| Author | Message | ||
| squirefan
New Username: squirefan Post Number: 2 Registered: 7-2004 |
Could my dream be answered? An Alembic acoustic/electric fretless bass. That would finish off my collection and I could die a happy man. | ||
| flaxattack
Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 95 Registered: 4-2004 |
check out www.michaelkellyguitars.com they make an very very good bass. some say next toa taylor it is the best out there at a much better price. i got lucky and got mine 6 months ago on ebay for 550 w.case  | ||
| squirefan
New Username: squirefan Post Number: 4 Registered: 7-2004 |
WOW!!! That is absolutely gorgeous!! I better start saving up to get one for myself for Christmas. | ||
| valvil
Moderator Username: valvil Post Number: 504 Registered: 7-2002 |
Personally I am VERY unimpressed with the Taylor bass. Nothing particularly wrong with it, other than the fact that it does not sound much louder than my electric basses unplugged. I'm not putting down Taylor by any means; I like their stuff and I am a happy owner of a Taylor acoustic guitar (414CE) myself. Best acoustic bass guitar I've tried (and sold a bunch of)is the one made by Tacoma in the US (there is a cheaper asian made version that's not so hot); it sounds good and it's loud enough for a little acoustic jam and can be had fretted or fretless for around 1000$. It's called the Thunderchief if I remember correctly. Valentino | ||
| bsee
Intermediate Member Username: bsee Post Number: 163 Registered: 3-2004 |
I've tried a few of the Tacomas and liked them very much. They did differ in feel, action, and tone pretty significantly, though. I would definitely want to play the one I was going to buy. I also believe that there are a few different options on that guitar because I have seen them listed with prices varying by a couple hundred dollars. -bob | ||
| eastcoastepic
Member Username: eastcoastepic Post Number: 88 Registered: 10-2003 |
Val, I agree, as I have a Tacoma 'Thunderchief' model CB10 4-string acoustic, purchased new a year ago for $850 with a beautiful Tacoma hardshell case. I played a bunch of acoustic basses at the time, and in my opinion, the Tacoma is the best crafted and loudest acoustic out there for less than $1000. As I recall, the Dean was nice but a distant second, but still better than the Fender........... Manufactured with pride in Tacoma, Washington, USA. You westerners sure build good guitars.... Chris | ||
| squirefan
New Username: squirefan Post Number: 7 Registered: 7-2004 |
Maybe I can get a Tacoma body and put an Alembic neck on her. I know these guys at the factory would love a project like that. I'm going to start hunting some parts. | ||
| bigredbass
Advanced Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 259 Registered: 9-2002 |
SquireFan, check out www.moonstoneguitars.com. Mica had previously sent acoustic inquiries in their direction, and I'm sure she would not mind me repeating it here. J o e y | ||
| bob
Advanced Member Username: bob Post Number: 277 Registered: 11-2002 |
It's worth reading Mica's full reply, somewhere in this thread. In short, while they might "love a project like that", they just aren't equipped to deal with it at this time - and there is so much else going on these days that I wouldn't hold your breath (nor start shopping for parts). -Bob | ||
| son_of_magni
Member Username: son_of_magni Post Number: 79 Registered: 1-2004 |
I bought my Michael Kelly 5-string fretless on ebay and I'm very happy with the purchase. I've had it probably almost a year. It it not a high end acoustic bass, and is not marketed as such. I bought it so I'd have a bass I can just grab any time I want without needing to hook up an amp, and it serves that purpose well. And after a little tweaking the action is pretty nice, it sounds fine, and looks great. People's jaws just drop when they hear that it only cost about $400. SoM btw, they are made in Korea... (Message edited by son_of_magni on July 29, 2004) | ||
| squirefan
New Username: squirefan Post Number: 9 Registered: 7-2004 |
I'll have to do a little shopping around, make sure it's something I really need right now. Thanks for everyone's input, I have a tendancy to get a little anxious when it comes to buying guitars. p.s. - My wife thanks you all too.  | ||
| bassman10096
Senior Member Username: bassman10096 Post Number: 516 Registered: 7-2003 |
I checked out Moonstone. He appears to be quite a distinguished luthier of acoustics. One interesting surprise was that he builds a semihollow electric bass with Alembic bridge, tailpiece and electronics. The controls are 3 knobs and a toggle - perhaps Essence electronics with a Q switch? Hmmm... (Message edited by bassman10096 on August 01, 2004) | ||
| pookeymp
Intermediate Member Username: pookeymp Post Number: 143 Registered: 7-2002 |
I've been eyeing that Michel Kelly 5-string fretless for about a week now (American Musical has it for $519)...for the price and the looks alone I was ready to go for it...now after hearing these comments about it...I think I should go for it. I'm just trying to justify if I need it. Well...of course I need it...but do I "Really" need it. Mikey/ | ||
