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Accoustic bass - HALP?

#2
Tatu said:
Any suggestions?
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A used Tacoma Thunder Chief will be around $800. For that money NOTHING comes close acoustically. A couple hundred more and you might find a well used Guild B-30. Under $800 the Fender Kingman sounds ok but neck dives. If you have to settle for something cheaper and fairly available like an Ibanez, Takamine or Michael Kelly keep in mind for it to work as an acoustic instrument you're probably going to have to spend another hundred or so to have the action raised (new bridge saddle) to increase the volume. You may have to to this on any instrument you get depending on its current setup. Typically ABGs get set up so as not to scare electric players but without regard to getting the most acoustic volume.
 
#3
Stay far, far, far away from the Washburn. Thier customer service was non-existent for me. Despite numerous phone calls, emails, and snail mail letters I never received any sort of response on some issues I was having with an AB20.
I will second the recommendation on the Thunder Chief with a couple of "heads up" points; one- it's almost impossible to find a hard case for one. They are huge. If you're not planning on traveling with one a soft case may work. Two- although it's probably the loudest acoustic bass I've worked with, and despite the change in bridge materials and set up to allow more agressive playing, I still use a small practice amp to get it where I want it with a couple of acoustic guitars. Which is fine, as it lets me play more like I usually do.

By the way, if any one knows where to get a suitable hard case for a Thunder Chief, I'm still looking!
 
#6
Are you planning to play it un-amplified? If so, make sure you get to try one in person with said guitar player. Acoustic basses aren't really that loud, and it's pretty easy to get paired up with a guitar player that doesn't know how to play quietly.
 
#8
abarson said:
Cheaper than a Tacoma, and nearly as good!
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They have a link on their site to locate local dealers, too.
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I have a Boulder Creek bass. Its certainly louder and warmer than most of the other basses mentioned. It might be about as loud as a Tacoma, but I haven't heard one in a long time.
It also has a very nice preamp. Well voiced. The preamp even has a phase button, which can be very valuable in the right live situation. Nice basses.
 
#9
B String,

I just read the thread where you were deciding on what to get. I am beginning to lean toward the Boulder Creek as well and it sounds like it projects well and may be smaller than the Thunderchief. Do you find it a fragile instrument? The reason I am asking is because the Thunderchiefs are apparently prone to dents and dings if not just handled perfectly. Now, I am good to my basses, but bumps and bangs do happen. Also, do you know where they are made? Their website didn't say.

Thanks for your help,

LEL
 
#10
Low End Lover said:
B String,

I just read the thread where you were deciding on what to get. I am beginning to lean toward the Boulder Creek as well and it sounds like it projects well and may be smaller than the Thunderchief. Do you find it a fragile instrument? The reason I am asking is because the Thunderchiefs are apparently prone to dents and dings if not just handled perfectly. Now, I am good to my basses, but bumps and bangs do happen. Also, do you know where they are made? Their website didn't say.

Thanks for your help,

LEL
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According to my industry friends, the Boulder Creek basses are made in one of the better guitar factories in China.

Unlike a number of other ABG's the BC's have real wood tops and backs instead of laminate tops and backs. I don't know if this makes them more or less fragile. I think its one of the reasons they're louder and warmer. I haven't had mine too long but it seems as solid as any I've played.

I'm still figuring out if this is the right bass for me. I like just about everything about this bass, but the very thing its good at, is what may not be my thing. The amplified sound and the acoustic sound are very similar. Big, warm, and organic. As much as I really like that when I'm playing amplified, It's possible I might like a more focused sound for soloing when amplified.
 
#13
Low End Lover said:
B String,

I just read the thread where you were deciding on what to get. I am beginning to lean toward the Boulder Creek as well and it sounds like it projects well and may be smaller than the Thunderchief. Do you find it a fragile instrument? The reason I am asking is because the Thunderchiefs are apparently prone to dents and dings if not just handled perfectly. Now, I am good to my basses, but bumps and bangs do happen. Also, do you know where they are made? Their website didn't say.

Thanks for your help,

LEL
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any acousti instrument is going to be fragile. the better the instrument, typically the more fragile. It isn't just ding's and blemishes... to get loud, you can't over brace the top. It you do overbrace, then the acoustic quality of the instrument suffers.

Basically - you don't bang an acoustic around like you can a P Bass - they just aren't designed to handle it. So be more careful. period ...

The only other ABG I've heard that was close to my old T'Chief was a multi k-buck Taylor that was close. Not as rich but it was good. So for my money, a 'chief is the best choice. I ripped the electronics out of mine in favor of a K&K setup that has a killer woody acoustic tone. Now if I can find a fretless one when I'm rich enough to afford it ...

I o a lot of acoustic support work. I'm almost always amplified except at rehearsal. Often I'm in the PA, sometimes I use a GK MB2-500 and a MojoSonic 1x10 - you don't need much, you sure don't need a bunch of low end. I could easily get by with the MB-200 and the 1x10. I run a Fishman Pro Platinum Bass EQ (nice name Fishman...maybe the typesetter was looking for more work that day?) along with a tuner on a small pedal board. That serves as DI to the house and I use it's EQ to roll off a little hi and a little low (typically).

LaBella tape wounds ($20 and freight from Carvin) complete the ensemble.

When you recover financially, start looking for a Kala UBass as a compliment. It is unbelievably good doing what I do...
 
#14
Low End Lover said:
Looks like the Thunderchief is available again...

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Nope, that Tacoma web site is Fender shenanigans.

The Fender Tacoma web site hasn't changed since Tacoma was axed. Fender keeps it running and makes it look like it is active by setting the page datelines and copyright date to the current month and day. It is nothing more than a calculation field in the web script. Fender should just kill the site, but for some reason they seem to think there is some advantage in making the site appear active.
 
#15
Been playing ABG's since the unplugged craze started. Owned several different brands, and played most others. The one thing that you MUST accept is that if you're going to be playing with more than one acoustic guitar and want to be heard, you're going to have to plug in.

Beyond that, the best advice I can give you is to find one that fits you and is comfortable to play. Consider going fretless and throw on a set of tapewounds and you can come pretty close to dialing in an upright sound.
 
#19
ZombieSpacebat said:
From the ABGs i've tried, none of them are very loud unplugged and definately can't compete with an acoustic guitar so will need to be plugged in (so save yourself the money and just use your electric).
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nah - the vibe and tone is completely different. Yes the pitches are the same but the 'note envelope', the rise and decay of the notes are nothing alike. The resonance is not even remotely close. My ABG sounds completely different from my Fenders. Could I use a PBass in a pinch, sure but it would be a real compromise. It would be like replacing the percussionist's toys with an Akai. It isn't all about volume.

The only electrics that will fit an acoustic setting near as well as my modded Tacoma are piezo based, chambered. Rob Allen, old Godin Acoustibass, Barker Vertical etc which burns way more cash.
 
#20
LAPetrarca said:
Been playing ABG's since the unplugged craze started. Owned several different brands, and played most others. The one thing that you MUST accept is that if you're going to be playing with more than one acoustic guitar and want to be heard, you're going to have to plug in.

Beyond that, the best advice I can give you is to find one that fits you and is comfortable to play. Consider going fretless and throw on a set of tapewounds and you can come pretty close to dialing in an upright sound.
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+100 I play an acoustic MK dragonfly fretless (traded my Breedlove ABG freted for it) I like the way the fretless fits with the acoustic guitar(s) but I'm plugged in (so are the guitars) The guy I traded with feels the same way about the Breedlove, So I guess it comes down to (as always) personal pref.
 

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