Bass of the Week: Rob Allen MB-2
The Rob Allen MB-2 is a unique semi-hollow bass designed to combine the warmth of an upright with the punch of a solid body electric bass. Though it’s available in a fretted version, the MB-2 comes standard as fretless to keep with the organic feel.
The bass is offered in three variations depending on the top selected: Maple, Walnut, or Koa.
Allen matches the maple top with a mahogany body and cocobolo fingerboard, while the walnut top sports an ash body with ebony fingerboard and the Koa top is paired with a mahogany body, ebony fingerboard, and tortoise binding. The basses are given minimal oil finishes, which the luthier explains is to retain optimum resonance.
Other features include Hipshot tuners, a Fishman Matrix piezo pickup, and an optional f-hole in the body.
Available in 4 or 5-string models, the Rob Allen MB-2 is built to order with prices starting at $2800. For more info, check out Rob Allen’s website.
Rob Allen MB-2 Bass Photo Gallery:
![](https://www.notreble.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/mb2Maple4-full.jpg)
![](https://www.notreble.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Rob-Allen-MB-2-Fretted-Walnut-with-F-hole.jpg)
![](https://www.notreble.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Rob-Allen-MB-2-Headstock-back-with-drop-D-Tuner.jpg)
![](https://www.notreble.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Rob-Allen-MB-2-Koa-Headstock.jpg)
![](https://www.notreble.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Rob-Allen-MB-2-Koa-Unlined-Fingerboard.jpg)
![](https://www.notreble.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Rob-Allen-MB-2-Koa-with-Mahogany-Body.jpg)
![](https://www.notreble.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Rob-Allen-MB-2-Maple-5-string-1-piece-Top.jpg)
![](https://www.notreble.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Rob-Allen-MB-2-Premium-Walnut-Top.jpg)
![](https://www.notreble.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Rob-Allen-MB-2-Side-Dots.jpg)
![](https://www.notreble.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Rob-Allen-MB-2-Swamp-Ash-Back.jpg)
![](https://www.notreble.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/mb2Maple4-full-300x200.jpg)
![](https://www.notreble.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Rob-Allen-MB-2-Fretted-Walnut-with-F-hole-300x200.jpg)
![](https://www.notreble.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Rob-Allen-MB-2-Headstock-back-with-drop-D-Tuner-300x200.jpg)
![](https://www.notreble.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Rob-Allen-MB-2-Koa-Headstock-300x200.jpg)
![](https://www.notreble.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Rob-Allen-MB-2-Koa-Unlined-Fingerboard-300x200.jpg)
![](https://www.notreble.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Rob-Allen-MB-2-Koa-with-Mahogany-Body-300x200.jpg)
![](https://www.notreble.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Rob-Allen-MB-2-Maple-5-string-1-piece-Top-300x200.jpg)
![](https://www.notreble.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Rob-Allen-MB-2-Premium-Walnut-Top-300x200.jpg)
![](https://www.notreble.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Rob-Allen-MB-2-Side-Dots-300x200.jpg)
![](https://www.notreble.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Rob-Allen-MB-2-Swamp-Ash-Back-300x200.jpg)
Rob Allen MB-2 Bass Specs:
- Scale: 34” on 4-string; 35” on 5-string
- Nut: 1 5/8” on 4-string; 1 7/8” on 5-string
- Birdseye maple neck finished in satin lacquer
- Oil finish on body
- Lined or unlined fretless fingerboard
- Grained ivoroid or tortoise binding
- Semi-hollow body design
- Volume control incorporated into bridge
- La Bella 760n strings
- Hipshot tuners
- Fishman Matrix piezo pickup
- Gig bag included
- Weight: 6.5 lbs on 4-string; 7 lbs on 5-string
The Koa 4 is my dream bass… Sigh.
Woah that is sass.
Great bass, I have a 5-string fretless with a high C string.
Hi David
I have an MB2 tuned BEAGD, but would like to shift to a high C (instead of the low B). Did you just put the high C string and does it work? Or is it special made for the high C string?
Nice… but where are the pickups? I’m not familiar with piezo pickups.
Hey Terrance, The piezo pickups are underneath the bridge saddles.
Oh yeah! I’ve got the walnut MB-2 and it’s incredible good! I finally bought one last year. I waited for 8 long years before I had the opportunity to buy one! (I tried my first Rob Allen at Rudy’s Music in NYC 2003).
Hvad kostede den, Magnus?
Hääääärligt, så ska det se ut!