| Author | Message | ||
| robinc
Member Username: robinc Post Number: 57 Registered: 5-2008 |
Hello all, I'm in the market for an acoustic bass guitar. I intend to spend a good deal of time in the music shop playing as many instruments as I can, but has anyone had any good experiences and can point out some notable instruments? Specifically, I am looking for: -5 strings -24 frets -easy on the wallet :-) Edit: Also, please feel free to let me know of any useful information about acoustics that can help me choose a bass. I really know very little about acoustic bass guitars. Thanks! (Message edited by robinc on August 11, 2008) | ||
| keavin
Senior Member Username: keavin Post Number: 1457 Registered: 12-2002 |
http://shop.ebay.com/items/_W0QQ_nkwZacousticQ20bassQ20guitarsQQ_armrsZ1QQ_fromZR40QQ_mdoZ | ||
| flaxattack
Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 2021 Registered: 4-2004 |
question is do you want cheap or do you want good? cheap- check out the michael kellys- good for the price..... | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 1855 Registered: 10-2002 |
Plus one one for the Kelly. I play my dragonfly every day. Graeme | ||
| funkyjazzjunky
Intermediate Member Username: funkyjazzjunky Post Number: 139 Registered: 5-2007 |
Carvin makes a great model https://www.carvinguitars.com/catalog/guitars/index.php?model=ac50 | ||
| 3rd_ray
Member Username: 3rd_ray Post Number: 70 Registered: 2-2008 |
I've owned a Carvin AC50 in the past. It was a great bass, but I wouldn't call it acoustic because you can't really hear it unless you plug it in. I tried a Breedlove 4-string fretless in a store a while back (they also make a 5-string with frets). I was pretty impressed with the sound and the feel, but I didn't buy it so I can't say too much about it. It was louder than the Carvin, but you would probably still need to plug in for most situations. I don't know how the loudness compares to other ABG's. If you're always going to plug in anyway, I would recommend the Carvin. The piezo pickup has a great tone, close to an upright sound. Mike | ||
| elwoodblue
Senior Member Username: elwoodblue Post Number: 525 Registered: 6-2002 |
I've been happy with my Michael kelly instruments also. | ||
| dnburgess
Senior Member Username: dnburgess Post Number: 565 Registered: 1-2003 |
We are just building up our acoustic bass department and so far I've been able to spend time with Ovation, Michael Kelly, Warwick, Godin models. In summary, the Michael Kelly is great value for money. The Warwick Alien is the nicest playing acoustic that I have played. It sounds and looks great and is well worth the extra cost. The Ovation Nikki Sixx Signature is also really nice playing and sounding. It looks better in the flesh than in photos and is a serious contender. (Don't let the signature put you off if you're not a Crue fan.) | ||
| robinc
Member Username: robinc Post Number: 58 Registered: 5-2008 |
Thanks, everybody, for the help thus far! I should add that this bass would primarily be used without amplification, so it would need to have a good presence and be able to run with the pack (acoustic guitars, violin, hand drums...). | ||
| dfung60
Advanced Member Username: dfung60 Post Number: 351 Registered: 5-2002 |
It's hard for an acoustic bass to move enough air to keep up with a guitar. An acoustic upright/doghouse bass has a lot of surface area and resonating volume, but would still have a hard time keeping up with a loud acoustic guitar player, so a guitar-bodied bass isn't going to have much of a chance. You only need a small amp to keep up with even a dreadnought, so don't count small-scale amplification if there's any chance of using it. I haven't tried most of the ones that have been mentioned here, but the Tacoma Thunderchief is relatively inexpensive and you actually can hear the low B string acoustically. The Taylor/Klein acoustic (hasn't been made for years now) isn't that loud but fairly well balanced in tone down in the low zone as well as being eccentric and eye catching in design (but very expensive). I have an old Kramer Ferrington 4-string bass which I really like a lot - the playing action is like an electric and it's very loud acoustically (because it's old school from the 80's, the built-in piezo really sounds bad with an external buffer box and even then not that great). The Ferringtons are cheap as long as Kiss isn't doing any unplugged shows. As soon as you are amplifying the thing, there are a lot more choices. Foremost, you'd want to check out the Turner Renaissance RBL basses. They have a spruce top and hollowed out body, but are not really acoustic. Because of the odd nylon-core Thomastiks that were designed for it and special piezo system, you can get some very acoustic tones with it with a lot of authority. David Fung | ||
| robinc
Member Username: robinc Post Number: 59 Registered: 5-2008 |
