Hey all, I need a bass....

[schoonerblue]

I'm an ex-bass player from my highschool days BUT I'm dying to get back into it. I was your typical girl bass player who did mainly grungey stuff but now I'm more into folk-ish stuff. I'm thinking an acoustic fretless is the way I want to go. Any thoughts on that or recommendations? Anything you can think of that is nice and cheap? (I'm kind of short on fun money!)

Glad to be talking about bass again!

[bassteban]

Welcome to TB. All your questions have been covered many times, so searching through prior threads will tell you a lot. Also, filling in your profile helps potential responders w/knowing what will most likely work for you. My personal experience w/ABGs(acoustic bass guitars)is that they rarely produce enough volume to be used w/other instruments, thus need to be plugged in. at that point the acoustic factor is kind of out the window. There are of course widely varying opinions on this.

[schoonerblue]

i've update my profile a bit, so that should help. i'm not too worried about the acoustic problem of being heard as my playing involves usually just a few instruments. if it develops to more than that i can look into buying an amp in the future. i'm basically looking for something cheap, cheerful and fretless to cut my teeth on that doesn't sound twangy. perhaps such a thing doesn't exist????

[bassteban]

Well, again- ABGs are rarely(IME)loud enought to compete w/any other instruments; I'm talking one steel-string guitar, hand drums, etc. The exceptions(again, IME)are large-bodied- and usually expensive- higher-end basses. What's more, as you mentioned this specifically, fretless ABGs tend to lose a bit of the high-end(tone/pitch)& are even hader to hear in a band situation. I don't mean to discourage you w/all this; of course I love the bass but the direction you're wanting to go can prove tricky. Ask a lot of questions(here & in stores)& try lots of basses.

[MrLenny]

If you are getting back into playing consider intonation issues on a fretless.
It's a lot of work to get it down and keep it up. Think twice on that. Used Basses like Carvin, Fender and even Godin. They are well made and a good bargain.
Craigs list!!!

[schoonerblue]

both good points! i know that the transition to fretless will be tough!(%$#^%$ but i played cello for awhile, a bit of upright bass, i'm medium guitar player and an opera singer - so i'm hoping that all that will help me out in the transition!!!??? maybe not, but i'm pretty excited to try.

hmmm, so the pricier the bass - the louder it will be. there are no diamonds in the rough out there? how much would some of the brands you recommended cost at a used price?

[Muusers]

acoustic fretless... i know they exist, but they are pricey! and tbh, if you find a cheap one, i don't think it'll be worth the money...

[schoonerblue]

OK all i think i found one. Dean has put out a fretless (lined, phewf!) version of their EAB playmate - which is supposed to be pretty good for the price. In fact several of the reviews of the fretted version said they wished there was a fretless one - and here it is! My local steve's music is selling it for 270 CAD, so it's a steal.