Electric acoustic thoughts

quarternote · #1 08-28-2012, 07:09 PM

For some reason, I have been thinking of getting an electric acoustic bass. Currently play electric, but have a chance to play with some blue grass folks, and have heard they don't like electric basses much. Be that as it may, what should I look for/or avoid in an acoustic? I recently sold something else so I can spring for a good one, have looked at Breedlove acoustics.
I would value any input or suggestions you have. I guess I am not really ready for an upright yet.

Mushroo · #2 08-28-2012, 07:16 PM

I would check with the guys your hoping to play with, maybe they are totally OK with bass guitar

but must bluegrass guys in my experience prefer the upright bass.

Regardless, an acoustic-electric is a great bass to have in the arsenal. I only have a cheap one (Fatdog brand) but I play it all the time. Not personally familiar with the Breedlove. Good luck!

Gintaras · #3 08-28-2012, 07:22 PM

i've gone through 3 acoustics in search of one that I might like. Also have played about 10 different models. To start with none of them have been loud enough to play with more than one other instrumentalist. I have always needed to plug it in. Presently have a Fender Kingman that has about $150 invested to get it right and it sounds great plugged in but is strictly a practice instrument unplugged.

If you want to go cheap then the Dean is quite good. I am looking to try the Tacoma Thunderchief and the Warwick Alien. I played a Breedlove once and really liked it thou did not have enough time to really assess it.

GM60466 · #4 08-28-2012, 07:49 PM

Guild B30 the best acoustic bass I ever played

justjake · #5 08-28-2012, 07:57 PM

short of a guild b30 or b50 , taylor , thunderchief , or rob allen ,you can't do better than the breedlove for the money. love mine and use it alot

bassguitarthund · #6 08-28-2012, 08:36 PM

I have a Fender Kingman acoustic bass. I am happy with mine. Obviously you will need to amplify it though if you are playing in a band in front of people in order to be heard. I think mine sounds really good. Just out of curiosity though I would like to try a different set of strings.

bigsnaketex · #7 08-28-2012, 10:21 PM

I have $100 invested in an Ovation that sounds great plugged it.....just can't hold those plastic bowls in your lap. I also play a Fender Kingman from time to time. Truth is, I can't see spending more than a few hundred on an acoustic bass because they just don't sound that great and feedback is crazy on stage - notch filters, smotch filters!

1954bassman · #8 08-28-2012, 10:36 PM

Although I cover a lot of territory on bass, my main squeeze is a Bluegrass/Folk acoustic Gospel band. My main bass for that is a G&L L2500 fretless with TI Jazz Flats. I also carry an Epiphone El Capitan 5 fretless with GHS tapewounds.

We do a good number of Bluegrass festivals here in NC, and the electric bass is becoming more common. We recently played a festival and I was the only electric player, and I got tons of compliments on my sound. Another one we played at - there was only one group with an upright player. And he was the only one playing through an amp! The times they are a-changing.

The pickers in Allison Krause (Douglas, Block, and maybe Tyminski) (forgive my spelling) all use huge pedal boards. todays modern pickers are not Bill Monroe or Flatt & Scruggs. Mixed in with the purists are the cutting-edge guys, and some of they are playing "electric" bass.

spigmu · #9 08-28-2012, 11:43 PM

You really should check out a Kala U Bass. It will surprise you, and if they don't like the sound they're listening too much with their eyes : )

prd004 · #10 08-28-2012, 11:49 PM

Carvin AC40 I've played em all, this is the best. Best build quality, best sound, and good price too

3234718 · #11 08-29-2012, 09:21 AM

My Carvin AC40F arrived yesterday. It just feels so right. Nearly as silent as an electric unplugged, but it's great.

Quote:

Originally Posted by prd004

Carvin AC40 I've played em all, this is the best. Best build quality, best sound, and good price too

popgadget · #12 08-29-2012, 09:37 AM

I agree that the models built like an acoustic guitar are pretty useless for playing with anything other than a single acoustic guitar, and even marginal for that unless amplified. I also find that form factor to be very clumsy.
Bluegrass players are going to expect an upright, or something that at least sounds like one.

+1 for the Rob Allen fretless mouse.
I am currently using a fretless Fender AE pBass, which is a fairly rare MIJ model that fits the bill nicely, but needs to be amplified.

