dannybuoy Posted July 18, 2021 Posted July 18, 2021 I am hankering after a Rob Allen Mouse, I'm interested in any alternatives but 30" scale fretlesses seem hard to come by. Thomann make a fretless Hofner Beatle bass... and I haven't found much else available off the shelf! Any other models I may have missed, or any UK luthiers out there building anything similar to the Mouse? Quote
eude Posted July 18, 2021 Posted July 18, 2021 AC Guitars would make you a fantastic 30" fretless bass. Not quite the same as a Mouse but they'll do thick chambered bodies. They would always be my first recommendation. Shuker also so a bass similar to th the Rob Allen basses, not sure if they've ever done a 30" scale one though. Eude Quote
ezbass Posted July 18, 2021 Posted July 18, 2021 20 minutes ago, dannybuoy said: I am hankering after a Rob Allen Mouse, I'm interested in any alternatives but 30" scale fretlesses seem hard to come by. Thomann make a fretless Hofner Beatle bass... and I haven't found much else available off the shelf! Any other models I may have missed, or any UK luthiers out there building anything similar to the Mouse? You and me both. Our own @Jabba_the_gut is the guy, but I don't whether he's taking on new commissions these days. What's the word, Jez? 1 Quote
Frank Blank Posted July 18, 2021 Posted July 18, 2021 (edited) 1 hour ago, dannybuoy said: Any other models I may have missed, or any UK luthiers out there building anything similar to the Mouse? I had a fretless RA Mouse and was convinced I'd found the perfect short scale fretless, until I played @wrinkleygit's SS fretless built by our own @Jabba_the_gut. So convinced by that bass was I that I've sold the Rob Allen and if you pop over here... ..you can see the fretless (and fretted) basses he is working on for me. Never in life did I think I'd find a bass better than the RA but the Jabba built fretless beat it, only just, but it was discernibly better. Keep an eye on the thread and see what you think. Edited July 18, 2021 by Frank Blank 2 Quote
Hellzero Posted July 18, 2021 Posted July 18, 2021 If you have a lot of money to spend : Alembic... Quote
dannybuoy Posted July 18, 2021 Author Posted July 18, 2021 I did look up ACG, Chowny and Marusczcyk, but didn't see anything on offer similar to the Mouse. I was really after more of a mini upright bass sound, semi hollow + piezo. Basically my Godin A4 but smaller! I will follow that build thread to see where it goes! Quote
PlungerModerno Posted July 18, 2021 Posted July 18, 2021 1 minute ago, dannybuoy said: ...Basically my Godin A4 but smaller! would a shorter neck, custom or converted if you could find something suitable, be out of the question, if you really like the A4 as a long scale? Quote
hooky_lowdown Posted July 18, 2021 Posted July 18, 2021 5 minutes ago, dannybuoy said: I did look up ACG, Chowny Chowney chb-1. Quote
dannybuoy Posted July 18, 2021 Author Posted July 18, 2021 2 minutes ago, PlungerModerno said: would a shorter neck, custom or converted if you could find something suitable, be out of the question, if you really like the A4 as a long scale? Not out of the question, but a smaller lighter body would be preferable at the same time. Quote
PlungerModerno Posted July 18, 2021 Posted July 18, 2021 I guess a lot of luthiers could adapt an A4 into smaller A4 style bass, but I think you might be better off going fully custom if you're going to do major neck & body work / have a big body shave and a new neck made. I think the key is the body, since it's a pretty typical fender style neck, I can't think of a maker that does a mini A4 style or similar body. Quote
Frank Blank Posted July 18, 2021 Posted July 18, 2021 1 hour ago, dannybuoy said: I did look up ACG, Chowny and Marusczcyk, but didn't see anything on offer similar to the Mouse. I was really after more of a mini upright bass sound, semi hollow + piezo. Basically my Godin A4 but smaller! I will follow that build thread to see where it goes! I made exactly that move. Great as the Godins are they are terribly heavy and effing long, playing a Rob Allen was like taking a holiday. Quote
skelf Posted July 19, 2021 Posted July 19, 2021 If it is of any interest I have been working on a new model specifically for this type of thing. I will be starting the prototype fairly soon. alan 7 Quote
ezbass Posted July 19, 2021 Posted July 19, 2021 1 hour ago, skelf said: If it is of any interest I have been working on a new model specifically for this type of thing. I will be starting the prototype fairly soon. alan Ooh, ooh. Colour me excited. Having relocated to Perthshire from Surrey last year means you’re dangerously close. Any rough details/drawings you might tease us with? Quote
skelf Posted July 19, 2021 Posted July 19, 2021 I have a drawing and it all laid out. I will post up something when I have at the very least the template. 1 1 Quote
skelf Posted July 20, 2021 Posted July 20, 2021 Should have something to show by the weekend time permitting. 1 Quote
three Posted July 21, 2021 Posted July 21, 2021 Possibly Mensinger? I had this until recently - whilst not fully chambered, it had a lovely rounded tone with some acoustic content 2 Quote
skelf Posted July 23, 2021 Posted July 23, 2021 So as promised some progress on the model I mentioned. Due to the heat an inability to sleep I found the time to get some work done on the prototype. This is for a very specific setup which none of my current line up covers. So what we are looking at here is a small bodied short scale (30.5) heavily chambered piezo only bass. Primarily done as a fretless but would be possible as a fretted bass as well. Piezo will feed an East P-Retro which has been modified in order for the passive element to work with the piezo. Pleased with the results so far but very early days. Templates and the first actual body in Swamp Ash. 8 Quote
barrycreed Posted July 30, 2021 Posted July 30, 2021 If you want something a bit different, New Perspectives Music can put together a fretless bass, and use reclaimed materials while doing so! Quote
Frank Blank Posted July 30, 2021 Posted July 30, 2021 14 hours ago, skelf said: This pretty much covers the basic idea. Is this an experimental prototype or does it have a home already? Quote
skelf Posted July 30, 2021 Posted July 30, 2021 It is a prototype to try out the various aspects of the design and the hardware combinations. Alan Quote
scrumpymike Posted August 10, 2021 Posted August 10, 2021 This is the fretless from my small Gillett Contour collection. Probably about as rare as the ACG prototype though. 3 Quote
Storky Posted August 10, 2021 Posted August 10, 2021 Gold Tone M-Bass25FL Fretless Acoustic-Electric MicroBass Quote
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