Acoustic bass guitar recommendations??

simonlittle · #1 11-01-2011, 03:52 AM

Hello folks
I'm currently rehearsing for a play which requires I use an acoustic bass guitar on stage. I've been trying out loads of basses around the shops in London but have yet to find one I really liked.
Needs to be reasonably priced. Have tried some Breedloves which were okay but too expensive. Have contacted Warwick (I am an endorser btw) but they won't have any Aliens until January. The best I've found so far is an Ibanez EWB20 which I thought was okay, if a little overpriced.
So do you have any recommendations? Or does anyone want to sell their Warwick Alien?? (ideally someone near London!)
It's surprisingly hard to find a decent acoustic bass it seems; much harder than I thought!!

Joe Nerve · #2 11-01-2011, 04:27 AM

If you want something reasonably priced, and will probably wind up getting a warwick down the line anyhow... I'd just pick up one of these for the novelty of it Fender Kingman Acoustic-Electric Bass Guitar: Shop Bass & Other Musical Instruments | Musician's Friend and wait on the warwick. Or I'd bite the bullet on finding something I "love" and pick us something cheap like a Dean until I could get what I really wanted.

If you wind up traveling down the Michael Kelly road, I'd suggest not buying anything sight unseen. I bought one many years ago which was awesome, and then a few years later got 2 in a row (when they started mass producing them) that had to be returned because they were unplayable down around the 10th, 11th fret.

I'd also see if a ubass would suit their needs cuz they're wicked fun to play, sound great amplified, and are an awesome and unique tool to add to the shed. Kala U-BASS Fretless Acoustic-Electric Bass Ukulele: Shop Folk & Traditional Instruments & Other Musical Instruments | Musician's Friend

LAPetrarca · #3 11-01-2011, 04:51 AM

Over the years, I've owned several and have had my Michael Kelly fretless for 7 or 8 years now and absolutely love it.

All of the fretted ABG's I've played or owned suffered from "fret rattle. I've found the trick is to go fretless and set them up with tapewounds and it will be a nice little addition to the arsenal.

**JxBass** · #4 11-01-2011, 05:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simonlittle

Hello folks
I'm currently rehearsing for a play which requires I use an acoustic bass guitar on stage. I've been trying out loads of basses around the shops in London but have yet to find one I really liked.
Needs to be reasonably priced. Have tried some Breedloves which were okay but too expensive. Have contacted Warwick (I am an endorser btw) but they won't have any Aliens until January. The best I've found so far is an Ibanez EWB20 which I thought was okay, if a little overpriced.
So do you have any recommendations? Or does anyone want to sell their Warwick Alien?? (ideally someone near London!)
It's surprisingly hard to find a decent acoustic bass it seems; much harder than I thought!!

I went through a similar search years ago, trying many acoustic basses and not finding one I liked. I finally came across the Warwick Alien and the search was over. I had to wait for mine as well but it was worth it.

pudgychef · #5 11-01-2011, 05:03 AM

played a bunch, owned a few - I find that unless you get into big money..(Taylor, Moonstone etc)

...there are Tacoma Thunderchiefs - and everything else.

Have yet to try the Warwick Alien but it looks (to my non-luthier eyes) like it is Thunderchief inspired with the off-set sound whole....ime basses with the off-set sound louder and move a bit more air (again just imho, ime)

the Thunderchief is a legit ABG un-amplified and sounds great plugged in.

agree if all you need is something to look the part, and it will always be amplified then that Kingston is a good choice until you can get an Alien.

btw I noticed on the Warwick site that all the Alien basses are MIC now...weren't the Warwick designated ones previously built elsewhere while the Rockbass Aliens were MIC? Just curious, not hung up on country of origin....

cnltb · #6 11-01-2011, 05:07 AM

I use a doderer( not the model pictured however).
Works very well.
Doderer

simonlittle · #7 11-01-2011, 05:54 AM

Thanks guys. I'll see if I can find a Fender or Tacoma to try somewhere around London. Everyone says the Aliens are great; not sure about the new cheaper ones though without a thorough test...

rockscott · #8 11-01-2011, 06:03 AM

Have you tried the epiphone el capitan, i have one, its a nice bass with rich full tone & a BIG body!

old-fashioned · #9 11-01-2011, 06:19 AM

I have one of the earlier version (40 CM) of this bass and it is fantastic. Seriously fantastic. I guess this new model would not be something less exciting. It has some updated features compared to mine. The additional magnetic pup option shouldn't be neglected IMO.

