Acoustic and Electric interchangable?

[ConcreteAcorn]

So I'm planning on picking up an acoustic bass to play around with in my free time.

I've looked online at a few instructional books people seem to recommend, though will any bass book be alright? Or should I be looking for something written specifically for an acoustic?

[Mushroo]

Hi ConcreteAcorn, there are two instruments called "acoustic bass."

One looks like an acoustic guitar and is called, appropriately, "acoustic bass guitar." This is played just like the electric bass guitar, and you can use electric bass guitar method books for your studies.

The other is called "upright bass" and looks like a big fiddle. This has a completely different style of play and I would recommend using instructional materials specific to the upright bass.

Either way I highly encourage you to find a good teacher for private lessons to guide your studies down the right path.

[germ_77]

If you are talking about a normal acoustic I cant see any difference in them. If you are meaning an upright then yes you would want something specific for the instrument.

Personally I dont really see much point in acoustic's, I have recorded a few and some of them do have a really nice tone on them but make sure you try one out in a shop for a while first. If you are thinking along the lines of guitar where they are really loud and good for playing accoustically outside with people I dont find them to be very loud at all, I have never heard one over an acoustic guitar jamming with it. Could just be that all the acoustic guitar players I see play very loud though.

I am sure someone else has better info for ya.

[Mushroo]

Originally Posted by germ_77

Personally I dont really see much point in acoustic's...

They are great for bedroom or poolside practice, and many of them have a piezo-electric pickup that gives a unique sound amplified.

I agree that most lower-priced ABG's are useless for jamming with other musicians louder than gently finger-picked acoustic guitar.

[MalcolmAmos]

I learned bass on an acoustic bass. Huge monster gave it back to the friend that let me borrow it and went to the music store and got myself an electric bass.

I think you will find that it will not have the volume necessary to use in most bands. If you just want it to practice un-plugged get a headphone VOX amp. Cost $30.

Vox AP-AC amPlug AC30 Headphone Amp

[germ_77]

Originally Posted by Mushroo

They are great for bedroom or poolside practice, and many of them have a piezo-electric pickup that gives a unique sound amplified.

I agree that most lower-priced ABG's are useless for jamming with other musicians louder than gently finger-picked acoustic guitar.

Agreed, also make sure to run it through a good preamp and they sound 10 times better.

[ConcreteAcorn]

Sorry, sorry! I meant just a standard acoustic bass guitar, not upright.

It's an acoustic electric and I have an amp ready to go, and I really don't plan on playing this bass with anyone else very often, I'm just using it to learn the basics of bass guitar. I'll drop the money for an electric if I feel comfortable taking it beyond messing around.

I just didn't want to get into these books and find out I'm trying to play Snare music with a trombone.

[Mushroo]

The tunings, fingerings, music theory, role of the bassist, etc. are identical with acoustic and electric bass guitar.

The main difference of course is that they sound different. If/when you buy an electric you'll probably spend a few weeks learning how to get the best sound out of it. But you will be WAY ahead of the learning curve. Good luck!

[germ_77]

Well if thats what you are getting it for I would recommend just getting an electric man. for the price you will most likely get a better quality instrument in electric. They are a lot more common and you can find a pretty decent used electric for next to nothing in classified ad's or kijiji, etc.

Unless you have a really good hook up on an acoustic already. Just trying to help you out a bit, if you really want an acoustic I am not saying dont get one by any means, its your instrument and find something you like. Just make sure it is fairly decent if you are using it to decide if you like playing bass or not.

If you get a really crappy quality bass then it might turn you off as it could be harder to play than it should be. Also make sure you get someone to do an initial setup on it, may not seem like there is a lot that you can adjust on a bass but it can make a world of difference on playability.

[germ_77]

By accoustic do you mean an upright? If so I would get something specific. If your talking about just a normal acoustic I can't see much difference in how you would play it.