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Guitar Scale Acoustic Basses
- Thread starter SBassman
- Start date
Love the crazy grain pattern on that top!
Be careful with alternate strings.
La Bella does two different gauges of nylon core strings that offer a nice alternate to the D’addarios.
The Goldtones might work.
Conventional steel-core bass strings are too stiff for this scale length- weird overtones and intonation problems, not to mention the risk of ripping the bridge off!
Thank! It reminds me fondly of my dog’s brindle coat, and I find myself habitually petting it sometimes as a result.
Any personal opinions on those strings? The D’Addarios sing nicely but they’re a far cry from the flats and pressurewounds I’m accustomed to..
--^@
My thought?Thank! It reminds me fondly of my dog’s brindle coat, and I find myself habitually petting it sometimes as a result.
Any personal opinions on those strings? The D’Addarios sing nicely but they’re a far cry from the flats and pressurewounds I’m accustomed to..
--^@
This isn’t your other basses.
Forget about flats.
Dial the treble back to somewhere between 9 and 10 o’clock, lighten up a little on your right hand attack, and work on minimizing finger noise.
You’ll be ewarded with a rich and unique tone that you can’t get out of any normal ABG or regular electric bass.
The low-midrange growl is phenomenal.
I have a confession to make. Couldn't help it. 
I just ordered a Michael Kelly Sojourn 4K bass.
Will report on it here down the road.
I just ordered a Michael Kelly Sojourn 4K bass.
Will report on it here down the road.
So, the bass touched down today. I have only had a few minutes with it, but I wanted to post.
She sure is beautiful in person. Really beautiful wood and finish. Acoustically, the bass sounds very impressive. Not super loud, but well defined beautiful tone. Haven't plugged it in yet. I really just started stretching the strings a bit, tuned, and adjusted the truss rod. Mine came with action so low that the A buzzed. Small turn of the truss, and it's gone.
Fishman electronics, beautiful finish, and pinless bridge for 399. Not too shabby.
Body is very comfortable - aka small. Much smaller than my Ibanez.
Big test will be - stability and electric tone. But, I'm waiting for that. Gotta get back to work.
For whatever reason, my strings on this feel and sound different from the strings on the Ibanez. [which are supposed to be the same.] I'm almost wondering if there has been a mod to the DAddario string design.
The strings on this bass feel better than they way they feel on my Ibanez. A softer feel. I don't feel the ridges of the winds nearly as much, and the acoustic tone sounds - can't describe yet, but - better. I don't hate these strings like I usually hate phosphor bronze.
Anyway, that's all for now. To be continued. I imagine if anyone was ever interested in this bass that you'd listen for more feedback before going for it. But, if anyone here winds up going for one in the short term, please PM me. Trust me.
She sure is beautiful in person. Really beautiful wood and finish. Acoustically, the bass sounds very impressive. Not super loud, but well defined beautiful tone. Haven't plugged it in yet. I really just started stretching the strings a bit, tuned, and adjusted the truss rod. Mine came with action so low that the A buzzed. Small turn of the truss, and it's gone.
Fishman electronics, beautiful finish, and pinless bridge for 399. Not too shabby.
Body is very comfortable - aka small.
Much smaller than my Ibanez.Big test will be - stability and electric tone. But, I'm waiting for that. Gotta get back to work.
For whatever reason, my strings on this feel and sound different from the strings on the Ibanez. [which are supposed to be the same.] I'm almost wondering if there has been a mod to the DAddario string design.
The strings on this bass feel better than they way they feel on my Ibanez. A softer feel. I don't feel the ridges of the winds nearly as much, and the acoustic tone sounds - can't describe yet, but - better. I don't hate these strings like I usually hate phosphor bronze.
Anyway, that's all for now. To be continued. I imagine if anyone was ever interested in this bass that you'd listen for more feedback before going for it. But, if anyone here winds up going for one in the short term, please PM me. Trust me.
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The product page for the Michael Kelly Sojourn 4K
Sojourn 4K Acoustic Travel Bass
says they're the EXPPBB170S set (45-65-80-100, coated phosphor bronze on a steel core, short scale, taper at 32")
[This invalid link has been removed]
as opposed to the EXPPBB190GS (37-50-62-90, coated phosphor bronze on a nylon core)
[This invalid link has been removed]
that the Ibanez PNB14E sports
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
However, the Sojourn webpage also clearly shows at least the E and A strings tapering before the tuning post
[This invalid link has been removed]
so they can't be 32" winding-long strings on a 24.75" scale bass - they must be wound to a custom length, if they're even the same (EXPPBB170S, 45-100, steel-core) strings otherwise.
