Is there a UK maker of Rob Allen style basses? Not copies, but similar vein.

[Rob MacKillop]

What the Subject Line says: Is there UK maker of Rob Allen style basses? Not copies, but similar vein. 

[Owen]

ACG did some stuff which was the same vibe. 

[Owen]

https://acguitars.co.uk/mule/

 

[Russ]

What Owen said. In addition to the Mule, Alan’s been experimenting with a few interesting new designs lately, including a “skeleton” bass that’s basically a solid top and back, with a hollow, sparred interior. 

 

Shuker will also make you more or less anything you want - I saw a nice, Leduc-style floating top semi-acoustic from him recently that was rather nice. I’m sure he could make something similar in short scale. 

[AndyTravis]

Shuker artist series?

Edited September 30, 2025 by AndyTravis

[Burns-bass]

15 minutes ago, AndyTravis said:

Shuker artist series?

I was going to say this. The closest thing I’ve played.

 

The SHR500F basses are fairly close, too.

[LeftyJ]

Sire GB5 series, Godin A4/A5? Not UK-made obviously, but rather interesting and I think the Sire offers remarkable value for money. 

[BigRedX]

1 hour ago, AndyTravis said:

Shuker artist series?

 

1 hour ago, Burns-bass said:

I was going to say this. The closest thing I’ve played.

 

I'd only played the demo model of the Shuker Artist, but IMO it wasn't anywhere like as good as a proper Rob Allen.

[AndyTravis]

13 hours ago, Rob MacKillop said:

What the Subject Line says: Is there UK maker of Rob Allen style basses? Not copies, but similar vein. 

@BigRedX

 

I feel I answered the OP’s question.

[BigRedX]

2 minutes ago, AndyTravis said:

@BigRedX

 

I feel I answered the OP’s question.

 

And I was implying that IMO the Shuker is a poor substitute.

[ezbass]

Our very own @Jabba_the_gut produced some very comparable instruments in the past. I own a Rob Allen MB2 and have played Jabba’s creations, so I can vouch for the similarity.

[LukeFRC]

5 minutes ago, BigRedX said:

 

And I was implying that IMO the Shuker is a poor substitute.

Want to expand on why you thought that?

[BigRedX]

11 minutes ago, LukeFRC said:

Want to expand on why you thought that?

 

About 20 years ago I was a deposit payment away from ordering one. I'd looked longingly at the photos on the Shuker website and exchanged numerous emails with Jon regarding specifications. Then I actually got to play one at (IIRC) one of the Manchester Bass Days. I can't put my finger exactly on what it was, but the bass just didn't feel comfortable for me to play and the whole experience left me feeling very underwhelmed. Especially as a few weeks earlier I'd been at The Bass Gallery in Camden and had tried a Rob Allen and liked it a lot. In fact had the two experiences happened the other way round I might well have bought the Rob Allen. As it was I changed my mind completely about the look I wanted and put down a deposit on a Sei instead.

[eude]

+1 for the AC Guitars Mule.
I've managed to lay my hands on a couple of them, a fretted 5 and a fretless 4.
Both of them were marvellous, and the fretless 4 really had that Rob Allen, mini Double Bass thing going on.

Here's me noodling pointlessly on the fretted 5 >> https://www.instagram.com/p/Cj7-DXOA3NI/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

There are some lovely demos on the link already posted above too, https://acguitars.co.uk/mule/

 

Cheers,

Eude

Edited September 30, 2025 by eude

[Jabba_the_gut]

1 hour ago, ezbass said:

Our very own @Jabba_the_gut produced some very comparable instruments in the past. I own a Rob Allen MB2 and have played Jabba’s creations, so I can vouch for the similarity.

Thank you for that compliment! Very much appreciated.

[Pea Turgh]

2 hours ago, eude said:

+1 for the AC Guitars Mule.
I've managed to lay my hands on a couple of them, a fretted 5 and a fretless 4.
Both of them were marvellous, and the fretless 4 really had that Rob Allen, mini Double Bass thing going on.

Here's me noodling pointlessly on the fretted 5 >> https://www.instagram.com/p/Cj7-DXOA3NI/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

There are some lovely demos on the link already posted above too, https://acguitars.co.uk/mule/

 

Cheers,

Eude

That’s a nice little ditty, @eude 👍

[Owen]

2 hours ago, ezbass said:

Our very own @Jabba_the_gut produced some very comparable instruments in the past. I own a Rob Allen MB2 and have played Jabba’s creations, so I can vouch for the similarity.

He is not wrong. I have owned RA and JTG basses so am commenting from experience. 

[Frank Blank]

3 hours ago, ezbass said:

Our very own @Jabba_the_gut produced some very comparable instruments in the past. I own a Rob Allen MB2 and have played Jabba’s creations, so I can vouch for the similarity.

 

I sold my Rob Allen Mouse as the @Jabba_the_gut fretless he built me is (imho) better.

[Rob MacKillop]

WOW, that's a lot of responses, and with links I'll follow up now. Does @Jabba_the_gut have a website? 

[Owen]

1 minute ago, Rob MacKillop said:

WOW, that's a lot of responses, and with links I'll follow up now. Does @Jabba_the_gut have a website? 

We get proper excited about this stuff.

[Frank Blank]

2 minutes ago, Rob MacKillop said:

WOW, that's a lot of responses, and with links I'll follow up now. Does @Jabba_the_gut have a website? 

 

Take a look at his builds, unsurprisingly on the Builds Thread. Here's my two...

 

[Jabba_the_gut]

 

Edited October 2, 2025 by Jabba_the_gut

[Stub Mandrel]

On 30/09/2025 at 17:45, Frank Blank said:

 

Take a look at his builds, unsurprisingly on the Builds Thread. Here's my two...

 

 

I have tried at least one of this pair if not both. They are very lovely. 

[wrinkleygit]

Here’s the one that started it all 

[Dood]

Another 'highly recommended' vote for Shuker Guitars Artist series. Incredible instruments.