To have or not to have...acoustic bass guitar

[neuman]

Go for it! I found that jamming on my ABG "forces" me to focus on the musical idea and my playing. When I try to brainstorm with my electric I find my self using my Zoom B3 or other effects and get distracted finding the right effect instead of the right music.

Yep, I do not possess the fortitude to bypass my board with my electric so the ABG is the route for me.

[ShadowVampyre]

I bought an Ibanez AEB 10 used from a friend, thinking I would do the very same thing: practice and play during my lunch hour out a park or something. While I did enjoy it, it IS large, hard to see the frets (had to use a sharpie to make dots where the frets are on the side of the neck).
I played it in church once, with an acoustic guitar, but hooked up to the PA, sounds the same as my electric. Played it about 6 or 7 times total, mostly collecting dust.
I just sold mine on CL, helped pay for a new Squier CM P bass.
I also just use an interface to my ipad/iphone now with my bass for messing around on the back porch or whatever.
Sounded like a good idea at the time, and I did use it, but it became used less and less.

[Raymeous]

Why not?

I have my Squier P-bass special sitting next to my computer desk and I just noodle on it without plugging it in.

[PaulMacCnj]

My first bass was an ABG. I thought it would be good to have because I enjoyed acoustic jams with others. However, I quickly learned that the volume on ABGs are no match for acoustic guitars. It was funny when my friend said that he could barely hear my bass. I told him that I could barely hear it, also, because his acoustic guitar was drowning me out. The ABG had the electronics for plugging in, but I wasn't too happy with the bulkiness of the body and decided to sell it. That was 6 years ago and I've never regretted the decision.

[bassdog]

"Save your money. Electric basses work just fine unplugged."

In theory, yes,but not a good idea. With the electric unplugged, one tends to play too hard with the right hand and you will have to modify that when plugged in. Not the best way to practice, imo.

Bob