| wideload
Junior Username: wideload Post Number: 41 Registered: 6-2003 |
What does "need" have to do with it? Its just money, and they print more of that every day! (The trick is to get you some!) Larry | ||
| son_of_magni
Member Username: son_of_magni Post Number: 83 Registered: 1-2004 |
You should contact them... http://www.michaelkellyguitars.com/ and find out if they're still putting 'blemished' or 'seconds' on ebay. That's how I got mine and I can't find a single thing wrong with it. | ||
| flaxattack
Intermediate Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 111 Registered: 4-2004 |
i looked at moons too, all i can say is that if you are rich enough and/or play acoustic full time then go for it, at 500 or so the kelly is a steal...and a quality product  | ||
| dgcarbu
Member Username: dgcarbu Post Number: 60 Registered: 6-2004 |
I found a used one exactly like the ones shown above at a Guitar Center for $295.00 used in excellent condition. They play really nice. | ||
| beelee
Junior Username: beelee Post Number: 12 Registered: 11-2004 |
I purchased a new MK fretted 5 string for $320 and the case was $90, It was on Ebay and was a blemished one, I could not find anything wrong after inspecting it, the inlays are very nice and it sounds great acoustically or through an amp, I never heard of MK before and took a chance, I'm not disappointed, its the same one pictured above, I usually won't buy a bass without playing it first, unless its an Alembic or other high end bass.......Who ever heard of a bad Alembic ? I used to have a 4 str Kramer Ferrington II A/E bass, the MK blows it away. | ||
| jlpicard
Intermediate Member Username: jlpicard Post Number: 122 Registered: 7-2002 |
I'd have to go with Val on this one. The Tacoma really is the best that I have found. The tone is much better than the Taylor although I liked the Taylor neck. To be fair the Taylor did sound better plugged in but acousticly, it wasn't much, especially for the price. The MK looks very nice and for around $500 I guess you can't complain too much but I have not heard one. | ||
| richbass939
Member Username: richbass939 Post Number: 80 Registered: 11-2004 |
I have had my Tacoma Thunderchief CB10 4-string for about two years. I've been very pleased with it. It has a really nice, deep sound when played unplugged. I bought it mainly because I wanted something to play in the living room when I didn't want to play loud. Another thing that I really like is that the amplified sound is just like the acoustic sound, really nice. I didn't want the plugged sound to be much different. It has active electronics, an L. R. Baggs pickup, volume, high/mid/low, and phase. It tends to feed back in the living room. I haven't amped it in a bigger room. When I tried it out the shop also had a Martin, Takamine, and a Dobro bass. The Takamine had no low end, really tinny. The Dobro was kind-of cool but not what I was wanting. The Martin sounded good but I liked the Tacoma better. It has a bolt-on neck, which I'm not crazy about, but it hasn't been a problem in any way. I've seen a few on TV. The sound hole is a pretty distinctive shape and easy to spot. The bassist in a band that toured through town had a fretless one that he said he really liked. I didn't get as good a deal as some of you have. I paid $1000 plus $90 or so for the case. It pays to shop around. If left to do again I would probably put the $1000 toward another Alembic (this was before I bought my Epic.) But, I'm really pleased with the bass. Rich (Message edited by richbass939 on December 31, 2004) | ||
| bkbass
Member Username: bkbass Post Number: 90 Registered: 11-2003 |
Gentlemen,if you have the time go to www.guitarparlor.net. Bil Mitchell is a very fine builder.I have four of his accoustic basses and have mentioned him several times on this site.His four strings are just as loud as the single cutaway Martins and was one of the reasons I had him build for me.He has a new line called Home Grown Guitars that may include basses if he gets enough interest.I also have a taylor bass that has even less volume than usual since I have it strung with Thomastics nylon core bronze.It has it's own unique sound which is perfectly suited for recording or plugging in.In fact I haven't really heard or played any accoustic bass that didn't need some kind of extra help.Think about the size of a bass fiddle and how much volume it puts out.Isn't it also lacking volume?How about our beloved Alembics and fenders etc.,look at the refrigerator size cabinets we need to move enough air to keep up with the guitar players lunch pail size amp!I think that if it sounds good as an accoustic instrument,has a great speaking voice you should buy it.You can always plug it into a small amp to make that voice louder.Just my 0.02 | ||
| exploiterplayer
Junior Username: exploiterplayer Post Number: 29 Registered: 12-2002 |
