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Show Us Your Rob Allen Basses Part IV
- Thread starter smperry
- Start date
Hey Christian, what tools do you use to record the things you share on Talkbass? While I'm stuck at home, I'd like to develop some recording capabilities without getting too complicated.
BassHappy
Supporting Member
Hey Guys!
Let us see all the Rob Allen basses
Rob made me a custom "Mouse" in 2004-2005. I probably posted here previously, but since you asked, here we go.
Here is the top I selected - flamed and spalted maple - at his shop in Santa Barbara:
Decided to go with mahogany body, bird's eye maple neck, cream binding, LED's in the neck and a drop "D" tuner.
You can really see the "flame" in the photo below.
We also found that due to the frets and my picking technique (yes, I use a pick with NO apologies) an ebony fretboard was far too "klacky". So we chose a warm rosewood fretboard and Rob "ebonized" it for me, making it totally black. We wanted it to be solid black so that it picked up the black lines in the body and so that it didn't conflict with all the nice figure.
While I am exclusively a medium scaler, this is the only short scale bass I own. I find that as a short scale, it is perfect for preserving stamina when you are spending hours drilling and creating parts. I still have the original Labella tapes on the bass, which seem to sound better by the day. Fifteen years old and counting on these strings. Pretty amazing.
Hey all...first time on this thread...I'm looking into a Mouse 30 and went to the website for research...it seems that Allen only does Basses in batches now and doesn't take requests or custom orders anymore...? I find that interesting...has anyone here bought a bass through the newer system and how do you feel about it..? I find scare options that is like to have and it seems a bit discouraging to know that I may have to settle for something close to what I want but not exact..
I would not be discouraged. An advantage that I have found is that you can ask Rob about how the finish Bass feels and plays before you make your buying decision. You can't do that with a custom ordered instrument. If you can be patient, the instrument you're looking for will eventually show up. if you send Rob an email telling him what you're looking for you may find that it magically pops up on the site
Can you describe the instrument that you're seeking?
Can you describe the instrument that you're seeking?
Thanks for the reply....I thoroughly went over the "Choosing A Bass" portion of his website this morning....the way he lays it all out, everything is explained extremely well...on this particular instrument, I'm actually not going to focus too much on a wood combo...Rob seems to ask you to trust him as far as that goes..it's the first time I'll commission a build without heavily going over wood specs, which is very different for me...a little unnerving perhaps but still very exciting...I suppose as long as I get certain options like the extended thumbrest and an F hole and a lined fretboard, I'm pretty flexible with other options...I'd love to have a very dark, acoustic sound, but again, according to the website Rob engineers each bass to sound very similar to the previous one made..I would not be discouraged. An advantage that I have found is that you can ask Rob about how the finish Bass feels and plays before you make your buying decision. You can't do that with a custom ordered instrument. If you can be patient, the instrument you're looking for will eventually show up. if you send Rob an email telling him what you're looking for you may find that it magically pops up on the site
Can you describe the instrument that you're seeking?
Sounds like my Mouse, except for the extended thumb rest.
using words that mean something to me and hopefully the same thing to you… I think it is true what Rob says about his instrument all having directionally the same style sound. But I have had Rob Allen bases that are bright and resonant, while I prefer a warmer tone as you describe.
Given my preferences, Rob has always steered me towards an ALDER (not "older" as in my original post) body, koa top, walnut neck, ebony fretboard.
On the other hand, years ago I bought a used MB2 That has a redwood top and maple neck. It works just fine for me.
So again, when you see a bass that you like, I think it's good for you to reach out to Rob and tell him what you're seeking and he can confirm if the bass that you're interested in matches your expectations. He's a great guy super easy to talk to you and deal with it
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All of my RAs were built custom for me before he went to his current way of doing things, but that by no means equates to you're not going to get something you don't want.
Rob stopped making custom basses years ago but as tedw points out, if one comes close that's up on his site, just e-mail Rob.
Rob stopped making custom basses years ago but as tedw points out, if one comes close that's up on his site, just e-mail Rob.
The specs he was steering you towards celery winky sound like the way I'd like to go...I suppose it's entirely possible that something similar may turn up sooner than later...according to his website he'll have maybe 7 more Mice done by the end of the month, although I'll probably take my time with this...Sounds like my Mouse, except for the extended thumb rest.
using words that mean something to me and hopefully the same thing to you… I think it is true what Rob says about his instrument all having directionally the same style sound. But I have had Rob Allen bases that are bright and resonant, while I prefer a warmer tone as you describe.
