Are acoustic basses all that bad?

Tupac · #1 07-16-2011, 01:06 AM

Never tried one before. I've heard nothing but badness about them. What's wrong with 'em?

TOMINATOR · #2 07-16-2011, 01:17 AM

i made a thread very similar to this just recently, and the most common response was that they arent loud enough without an amp to compete with an acoustic guitar. i did however gather that they give a unique sound and are good if you just want too noodle around by yourself.

BlueTalon · #3 07-16-2011, 01:44 AM

I bought one about a month ago, a Dean EABC, and I love it. The critique about not being loud enough to compete with an acoustic guitar is simply incorrect, at least with regards to the one I got. It projects nicely. The action is good, the neck is fast, and I have the option of plugging it in if I need to. It is one of the two basses I spend the most time practicing on now. The body is bigger than what you'd be used to with an acoustic guitar, but hey, it's a bass.

Tupac · #4 07-16-2011, 01:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueTalon

I bought one about a month ago, a Dean EABC, and I love it. The critique about not being loud enough to compete with an acoustic guitar is simply incorrect, at least with regards to the one I got. It projects nicely. The action is good, the neck is fast, and I have the option of plugging it in if I need to. It is one of the two basses I spend the most time practicing on now. The body is bigger than what you'd be used to with an acoustic guitar, but hey, it's a bass.

I Googled it, and it's about $200. Nice! I sure hope it isn't tuned EABC though. That would be awkward, haha.

prd004 · #5 07-16-2011, 02:16 AM

Let me state that I think ABG's are cool. I love having one lying around to noodle on, and I practice more when I have one. I am also a big fan of acoustic music and having an acoustic bass lying around tends to bring out my inner jazz musician.

But, start picking with a couple acoustic guitars and no one will hear a note you play from more than five feet away, unless you're just over-aggressivly picking with a pick and using bronze rounds, in which case you won't sound very much like a bass. Some are better than others, the Tacoma Thunderchief comes to mind as one of the loudest ABG's but they don't make those anymore. Taylor made an interesting one a while back which was said to have pretty decent volume, but they are very rare and I've never played one. I spent years looking for one that would be just right for acoustic gigs and I tried virtually every brand that comes to mind, Martin, Michael Kelly, Guild, Breedlove, Ibanez, Fender, takameni etc., etc. None of them were loud enough to be heard in a band setting and once you plugged them in you had feedback issues, crappy piezo-sounding pickup issues. If you used bronze or rounds they are incredibly clackity when plugged in. Flats sounded MUCH, MUCH better amplified but had even less volume acoustic.

Eventully I got a Carvin AC40 for my acoustic gigs. It's not a true acoustic, it's a semi-hollow with an acoustic bridge and a fantastic LR Baggs pickup which really gives a nice sound. It's unlike ABG's in all the good ways, and gives me a great feeling-sounding acoustic/electric. But I run it through an amp!!!!

yellofury · #6 07-16-2011, 02:22 AM

bobby Vega would say "yes"

‪Ribbecke "Bobby Vega" bass - Bass of the Month September 2009‬&rlm; - YouTube

BlueTalon · #7 07-16-2011, 02:27 AM

I play aggressive with my fingers, I use bronze rounds, and it sounds exactly like a bass.

cassanova · #8 07-16-2011, 02:33 AM

There's nothing wrong with an acoustic bass if you like the tone coming from it. They're also great for practicing and jamming on at the beach, at parks, and places like that, with an acoustic guitarist.

SmittyG · #9 07-16-2011, 02:36 AM

I have owned a couple and got to try out a bunch, from low end models up to about a $1000, and my issue with them is I just don't like the frequency response. I kept trying to make them sound like my regular bass--which makes no sense. If you like the sound, they have a unique voice. If, like me, you don't like that voice, then you won't care for the bass. In other words, I definitely recommend a try before you buy on one.

cnltb · #10 07-16-2011, 02:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tupac

Never tried one before. I've heard nothing but badness about them. What's wrong with 'em?

If you get a good one ,they are very useable and great sounding additions to any collection.
I use a Henning Doderer-made 5 string fretless abg and like it a lot!
Henning is a proper luthier who has done what he is doing for a long time, and does it very well!
http://doderer-gitarren.de/category/basse/
The same can be said about Magnusguitars...
http://www.magnusguitars.de/akustik%20bass%20V.htm
So in short...there is nothing at all wrong with some and quite a lot with some others.
You tend to get what you pay for, I think.-more so than with solid body electric basses.

**bassybill** · #11 07-16-2011, 04:31 AM

I have a nice Tanglewood ABG (cost me around £400) and it's great fun. For some reason it makes me play very differently to my usual style on a solid bass - much more physically and more use of chords. It sounds good, though without plugging in it's not loud enough for jamming for an audience in anything more than a small room at home.

