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Acoustic bass guitars, GET EM LOUDER!?!?!
- Thread starter DrooNed
- Start date
If you want volume on an acoustic bass, I would hit the strings hard and try playing two strings at the same time. It is kind of an attack strategy with the strings and fretboard. I have been finding my way with my Tacoma four string Thunderchief for almost two years now. It's a special relationship with this bass guitar. It's growing into a fingerpicking rhythm and melodic bass experience with lots of octave, fifths, racing bass lines and harmonics. All that and you have to hit it hard to get any unplugged volume. Last word. It is a fun bass to play
Rigel Acoutic bass
Link Removed
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
About $2200
One of the nice things about it is that the neck is some sort of dovetail aluminum mount that slides off w/o tools for transport.
Link Removed
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
About $2200
One of the nice things about it is that the neck is some sort of dovetail aluminum mount that slides off w/o tools for transport.
I realize I'm jolting an old thread back to life, but here goes.
It's interesting that some people consider it to be junk and dismiss it as a gimmick. When you look at the science of it, you begin to see why it was installed on a guitar. After all, bass cabinets most often have ports. All ports are, are sound holes. And some ports, like those in my ACME Low B2, are specifically set up to increase the tonal response and handling in certain frequencies. If you've ever popped open a Low B2 cab, you'll see that the two ports in there are pretty deep. So, porting of a bass enclosure DOES indeed work. The science says it does.
What the the OP needs to consider is, what kind of wood is the guitar made out of? Is it a bright wood, or is it a dark wood? Is it a bass heavy in dense lower overtones, or is it really bright? Does the OP play with a pick? On what kind of strings? All of these are important choices a musician takes into account due to how, when added altogether, they sound on any given instrument.
Will it be magically as loud as an upright? No way. Will it be louder, or better sounding? Quite possibly, it depends on your instrument's wood and body size, really.
The one thing that does concern me is that port science is just that. Science. A lot of math goes into creating a port for a specific size and tonal quality needed for a given enclosure. And the O-Port is a one-size fits all kind of deal, that is intended for the dramatically smaller acoustic guitar. So, it would stand to reason that, for the average cubic volume of an acoustic bass guitar, you've probably got the wrong math going with an O-Port, and it may not help you at all, or at the very least, it may not help you to the degree that a properly measured port would help you.
Just some thoughts I had while reading this thread and watching the videos of them on YouTube, where it had a dramatic increase in fullness and clarity for some guitars, and not so much for others. And that I could find, there were no ABG videos. I may just order one and see how it sounds and make a video.
It's interesting that some people consider it to be junk and dismiss it as a gimmick. When you look at the science of it, you begin to see why it was installed on a guitar. After all, bass cabinets most often have ports. All ports are, are sound holes. And some ports, like those in my ACME Low B2, are specifically set up to increase the tonal response and handling in certain frequencies. If you've ever popped open a Low B2 cab, you'll see that the two ports in there are pretty deep. So, porting of a bass enclosure DOES indeed work. The science says it does.
What the the OP needs to consider is, what kind of wood is the guitar made out of? Is it a bright wood, or is it a dark wood? Is it a bass heavy in dense lower overtones, or is it really bright? Does the OP play with a pick? On what kind of strings? All of these are important choices a musician takes into account due to how, when added altogether, they sound on any given instrument.
Will it be magically as loud as an upright? No way. Will it be louder, or better sounding? Quite possibly, it depends on your instrument's wood and body size, really.
The one thing that does concern me is that port science is just that. Science. A lot of math goes into creating a port for a specific size and tonal quality needed for a given enclosure. And the O-Port is a one-size fits all kind of deal, that is intended for the dramatically smaller acoustic guitar. So, it would stand to reason that, for the average cubic volume of an acoustic bass guitar, you've probably got the wrong math going with an O-Port, and it may not help you at all, or at the very least, it may not help you to the degree that a properly measured port would help you.
Just some thoughts I had while reading this thread and watching the videos of them on YouTube, where it had a dramatic increase in fullness and clarity for some guitars, and not so much for others. And that I could find, there were no ABG videos. I may just order one and see how it sounds and make a video.
Well, without any actual evidence to present, I can say that the O-Port does indeed help out the Ibanez AEB5. Helps it a lot. It does sound fuller, and perhaps a WEE bit louder, but the sound is much more focused and punchy than it was before.
Actually, ports in speaker cabinets aren't sound holes, their bass reflex tuned helmholz (sp?) radiators. No relation to this guitar o-port's physics. The guitar port could definitely work though ..... the tuning aspect is either helmholz or horn physics based. ... either concept could work.
But enough of science lol.... guitar o ports do work.
What scares me is that the designer of the o-port likely has no knowledge of the physics he's utilizing. .... but at least he used his ears. I've tried them and they actually DO work.
But enough of science lol.... guitar o ports do work.
What scares me is that the designer of the o-port likely has no knowledge of the physics he's utilizing. .... but at least he used his ears. I've tried them and they actually DO work.
That's the way the guitarron guys do it - double up on the notes. In fact, if you want a loud acoustic bass, get a guitarron.
http://www.melhart.com/images/mariachi/guitarron/isi938-800.jpg
^^^
That may be the way the guitarron guys do it, but that's the mariachi technique. Try walking over jazz changes playing double stops.
And, what looks to be a 12-14" FB with zero upper access? Deal beaker!
That may be the way the guitarron guys do it, but that's the mariachi technique. Try walking over jazz changes playing double stops.
And, what looks to be a 12-14" FB with zero upper access? Deal beaker!