Furch Guitars - Model 61-CM

kanonfodr · #10 11-01-2011, 06:21 AM

I love my Fender Victor Bailey ABG, great tone plugged and unplugged.

Peace,
Greg

GBassNorth · #11 11-01-2011, 06:22 AM

I tried nearly every 4 and 5 string acoustic/electric bass I could get my hands on for over a 2 year period before I found the right one for me.
My observations:
There is trememdous variability in sound, projection and playability of acoustic basses (left unplugged).
Same brands and models at the same store tested side by side had very different sounds and playability.
Cost was not a significant indicator of good sound but it did seem to reflect build quality and general feel of the bass.
Very generally speaking (you really need to try before you buy an AB due to the variability) in the $1000 to $2000 range the Breedlove had one of the best builds and most consistant levels of sound projection from bass to bass. Under $1000 there were a LOT of gems that could be found by playing each one. The Fender ABs I tested were lacking in nearly every category except mojo - neat paint jobs and headstocks and the ever popular Fender logo. The Thunderchiefs were consistantly some of the best projecting basses unplugged and sounded very good plugged in.

I compared everything else to the Thunderchief to see if I could find anything better and lucked upon a Breedlove 5 string with a decent low B. For several years now I've owned and played the Breedlove but as Joe mentioned, since I picked up a Kala U-Bass I've kind of moved past the full size AB for the most part and now spend about 75% of my amped acoustic time on the Kala. The Breedlove comes out of the case for full acoustic work but rarely for amped work anymore.

PS - never got a chance to try the Warwick AB so no help there.

simonlittle · #12 11-01-2011, 07:49 AM

I'm not sure what it was about the Breedloves I didn't like; maybe it was the tone- the most expensive one was just under £1000 but still had quite a dull sound. Need something a bit more cutting for the big stage we're working on.
I'll keep my eyes peeled for an Epiphone...

Border · #13 11-01-2011, 09:16 AM

I have owned a Martin B-1 for some years now and have been very happy with it. It has a warm, rich tone that has only gotten better with time. It is surprisingly loud and projects well. I have used it in a few weddings we have played and it holds its own on stage. Good luck with your search.

simonlittle · #14 11-01-2011, 09:20 AM

Thanks

MD · #15 11-01-2011, 09:27 AM

Keep an eye out for a Takamine G series as well. Good tone, solid build. The older models have a string through bridge. I've heard of issues with the pin type bridges and thicker strings.

Boulder Creek AB's look real nice too.

matej4444 · #16 11-01-2011, 09:30 AM

when i was buying mine i was looking for loud unpluged sound. I have tried ibanez, fender and dean. And i settled on dean eab-c. Its loud and have two full octaves. But its the biggest in acoustic bass class. So if you are a smaller guy you could have problems playing it.

Top_Ten · #17 11-01-2011, 09:40 AM

I don't have a ton of experience with different ABGs, but I own an Ovation like this: B768 Elite Bass | Ovation Guitars, which is pretty nice.

I think they were a little pricy new, but I got mine in a trade valued at about $800, so if you run across a used one, that might be an option.

simonlittle · #18 11-01-2011, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Top_Ten

I don't have a ton of experience with different ABGs, but I own an Ovation like this: B768 Elite Bass | Ovation Guitars, which is pretty nice.

I think they were a little pricy new, but I got mine in a trade valued at about $800, so if you run across a used one, that might be an option.

That looks lovely. Don't think anyone around London stocks them anyway so will have to find a used one...

simonlittle · #19 11-02-2011, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Border

I have owned a Martin B-1 for some years now and have been very happy with it. It has a warm, rich tone that has only gotten better with time. It is surprisingly loud and projects well. I have used it in a few weddings we have played and it holds its own on stage. Good luck with your search.

I tried a beautiful Martin (B2?) this afternoon in the new acoustic shop on Denmark Street. £1400 though... Lovely warm tone and pretty loud compared to most. Just wish it was about half the price! Think the favourite so far all things considered is still the Ibanez EWB20...

simonlittle · #20 11-02-2011, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MD

Keep an eye out for a Takamine G series as well. Good tone, solid build. The older models have a string through bridge. I've heard of issues with the pin type bridges and thicker strings.

Boulder Creek AB's look real nice too.

There is an old G Series on eBay at the moment. Am quite tempted to take a punt on it as long as the price stays low...