The only down side really is that I've found the neck to be VERY twitchy with temperature and humidity changes.

Jay Ralston · #12 07-16-2011, 10:54 AM

I have an acoustic bass and love it. I mainly use it for playing at the house at night, taking it too the lake to jam with my other acoustic guitar and some friends, or just play it when I want too. But it can also be used for live work too. If I am playing rock music, I love using it on the ballads.

A few weeks ago, when we were at the lake, my friend and I were playing just acoustically and it did fine. Some acoustic basses do suck as far as low end projection goes but everyone was hearing what I was doing just fine and I had a few compliments afterwards too. Don't be afraid to buy one if you like them.

Dude7777 · #13 07-16-2011, 04:43 PM

I've got the acoustic bass itch. I played a Fender Kingman SCE and really liked the jazz neck. I felt very comfortable and familiar since I have a Fender Jazz. I was disappointed in the sound level unplugged. Sounded ok snows but I don't have anything to compare it to. I've heard the Takamine EG512C or the EGB2S are good also. There are no Takamines around for me to try. Any advise or preferences?

BlueTalon · #14 07-16-2011, 04:59 PM

Try the Dean.

CAL5one2 · #15 07-17-2011, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueTalon

Try the Dean.

+1

Just acquired the Dean EABC in an epic craigslist trade. The electronics leave a bit to be desired, but for acoustic jam sessions in the man-cave, it projects quiet nicely. Probably wouldn't ever gig with it, but definitely a great practice bass.
It's got a huge body, so if you're smaller than 6 foot, it might swallow you whole.

CAL5one2 · #16 07-17-2011, 03:16 PM

uh, quite nicely, not quiet nicely....

BassPsyche · #17 07-17-2011, 03:20 PM

+1000, bought a Dean EABC about 2 months ago, love it! keep it downstairs and play it constantly, it actually comes with D'addario strings, sounds great for a good price.

onestring · #18 07-18-2011, 11:05 AM

I've had a Breedlove Atlas for about a month. Love it to death.

What I can not figure out is what they did to make it so loud.

Of course it's not as loud as a bass through an amp or a big ol' double bass. It has a tiny, tiny body and a 32" scale. But I call BS on all the "useless without an amp" claims for ABGs. I've been keeping up fine with a fiddle and a couple acoustic guitars at a weekly jam, even outside on the deck by a busy city street. The Breedlove sounds loud and it sounds good. In fact, it's as loud as the other instruments.

Would I gig without an amp? At an acoustic house party or a small cafe, sure. Anything more than that, or where I would need to be heard more than 15 feet away, and I'd bring an amp, just like somebody with an upright or a guitar player would. Nobody calls those instruments "useless without an amp", yet that's the mantra about ABGs here on TB.

Full disclosure, I had an Ovation for awhile, and that was 100% worthless. But it sounded crap plugged in, too. With acoustic instruments, each one is unique and YMMV.

dvh · #19 07-18-2011, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prd004

Let me state that I think ABG's are cool. I love having one lying around to noodle on, and I practice more when I have one. I am also a big fan of acoustic music and having an acoustic bass lying around tends to bring out my inner jazz musician.

But, start picking with a couple acoustic guitars and no one will hear a note you play from more than five feet away, unless you're just over-aggressivly picking with a pick and using bronze rounds, in which case you won't sound very much like a bass. Some are better than others, the Tacoma Thunderchief comes to mind as one of the loudest ABG's but they don't make those anymore. Taylor made an interesting one a while back which was said to have pretty decent volume, but they are very rare and I've never played one. I spent years looking for one that would be just right for acoustic gigs and I tried virtually every brand that comes to mind, Martin, Michael Kelly, Guild, Breedlove, Ibanez, Fender, takameni etc., etc. None of them were loud enough to be heard in a band setting and once you plugged them in you had feedback issues, crappy piezo-sounding pickup issues. If you used bronze or rounds they are incredibly clackity when plugged in. Flats sounded MUCH, MUCH better amplified but had even less volume acoustic.

This was my experience too.

For those who dispute the loudness factor. Any chance for some clips/videos? I just find it very hard to believe (based on my experience and comments like the above).

LAPetrarca · #20 07-18-2011, 11:20 AM

I've owned ABG's ever since the unplugged craze started. I accepted early on that i was going to have to plug in to be heard.

It's just a fact...accept it. Then, here's my recommendation...go fretless.

I've got my Michael Kelly fretless four setup with tapewounds and a nice low action and I can dial it in pretty close to an upright sound. It has that deep, kick in the chest kind of thump that fills the room.

I've had this rig for about 7 or 8 years now and have gotten LOTS of compliments on the sound.