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Acoustic Bass Guitar...worth it?
- Thread starter lbbc
- Start date
I just went back to OP, and there seem to be several dynamics in play here. If one is interested in sofa practicing, then any ol' sort and size of ABG ought to do. Playing with friends will require a body size upgrade; I would have my friends sit opposite me and let them tell me if I am loud enough. Playing "out" will require something larger like a fractional-sized DB or a bassoguitar (just sayin') or a full 3/4 size DB. Or an amp. But then the DB must be transported, a point which I have not seen raised so far. And if playing out, everybody, including the other acoustic instruments, will be amplified, which makes the loudness point moot.
I just noticed that OP is from Seaford, DE, and anybody who lives in Seaford, DE ought to be able to afford any ol' bass they want.
I just noticed that OP is from Seaford, DE, and anybody who lives in Seaford, DE ought to be able to afford any ol' bass they want.
I've played around with them in music stores but, never found one that I liked more than the money they wanted for it.
I always used to think that they weren't, but I've recently come to have one in my house (lent to me by a bandmate) and it's honestly kind of nice. It'd probably still need amplification if you're playing with steel-string guitars, so I don't know how worthwhile that'd be, but it's definitely a nice-to-have.
It is worth it to have one? Yeah! They're nice, and it's honestly nice to play an acoustic instrument.
Is it worth buying one? That, I don't know. I personally don't think I'd buy one unless it was a really excellent deal used (maybe at a pawn shop or something).
Well it's nice for the price,bone saddles and nut,pretty top.
I sanded the saddles and got really nice action without buzzing,almost like an electric action.
I got the old version,the new has a better preamp.
ABG totally worth it. They have their own unique sound and feel, no electric will ever sound the same. Anyone saying that acoustic basses are useless because you need to amplify them for gigs might as well say that acoustic guitars are also useless because you still need to amplify them for any gig bigger than a coffeehouse.
I love my upright bass but I loved it a lot less when I was dragging it through the London underground at rush hour. ABG is, logistically speaking, a breeze by comparison.
I love my upright bass but I loved it a lot less when I was dragging it through the London underground at rush hour. ABG is, logistically speaking, a breeze by comparison.
I have owned 3 acoustic bass guitars. The idea of having one was a good idea. I sold them because I rarely used them. I do have an upright which is really a good idea. I don't believe I will sell the upright.
An ABG can work with one acoustic guitar if the player doesn't play loud. For everything else, get a small amp at the very least. It will be fine like that and can look appropriate and sound appropriate. If it's just for jamming, just use an electric with a small amp.
I got rid of my first ABG as I wanted a fretless one and couldn't justify the space for two. I wish I'd kept it. There's nothing much wrong with the fretless one, except that I need to sort out a better preamp, probably external as finding one that is a drop in replacement given the body curve is not trivial. I've gigged with it, amped up.
For me, this is a tired old argument.
I have played URB for nearly 40 years now. I have ALWAYS had to use an amp, if I wanted to hear myself. (except for orchestral work). I gig my Breedlove ABG all the time because I like the sound. I have a mag pickup and a piezo on it and it sounds great to me. Acoustic guitars sound great to me, but they won't keep up with the volume of most drummers either. But whatever.
I have played URB for nearly 40 years now. I have ALWAYS had to use an amp, if I wanted to hear myself. (except for orchestral work). I gig my Breedlove ABG all the time because I like the sound. I have a mag pickup and a piezo on it and it sounds great to me. Acoustic guitars sound great to me, but they won't keep up with the volume of most drummers either. But whatever.
Yeah this whole notion of 'campfire unplugged jamming' nonsense has to stop. That's not what they're good for. They're good for giving a deep, round, rich acoustic tone for recordings or live shows, or for purely solo practice/songwriting. Period. They don't sound like an upright, and they're not meant to, they don't sound like an electric bass, they sound acoustic - just like an acoustic guitar sounds very different from a clean electric guitar. They're their own thing. Their own beautiful, fantastic thing.