Thanks for the info, David. I realize that an unamplified bass guitar will never match an unamplified guitar, but all I need is a fighting chance. The guys I play with have been harping on me for years to get an acoustic that can come with us to the beach, on camping trips, to music festivals, and other places where amplification is not an option, so they will keep it quiet enough to hear the bass if I show up with one to play. This brings up the price factor. I don't want to shell out much more than $500 for an instrument that is bound to suffer a bit from my adventures, regardless of how well I protect it. That being said, I fully intend on using this instrument in a normal band setup with amplification, so I want to find a bass with decent electronics. (Message edited by robinc on August 11, 2008) | ||
| 57basstra
Senior Member Username: 57basstra Post Number: 747 Registered: 4-2005 |
When in doubt, look in the pawn shops. | ||
| tomhug
Junior Username: tomhug Post Number: 20 Registered: 7-2008 |
Being the first to admit that I haven't spent tons of time with all that many acoustic basses though I have played a few, based on what experience I do have, I am in doubt that the low B really can do much in a purely acoustic setting. The only acoustic bass I've been impressed with was a Takamine, this one I think. Doesn't get you to 24 frets, but the Jumbo body moves a lot of air, and to my ears, the Takamine sits nicely in the tone continuum between bass and dreadnought guitar. I don't own one of these though, so take my recommendation with a grain of salt. If an acoustic bass came up on my GAS list (and there are a few items ahead of that particular beast, though I sure wouldn't mind owning one), it would be the Taylor/Klein mentioned above, this Takamine or this one | ||
| robinc
Member Username: robinc Post Number: 60 Registered: 5-2008 |
is this the taylor/klein that people are referring to: http://www.epinions.com/review/Taylor_AB1/inst-review-53AC-B0A9D4A-3A375843-prod1 | ||
| funkyjazzjunky
Intermediate Member Username: funkyjazzjunky Post Number: 140 Registered: 5-2007 |
For the price you want to spend, I would try a Samick if you need a true acoustic bass guitar. | ||
| 3rd_ray
Member Username: 3rd_ray Post Number: 73 Registered: 2-2008 |
I've never played one, but I'm pretty sure Stanley Clarke used an Epiphone El Capitan on East River Drive. I see them on eBay every now and then, 4 and 5 strings. The bigger the body, the louder it will be. The El Capitan looks fairly large. Mike | ||
| eligilam
Intermediate Member Username: eligilam Post Number: 124 Registered: 2-2006 |
I recently played a very large-body acoustic Dean at the (gulp) local Guitar Center...I don't know much about sound quality, but it was pretty loud, at least in the store. Sticker was $199. | ||
| glocke
Senior Member Username: glocke Post Number: 410 Registered: 9-2002 |
Ive played some in the local GC's, some fenders, a Michael Kelly, maybe a takamine. I have yet to find one that is loud enough. | ||
| glocke
Senior Member Username: glocke Post Number: 411 Registered: 9-2002 |
Ive played some in the local GC's, some fenders, a Michael Kelly, maybe a takamine. I have yet to find one that is loud enough. | ||
| dfung60
Advanced Member Username: dfung60 Post Number: 354 Registered: 5-2002 |
robinc - Yes, the Taylor I was talking about (the only one they ever made, I believe) were the AB-1 and AB-2. The models were largely the same except for the body materials - one has a light colored spruce top, the other was all imbuia which is a dark wood. The construction is eccentric and really cool at the same time. The offset soundhole and unusual body shape are obvious from any picture, but what you really notice when you handle one is that the body cross section is very asymmetrical - the side profile is heavily wedge-shaped (I can't remember, but I think the bottom is the thick side) with the wide shell being much deeper than an acoustic guitar. It's also wedge shaped from the cutaway end of the body to the end pin. The workmanship was very nice, although in the vein of the eco-styled Taylors (e.g., not like a shiny Martin). I believe they cost $2500-3000 new which is as expensive as any acoustic bass guitar I remember seeing. There were probably good opportunities to get them for a lot less toward the end of the production run. David Fung | ||
| crobbins
Intermediate Member Username: crobbins Post Number: 167 Registered: 6-2004 |
Here's a Carvin AC40 http://www.elderly.com/vintage/items/55U-4126.htm | ||
| thumbsup
Member Username: thumbsup Post Number: 59 Registered: 7-2008 |
Check out an Ibenez 5 accoustic. (hope thats not a nasty word here!  I have one I've been happy with for the money.And its in you price range. You will still have trouble keeping up accousticly with what ever bass you deside. Its like David stated,its hard for an accoustic bass to push enough air to produce volume sound, even for the top line Takamine & Taylor. | ||
| keurosix
Advanced Member Username: keurosix Post Number: 359 Registered: 10-2005 |
Doesn't Phil Jones make a battery powered suitcase bass amp perfect for acoustic gigs where no power plug can be found? This would free up the selection to ANY of the basses mentioned. I've played the Michael Kelly, and the Turner Renaissance. The MK is hard to beat for the money. Turner almost sounds like a double bass - but like the doghouse, not much variation: One trick pony. Saw the Dean Taylor and Takamine at GC. Dean is loud & cheap. Takamine better quality. Taylor really great quality but way out of your price range (and mine!) Happy hunting! Kris | ||
