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Those who own acoustic Bass Guitars, do you actually play them?

#142
I have a mini-acoustic that sits in the living room, it gets played on a regular basis, it is not very loud nor well defined tone wise, but it keeps my fingers moving.

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#143
yonatan1991 said:
By the way .i really wonder. What are you people thinking about
tinozza acoustic bass ? . The body are really Similar to Taylor ab and it's look like is designed Like double bass and sound amazing . Someone play on this?

I found one in 1700$ . Not expensive at all for this kinda of instrument like that. I think.

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Is that angle at the "trapeze" really necessary? I just had to fix a nut for a student's BC Rich Warlock, where the G string was carving out the nut slot because of the crazy headstock shape. Seems like this would start to do the same thing after not too long...
 
#144
Smith357 said:
I have a mini-acoustic that sits in the living room, it gets played on a regular basis, it is not very loud nor well defined tone wise, but it keeps my fingers moving.

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I disagree. I find that for its size that these Ibanez basses sound fantastic! They're not going to defy the laws of physics and reproduce a true fundamental E like an upright bass, but if you think about it in terms of "Hey, it's basically a nylon-string guitar, with strings suitable for tuning down to 41hz", it sounds far better than I would have expected - and for two-and-a-half bills, the price ain't nothin' to sneeze at neither. :bassist:
 
#145
fretlessman71 said:
I disagree. I find that for its size that these Ibanez basses sound fantastic! They're not going to defy the laws of physics and reproduce a true fundamental E like an upright bass, but if you think about it in terms of "Hey, it's basically a nylon-string guitar, with strings suitable for tuning down to 41hz", it sounds far better than I would have expected - and for two-and-a-half bills, the price ain't nothin' to sneeze at neither. :bassist:
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I think it sounds a bit tinny to my ear, all my acoustic and classical guitars have solid tops, the mini bass is plywood, and it really sounds like it to me. I accept the lack of volume, and the lack low end due to body size, but the cigar box raspy tone is not pleasing to my ear, but then it's not that loud. Putting the Silver Labella Contra bass strings on it helped a lot, and for the money I paid I shouldn't really complain too much.
 
#146
dusterdan70 said:
I pretty much never use my Kingman AEB, however the strings are like cheese graters so maybe that explains the lack of a bond with that instrument.

I should puts flats on it; anybody ever try that with an AEB?
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I use tapes on all of my ABGs. Easy on the fingers, really warm tone, and vitually no clack or squeak.
 
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#147
Manticore said:
Yes. I have the same bass you have. I play a number of gigs as an "acoustic" duet or trio. Sometimes there's drums, most times not. Sometimes there's two or three acoustic guitars. These are typically at private parties, restaurants, private events, etc. Obviously, the bass needs to be plugged in, but what we've found is this setup doesn't "look" loud, so we're perceived as being a quiet acoustic band. More than anything else, the acoustic bass guitar is about projecting a certain vibe to the audience. It's almost useless outside of practice without amplification. It doesn't reproduce the sound of an upright, it isn't as versatile as an electric bass. It does, however, provide a particular vibe that allows us do a wide variety of gigs on off nights such as Mondays and Tuesdays where a full electric would be perceived differently. It's a laid-back atmosphere with far less gear and it's REALLY fun.

This was taken in the fall on the patio deck of the 19th hole of an upscale golf course for a casual event. For those about to remark on the use of music stands: the guitarist and I have been working together for decades. Our books have lyrics and leads to literally hundreds of songs, so we can take virtually any request and fill it. Given the ability to take requests and the casual vibe, no one seems to mind the music stands.
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About the music stands, TBers aren't judgemental and don't make negative comments. :)
About the music stands, if you put tort on them they would be perfect.
 
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#148
I went to weekend writing camp with my EBMM Stingray 5 & a 15w Samic amp & we were having a fine time, ‘till it came to the campfire session, no power out there!
Promised myself this would never happen again & went shopping. First purchase was an Ibanez PCBE12H, (inspiring name, ‘eh?) all mahogany 4str w pickup that sounds a lot like a Maton JB4. Rings like a bell with phosBronze & I’m able to let notes run together where on an elec low overtones would just be mud.
Within weeks, I was invited into not 1 but 2 acoustic folk bands & basically, since C19, that’s all I do!
So then I was shopping for strings at my Artist warehouse in Sydney & I spotted an Artist ABJ605CEQ, a 5 str acoustic w pickup on the factory 2nds rack with a scratch on the headstock @ half price. Now an acoustic fan, the ability to pick up an acoustic 5 & wander round the backyard in the sun practicing scales & arps, (poor neighbours!) is just so cool!
ALL my basses are out on stands, always, so when the urge strikes, it’s immediate.
Current G.A.S. Is a fretless 5 & boy are there some brilliant & tempting basses in that bag!
 

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#151
I have a six-string "Harmonia," which was the second iteration of the "Tennessee" brand, if you remember them. I snagged it from the manufacturer off eBay for like $80 because the neck apparently needed a refret and had a nasty hump in the middle, which is exactly what I was looking for. I wanted a fixer upper to practice de-fretting and radius work, and just setup work in general. it was perfect.
I put on some tapewounds that cost about half as much as the bass itself, and it plays magnificently. it was a great deal, and I got everything I wanted out of it.

today I never touch it. lipstick on a pig at whatnot. it sounds like butt.
 
#154
dusterdan70 said:
I pretty much never use my Kingman AEB, however the strings are like cheese graters so maybe that explains the lack of a bond with that instrument.

I should puts flats on it; anybody ever try that with an AEB?
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GHS pressure wound phosphor bronze.

Still loud unplugged and no squeak for plugged in or unplugged playing.

@wintremute got me into these and I really like them for unplugged playing because of how loud they are with no squeak.

Other ABGs of mine have tapes for plugged in playing. I can still play them unplugged, but since the tapes are quieter they won’t keep up with an acoustic guitar, but are fine for unplugged practice or just playing unaccompanied.

I tried nickel ground wounds too but they’re very quiet unplugged.
 
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#155
B-Mac said:
Other ABGs of mine have tapes for plugged in playing. I can still play them unplugged, but since the tapes are quieter they won’t keep up with an acoustic guitar, but are fine for unplugged practice or just playing unaccompanied.
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I use only tapes on my ABGs, and play 99% unplugged. Just have to play with sane guitarists, if you can find them
 
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#156
I use my ABG for live and recording. The live work can be rather loud. Most of the higher end acoustics I've tried either have large bodies, making it hard for me to play with my short arms or tend to feed back easier at higher volume. Realizing that I almost always amplify or go direct, I went for something that plays easily up to the top notes, (in tune) and can get loud without feedback. I found an old laminate wood Jasmine, (low end of Takamine) that had a great neck, played in tune, solid as a rock, and was acoustically even. Ripped out the cheap stock electronics and put in an LR Baggs VTC for bass. I had Carey Nordstrands shop do the bridge install....correctly, (important!) and set up. This cheap bass gets louder than any other acoustic I've played. Volume is even on all strings, and records beautifully. Its a killer, and cheap! Not a good camp fire bass, but a killer live or recording bass. jmho
 

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