TheEmptyCell · #13 08-29-2012, 10:45 AM

A U-bass would probably have the best tone for bluegrass, as opposed to most acoustic-electric basses.

fretlessguy · #14 08-29-2012, 11:10 AM

I've played both Carvin AC40 Fretless and my fretless Kala U Basss in acoustic and semi acoustic settings, and they sounded great. However, Bluegrass purists will not accept anything other than an upright, and often refuse to play with anything electric.

You know how many Bluegrass musicians it takes to change a lightbulb? Answer: five. Four to actually change the bulb and one to b**** it's electric.

EricF · #15 08-29-2012, 11:16 AM

I have a Breedlove with tapewounds. Unamped, it is passable to accompany one acoustic guitar, but any more than that, and it gets lost. That said, I really like it. It's a well-built instrument.

zon6c-f · #16 08-29-2012, 11:29 AM

For a quality fretless Electric/ acoustic, I recommend Godin.

In my opinion, none are capeable of having sufficient volume to compete in a group setting without amplification.

I posed this premis on DB side..still "healing from the flames":

In my opinion, a String Bass must be miked-out to be heard in a group context. Once it is miked-out or has a DB pick-up mounted or installed..it becomes electric. Still my opinion remains.

If your Blugrass buddies insist on a DB..let them buy you one. They are beasts to haul, require amplification anyhow, highly subject to heat/ humidity issues; very high maintenance vs electric bass.

I have owned and sold (2) String Basses; a carved hand made and plywood. Tone and $$ value, carved is better. For durability and jamming ; plywood is more than sufficient.

packhowitzer · #17 08-29-2012, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zon6c-f

If your Blugrass buddies insist on a DB..let them buy you one. They are beasts to haul, require amplification anyhow, highly subject to heat/ humidity issues; very high maintenance vs electric bass.

+1

You can get plenty of deep woody tones from flatwounds and your eq. I play in a church gig every week. We mostly do the contemporary stuff, but we play at least one old-time revival song every Sunday (to keep the geezers interested- but hey, they're fun songs to play!). Almost every week I get some geez coming up to me to say how great the bass was on whatever old 1-5 bassline I was playing.

My method? Flats on a stingray with the bass eq'd up a little more than usual, and playing up by the neck. No it doesn't sound like an upright, but it does a heck of a job.

We've had some guest bluegrass guys that have been consistently pleased with the sound I get- even when one or two have given some sideways glances when they see me strap on the 'ray. Just goes to show you can't judge a book by its cover.

Rock on.

josiah goldfish · #18 08-29-2012, 11:53 AM

Tried several in the local music store today actually. Fell in love with the instrument.

I'm planning on buying the Harley Benton fretless as APPARENTLY it's fantastic bang-for-buck.

I also tried 3 tanglewoods and 2 vintages. The vintages sucked, but I liked the tanglewood. Nice tone and finish. Had a lovely wooden binding and gorgeous scratchplate. Quite a meaty neck (well, compared to my twig like necks anyway) can't say what it compares to but it felt thinner than the bronco next to it.

You won't find an ABG loud enough for a bluegrass band without an amp, but you probably already new that

Doug R · #19 08-29-2012, 11:58 AM

I have the low-budget Ovation "Applause" model, and it actually projects pretty well. Going against unamplified acoustic guitars it isn't quite as loud up-close, but out at a few yards distance it swells and carries fairly strongly.

They are odd to hold on your lap though. Pretty much need to stand up and use a strap.

For "real" acoustic jams with acoustic guitarists, I bring a tiny battery amp (Roland MicroCube) and it's just enough for a good jam session out on the lawn or patio.

You should have an electric bass, an acoustic-electric bass guitar, and a big old upright (with pickups) to be ready for anything.

moles · #20 08-29-2012, 12:03 PM

While I'm all for cutting edge, technological advances, and craaaaazy new ideas about music when it comes to Bluegrass I have to side with the "No electric" camp. It's not about how woody of a tone you dial in on the amp, it's the fact that any amplified sound, especially using a pickup) has a forcefulness to it that overpowers acoustic instruments. Really - sit in at a picking circle with a bassist going through an amp (even at reasonable volumes, whatever that is...) then hear what that same group sounds like when a DB player (even a loud one) steps in. Night and day.

Stage isn't really any better...a bass amp on stage will bleed into the other mics, period. If it's a small, "one mic" sort of setup, fuhgettaboutit...

An argument could be made for a pickup on a real DB, going straight into the house....I say if it's natural sounding and doesn't destroy the balance between instruments then great.