IMHO the ergonomics of the Tacoma makes it uncomfortable to play for an extended time; especially sitting. It's a little better standing with the bass on the strap. Hard for me to imagine dealing with an even bigger body.
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Acoustic Bass guitars worth having
- Thread starter Kebogu
- Start date
IMHO the ergonomics of the Tacoma makes it uncomfortable to play for an extended time; especially sitting. It's a little better standing with the bass on the strap. Hard for me to imagine dealing with an even bigger body.
I had a Tacoma Thunderchief for a number of years before I realized that my needs for a bass to play at full-band acoustic shows was better served with a semi-hollow Warwick Star Bass with flats. If you’re just playing at home or jamming around a living room with friends then there are some good options, but you will have to be mindful of feedback when playing out. After selling both my Tacoma and Warwick I bought a Washburn AB-45 acoustic bass for live work since my artists want the look of an acoustic bass more than the sound.
I haven't tried every acoustic bass made, but then again, I don't need to because I already own the best.
Nothing better than the Dean Exotica, I'm talking the older models with the Aphex System electronics...Aural Exciter and Big-Bottom Sound. More versatile than my Jazz bass and quite a few other solid-body basses.
The day I bought the blue one I was at Guitar Center trying it out and some guy was there with his son looking at the Ibanez and Fender acoustic basses, when they heard me playing, they stopped what they were doing and we got into a little conversation when I unplugged.
I think they were both hoping I was going to hang it back on the wall, but hey, it was $400 and it sounded better than the three or four solid-body basses I'd tried, so it was definitely coming home with me...even though the action was so high I could stick a pencil between the strings and fretboard at the 12th fret!
Slightly warmer tone here.
As for the detractors and their constant "You really can't hear them in a band setting without an amp" bs, the same can be said about P basses, Jazz basses, Rics, Stingrays, etc, etc, etc.
So many bass players seem to forget it's all about the tone, even though they argue about tone over and over again. Seriously, it's a weaker argument than Precision vs Jazz or pick vs fingers.
Yeah, tone, just like this.
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My anecdotal experience on this topic:
After I finally got an upright bass last year, my good old trusty fretless Eko BA4 suddenly sounded like a cardboard box…
I often considered getting an acoustic bass guitar for “unplugged “ gigs. But since realistically, I still actually needed to be plugged in, it has always been more of an aesthetic issue. Since I couldn’t justify the cost for that, I have always just used a natural wood colored electric bass and a small bass amp. I have never had any complaints.
I've owned a number of different ABGs: Ovation, Washburn, Dean, Fender, and some other off-brands. I've tired out some of the big-bodied acoustics like the Tacoma, but couldn't jive with the ergonomics. But I haven't had an issue with the "normal" sized acoustic basses and there relative volume when jamming acoustically with others, but I am also the type of player that really digs in with my fingers for a pronounced attack. Using a pick can achieve the same thing.
Right now, I own the Fender Kingman V2 acoustic bass. I think it's great and is not too expensive. The fact that it is short scale and has a Jazz neck really makes it comfortable to play. I bought a matching Fender California Series dreadnought acoustic guitar and they sound great together when I have a friend over. As a matter of fact, I had been playing it primarily unplugged until recently when I brought it to practice with my funk-rock band. I plugged it straight into my Fender Rumble 800 and they paired very well, like they were made for each other; a rich, full sound with clear pronunciation. I may make it my main bass for that project, which is probably a bit unconventional, but the sound don't lie.
For years I've wanted an Emerald Balor 8-string bass, but for the cost I'm worried it would feel too big and I wouldn't end up liking it. So I guess my advice is to not be afraid to try some things out to see what you do and and don't like, what your ultimate requirements in an instrument are, and what you can compromise on. Good luck!
Right now, I own the Fender Kingman V2 acoustic bass. I think it's great and is not too expensive. The fact that it is short scale and has a Jazz neck really makes it comfortable to play. I bought a matching Fender California Series dreadnought acoustic guitar and they sound great together when I have a friend over. As a matter of fact, I had been playing it primarily unplugged until recently when I brought it to practice with my funk-rock band. I plugged it straight into my Fender Rumble 800 and they paired very well, like they were made for each other; a rich, full sound with clear pronunciation. I may make it my main bass for that project, which is probably a bit unconventional, but the sound don't lie.
For years I've wanted an Emerald Balor 8-string bass, but for the cost I'm worried it would feel too big and I wouldn't end up liking it. So I guess my advice is to not be afraid to try some things out to see what you do and and don't like, what your ultimate requirements in an instrument are, and what you can compromise on. Good luck!
