Acoustic bass fetish club Part 2

[RandyMolson]

Originally Posted by BackToTheGroove

I had an acoustic bass (Fender Kingman, sold), and looking back and thinking about getting another, I think an acoustic bass makes the most sense as a fretless. An inspiring mod banikek. Cool stuff.

I agree. To me, an ABG is a very organic experience, as is fretless. Not sure if it is a fluke, but 4 of the last 7 new club members have fretless ABGs (the ratio of fretless ABGs in this club is historically 13%).

[bassist4dalord]

Well the wife took me to Guitar Center today. There, I fell in love with an Ibanez AEB5BK (the black one). Nice, FAT neck, cutaway for upper fret access (I think they look cooler, too) and a nice price of $199.

So, now I'm saving up for one! We're college students, so I've got to save up for one; can't just go and drop $200 right away. I looked around on the GC website and apparently there's one in Light Violin Sunburst. Absolutely gorgeous! Can't wait

[Orangeclawhamme]

Originally Posted by bassist4dalord

Well the wife took me to Guitar Center today. There, I fell in love with an Ibanez AEB5BK (the black one). Nice, FAT neck, cutaway for upper fret access (I think they look cooler, too) and a nice price of $199.

So, now I'm saving up for one! We're college students, so I've got to save up for one; can't just go and drop $200 right away. I looked around on the GC website and apparently there's one in Light Violin Sunburst. Absolutely gorgeous! Can't wait

Save up a little more and get a set of these http://www.bassstringsonline.com/SIT...95_p_1179.html They made my AEB5 come alive! The site is owned by a TB member! Between this experience and when I upgraded the strings on my Squier Jag, I am convinced that these bargain basses need new strings as soon as possible, if not earlier! Strings has to be one place where manufacturers skimp to give us these prices.

[bassist4dalord]

Originally Posted by Orangeclawhamme

Save up a little more and get a set of these http://www.bassstringsonline.com/SIT...95_p_1179.html They made my AEB5 come alive! The site is owned by a TB member! Between this experience and when I upgraded the strings on my Squier Jag, I am convinced that these bargain basses need new strings as soon as possible, if not earlier! Strings has to be one place where manufacturers skimp to give us these prices.

Thanks for the recommendation! I'm a string geek myself I frequent the BSO store. The strings I want to put on my future ABG are D'Addario Tapewounds, which I have on my electric bass and my current, in-need-of-repair Fender ABG. Love these strings!

Thanks again!

[ErnieD]

Just got mine today from juststrings.com Gona put them on my new Boulder Creek Fretless 5 ABG, also just got it last week. First time to try Nylons, just in the packet they seem slick/slippery. Hope I can make em work for me on the BC/ABG.

It came with D'Ad Bronze strings, really zingy/noisy and trashed my fingertips but they seemed to have settled down some now after a few days use. The bronze Low B string is, I think, a .130. Just guessing as BC pamplet just says comes D'Ad strings.

Well I know they are bronze and from searching the juststrings site, they only show one bronze 5 string set that has .130 B, so I'm guessing but I could be wrong.

The new D'Ad Nylons low B is .135, looks pretty darn thick. Hope I don't have to mod the nut, bridge or other. Well if they don't work I'll take the Chromes off my P5 put them on the BC and put the Nylons on my P5. Just want something besides those bronze strings. No waste; no worries.

[SurferJoe46]

I'll take any bronze takeoffs - I find them warm, richly harmonic and have that special voice that I wanted in my AEB10 Ibanez.

It was never my intention to make my acoustic bass sound like my slab bodies - I knew going in that it was different - but having seen Nathan East playing one in the concert with Clapton, I had to have one!

I checked and he used bronze strings - at least in that concert - so it was a natural for me to try them.

If one finds them too zingy or that they whistle too much, like I did: I changed my fretting technique and now they sound nice. 'Attacking' the non-acoustic strings like on a magnetic p'up, you can do some sliding and not get the whistle into the amp.

But a piezzo p'up hears everything, so I found that momentarily placing the finger pad (left hand here) on the next note position and then pulling the string down to the fingerboard, cut the unwanted noise almost totally.

Almost like a pre-mute.

But - the overall woodiness and timber,voice and string harmonics is what an acoustic is all about anyway - so who'd want to hide it with strings that make it sound like the bass it is not? That's silly, I feel.

[chadds]

Originally Posted by SurferJoe46

I'll take any bronze takeoffs - I find them warm, richly harmonic and have that special voice that I wanted in my AEB10 Ibanez.

It was never my intention to make my acoustic bass sound like my slab bodies - I knew going in that it was different - but having seen Nathan East playing one in the concert with Clapton, I had to have one!

I checked and he used bronze strings - at least in that concert - so it was a natural for me to try them.

If one finds them too zingy or that they whistle too much, like I did: I changed my fretting technique and now they sound nice. 'Attacking' the non-acoustic strings like on a magnetic p'up, you can do some sliding and not get the whistle into the amp.

But a piezzo p'up hears everything, so I found that momentarily placing the finger pad (left hand here) on the next note position and then pulling the string down to the fingerboard, cut the unwanted noise almost totally.

Almost like a pre-mute.

But - the overall woodiness and timber,voice and string harmonics is what an acoustic is all about anyway - so who'd want to hide it with strings that make it sound like the bass it is not? That's silly, I feel.

