Acoustic Bass guitars

[Philbiker]

I am more in love with my CB10E Thunderchief every time I play it. $60 for a set of strings? No problem! How often do you change strings on your bass? I leave mine on till either they lose intonation or I want a different sound; I've been known to go 8+ years between changes.

I personally love the LaBella black tapewound strings on my Tacoma, recommended right here on Talkbass; it took a special recommendation for me to switch from the Elixers which I loved also.

 

[wulf]

I am wanting to buy an acoustic bass guitar.

For what purpose? I've got a Tanglewood Odyssey - it was relatively cheap, has a shallow body with a rounded back and there's something up with the piezos, where the G and D sound much louder than the A and E. However, I want something that I can pick up and play without having to plug in and it works extremely well for that application.

Remember, form follows function

Wulf

 

[LEFTY LEN]

My thunderchief is a feed back timebomb. And it scares me and everyone else around when it goes. I do not think they make a tear dropped shape feedback buster for the thunderchief. But if they did, nothing will tame this beast. You just got to stand in the sweet spot and work with an eq.

Acoustically, thunderchiefs rock/ Stand by a wall or corner you you increase volume. Those Martins are nice. The Taylor Bass is even nicer.

I think the imported thuderchiefs are the ticket. And non-musicians instantly know it is not a guitar, unlike most ABG.

I've heard that the Taylor bass was nice also. But is it $3500 nice?
The Martin can be had for $1300 or less if someone will deal with you.
(got mine for $700, best deal I ever had!)
Is Taylor still making those basses? I heard no.

 

[gojirin]

I have a Michael Kelly Firefly which I love. Good action, very decent sound unamplified and a decent preamp. It's a fretless, which is a major challenge to my limited abilites, but a worthwhile instrument. A bit more than $300, but MK does make a plain model that can be found for $400 new. Look for a used one.
Ibanez makes a model that runs around $350 which is quite decent.
Mind you I want a Tacoma. I have not found a better acoustic, IMHO.
Strings make a huge difference. I hated the MK untill I found string that felt right.

 

[Dincrest]

Back in June I tried out a JBP 5-string (I can't remember which model) in a music store which was going for about $450. I didn't expect the bass to be as good as it was. The low B was very good (one of the best low B's I've played) and the neck was slim and easy to play. I didn't get to try it plugged in, but unplugged it wasn't that loud...but playability and the low B were nice. I don't know if it was the bass or that the store had set it up well. If I wasn't in the market for a 6-string electric at that time, I'd have snatched up that bass.

But acoustic/electric basses aren't something you should really skimp on.

 

[Steve-O18]

I have an Ibanez AEB-10 I bought back in june. I find it to be really good. If I play with acoustic guitar, you can hear it perfectly. I've never had any problems with it sounding thin.. The built in Fishman pick-up is also nice.

One of my friends has a Micheal Kelly that sounds real nice and he picked it up for only 200$ in Nashville.

 

[angelopb]

Those Kelley basses are neat looking. TThe website usually has scratch and dent models at good prices.

I bought my ABG to thump on the couch(play acoustically). I really took a liking to it and play it out all the time on acoustic open mike nights. If you show up with one of those, you are likely to get a lot of stage time becasue everyone will want you to sit in with them. I have the L.R. Braggs preamp, which uses a ribbon thing as a pickup, unlike crappy sounding piezos.

The stings last about a year for me until they finally don't hold tune any more. But I played the HELL of this.

And the coolest thing is I take my thunderchief everywhere I go just in case.

 

[Philbiker]

My thunderchief is a feed back timebomb. And it scares me and everyone else around when it goes. I do not think they make a tear dropped shape feedback buster for the thunderchief. But if they did, nothing will tame this beast. You just got to stand in the sweet spot and work with an eq.

I've played two Thunderchiefs, one borrowed with the L.R. Baggs preamp and mine with the Fishman Prefix Plus (higher priced). The Baggs equipped Chief was as you describe, a feedback demon. My Fishman equipped bass has no problems with feedback thanks to the handy notch filter.

 

[angelopb]

I've played two Thunderchiefs, one borrowed with the L.R. Baggs preamp and mine with the Fishman Prefix Plus (higher priced). The Baggs equipped Chief was as you describe, a feedback demon. My Fishman equipped bass has no problems with feedback thanks to the handy notch filter.

I should not have sold my bass parametric eq. pedal. They should put a notch filter on the L.R. Braggs. I hate onboard eqs anyway. But they are good when you play direct into the board. How does the Fishman sound? can you hear a difference. They make like 4 different preamps for the T-chief.

Thunderchief is Good Medicine. . .

 

[falconfixer]

For cheap - i was happy with my Kramer (see above). It had an electric neck and a 'decent' sound - kinda' thin. (I sold it to make rent one winter a long time ago...)

While on deployment to OIF/SouthWest Asia I tried to mail order an accoustic so i could help the Praise and Worship service... No joy and then i got sent home!

Anyhoo - i played a lot of 'em when i got back so i'd have one for 'next time' - you know - when a buncha' long-haired accoustic guitar-types are laying it down so i could join in...

Bottom line: The Martin B-15E is LOUD, large, and in-charge! The fishman(sp?) electric set up is wonderful... I play it plugged in to the stage system for a different (mellower) sound. Downside- save yer $$$$$.$$ it was over $1.1K

Once you play one - you won't go back.

Moral: Don't go cheap. Rob a bank or sumthin'!

 

[angelopb]

There are two types of ABG players: Members of the Thunderchief Nation and the rest. . .