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Show Us Your Rob Allen Basses Part IV

#1,361
FenderP said:
Rob designed my bass for the RS88s NOT LaBellas. In this case, you're incorrect. Rob's *preference* is LaBellas. Also, Rob designed my D4 with high action, tension, and thick strings in mind (beefier bridge, reinforced neck, etc.). My original D4 (this is the second I owned) had a reinforced neck but only the normal bridge. My second D4 (this one) was an evolution based on years of playing the other.

Before you make assumptions, maybe read a bit of history as I've talked quite a bit about my D4 over the years.

You are right in that the D4 was not designed for upright strings but they did work. They were not a fit for various reasons and did not ruin my bass.

As an aside: I sent my D4 into Rob a few years back to fix some electronics. At the time I had the either the Gallis or Pyramids on there and he asked me what brand they were as he liked them.
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Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you. I haven't read your history. I'll be honest, when you said that you tried to put upright strings on a Rob Allen I assumed that you didn't know what you were doing and I was just trying to help you.

Custom designs excepted, Rob specifically builds "regular" D4's to use Labella 760n tapewounds. I had a lengthy conversation with him about strings when I bought my first D4 from him, and he was very clear that his bases were designed to use the LaBellas, and he felt they best compliment the bass.
 
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#1,364
foothilla said:
Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you. I haven't read your history. I'll be honest, when you said that you tried to put upright strings on a Rob Allen I assumed that you didn't know what you were doing and I was just trying to help you.

Custom designs excepted, Rob specifically builds "regular" D4's to use Labella 760n tapewounds. I had a lengthy conversation with him about strings when I bought my first D4 from him, and he was very clear that his bases were designed to use the LaBellas, and he felt they best compliment the bass.
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My original D4 (long since sold) was the first he ever shipped ... and it had the RS88s. He and I spec'd that out as well. LaBellas never entered the conversation. Same with my S4 and D4. Any time I talked or e-mailed with Rob, or as I mentioned recently, when he did some stuff on my bass, he never questioned my string choices. I think you're interpreting Rob wrong because based on my conversations with him, he never, ever said they were designed with LaBellas. Three basses, many years, lots of correspondence - I never heard that from him.

I've had a long history with Rob and assuming I was some noob is not a good look. I do appreciate the apology.

Rob is one of the nicest people and a mensch. He steered me away from some things that wouldn't work or at the time were not easy to do technically. I trusted him implictly. If he felt that strongly about string choice, he would have said something.

I just looked back at e-mails from 2020 I had with him when I sent in the D4. He did ask about the strings and wanted the info because he liked them, so I provided what they were. Turns out I had the Pyramids on at the time.
 
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#1,366
FenderP said:
My original D4 (long since sold) was the first he ever shipped ... and it had the RS88s. He and I spec'd that out as well. LaBellas never entered the conversation. Same with my S4 and D4. Any time I talked or e-mailed with Rob, or as I mentioned recently, when he did some stuff on my bass, he never questioned my string choices. I think you're interpreting Rob wrong because based on my conversations with him, he never, ever said they were designed with LaBellas. Three basses, many years, lots of correspondence - I never heard that from him.

I've had a long history with Rob and assuming I was some noob is not a good look. I do appreciate the apology.

Rob is one of the nicest people and a mensch. He steered me away from some things that wouldn't work or at the time were not easy to do technically. I trusted him implictly. If he felt that strongly about string choice, he would have said something.

I just looked back at e-mails from 2020 I had with him when I sent in the D4. He did ask about the strings and wanted the info because he liked them, so I provided what they were. Turns out I had the Pyramids on at the time.
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I was just saying that these days Rob builds D4's to take the Labellas, and he sees them as part of the bass' intended sound. Maybe he didn't feel strongly about string choice then, but he does now. Not that I would expect him to berate anyone for trying what they want.
 
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#1,367
foothilla said:
I was just saying that these days Rob builds D4's to take the Labellas, and he sees them as part of the bass' intended sound. Maybe he didn't feel strongly about string choice then, but he does now. Not that I would expect him t berate anyone for trying what they want.
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That is not how your post came across at all.

I think Rob is less stuck on string choice than you think. I don't think he has experimented much over the years. His interest in my Pyramids at the time (and not long ago) was genuine.

Rob has continued to evolve the design, especially the bridge on the Deep. The LaBellas are not something I think he feels he has to change.
 
#1,368
FenderP said:
That is not how your post came across at all.

I think Rob is less stuck on string choice than you think. I don't think he has experimented much over the years. His interest in my Pyramids at the time (and not long ago) was genuine.

Rob has continued to evolve the design, especially the bridge on the Deep. The LaBellas are not something I think he feels he has to change.
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This is literally posted on Rob's website, currently, under frequently asked questions:
Screenshot (26).png


"It is not recommended."
"Mb-2, Mouse 30 and Deep 4/5 basses are designed with La Bella 760n strings in mind. These strings are part of the sound of these basses"

......I don't know how much clearer that could be.
 
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#1,369
foothilla said:
This is literally posted on Rob's website, currently, under frequently asked questions:
View attachment 5234798

"It is not recommended."
"Mb-2, Mouse 30 and Deep 4/5 basses are designed with La Bella 760n strings in mind. These strings are part of the sound of these basses"

......I don't know how much clearer that could be.
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Fender prefers you use Fender strings. Does not make it so.

That's nice to say on a website but does not at all match up with my conversations with Rob over the past 15-20 years give or take.
 
#1,370
FenderP said:
Fender prefers you use Fender strings. Does not make it so.

That's nice to say on a website but does not at all match up with my conversations with Rob over the past 15-20 years give or take.
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Fender is a corporation that profits from Fender string sales.
Rob is a private, precise high-end craftsman. He doesn't profit from Labella sales.

His website does mirror my conversations with him. Almost verbatim.
 
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#1,380
I just bought a great MB-2 4 string that came with a gig bag. I would like to find a Rob Allen hardshell case but the RA website does not sell them, and G&G (their case manufacturer) has not responded to my email.

Anyone out there have a spare case to sell? Or, any suggestions on a case that works well with the MB-2?
 

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