Acoustic bass guitar...a design that just doesn't work?

[holllowbody]

I am not talking about the upright bass, I am talking about the ones with dreadnought style bodies that look kinda like acoustic guitars (ie. Martin B1).

Under what conditions would an acoustic bass guitar like this be prefered over a solid body electric bass assuming proper amplification for both is readily available?

These things seem to be a bit contradictory in design. The body size is too small to get any kind of usable output given the frequencies in question, so using them "acoustically" is really not viable. Since amplification is a near must, the solid body bass is ideal.

 

[Electra Player]

Well, I found a Dean one I like, and it has very rich tone and a fair amount of un-amplified volume.

This goes without saying it's in no way able to cut past more than one guitar.

Other than looks and solo practice, they really aren't very advantageous, I suppose.

 

[Darkstrike]

Mine works just fine.........

Unplugged I can keep up with a guitar, and singers, or even two guitars, and a singer.

Plugged in, it has a tone my electrics just don't get.

 

[Electra Player]

Mine works just fine.........

Unplugged I can keep up with a guitar, and singers, or even two guitars, and a singer.

Plugged in, it has a tone my electrics just don't get.

What is it and where do I get one?

 

[Darkstrike]

What is it and where do I get one?

A cheapie UK brand called Richwood.

Has no cutaway, and a damn' big body. Oh, and Roto steel rounds. Louder for jamming, I prefer to record with TI Flats.

 

[Bongolation]

These things seem to be a bit contradictory in design. The body size is too small to get any kind of usable output given the frequencies in question, so using them "acoustically" is really not viable. Since amplification is a near must, the solid body bass is ideal.

You pretty much have it.

About seventy threads here have all panned out to the same conclusion. The physics are just all against you.

ABGs were a gimmicky '90s fad that peaked a long time ago and now takes up less music store footprint with each passing year. I was in Guitar Center a while back (a BIG one) and they did not have one single ABG. Zero.

I have one. It's OK for what it is, but it isn't much.

 

[MNAirHead]

I've owned a few.... do yourself a favor and pass on the Dean.. the Ibanez AEB10 is a good value.. Michael Kelly for a fretless.... pass categorically on the Godin (quality issues)_

I use mine for acoustic visual...

Plugged with flats or tapes will get you a thud/boom/muwahh that no electric can

When meeting new session guys for the first time.. I always bring a 4 PBass, 6 string and 5 acoustic.

I don't play mine a ton.. I have gotten gigs because of it.

IF considering a fretless upright type tone... consider the ashbory.

 

[MNAirHead]

You pretty much have it.

About seventy threads here have all panned out to the same conclusion. The physics are just all against you.

ABGs were a gimmicky '90s fad that peaked a long time ago and now takes up less music store footprint with each passing year. I was in Guitar Center a while back (a BIG one) and they did not have one single ABG. Zero.

I have one. It's OK for what it is, but it isn't much.

'

I own a store (not music) .. many times our highest volume seller stuff we can't keep on the floor - they (GC) commonly are out of stock on Michael Kelly and Ibanez.

If going acoustic.. consider fretless acoustic.

Basses Categorically are taking up less store footprint - especially quality stuff.. x10 for domestic.

Tim

 

[holllowbody]

You pretty much have it.

About seventy threads here have all panned out to the same conclusion. The physics are just all against you.

ABGs were a gimmicky '90s fad that peaked a long time ago and now takes up less music store footprint with each passing year. I was in Guitar Center a while back (a BIG one) and they did not have one single ABG. Zero.

I have one. It's OK for what it is, but it isn't much.

Just about all music stores near me have anywhere from 1 to 3 ABGs. I played around with a Martin B1 and liked the sound, but not the output. It was new and had a price of 1K. I was tempted, but figured that once the newness wore off and reality set in, I would be stuck with a near useless $1000 toy.

 

[cheezewiz]

IMHO...absolutely useless instruments except for sitting on the couch playing in a quiet room, by yourself.

 

[GRAHAM JACOBS]

Fretless acoustic is the only one that makes some sense to me.

I can see it possibly being a substitute for an URB if, for whatever reason, you can't lug your URB to a gig. Having said that, I have a fretless P Bass for that purpose.

 

[vinxbass]

Ovation makes one that lists for over $3,000, I'm appauld.

 

[ggunn]

I have a Tacoma Thunderchief, and it's great for playing around a campfire. With one or two acoustic guitars it does fine as long as they aren't banging it out. I have an EH Freedom amp that I use to give me a little more volume if I'm in a bigger song circle or with more enthusiastic guitarists.

An ABG is a nice addition to your collection if you're OK with its limits and like to sit and play in an acoustic environment. It's definitely a niche instrument.

 

[Bongolation]

IMHO...absolutely useless instruments except for sitting on the couch playing in a quiet room, by yourself.

They're OK for that, but you won't keep up with a guy beating on a guitar and bawling out the lyrics.

For that matter, the dog howling will drown you out. 'Course, a good dog will drown ANYone out.

I'm actually thinking of using mine (one of those wild-looking Hohners with the triangular soundhole and vertical cutaway) for recording, but I'm probably crazy.

The problem when playing with others is that you have to amplify the ABG to keep up with anything and as soon as you do, you start having feedback.

I have a Yamaha bass MFX that has some gee-whiz preset for killing feedback specifically on amplified ABGs, but the setup is so confusing, I've never tried it.

These things were just props for the Unplugged scene.

I got mine for proper presentation with a hip alt.country live project a guy wanted me to do with him, but the band fell apart before it ever launched. :scowl:

 

[ScottB.]

Tone?

 

[Bongolation]

I have a Tacoma Thunderchief, and it's great for playing around a campfire.

What was the great line about ABGs and campfires from that thread a while back?

Haw! I wish I could remember it properly. It was the only time I think I ever thought anyone's humor here was actually funny.

 

[WarriorJoe7]

I have a Tacoma Thunderchief, and it's great for making a campfire

fixed!

 

[Bongolation]

Note skeptical apprehensiveness of cat:

Invalid Link Removed

 

[ggunn]

fixed!

Very funny. Did you think that up all by yourself?

 

[JDR]

I had a lined-fretless Ernie Ball Earthwood Bass made for me back in 1986. Strung with LaBella tapewounds, it holds its own with an acoustic guitar and a second acoustic guitar or dobro or mandolin or banjo and a fiddle and vocals. However, its body is much larger than any other ABG I've seen, nearly the size of my guitarron.