Can you see the core around the ball ends? Could you confirm if they're metal or nylon? Thanks.
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Wow - thanks for the dots connection. They're 100s? It makes sense based on what I am feeling. They feel beefier.
> Can you see the core around the ball ends? Could you confirm if they're metal or nylon?
20 years ago, sure.
Today - I'm going to need another pair of eyes to help. Some pics:
1 - Closest I could get to end of strings.
2 - The whole bass.
3 - Second sound hole on the side. I like the way that looks, but actually with that, I almost would have preferred for them to have that only and get rid of the front sound hole. In my book, these aren't truly acoustic basses. They are different design basses for another type of tone. It would have been very Ovation like from a stage practicality standpoint to just ditch the front sound hole and only have that port on the side. I'm sure many wouldn't agree with that.
I have a confession to make. Couldn't help it.
I just ordered a Michael Kelly Sojourn 4K bass.
Will report on it here down the road.
Thanks for all the info on the new bass. I'm surprised about the sound quality unplugged - that wasn't my experience with the one I've played several times at a local store. I thought maybe the sound hole was the problem - sound apertures too large for good resonance. Or maybe the thicker string. We all hear things differently too. Glad to hear you're happy with it
I think I'm ready money-wise to pick up one of these small scale basses. It'll probably be the only bass I'll buy for a long time so I need to choose carefully. Currently my list is:
1. Guild Jumbo Jr Bass ($500 with case)
2. Ibanez AVNB2E ($530)
3. Ibanez PNB14E ($250)
I prefer the scale on the Ibanez guitars, but since I haven't been able to play the AVN basses, I'll probably end up with the Guild. I think it plays and sounds as good as the Taylor GS Mini. After playing 3 or 4 of each, I don't really notice any significant differences (besides price). The PNB is nice for the price but I think finish, feel and sound are far enough behind the Guild to pay the higher price. I've played 3 or 4 of those too.
The acoustic volume is definitely not loud on this bass. When I compare it side by side with my Ibanez, I'm expecting to conclude that the Ibanez is louder. But this is a different tone that I am enjoying. Both sound great, and the two basses to me sound quite a bit different. But I say that in a positive way.
Enjoy whatever you pick. Post some reviews and pics.
My first negative as I keep noodling with this bass - the side edges are sharp. I always find the edges of basses sharp, and I have taken a sanding pad to many.
I did some major sanding to my Ibanez. But this is not a flat finish, and I will wreck this bass if I take out the sanding pad. I will have to find an armest, because that sharp edge is bugging my arm. If anyone knows of a no hassle, inexpensive, universally fitting armest solution, please post on that. Thanks.
Excellent. Can you post a link to those online, or are you making them yourself.
Plus 20 points for MK Sojourn 4K bass - for electronics and plugged in tone.
Electronics are far superior than what I have on my PNB14E. But we knew that because it is a superb value 250 dollar instrument.
Hot pickup, great tone, super even string to string.
Ok, if anyone at some point decides to get one, PM me. I have a contact for a probable discount.
Electronics are far superior than what I have on my PNB14E. But we knew that because it is a superb value 250 dollar instrument.
Hot pickup, great tone, super even string to string.
Ok, if anyone at some point decides to get one, PM me. I have a contact for a probable discount.
I think that's the Fishman electronics vs. the standard Ibanez electronics. Fifty post or so back I described an amplified comparison between the Taylor, Guild (both Fishman) and the PNB, and had similar comments about the PNB. There was a significant difference to my ears. I'm sure with tweaking all can be made to sound great, but I noticed quality differences with a straightforward comparison with middle of the road settings.
I stopped by GC last night and noticed that when you look at the Taylor or Guild side-by-side with the Ibanez, they look like toys!. They are so small and short. That 1.5" makes a difference, and the Ibanez body is bigger. I took my 13 yr old daughter with me, and she's showing some interest in learning to play so we can play together. She didn't really like the look of the Guild, I think because the sides/back/top are all about the same color. Her preference is for the AVNB2E which I showed her online. Maybe this is enough to push me in that direction. I think with the Fishman electronics, longer scale, and the feel that I can test with the PNB bass, it's a pretty safe bet. Plus there's a gig back you guys found in another thread for only $23. I think it will feel like a more substantial, legit instrument, than the Guild.
Sorry for rambling. Trying to talk myself through a decision.
