• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Acoustic bass suggestions?

#41
@Glen L Moyer I bought one of those Best Products basses from Amazon and it's okay. I use it for a tenor and other tunings using baritone guitar strings. The pickup is decent and playability is good after a set up. I did have to dress a few ragged fret ends, the sound is a bit boxy but that is what I was looking for.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Glen L Moyer
#43
BassToGoGo said:
My personal favorite:

Guild Guitars | Jumbo Junior Bass
View attachment 4399406

23 3/4" scale, Fishman pickup/electronics.
Click to expand...

I was thinking this one too. I got one to use as a travel bass and for the bedroom. It plays really well. Not as loud as a full sized acoustic bass, but they are not loud enough to play with a bunch of acoustic guitars anyway. Get Would hey tiny amp for the campfire situations. They are awesome in the hotel room or traveling on an airplane.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BassToGoGo
#44
Buster53 said:
interesting you suggest this. I got on phone to my Sweetwater rep to inquire about the Guild




Wow. Interesting you suggest this. I got on the phone with my Sweetwater rep to inquire about a Guild and after much discussion (he plays bass) he asked if I’d consider his suggestion based on my expressed goals and he said let me tell you what I use… the Cordoba mini!
Click to expand...
Check it out Glen. Keys seem kinda cheap, and I could probably upgrade them. It stays in tune well enough for informal jamming. That's the worst thing I've found with it, and I can live with it, since I won't use it on stage. Wife plays ukulele, so we can play while camping. She's my band's sound man.
If you find anything you can't live with, ship it back.
 
#45
Sorry for the relative off topic but I never understood acoustic basses. You can't really hear them acoustically so they have to be amplified even for unplugged situations, they're big and unwieldy with usually bad ergonomics and they're nothing to write home about sonically, either. Sure they're a bit lighter but you can get a hollow or semi-hollow if you wanna go that route.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SoCal80s and ShawnG
#46
Boomhowertx said:
Check it out Glen. Keys seem kinda cheap, and I could probably upgrade them. It stays in tune well enough for informal jamming. That's the worst thing I've found with it, and I can live with it, since I won't use it on stage. Wife plays ukulele, so we can play while camping. She's my band's sound man.
If you find anything you can't live with, ship it back.
Click to expand...

exactly my plan. Ordered one to try it out but I’m also quite interested in the Guild Jumbo Junior. Fortunately there’s a few on Reverb.
 
#47
Gothic said:
Sorry for the relative off topic but I never understood acoustic basses. You can't really hear them acoustically so they have to be amplified even for unplugged situations, they're big and unwieldy with usually bad ergonomics and they're nothing to write home about sonically, either. Sure they're a bit lighter but you can get a hollow or semi-hollow if you wanna go that route.
Click to expand...
The thing is, this is immeasurably better with an acoustic bass.

This is better with an acoustic bass, too.

As for sonics, plugged in, my Exoticas have more tone options than most solid-body basses.
Other than that, I have seven solid-body basses and one semi-hollow bass and I can't really hear any of them unplugged.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: B-Mac and SoundOfOneHandSlapping
#49
Buster53 said:
I play only short-scale and that right away limits my options I know. I've got a Gibson SG, a Squire, two Hofners and my 1960s vintage Apollo violin bass - all 30" scale. I want to add an acoustic primarily as a practice instrument for when I'm traveling (don't want to lug around an amp!).

I've got a line on an Applause (Ovation) AE40 but where I thought these were mid-depth I'm reading more that suggests they were all the "deep" bowl and I'm not sure I'd be comfortable with that. A Plan B could be a Fender Kingman. I'm trying to stay in the $500 budget range tops.

Anyone know if the AE40's were definitely "deep" bowl backs? Any other models I should look at? Even half considered a Best Choice ($99 on Amazon) but if it's junk I don't need to waste $100 even just to practice.

And if you have an AE40 I'd love to talk.
Click to expand...


None...

Honestly they are pretty useless. I have a Martin ABG here I'll play maybe once or twice a year but it only projects enough for me and people around me to hear. Forget about trying to keep up with other instruments.

I ordered this and am looking forward to trying it, largely plan on using it on gigs where there are copious amounts of downtime.

waza-air_bass

waza-air_bass_content_photo_01.jpg
 
#51
The argument about ABG's not being loud enough is irrelevant. My Double basses aren't loud enough either, to keep up with a loud drummer. It is ALL about the plugged in sound. My Breedlove sounds different than my p bass. And personally, I like that. Again, I have always had to amplify my Upright basses, unless I'm doing orchestral work and playing arco. Just my opinion.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bholder, aekisz, jd56hawk and 5 others
#53
I got one for a lot of the same reasons, just to noodle with, play around with and have just in case a need ever came up. So I didn't want to spend a lot of money ended up with this in Black. Its 32 inch scale but plays shorter, nice sized body. Fender CB-60SCE Concert Acoustic-Electric Bass Guitar - Natural
ABG1.JPG ABG2.JPG
Included a side by side with a Fender Mustang bass for size comparison. Also got a Road Runner Hard case, so you can see how that fits.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Glen L Moyer
#54
FritzM said:
The argument about ABG's not being loud enough is irrelevant. My Double basses aren't loud enough either, to keep up with a loud drummer. It is ALL about the plugged in sound. My Breedlove sounds different than my p bass. And personally, I like that. Again, I have always had to amplify my Upright basses, unless I'm doing orchestral work and playing arco. Just my opinion.
Click to expand...

100% absolutely, totally agree … a voice of reasoned opinion in a sea of the same old cliches …
 
  • Like
Reactions: aekisz, jd56hawk, HaphAsSard and 2 others
#56
About acoustic bass and loud tone . I use to think that it's all crap when it's about to play with other people . Until i get the Tacoma thunderchief fretless and i change my mind . Also i don't found this guitar so big as i use to think.
 
#57
Buster53 said:
Sorry - T-bucket?
Click to expand...

I had a Fender T-Bucket. I bought it for the reasons you cited. It's an affordable, well-built bass with a nice tone, especially amplified. However, it's almost useless unamplified. Forget about campfires -- even the crackling of the logs will drown you out. I wound up selling mine because I just wasn't finding enough good reasons to use it. I go with those who recommend a plug-in amp, like the Amplug, with your Hofner.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Glen L Moyer
#58
I never played one, but a MicroBass from Goldtone matches your requirements.

I was in the same boat a year or so ago. I ended up buying a Kala UBass. I'm so glad I did. I got the rubber string version, but I'm wishing I got the metal string one. I wouldn't sell it though. Perfect fit for me for a very similar set of circumstances. It has an awesome tone to mix with other acoustic instruments.
 
#60
jd56hawk said:
The thing is, this is immeasurably better with an acoustic bass.

This is better with an acoustic bass, too.

As for sonics, plugged in, my Exoticas have more tone options than most solid-body basses.
Other than that, I have seven solid-body basses and one semi-hollow bass and I can't really hear any of them unplugged.
Click to expand...


Well, agree to disagree. Apart from the last part, I agree there.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jd56hawk

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back