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Show Us Your Rob Allen Basses Part IV
- Thread starter smperry
- Start date
Very cool awesome bass! Where does that leave you regarding the electronics ?I posted a picture of this last summer, and got some good (and of course, some questionable) advice here on cleaning double stick tape residue off the front. Recently it started draining batteries, an apparent result of some failure in the jack power disconnect circuit. Rob suggested just replacing the who pre as the simplest and best option, so I purchased one from him. When I looked at what he sent vs the existing guts... something didn't add up. I contacted him, sent a pic of the internals and got the following reply:
View attachment 4617699
ok, this is quite different than what I expected! this is a "one off" custom instrument......not at all like a standard Mouse 30....
This is a very early version of the Deep 4 electronics, custom made by Seymour Duncan for me, and combines a preamp and an EQ card, hence all the stuff you see there.
Then, after looking at a picture of the bass:
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Oh boy, this is one of the nicest custom basses I ever made!!!!! I remember it well now. It's a pau ferro top. One of a kind
Umm, how much do I have to pay to get it back?
Well, dang!
That is such a beauty
He recommends the preamp be cleaned with acetone, and expects that will resolve the problem. The pre resides in that steel shielding box which is soldered shut and you do not want someone with my soldering abilities messing around in there, so it will pay a visit to Mike Lull Guitars in the near future. Meanwhile- it works fine, just goes through batteries about every two weeks.
He recommends the preamp be cleaned with acetone, and expects that will resolve the problem. The pre resides in that steel shielding box which is soldered shut and you do not want someone with my soldering abilities messing around in there, so it will pay a visit to Mike Lull Guitars in the near future. Meanwhile- it works fine, just goes through batteries about every two weeks.
Have you and Rob talked about selling it back to him? Maybe he'll trade you a new custom to your specs for it?
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I took the bass in to Mike Lull Guitars yesterday. The tech discovered that the negative battery lead had been pinched under the preamp container, worn through, and was shorting out to the cavity shielding paint. He wrapped the lead in electrical tape, corrected the wire routing, and expects that to solve the problem. No charge. And I managed to resist coming home with a new $4k+ bass (tempting though their showroom is.)
Yeah, I threw the suggestion of a trade out there, but he ignored that. Not that another bass would make me a better player.Have you and Rob talked about selling it back to him? Maybe he'll trade you a new custom to your specs for it?
I was going to get a Mouse 5 fretted to experiment with but in the last few months have been woodshedding guitar to scratch that itch. My regular gig is Deep 4 only territory, so I decided to change course and grab a Mouse unlined fretless that hit the site. For some gigs I should be able to use a guitar double gig bag to bring Mouse and an acoustic. Also easier to do flyaway gigs with a mouse in the overhead compartment. Happy to get one of the last in the line - been playing Rob's stuff for years and my Deep just gets better with age.
new family member (next to the older sibling)
Alas...
For Sale - Rob Allen MB-2 5-string fretless - flame maple
I picked this up because I thought I could make more fretless work instead of upright, but my regular gig has shifted toward 75% upright lol. So although it pains me (because this is a killer bass), I'm putting it up. Figured some of the aficionados on here might take a shine to it.
For Sale - Rob Allen MB-2 5-string fretless - flame maple
I picked this up because I thought I could make more fretless work instead of upright, but my regular gig has shifted toward 75% upright lol. So although it pains me (because this is a killer bass), I'm putting it up. Figured some of the aficionados on here might take a shine to it.
Using my RA Mouse for gigs in an acoustic trio - acoustic guitar, electronic drums, and myself. First gig this weekend.
The other two share lead vocals, with myself on BX's for 3-part harmony on a bunch of songs Nice and quiet so I won't need earplugs.
My Mouse is VERY versatile tone wise with where I play along the string using finger-style (fingertips, fingerpads or "the hook"), or with a plectrum (point, side of pick, or palm muting).
It sounds so good straight into my AER combo that most effects pedals just degrade the sound I use an fDeck HPF to tidy the lows.
Might try some reverb from my Zoom MS100BT Multi-FX pedal. Any suggestions of effects to try?
The other two share lead vocals, with myself on BX's for 3-part harmony on a bunch of songs Nice and quiet so I won't need earplugs.
My Mouse is VERY versatile tone wise with where I play along the string using finger-style (fingertips, fingerpads or "the hook"), or with a plectrum (point, side of pick, or palm muting).
It sounds so good straight into my AER combo that most effects pedals just degrade the sound I use an fDeck HPF to tidy the lows.
Might try some reverb from my Zoom MS100BT Multi-FX pedal. Any suggestions of effects to try?
Gig went well. My Mouse really is a chameleon & complemented the acoustic guitar beautifully. It's superseded my DB, Takamine B10 & solid body Fretless basses.
A few boomy notes.
- My fDeck HPF was playing up (flattish battery or dodgy patch lead) so couldn't tame the ultra-lows.
- I'll need to play more with the built in compressor in my AER Bass One combo.
- I normally play through my Monique M700 head and the tubes give it all the natural compression it needs. I'd love a Simone pedal pre.
I've been gigging the Mouse regularly since getting it - done a dozen shows, some as trio (acoustic guitar/vox, harmonica), some as duo (acoustic guitar/vox). The thing just kills. We do 3 hour shows that in reality are 3.5 hour sets - as in no breaks. The 30" scale makes that much more viable as it is easier on the hands. Only downside is you have to have your intonation nailed as sloppiness is evident. I'm plugging straight into a Mesa D800 and AK Hathor 1203 - no pedal board, nothing else in the chain.
They're awesome basses!!
I found my intonation on my 30"Fretless Mouse improved dramatically by regularly playing/practising on my 30" fretted Danelectro Longhorn bass standing with a strap. Similar dimensions, weight, the way they hang with strap and reach to the first 'fret'.
My logic was simple - I could swap seamlessly between 34" fretted and 34" Fretless. Maybe the same will apply across 30" basses…. and it did.
Fourth gig with my acoustic trio. I'm really loving it.
RA unlined Fretless Mouse -> AER Bass One -> line out to PA.
The singer/acoustic guitarist loves the fat warm tone - it complements his jangly acoustic really well.
I play a dozen songs with a pick. Blister in the Sun sounds amazing. I can simulate the acoustic bass sound quite well.
Crazy Little Thing Called Love I play fingerstyle/emulating DB technique. So fat & warm, it has a similar tone to a DB running thru a bass amp.
Thanks Rob !!
RA unlined Fretless Mouse -> AER Bass One -> line out to PA.
The singer/acoustic guitarist loves the fat warm tone - it complements his jangly acoustic really well.
I play a dozen songs with a pick. Blister in the Sun sounds amazing. I can simulate the acoustic bass sound quite well.
Crazy Little Thing Called Love I play fingerstyle/emulating DB technique. So fat & warm, it has a similar tone to a DB running thru a bass amp.
Thanks Rob !!
Honeymoon continues - still gigging the Mouse every week. Frankly I only picked up another bass to start 'shedding Steely Dan tunes again (the band is reassembling). Frankly I think I could go all short scale at this point, especially as I'm hacking my way through dobro
He used this slab for my Mouse… it was from an old door (pre-ban).
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