It's a custom build from a guy in Rhode Island. Dimensions are much like an Earthwood: 6" deep, 19" wide, 25" long. Lot of people dont get that building a good acoustic is just more expensive than an electric. Big well built ones aren't common or cheap. My Tacoma comes fairly close in volume, and you can find them around $1000. There's a place in CO called Lamont that's making something like an Earthwood for about $2000.
Lot of comments have complained about the size and ergonomics of big ABGs. I dont find it uncomfortable. I think a lot of that is in one's experience and expectations. I started out on large body acoustic guitars, dont really feel a huge difference. People who've always played electric probably would find it cumbersome, and difficult to change playing positions etc. You canNOT play an ABG the way you play an EB and hope to get volume out of it. Personally, I'd find the weight of an EB impossible...my ABGs all clock in between 5 and 6 pounds.
Warwick Rockbass Alien Hybrid Thinline. The model name is a mouthful, but basically its an Alien acoustic but with a thin body (3.25 inches) along with a magnetic pickup embedded in the fretboard in addition to the piezo. The overall size of the body was enlarged a little to compensate for being thinner. The sound hole actually helps you hear it better while playing as it weirdly directs sound up towards your ears. I have played/owned other acoustic basses and I found them uncomfortable due to the thick bodies. This baby is a game changer. Every little note and harmonic jumps out better than my electrics. Pure joy to play.
I have a '91 Ovation elite 4 string ABG, their top-of-the-line model at the time, that I picked up new for half retail because owner won it in a Bass Player Mag contest and didn't want it. I probably put more hours on this bass, unplugged, than any of my regular basses. I only plug it in to a tuner, never to an amp. It has incredible tone and significant volume without being amplified. Action is very good but like any ABG significantly heavier than a well set-up electric. This fact, and the terrible ergonomics, with the deep bowl back sliding or rolling away from my body as I play, is the reason it sits in its case in the closet. If I play it for more than a matter of a few days I come away ham-fisted, it wrecks my touch for my regular basses.
So sorry, unless you want an ABG for silent practice and this is all you intend to play, better to just use an electric and a small amp and turn it way down.
Anyway, here's the Ovation. It is quite beautiful, and still mint.
So sorry, unless you want an ABG for silent practice and this is all you intend to play, better to just use an electric and a small amp and turn it way down.
Anyway, here's the Ovation. It is quite beautiful, and still mint.
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I originally bought an ABG because I wanted something to keep around the house that might encourage me to play more often, because of not having to deal with cables and amplifiers. You know, just grab it and start playing instantly.
And it has indeed served me well for that purpose.
But the added benefit that I did not expect from owning an ABG was that, since it does have a built-in pick up, it can be played plugged into an amp… And my particular ABG sounds *fantastic* when amplified! So it’s been getting a lot of use as a very unique sounding electric bass, in addition to serving its original purpose.
And it has indeed served me well for that purpose.
But the added benefit that I did not expect from owning an ABG was that, since it does have a built-in pick up, it can be played plugged into an amp… And my particular ABG sounds *fantastic* when amplified! So it’s been getting a lot of use as a very unique sounding electric bass, in addition to serving its original purpose.
I searched for a while to find an acoustic bass that reached the volume I needed unplugged. I eventually landed on a Gold Tone Paul Beard Resonator Bass. It has a regular electric pickup on it, so it sounds pretty good plugged in with LaBella Flats as well. It's done the job for years - looks cool too.
Acoustic basses get a bad rep but I do love mine, especially for playing around the house. In fact, I practice more on it than any of my electric basses. Of course, it has limitations but I knew that when I bought it and didn’t have unrealistic expectations of what it could do. It’s a Faith Titan Neptunewith La Bella black tapes on and I love the sound.
Here it is in one of those “record it on your phone and stitch it together later” we did for an online church service in Lockdown. Again, for the acoustic vibe I reckon it works well (through my amp, of course…).
I also used it live a few times - like at this regular Jam I attend for a Springsteen acoustic number.
They do what they do and if that suits your purposes then that’s fine.
Here it is in one of those “record it on your phone and stitch it together later” we did for an online church service in Lockdown. Again, for the acoustic vibe I reckon it works well (through my amp, of course…).
I also used it live a few times - like at this regular Jam I attend for a Springsteen acoustic number.
They do what they do and if that suits your purposes then that’s fine.
The way the guy in the video is playing isn't how you get volume out of an ABG. That bent wrist and plucking with fingertips gives lots of dexterity and speed, and is great on an amped instrument. But you cannot get unplugged power out of it. Go watch a vid of someone playing a guitarron, and look especially at his forearm and wrist.
Apples to oranges. After I finally got an upright, my old tuba sounded like a lot of hot air.My anecdotal experience on this topic:
After I finally got an upright bass last year, my good old trusty fretless Eko BA4 suddenly sounded like a cardboard box…
Why are you sticking post-it note pads beneath the strings just ahead of the bridge?