I haven't thoroughly read all the content of this thread, but I have a general idea of the direction this is going. However, there are many reasons why people want to own an acoustic bass guitar (ABG). One of them is for comfortable jamming in the sofa. I have a total of four ABGs of different types.
The one that was bought for sofa jamming is an Ibanez PNB14E, which is actually a parlour guitar which is fitted with nylon-cored strings (similar to strings you get for the Taylor GS mini). It has enough volume to play together with a moderately volumized singer (such as my wife), and plenty of volume to annoy any other inhabitants in the living room where the sofa is located should you decide to jam all by yourself. I find the bass to be very fun and very inspiring indeed. It's also fitted with a microphone should you decide to upgrade your band to a fuller setup (including other instruments and higher volume singers).
For jamming with a single guitar playing friend and singer, I also have a Morgan AB310, Morgan Guitars being a local Norwegian brand of Asian imports. This is the only ABG that I have ever tested that has a lively tone and enough volume to actually be heard in any sort of acoustic band situation. Measured up against my DB (which may not be the best DB in the world), it actually competes quite well. I have successfully jammed with mentioned guitar playing and singing friend, and even my wife kicked in on the choruses. The bass could easily be heard in this setting. I didn't have to pull the strings off to be heard, either. Again, there is a built-in mic and preamp for bigger occasions for when you want that bronze zing in your bass tone. But beware of feedback, obviously. I wouldn't recommend it for a metal gig. I have tested several other basses of the same exact model, and they have all been very similar to mine, so there's some consistency to this model. The brand's other models fall into the next category I'm addressing below.
The two other ABGs I own (a Johnson and a Samick ABG), as well as the 2-3-4 other ABGs I've owned over the years (a Takamine G-series, Washburn and one that I cannot remember the brand of), are all fun instruments, but not particularly lively and definitely not loud. The seem to be a little confined and less open, and doesn't ring out anywhere near my Morgan above. I tend to think of them as Acoustic-Electric Bass Guitars more than pure ABGs). These basses sound fine enough by themselves, especially with nylon cored strings, but they do need to be amplified to be useful in most settings (apart from the aforementioned "in-the-sofa-jamming-by-yourself-or-to-annoy-the-wife"). That said, they do sound different than electric bass guitars, both due to the acoustic character of the body and the difference in strings and pickup solutions.
Disclaimer: I have not tested any other "expenssive" ABGs from brands like Taylor, Guild, Tacoma, Martin, etc. But the fact that my AB310 works quite well proves to me that it's about making a bass with a responsive structure that actually allows the strings to drive the top into moving enough air to be loud enough. I'm sure Guild/Tacoma/Martin/Taylor/Furch and others will be capable of doing the same. But my clear advice would be to "test before buying".
A lot of people are referring to DBs. The DB is a fantastic instrument, but for someone looking for an ABG, a DB is not a practical solution. for one, it's a hazzle curling up in the sofa with a DB on your lap. And then you probably have to upgrade your car if you are going to gig with it. Remember, for a lot of gigs, you'll still have to bring an amp in addition to the DB as well.... so that makes an even bigger transport load.
Also, a lot of people are referring to Uke basses. I own two (and to be honest, I don't really like them). To me, they do not answer the question with regards to an ABG. It's a different instrument, and it's got rubber strings. If you're looking for an ABG, you're probably not going to want a uke with rubber strings.
So if you want an ABG, I'd say get one, and be aware of the limitations. Also be aware that as a more acoustic instrument, there is likely going to be bigger difference between model, brands and price tag than you are used to from electric basses. Also evaluate whether you were looking for a DB or a uke. If not, keep hunting for an ABG. There are great sounding instruments out there, and some of them are quite useful with regards to volume as well. And miced and preamped, they provide a different sound than your average electric bass as well
Good luck!
The one that was bought for sofa jamming is an Ibanez PNB14E, which is actually a parlour guitar which is fitted with nylon-cored strings (similar to strings you get for the Taylor GS mini). It has enough volume to play together with a moderately volumized singer (such as my wife), and plenty of volume to annoy any other inhabitants in the living room where the sofa is located should you decide to jam all by yourself. I find the bass to be very fun and very inspiring indeed. It's also fitted with a microphone should you decide to upgrade your band to a fuller setup (including other instruments and higher volume singers).
