I'm going to be honest with myself. I may give the Pyramid ones a go, but no matter what, I always go back to the RS88 set.

It's pretty amazing given how thick the sting is and how high my action is. I really dig in.

 

[cultrvultr]

Is the saddle smooth? Looks like a bunch of wear that could've come from little burrs in the saddle.

Snapped yet another E string (.115) recently. Seems like I only do it on this bass, and like once every five or so years. This was the Galli nylon tapewound set I've had on my D4 for a few years now. These had a good sound but I think my standard RS88 set was better if I'm going to be honest with myself. I may give the Pyramid ones a go, but no matter what, I always go back to the RS88 set.

It's pretty amazing given how thick the sting is and how high my action is. I really dig in.

 

[FenderP]

Is the saddle smooth? Looks like a bunch of wear that could've come from little burrs in the saddle.

It is. I just a) use the E string a lot b) dig in when I play. Add that to high action ... bam. The E is also the only string I've ever snapped on my main P bass as well. That's "only" a .110. I sometimes play down by the bridge so it creates a bit of additional tension/bending where there normally isn't, especially since the RA is string through.

Also to be fair, I was noticing some issues with the strings/intonation where there was none before, so I was getting the feeling it was time to change strings anyway. For example: the A (7th fret, D string) was a little off recently. Nothing on the bass was changed and it was rock solid tuning/intonation wise until then. I was doing some recording and the piano player also noticed. My P fretless didn't have the problem, so I used that for the session.

EDIT: When my string snapped last time, the E string was also going EOL.

 

[Jim Ingraham]

Well, I just joined the Rob Allen club this weekend with an MB-2 I found sitting in a store down in Virginia. :
Apparently, for pretty many years on consignment. It's serial is 974 or something, anyone have a clue what age it may be?
The neck was perfectly flat with a buzzing D string and I've been putting some relief in it all day today and now it's good.

Truly an amazing sounding and playing instrument! Been messing around with different rigs all day and it seems to like the Markbass
stack and especially my old Eden WT. And the weight! or lack thereof, wow!.. ok, gotta get back to playing

 

[Jeff Elkins]

Well, I just joined the Rob Allen club this weekend with an MB-2 I found sitting in a store down in Virginia. :View attachment 2977802
Apparently, for pretty many years on consignment. It's serial is 974 or something, anyone have a clue what age it may be?
The neck was perfectly flat with a buzzing D string and I've been putting some relief in it all day today and now it's good.

Truly an amazing sounding and playing instrument! Been messing around with different rigs all day and it seems to like the Markbass
stack and especially my old Eden WT. And the weight! or lack thereof, wow!.. ok, gotta get back to playing

Welcome to the club!

An MB-2f! I haven't had the chance to play one of those with frets (though I owned a Solid4, and loved the fretboard on it).

You can email Rob (address on the website) and he'll get back to you with the birthdate of #974. The top looks like maple; he may be able to confirm the woods (neck, body, top) for you, as well, if you ask.

 

[Jim Ingraham]

Welcome to the club!

An MB-2f! I haven't had the chance to play one of those with frets (though I owned a Solid4, and loved the fretboard on it).

You can email Rob (address on the website) and he'll get back to you with the birthdate of #974. The top looks like maple; he may be able to confirm the woods (neck, body, top) for you, as well, if you ask.

Actually it's fretless. It has little strips of wood in the fret slots. I would have preferred an unlined board but I feel fortunate to have found a Rob Allen at all. There don't seem to be many floating around in the wild currently. I think I will email him, thanks for the advice!

 

[Jeff Elkins]

Actually it's fretless. It has little strips of wood in the fret slots. I would have preferred an unlined board but I feel fortunate to have found a Rob Allen at all. There don't seem to be many floating around in the wild currently. I think I will email him, thanks for the advice!

Ah! My bad. Looking at the fingerboard on the phone. Those fretlines are shiny!

 

[Jim Ingraham]

Anyone have any other source for the 760n-xl strings for the mb-2? BSO doesn't have any and no ETA on when they're coming in. I suspect the strings on my recently acquired bass are original and therefore around 10 years old. Or do these strings not change much with age? Just curious what a fresh set would sound like.

 

[jblock]

Well, I just joined the Rob Allen club this weekend with an MB-2 I found sitting in a store down in Virginia. :View attachment 2977802
Apparently, for pretty many years on consignment. It's serial is 974 or something, anyone have a clue what age it may be?
The neck was perfectly flat with a buzzing D string and I've been putting some relief in it all day today and now it's good.

Truly an amazing sounding and playing instrument! Been messing around with different rigs all day and it seems to like the Markbass
stack and especially my old Eden WT. And the weight! or lack thereof, wow!.. ok, gotta get back to playing

I had #951 at one point, an MB-2, which was made in July 2010. So yours is probably late 2010 or early 2011.

 

[Jim Ingraham]

I had #951 at one point, an MB-2, which was made in July 2010. So yours is probably late 2010 or early 2011.

I emailed Rob and he gave me the lowdown on my bass... sept 2010... sure wish I could find these strings though. they seem to be made of unobtainium!!

 

[Nenor]

I also haven't been able to put my hands on these strings. I do have a regular long scale 760N set on the side, which I read somewhere that they'll fit. If anyone knows where to get the XLS... please share.
BTW, I bought my MB2 new three years ago. The strings have lost a bit of high-end but they still feel like new and I actually prefer how they sound now.

 

[Jim Ingraham]

I also haven't been able to put my hands on these strings. I do have a regular long scale 760N set on the side, which I read somewhere that they'll fit. If anyone knows where to get the XLS... please share.
BTW, I bought my MB2 new three years ago. The strings have lost a bit of high-end but they still feel like new and I actually prefer how they sound now.

Even if my strings are original (and 8 years old) they still sound fantastic, frankly I can't imagine them sounding better. But I'd sure like to have a fresh set around as a security blanket.. I am putting in an order with BSO so if they ever make anymore, at least I'll be on the list to get some.

 

[Nenor]

The fact that Rob is still making new instruments stringed with new XLS sets implies that somewhere on this glob these strings are in the making... We just need to find how to get there.

 

[Jeff Elkins]

The fact that Rob is still making new instruments stringed with new XLS sets implies that somewhere on this glob these strings are in the making... We just need to find how to get there.

I was able to special order some sets of 32" strings through Rob for my medium scale mb2. In order to get a reasonable price I waited for him to place an order and piggy-backed. As I recall, it took a month, but was the best solution at the time.

I'd check directly with him about that.