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Show Us Your Rob Allen Basses Part IV
- Thread starter smperry
- Start date
Thx Yes. #1526 on his sold instrument page. A lot of eye candy there for sure.
Just picked this one up! Seller in Italy accepted a reasonable offer and though it took a month to get here (and forget about accurate tracking!) I'm super pleased.
It came with some undisclosed issues - the nut was slotted way too low (for any setup, I don't know if the guy actually played it before he sold it), the saddle is worn in multiple places, and there are binding issues (some addressed poorly and some not addressed at all). But with some shims and Copper Whites to replace the dead strings on it, it sounds GREAT. And it is pretty much my holy grail bass and one I've been hoping to stumble across for a few years.
Sad News: In a response to the seller's question about the market value of the bass, Rob mentioned that he's planning to retire from bass building soon.
Sad days, but nice run. He'll always be near the top of my Favorite Luthier list.
It came with some undisclosed issues - the nut was slotted way too low (for any setup, I don't know if the guy actually played it before he sold it), the saddle is worn in multiple places, and there are binding issues (some addressed poorly and some not addressed at all). But with some shims and Copper Whites to replace the dead strings on it, it sounds GREAT. And it is pretty much my holy grail bass and one I've been hoping to stumble across for a few years.
Sad News: In a response to the seller's question about the market value of the bass, Rob mentioned that he's planning to retire from bass building soon.
Sad days, but nice run. He'll always be near the top of my Favorite Luthier list.
Just mag or mix piezo/mag?
Sad News: In a response to the seller's question about the market value of the bass, Rob mentioned that he's planning to retire from bass building soon.
Rob and I talked about that awhile back but I didn't say anything because it wasn't public and I don't think he wanted it out there at the time. I'm lucky to have had him build me stuff.
Both! The top pot is a blend knob with a center detent. I love his piezo setups, but I have been pleasantly impressed with this mag pickup - I can easily get a pretty mid-heavy jazz sound out of it, even with the copper whites. Overall it's a lot brighter and crisper than I expected, but I know from the ones I've owned that while the "upright" sound is strong on the fretless ones, it's not-so-much on the fretted models.
Sad News: In a response to the seller's question about the market value of the bass, Rob mentioned that he's planning to retire from bass building soon.
I didn't even think about that. His statement via email was unsolicited, so I assumed it was out there.
I had some discussions with him about a build, but didn't pull the trigger before he closed up the custom shop a few years ago. But I echo you: I've been lucky to have owned a couple customs in addition to the production models I've had.
My D4 is not a blend, but two discrete outs. When Rob had it in to do something a few months back he said he should build himself one. When we discussed blend vs. discrete, at the time it would have been more challenging and ultimately I think it's a better decision. That said, it's not easy finding amps these days with two ins so my journey there has been fun. You'd have to pry that D4 from my cold, dead hands
It wasn't. I'm weird about not breaking confidence like that.
I've had three custom models, one of which I kept. Right now I somewhat regret selling the S4 but in reality I don't. I still wouldn't play it more than my normal P.
New Mouse owner here! This came up on the big auction site, and well..... here we are. It has a few minor issues; tape residue from a ramp, and some binding separation that I'll sort out (or more likely, pay someone more qualified than me to sort out) some day in the future. It's a pretty marvelous instrument, or is that pretty, marvelous instrument? Anyway, I love having the magnetic pickup; to me it makes just looks right, and more tonal options are always appreciated even if only by the bassist.
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I think I owned that bass.
I found the same thing kept happening to me and I couldn't justify keeping it. The one I'm sad about letting go was the solid hollowbody. The pickup wasn't strong in it, but everything else about it was amazing. I wish I'd upgraded the electronics instead of selling it!
I think I owned that bass.
The one I'm sad about letting go was the solid hollowbody. The pickup wasn't strong in it, but everything else about it was amazing. I wish I'd upgraded the electronics instead of selling it!
A S4 hollowbody with a weak pickup actually sounds like something I'd want lol
I used this Mouse for the first time tonight at a rehearsal. It sounded great. When I got it it was virtually unplayable for me - action was too low was the main problem. It was fine, I'm just very particular about how I like my basses set up. Most people would have loved how I got it.
I had Jon Mouradian take care of that and set it up with the Pyramid 640/1 set (50 - 110). I've never used them on any other bass and was curious. They're a great match.
Tonally this Mouse was kinda what I was looking for - not quite my P and not quite my Deep 4. It sat perfectly in the mix.
I had Jon Mouradian take care of that and set it up with the Pyramid 640/1 set (50 - 110). I've never used them on any other bass and was curious. They're a great match.
Tonally this Mouse was kinda what I was looking for - not quite my P and not quite my Deep 4. It sat perfectly in the mix.
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Surprised and slightly saddened by Rob's decision. Was there a word of how much time is left? Something about the Solid 4 is very different from anything I've ever done on bass since I usually go modern and a little crazy.
I wonder if he'll license out his design to another builder the way JP Basses did with Skjold.
I wonder if he'll license out his design to another builder the way JP Basses did with Skjold.
Yeah, that would be a good idea. I have an original JP Lucii that is outstanding, and have been thinking of a Rob Allen a long time....so I hope I'm not to late
Yeah, I'd kinda like to order a Solid 4 since there might be a deadline.
JP was the inspiration for my fretless 32" scale Cliff Bordwell 7 string. Prior to that, I had no idea a 32" scale with a good low B was possible. I also combined the 32" scale with tuning the highest strings to B and E with heavier strings.
Someone like Cliff Bordwell might be a good guy to carry the torch if Rob decided to pass the torch to someone.
Problem is he doesn't take orders anymore. You have to wait and see what shows up in the online store. He says he has 96 neck/ bodies in the making, so let's see what they are.
Just had to post a pic of the household's newest addition. I have owned a couple of used RA's in the past, never quite though the bass I wanted. Rob had this sweetheart and I was done!
