Acoustic bass, 4 or 5 string?

[Northwood]

Hello fellow bass players.
I play in an acoustic trio and see the need of an acoustic bass to compliment my electric basses.
I own a 5 stringer electric and consider a 5 stringer acoustic with a low B.
Since some 5 string electric basses suffer from diffuse low B strings, my question is how an acoustic bass handles the low B. Is it brand and model specific too?

I am looking at these:
Warwick RB Alien standard 5
Ibanez AEB 105E
Sigma BMC 155E+

Have you any experience with these?

Thx

 

[JimmyThunder]

If you plan to plug it in and play it through an amp, any of those will probably be "good enough".
If you plan to play it unplugged with 2 other acoustic guitars, none of them will have a loud enough low B to be heard well.
Bass frequencies in general are not reproduced well on an acoustic guitar-sized body (that's why uprights are so big), a low B even moreso.

 

[makaspar]

I think it’s pretty dependent on the bass. For acoustic sound, the bigger body the better. For plugged in, it just depends on how well seated the piezo element is, and how good your preamp is.

At least, that’s my understanding of it. I have an Alien 5 coming this week - I’ll let you know!

 

[ahbass2500]

Of the ones on your list, I played and liked the Alien. If you are plugging in (you probably should for most uses), you might look at the Alien thinline. Reduces acoustic volume, but also reduces feedback.

If you plan on going without an amp you might need the guitarists to not be too loud. I have an Emerald Balor 5, which is regarded as one of the louder acoustics. It is louder than any other acoustic I have played, but still requires amplification for many settings. It is fine for practice and could do a not too loud acoustic group in a not too big room. Anything beyond that and I would throw at least a small amp on it.

For the 4 versus 5, buy whichever you prefer from a feel perspective. Just make sure you have realistic expectations when unplugged.

 

[Northwood]

Sorry I wasnt specific.
Its an acoustic trio but amplified. So the bass will be amplified too.

There are no physical music stores where i live, almost everything is sold online. The chances of trying any of the basses are very slim.
The Alien slimline is too expensive at $1150. The standard is $900.

 

[Northwood]

I think it’s pretty dependent on the bass. For acoustic sound, the bigger body the better. For plugged in, it just depends on how well seated the piezo element is, and how good your preamp is.

At least, that’s my understanding of it. I have an Alien 5 coming this week - I’ll let you know!

Yes please do. Thx.

 

[REV]

Between the three choices in your post I would go for the Warwick.

 

[OogieWaWa]

For what it's worth I got an Ibanez AEB5E, their less expensive 4-string, for some of our acoustic gigs. It's pretty good for the price, and amplified it sounds well enough. It's well built, no buzzes or out of whack frets or anything. But obviously a more expensive bass would probably play and perhaps sound better. But I'm happy with it now, it met my budget, meets my needs, but it needed a bit of tweaking....

If you were to get even the 105E, if it sounds like it needs it, the first things is to play with the positioning of the piezo pickup strip under the bridge. I moved mine a bit after cleaning out the slot and making sure it had even contact, and was able to get a tiny bit better output, better balanced tone and volume between the strings. It must have shifted when they put the strip in because there was a bit of foreign material in there. Again, the higher cost unit should be better.

You could also look into upgrading the stock pickup.

And also trash the phosphor-bronze strings if that's what it comes with and put on a different kind to your liking. They seem really tinny and squeaky to me, and grab a lot.

 

[Northwood]

For what it's worth I got an Ibanez AEB5E, their less expensive 4-string, for some of our acoustic gigs. It's pretty good for the price, and amplified it sounds well enough. It's well built, no buzzes or out of whack frets or anything. But obviously a more expensive bass would probably play and perhaps sound better. But I'm happy with it now, it met my budget, meets my needs, but it needed a bit of tweaking....

If you were to get even the 105E, if it sounds like it needs it, the first things is to play with the positioning of the piezo pickup strip under the bridge. I moved mine a bit after cleaning out the slot and making sure it had even contact, and was able to get a tiny bit better output, better balanced tone and volume between the strings. It must have shifted when they put the strip in because there was a bit of foreign material in there. Again, the higher cost unit should be better.

You could also look into upgrading the stock pickup.

And also trash the phosphor-bronze strings if that's what it comes with and put on a different kind to your liking. They seem really tinny and squeaky to me, and grab a lot.

Thx for the tips.
The AEB105E is still in play as its half the price of the Warwick. Actually a local guy is selling a second hand AEB8E for $200. I might jump on that despite its only 4 strings.
Im gonna install flat wounds anyway, I dig the upright tone and playability.