Rob Allen Deep 4 Cedar Fretless 34″ Scale Bass #1624

This beautiful Deep 4 features a western red cedar top that is from reclaimed old growth timber that is a minimum of 400 years old. This wood came from a farm in Oregon where I was able to buy enough material for about 15~20 instruments. I was able to count 400 rings in the pieces I have, but it it likely even much older, as the tree was even larger that the pieces that I was able to get. This wood produces incredible sounding instruments, and this one is a great example. 

The cedar, not unlike spruce, produces a clear/airy top end with great note definition, while at the same time sounding full and warm. The semi-hollow body is made from alder, and the 34” scale neck is a five piece laminate of eastern black walnut with rosewood strips. The five pieces of wood make a very stable and even sounding neck. The walnut has a fast transient, so this bass is nice and punchy, with a fast (and fat) attack to the notes. The lined fingerboard is made from Brazilian rosewood (as is the matching bridge). The headstock has a rosewood overlay on it as well. 

Originally, Deep 4 basses were offered with the volume and tone controls integrated into the bridge, however I have come to the conclusion that you can get some of the very best tones from this bass by palm muting, Therefore the stacked tone control (cut/boost of treble and bass) has been moved to the face of the instrument. 

The strings are La Bella 760n, which are steel core flatwound strings with a thin nylon outer wrapping that is very smooth, making the bass very comfortable to play, while producing a unique warm tone. A custom made form fit hardshell case (courtesy of G&G cases in Los Angeles, Ca) rounds out the package.

The bass is very slight B stock with some light marks in the finish.,