For jamming with a single guitar playing friend and singer, I also have a Morgan AB310, Morgan Guitars being a local Norwegian brand of Asian imports. This is the only ABG that I have ever tested that has a lively tone and enough volume to actually be heard in any sort of acoustic band situation. Measured up against my DB (which may not be the best DB in the world), it actually competes quite well. I have successfully jammed with mentioned guitar playing and singing friend, and even my wife kicked in on the choruses. The bass could easily be heard in this setting. I didn't have to pull the strings off to be heard, either. Again, there is a built-in mic and preamp for bigger occasions for when you want that bronze zing in your bass tone. But beware of feedback, obviously. I wouldn't recommend it for a metal gig. I have tested several other basses of the same exact model, and they have all been very similar to mine, so there's some consistency to this model. The brand's other models fall into the next category I'm addressing below.
The two other ABGs I own (a Johnson and a Samick ABG), as well as the 2-3-4 other ABGs I've owned over the years (a Takamine G-series, Washburn and one that I cannot remember the brand of), are all fun instruments, but not particularly lively and definitely not loud. The seem to be a little confined and less open, and doesn't ring out anywhere near my Morgan above. I tend to think of them as Acoustic-Electric Bass Guitars more than pure ABGs). These basses sound fine enough by themselves, especially with nylon cored strings, but they do need to be amplified to be useful in most settings (apart from the aforementioned "in-the-sofa-jamming-by-yourself-or-to-annoy-the-wife"). That said, they do sound different than electric bass guitars, both due to the acoustic character of the body and the difference in strings and pickup solutions.
Disclaimer: I have not tested any other "expenssive" ABGs from brands like Taylor, Guild, Tacoma, Martin, etc. But the fact that my AB310 works quite well proves to me that it's about making a bass with a responsive structure that actually allows the strings to drive the top into moving enough air to be loud enough. I'm sure Guild/Tacoma/Martin/Taylor/Furch and others will be capable of doing the same. But my clear advice would be to "test before buying".
A lot of people are referring to DBs. The DB is a fantastic instrument, but for someone looking for an ABG, a DB is not a practical solution. for one, it's a hazzle curling up in the sofa with a DB on your lap. And then you probably have to upgrade your car if you are going to gig with it. Remember, for a lot of gigs, you'll still have to bring an amp in addition to the DB as well.... so that makes an even bigger transport load.
Also, a lot of people are referring to Uke basses. I own two (and to be honest, I don't really like them). To me, they do not answer the question with regards to an ABG. It's a different instrument, and it's got rubber strings. If you're looking for an ABG, you're probably not going to want a uke with rubber strings.
So if you want an ABG, I'd say get one, and be aware of the limitations. Also be aware that as a more acoustic instrument, there is likely going to be bigger difference between model, brands and price tag than you are used to from electric basses. Also evaluate whether you were looking for a DB or a uke. If not, keep hunting for an ABG. There are great sounding instruments out there, and some of them are quite useful with regards to volume as well. And miced and preamped, they provide a different sound than your average electric bass as well
Good luck!
As noted, this discussion shows up often. Usually ends up with certain issues....
What are you using it for?
What kind of players are you jamming/gigging with?
How are you playing it?
Did you get appropriate design and quality?
Are your expectations realistic?
I've been playing nothing but ABGs for about 20 years, 90% of the time unplugged. My gig mates and jam mates are very happy with both the tone and volume of the instruments I use.
I keep being reminded of the guys who buy a Jeep, and then need to swap in a hemi so it can drag with the Mustangs.
What are you using it for?
What kind of players are you jamming/gigging with?
How are you playing it?
Did you get appropriate design and quality?
Are your expectations realistic?
I've been playing nothing but ABGs for about 20 years, 90% of the time unplugged. My gig mates and jam mates are very happy with both the tone and volume of the instruments I use.
I keep being reminded of the guys who buy a Jeep, and then need to swap in a hemi so it can drag with the Mustangs.