| 3rd_ray
Member Username: 3rd_ray Post Number: 74 Registered: 2-2008 |
Roland also makes a small amp that will run on batteries... http://www.roland.com/PRODUCTS/en/MICRO_CUBE_BASS_RX/index.html Here's the Phil Jones amp... http://www.philjonesbass.com/products-combos-briefcase.htm I've played both and neither are very loud, but they might be okay for an acoustic set. The Roland is cheap and has some good modeled amp sounds and effects. Mike | ||
| richbass939
Senior Member Username: richbass939 Post Number: 966 Registered: 11-2004 |
Robin, I agree with David Fung. I never expected an ABG to keep up, volume-wise, with other instruments. I have gigged with mine in low volume settings with a small amp and it was fine. I have had my Tacoma Thunderchief 4 string for about 5 or 6 years. I really like it. It has a good, rich tone. The amplified sound is very much like the acoustic sound, which is just what I wanted. Mine was made before Tacoma was bought by Fender or Gibson or whoever it was that owns them now. I don't know if the quality has changed or not. I think they are still somewhere around $1000. Rich | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 1858 Registered: 10-2002 |
I bought my Kelly as I don't have a practice amp for my Alembics. Means I can hear myself while I'm working out songs or playing along with the Hi-Fi without having to set up my gigging rig. I've only once played along with the rest of the band acoustically and I was drowned out by the two guitarists who both had pretty small acoustics. Graeme | ||
| bkbass
Intermediate Member Username: bkbass Post Number: 174 Registered: 11-2003 |
Robin, I own 6 ABG's of them are four ABG's built for me by Bil Mitchell Guitars @ wwwguitarpalour.com. They are: 4 strg fretted, 4 strg fretless, 8 strg fretted and a 4 strg fretted piccolo all with Fishman systems in them. They are quite loud and can keep up with Martins acoustically. Bil can make a 5 strg with no problem he has three build slots left allotted for ABG's afterwhich he will not build them any more. By now you would have guessed that their a little more than $500.00. They start around $2,500.00 and then go up from there. Let me remind you that you are on an Alembic site so moneywise quality costs what it costs. I also own a Taylor AB2 and most recently an Ibanez 4strg fretless that is around the 500.00 mark. It had a different and wonderful speaking voice for solos. I have played all of the Ibanez exotic wood ABG's and the 4 strgs shine for the money. Nearly every 5 strg ABG I have played on all had the B string flap and have had extreme volume rolloff because the bodies are just not big enough to handle the volume of air physically needed to produce the low notes accurately. The one and only exception in my travels was several years ago at the Martin factory where in their showroom a used noncutaway 5strg was for sale. All I can say is that it was magic except for the price. I recommend the Ibanez four strg exotic top models except for the 5strg for the aforementioned reasons. The exotic tops have that sharp cutaway. The flat black finish one is the least expensive of the brood and also the loudest acoustically. Purely from a tone /volume point of view your around 2k-4k for real music making ABG's I hope this and the other comments help you to make an informed decision. It all begs the question of when Alembic will make a debut of something truely amazing in this type of instrument. Please write us back with your purchase decision as it adds to the general knowledge base of the club. Happy hunting and God Bless.B. | ||
| funkyjazzjunky
Intermediate Member Username: funkyjazzjunky Post Number: 143 Registered: 5-2007 |
Can you play double-bass? You may get a decent sounding 'student' bass-viol that will be inexpensive and give you volume. | ||
| robinc
Member Username: robinc Post Number: 66 Registered: 5-2008 |
Double bass was my first instrument, I have only recently been moving into bass guitar territory. I have been playing double bass in a classical setting for about 9 years now. Needless to say, my double bass is far too nice an instrument (and of course way too big) for travel. My dad is a luthier by profession. He focuses on violins and violas but is more than qualified to do work on just about any stringed instrument, excluding pianos and guitars. He actually set up my bass and made a new bridge for it. I have literally grown up around the workshop and in the midst of some very extraordinary instruments, so Barry's comment about 'quality costs what it costs' is a mentality I am quite accustomed to. Unfortunately for me, as a young man on a college student's budget I simply don't have the $ to invest in all of the nice equipment that i would like to. Hence, I am cursed to wait until the day I have enough disposable income to make my dreams of acquiring these beautiful instruments a reality. Someday... |
