Acoustic Bass gift around $500

[1stnamebassist]

Hey NiceWife, welcome to TB. Now we get to hijack your thread and argue about everything that anyone says about an acoustic bass! Or anything else!

A couple years back I bought an Ibanez AEB10 (4 string, in your budget). It is nice for being able to pick it up and quickly work on something without having to set up any gear. It did not work out very well for my bluegrass group (too much sustain, I ended up with an EUB which works well). It also is handy to take on trips, vacation etc. so I can play away from home. I've taking it camping a couple times and while funner than nothin it is not loud enough to really use unamplified.

If I had to do it again I would look seriously at a Gold Tone instead, would do what I use it for and the travel part would be easier. I've heard that one should stay away from the fretless Gold Tones, U Bass, etc. as the scale is so different they are hard to play with any degree of intonation.

I totally agree about getting a Goldtone but I on the other hand recommend fretless for any of the Uke size basses or microbasses. I've had a fretless Kala Ubass for years and it was so easy to play in tune I brought it to a jam at a friends house a few days later and was playing Classic rock and Blues with no issues. They are a lot easier to play in tune compared to a standard fretless bass which I know sounds strange but thats my experience anyway.I had a fretted microbass that I couldn't get rid of buzzing frets on as well as the intonation being out quite a bit on the A string. Intonation issues plague many of the fretted minis. Some are good some are lemons. But which ever you get fretted or fretless if the intonation is good and you have a good setup they are pretty hard to beat. They sound incredible but you do have to plug them in for anything more than noodling around on the couch.

 

[RBASS930]

Ovation Elite TX 4-string Bass - Satin Black

Limited time offer for $398

 

[jthisdell]

I totally agree about getting a Goldtone but I on the other hand recommend fretless for any of the Uke size basses or microbasses.

Interesting to hear your experience. My experience was with a fretted Gold Tone and was very limited in a local shop.

The constant here at TB is that if someone says one thing someone else will definitely pop up and say the exact opposite!

 

[CheshireFrog]

I have a Kingman, and it's a lot of fun, but I warn you: No full size acoustic bass can be played unamped. They just don't project enough to be heard, even over other acoustics.

 

[1stnamebassist]

Interesting to hear your experience. My experience was with a fretted Gold Tone and was very limited in a local shop.

The constant here at TB is that if someone says one thing someone else will definitely pop up and say the exact opposite!

I think if you go back through some of the older Kala Ubass threads you will see some that had fretted and had wished they got fretless. At least one guy yanked the frets out of his and I believe others followed suit. Could have been the intonation issues that plagued the older models in particular and others had good luck with the fretless. I even bought a solidbody fretted Kala from Sweetwater but had to send it back because the intonation was ridiculous. There was nothing that could have been done about it either. But they all sound about the same which is to say fantastic!

 

[NiceWife]

So...hubby returned the cheap Dean I got him because the frets were loose. Not a surprise. Glad I went with the token gift from Guitar Center that was returnable. We've been hunting for something better now since January. You guys have given me so much quality information - thank you!

Just came across a Breedlove B350/CB4 on Craigslist for $400. First bass with pass through strings that I have found in this price range. It's aprivate sale an hour away. What do you think? Is this a quality instrument? Fair deal?

 

[bholder]

So...hubby returned the cheap Dean I got him because the frets were loose. Not a surprise. Glad I went with the token gift from Guitar Center that was returnable. We've been hunting for something better now since January. You guys have given me so much quality information - thank you!

Just came across a Breedlove B350/CB4 on Craigslist for $400. First bass with pass through strings that I have found in this price range. It's aprivate sale an hour away. What do you think? Is this a quality instrument? Fair deal?

Breedlove has a good reputation, I've never played one though. Seems worth a visit.

 

[tfer]

So...hubby returned the cheap Dean I got him because the frets were loose. Not a surprise. Glad I went with the token gift from Guitar Center that was returnable. We've been hunting for something better now since January. You guys have given me so much quality information - thank you!

Just came across a Breedlove B350/CB4 on Craigslist for $400. First bass with pass through strings that I have found in this price range. It's aprivate sale an hour away. What do you think? Is this a quality instrument? Fair deal?

I've got a Breedlove fretless Atlas (now discontinued).

Get it. It's a great instrument, with proper bracing inside.

Your husband won't regret it. Stop at a music store on your way home, and pick up a set of tapewound strings, and he'll be in heaven.

 

[MD]

And hubby, being a guitar player first, will probably like the 32" scale.

 

[southgabass]

I've only played a Breedlove guitar, and it is my go-to acoustic tone!