+1
Sunbeam bronzes are very musical. All bronze strings are not created equal. Some can be just brash.
+1 on technique!

[bassist4dalord]

Originally Posted by Lokire

You've probably seen them already, but here's my group of ABGs:

Kinal Kompact 4-string fretless
Kinal Kompact 6-string fretted
Tacoma Thunderchief
Ernie Ball Earthwood

Where exactly do you live?? Such a lovely collection! There's not a bass in this pic that I wouldn't love to own.

[jay tay]

[bassist4dalord]

Originally Posted by SurferJoe46

I'll take any bronze takeoffs - I find them warm, richly harmonic and have that special voice that I wanted in my AEB10 Ibanez.

It was never my intention to make my acoustic bass sound like my slab bodies - I knew going in that it was different - but having seen Nathan East playing one in the concert with Clapton, I had to have one!

I checked and he used bronze strings - at least in that concert - so it was a natural for me to try them.

If one finds them too zingy or that they whistle too much, like I did: I changed my fretting technique and now they sound nice. 'Attacking' the non-acoustic strings like on a magnetic p'up, you can do some sliding and not get the whistle into the amp.

But a piezzo p'up hears everything, so I found that momentarily placing the finger pad (left hand here) on the next note position and then pulling the string down to the fingerboard, cut the unwanted noise almost totally.

Almost like a pre-mute.

But - the overall woodiness and timber,voice and string harmonics is what an acoustic is all about anyway - so who'd want to hide it with strings that make it sound like the bass it is not? That's silly, I feel.

I've been watching a lot of YouTube videos, and I'm starting to think I might try phosphor bronze again when I get my new acoustic. I currently have D'Addario Tapewounds on my ADG-tuned Fender BG-31 (damaged). They sound really good, but I think I'd like to give the bronze strings another try.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuISI...feature=relmfu

This video in particular really got me. Great sound!

[Cougmeister]

I'm definitely going to try them now. I've got the Olympia version of that bass and right now it has the elixir nanowebs and its a little bright for me.

This one almost makes me want to defret if too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40XY...e_gdata_player

[SurferJoe46]

Go for this one - with Nathan East on Acoustic:::

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EruMBDQWbEU

This is the video that made me go out and buy my AEB10

[ErnieD]

not really looking to alter the sound of my Boulder Creek Fretless 5. Mainly looking for a more comfortable feeling string set. Hence, ordered the Nylon Tapewounds as many here say they feel and sound great on their ABG's.

Nothing wrong with trying out new strings to better fit one's playing style. But if one finds new strings to better the tone/feel of thier ABG, then that's cool, I feel.

Since I use Chromes on my elec P5 and J5, I kinda know what I like. Trying the Nylons first time installing them tomorrow. And as this is first time to own a ABG it's all new to me. So I'll see for myself what these Tapes do for me. That being said, I played my 55-02D w/DR Black Beauties last nite at a funk gig, so I can compromise some comfort for tone.

[bassist4dalord]

Originally Posted by SurferJoe46

Go for this one - with Nathan East on Acoustic:::

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EruMBDQWbEU

This is the video that made me go out and buy my AEB10

Ooh yeah, I can definitely see how that would encourage use of bronze rounds. Nathan East is a downright fabulous musician; I've always thought his electric tone was spectacular, and so is his acoustic-electric tone!

[MD]

Originally Posted by ErnieD

Trying the Nylons first time installing them tomorrow. And as this is first time to own a ABG it's all new to me. So I'll see for myself what these Tapes do for me.

When I bought my Takamine G series , maybe ~7 years ago, it didn't take too long for me to get to changing the stock strings. I put on a set of TI Acousticores. I played them for maybe six weeks to the point of them failing. I went to LaBella Tapes and never felt the desire to try anything else. Current set on my B10 is going on 3 years. YMMV of course.

Hope they work for you.
Would love to hear clips of your BC.

[ErnieD]

hope I like the Tapes as well. And best thing is, if they don't work for me.....they come right back off again. No worries.

Gota say I went searching here, alot, on the BC basses for background on them. Not a whole bunch of info on these basses here. But I saw where you always had positive things to say about the BC's and that kinda sinched me trying out a BC as my first ABG.

Other than having to get more comfy with the jumbo body style, I'm diggin this bass the more I play it.

[ErnieD]

Just gotta say the D'Addario Nylon Tapewounds feel fantastic on the BC FL 5 ABG.

And yes they did change the tone of this bass..........for the better. So now it feels and sounds better than when I first got it. Could be me getting more used to it, though this jumbo body is still a pain to get my right arm comfortable over it.

But at least my left hand fingers are much happier and the bass now sounds more like some of the better quality fretless ABG's I viewed on vids. Very nice.

[Cougmeister]

So are tapewounds the way I need to go if I'm looking for a fretless/upright sound?

[jeffbonny]

Originally Posted by Cougmeister

So are tapewounds the way I need to go if I'm looking for a fretless/upright sound?

Depends on what kind of "upright" sound appeals to you. Tapewounds will give you a more percussive old school gut string type sound. TI flats or D'Addario Chromes will give you a more modern steel string "spirocore" kinda sound.

[rtslinger]

Can I get a number Epiphone El Segundo