Anyone else find this to be true?

Twenty2AcaciaAv · #1 08-17-2011, 08:25 AM

Okay, I've only been seriously playing bass for a year and a half, so we now got that out of the way (also helps with context).

Anyways, I've been playing in a hard rock band for a year but I also just recently joined an acoustic group. It's just three of us (I play bass, there's also a guitarist and a vocalist).

Anyways, because of that I decided to buy an acoustic bass. Altohugh part of it is for visuals, I also bought one so that I wouldn't need an amp to practice on it (yes, I'm well aware one doesn't need one to "practice" on an electric, but hear me out).

ANyways, for the past three weeks when I practice by myself I only play on my Washburn AB10 A/E. What I've been finding is that I play a heckavalot better on my electic now then I have before. I'm sure a lot of it has to do with the need to press down harder and pluck harder on an acoustic bass (keep in mind that even with my bridge fild down the action is still pretty high).

Anyways, anyone else find this to be true? That practicing on an acoustic bass makes one even better on an electric?

tdub0199 · #2 08-17-2011, 08:28 AM

In the past I have noticed that if I play my ABG, it does seem to make playing my electrics alot easier.....

Lo-E · #3 08-17-2011, 08:33 AM

Well, I don't know where you got the idea that you don't need to practice on an electric bass, but you couldn't be more wrong. You need to practice on any instrument, regardless of whether it is electric or acoustic.

Getting to your question, though - yes, it's usually true that practicing on an instrument that's harder to play and then playing an instrument that's easier to play will show pretty obvious progress... for a while. It's also possible that being able to hear yourself while practicing might be making a difference if you usually practice electric unplugged.

That said, you should be able to get your acoustic set up so that it plays and feels similar to your electric. This might take away from the "calisthenic" benefits of strengthening your hands, but in the long run it will make it a more usable instrument and help to avoid possible injuries in the future. It will also make it easier to switch back and forth without having to adjust from one to the other.

When you do practice with the electric, be sure to plug it in. It's always more beneficial to be able to hear any mistake you might be making, no matter how subtle.

Thombas · #4 08-17-2011, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lo-E

Well, I don't know where you got the idea that you don't need to practice on an electric bass, but you couldn't be more wrong. You need to practice on any instrument, regardless of whether it is electric or acoustic.

...I think he's saying he doesn't need an AMP to practice on the electric...

Twenty2AcaciaAv · #5 08-17-2011, 08:38 AM

"Well, I don't know where you got the idea that you don't need to practice on an electric bass, but you couldn't be more wrong. You need to practice on any instrument, regardless of whether it is electric or acoustic."

I practice on my electric as well (for hours with the band). But when I'm practicing by myself doing scales I practice on my acoustic.

Twenty2AcaciaAv · #6 08-17-2011, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thombas

...I think he's saying he doesn't need an AMP to practice on the electric...

Correct.

Twenty2AcaciaAv · #7 08-17-2011, 08:41 AM

"That said, you should be able to get your acoustic set up so that it plays and feels similar to your electric. "

I plan on it. However, to get the action any lower I'll have to take it to a luthier and have him or her use a router, as the saddle has been shaved down as far as possible without having to use a router.

Lo-E · #8 08-17-2011, 08:51 AM

I re-read your post and realized where I missed the "one". I understand now. My bad.

You might be able to get the action lower with a neck adjustment. Chances are, if the saddle is as low as it can get, the problem is not at the bridge, but rather an issue with neck relief or neck angle.

Check your neck relief and see if there's room to flatten it out a bit. If you fret the low E string at the first and last frets, you can use the string itself to see how much bow is in the neck. Use the gap between the bottom of the string and the frets as your gauge.

Sorry about the misunderstanding!

M0ses · #9 08-17-2011, 08:52 AM

He said that an amp was not required to practice on electric, not that it's unnecessary to practice at all on an electric.

EDIT: guess I'm behind the ball, too...

Twenty2AcaciaAv · #10 08-17-2011, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lo-E

I re-read your post and realized where I missed the "one". I understand now. My bad.

You might be able to get the action lower with a neck adjustment. Chances are, if the saddle is as low as it can get, the problem is not at the bridge, but rather an issue with neck relief or neck angle.

Check your neck relief and see if there's room to flatten it out a bit. If you fret the low E string at the first and last frets, you can use the string itself to see how much bow is in the neck. Use the gap between the bottom of the string and the frets as your gauge.

Sorry about the misunderstanding!

Sorry, I should have stated that the neck was the first thing I had adjusted on the bass. I'm going to take it to a different person to get it adjusted again, though (local guy instead of where I had it taken first, which was at Guitar Cener, where I bought it).

Lo-E · #11 08-17-2011, 09:13 AM

That's a good call. If you need to take a router to the bridge, something else is definitely wrong. Get it looked at by a good, experienced luthier before going any further, for sure. I can't speak for your local GC repair department, but in most cases they're less than stellar. A full-time dedicated luthier should be able to spot your trouble very quickly.

Best of luck with it-
E

Twenty2AcaciaAv · #12 08-17-2011, 09:20 AM

Thanks. I normally take my basses to a locally owned guitar shop that's been in the area for decades. My guitarist told me before that their luthier is very good.

Lo-E · #13 08-17-2011, 09:28 AM

You're in!

Twenty2AcaciaAv · #14 08-17-2011, 11:11 AM

Fergie Fulton · #15 08-17-2011, 11:27 AM

I find that practicing on any bass acoustically ( whether it be acoustic, semi acoustic, or an electric inplugged) to help improve a players awareness of the sound they generate.

I have advocatted to students and even established players to try it as it will, in my opinion, help them with understanding how notes are generated.
An amp will mask certain aspects such as sustain, fret buzz, plucking hand playing to hard, fretting hand not fretting notes correct etc.

It may be just me, but i find playing with just the instrument to be a good thing rather than a bad thing.