The old Kramer Ferringtons are very good sounding acoustic basses. I gigged with one for about a year and felt the bass had a very dynamic range of acoustical and electrical tones. Also, the bass was a breeze to play. Availability might be a problem because I dont think they produced very many. I have seen a few floating aroud pawn shops for as little as $150-$250. As far as Moonstones go....I have owned two Steve's Basses, (Eclipse Bass and an Exploder Bass) both were excellent insturments. I hear his acoustic stuff is amazing but expensive. | ||
| eastcoastepic
Intermediate Member Username: eastcoastepic Post Number: 129 Registered: 10-2003 |
Oh, no.....not again..... Hey Val, is it true?? I just went to the Tacoma website, and at the bottom of the page it says "Copyright,2005,Fender Musical Instruments". Did Fender buy Tacoma?? Warranty repairs are now done in Tennessee...office now in Arizona. Do they still make the guitars in Washington state?? (or Guadalajara?) The "pre-Fender" product was excellent; I hope it remains so........ (Sign of the Apocalypse: Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, Alembic Division) | ||
| eastcoastepic
Intermediate Member Username: eastcoastepic Post Number: 130 Registered: 10-2003 |
P.S. Sorry for any hysteria/nausea/cardiac arrythmia produced by the last sentence of the previous post; I know it's sacrilege to even suggest that. Semper Fidelis... | ||
| valvil
Moderator Username: valvil Post Number: 691 Registered: 7-2002 |
Well, yes it is true. Fender did buy Tacoma recently, unfortunately. Some instruments are still made in Washington state for now. I was told at my old store that now Tacoma will emphasize low end acoustics in the 200-300 range. A pity to see an excellent American company that made great sounding mid-price guitars reduced to just another run-of-the-mill low end guitar maker. Most of the production should be moving overseas, apparently. Valentino | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 899 Registered: 3-2004 |
Jeez, that's even a step down from the Olympia line. Those Tacomas were a great value in the genre and they'll be missed. Very sad. | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 405 Registered: 9-2002 |
I'm fortunate living in Nashville in that there are lots to great stores with a lot of emphasis on acoustics. Acoustic bass guitars are something I'd love to have, but doing a 4 string is hard, and since I only play fives anymore, it's really going to take some doing to get one right. The extra pull on the top, getting any kind of acoustic push off that low B, somebody will hit it one day . . . but that day ain't here yet. I did get to try several around town though . . . All the cheap ones scare me, as I just know the top won't last long (remember all those 'swollen' cheap twelve strings you've seen?), so why bother (Epiphone El Capitans, Ibanez, etc.)? I tried one of the all mahogany, cutaway Martins down at Gruhn's. Gorgeous kind of flat gingerbread color. OK, but nothing that caught my ear (and I REALLY wanted to like a Martin). They're also Tacoma dealers and the TChief was nice, but I just didn't like the way it looked. Sam Ash had an Amber topped Taylor AB1. Really cool with the cutaway, 24 frets, NOT neck heavy (a LOT of them are), slim neck, but dead as a door nail unplugged with NEW strings (dad bronze bass). Geez. Corner Music had one of the rare fretless Takamines. Jazz guitar shape, f-holes, and packed a telescoping stand that collapses into the body, which makes it REAL heavy strapped on. Probably as close to a faux-upright sound as these are gonna get. Even more dead than the Taylor unplugged, but a very interesting piece. Next . . . Tried its American cousin, one of the Ovation cutaways. Really nice looking, but a bass-size roundback would only work if I was 40 pounds lighter, I'm afraid I have a bit of a round front ! I was REAL impressed with a Larrivee I tried. Regular box guitar shape, 20 frets, solid spruce top, maple back and sides, wonderful tone unplugged. Of course the curse and magic of acoustic instruments is the wood. I'll have to see several more to see if they all are this good, or was this just one of the lucky ones where it all came together . . . but no five-string. But it was my-tee fiiiine, and look forward to trying a few more. I really wish Yamaha would have made a five string BEX4. Oh well . . . J o e y | ||
| keith_h
Junior Username: keith_h Post Number: 44 Registered: 2-2005 |
In regards to Fender purchaing Tacoma, I think it is just a testament to the sad state of afairs with US businesses. A brand with a good reputation is bought for the name and not the products underlying the brand. From there the produt becomes less relevant and always seems to go down hill. Unlike Alembic where the product is still the most important part of the equation. Keith | ||
| exploiterplayer
Junior Username: exploiterplayer Post Number: 48 Registered: 12-2002 |
Overbracing also seems to be a big tone killer on some of the acoustic basses I have played and examined. |