Given my preferences, Rob has always steered me towards an older body, koa top, walnut neck, ebony fretboard.
On the other hand, years ago I bought a used MB2 That has a redwood top and maple neck. It works just fine for me.
So again, when you see a bass that you like, I think it's good for you to reach out to Rob and tell him what you're seeking and he can confirm if the bass that you're interested in matches your expectations. He's a great guy super easy to talk to you and deal with it
When I contacted Rob around seven years ago I told him I was interested in ordering a custom speced MB-2. He told me that he had an MB-2 in stock that, while not lining up with the wood specs I was interested in, lined up with the tonal goals I'd described. I was a bit hesitant (because I'd had my mind set on a certain aesthetic - and I like the excitement of choosing the woods for a build) but I decided to trust Rob and I wasn't disappointed in the least with the results.
Also would like to know what you guys are using for amplification and if anyone has used vintage all tube amplification with the bass and how you compare it to a solid state rig you're experienced in...
I've always like the sound of my acoustic image combo, which is solid state but very warm to my ears. But I think it also sounds great through my Wayne Jones rig (tube). Rob told me years ago that he prefers tubes for his basses and I'm pretty sure vintage tubes would get a thumbs up from him.
I use a small pb with Effectrode LA-1A tube compressor+Ghost Ridge reverb—>Berg Forte' HP—>Berg HG410 cab. Very happy with this setup!
[Edit/add:]...also, have used Jule Monique—>Berg HG410. Definitely prefer some kind of tubes...my Deep5 l-o-v-e-s tubes!
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Here's mine. Mr. Allen made a thumb rest out of matching wood for me. 
There's plenty of info in these threads. I find the RA is not the best match with my '63 B-15N. I really have to fiddle to get a decent sound with that combo. Part of it is how active the piezo and its output is. The mag side of my D4 sounds fine through my B-15, but I mainly use the piezo.
My current rig is a Henriksen Bud (older version), but I've got an EA head waiting for a MAS 16 that I'm hoping will be even better.
As much as I'm historically an Ampeg guy, I'd go solid state for the RA. My RA is a very warm bass so tubes almost make it too mushy, to be honest.
Mouse + Jule Monique M700 + Berg CN212 = match made in heaven.
Mouse + PJB Flightcase is wonderful but underpowered live for Big Band IME.
Mouse + AER Bass One - big sound but lost a little magic (compared to Monique & PJB).
Mouse + Thunderfunk is very nice plus very versatile EQ.
Mouse + Fender Studio Bass wasn't a good match. Too heavily voiced IMO.
If you have a favourite tube head, try several cabs until you find the right pairing.
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An old shootout I did @Ace Of Bass
"I played my Mouse thru Baer ML112 using 4 amps, mini-shootout.
GK MB 200. Pretty decent tone actually, but runs out of headroom @ 8ohms. I Cranked the EQ knobs to max and it was like thunder!!! Holy crap. Extra volume with pedal boosting my signal.
GB Shuttle 6.0. Bit processed sounding/ sterile, less organic. Hate it with the Mouse at Big Band.
T'funk 550: clean, very easy to sculpt tone. Bit dry set flat though, (I'm totally spoilt by the Monique!!). The Limiter is really handy live too!!
Monique 700: warm rich deep without boomy. Gives the Mouse the most bloom for DB tones out of all my amps - moreso with the Berg CN212.
= Definite Keeper. If I even think of selling either the Mouse or the Monique... Please talk me out of it!!"
"I played my Mouse thru Baer ML112 using 4 amps, mini-shootout.
GK MB 200. Pretty decent tone actually, but runs out of headroom @ 8ohms. I Cranked the EQ knobs to max and it was like thunder!!! Holy crap. Extra volume with pedal boosting my signal.
GB Shuttle 6.0. Bit processed sounding/ sterile, less organic. Hate it with the Mouse at Big Band.
T'funk 550: clean, very easy to sculpt tone. Bit dry set flat though, (I'm totally spoilt by the Monique!!). The Limiter is really handy live too!!
Monique 700: warm rich deep without boomy. Gives the Mouse the most bloom for DB tones out of all my amps - moreso with the Berg CN212.
= Definite Keeper. If I even think of selling either the Mouse or the Monique... Please talk me out of it!!"
Don't remember if I posted before - but here it is. My mouse that Rob made last year.
