Acoustic bass suggestions?

[Boomhowertx]

Wow! My first post here and what awesome reactions and great recommendations.

all the comments on volume output unplugged are appreciated but not entirely on point. Primarily this will be an instrument for practice when traveling and a sometime opportunity to sit and play with a couple of acoustic guitarist friends who might be present at same event.

I’m very intrigued by the many suggestions, most of all the Guild Jumbo Jr. However, after discussion with my Sweetwater rep (also a bassist), I’ve ordered this Cordoba Mini II. There’s a 30 day return option just in case it’s not right.

Again, it’s not got gigging, it’s largely to practice as I sit alone in a hotel room. I will likely add an acoustic to my collection at some point so a valuable exchange of opinions. Thanks all!

I really like mine man, and totally agree.
I'd never even take it to a paying gig, but in the park with friends, sitting in the front seat of your car, jamming with the Windows up in the pouring rain.........it'll even fit inside an outhouse. You're not out much money, it's easy to pick up when you hear a sudden lick you want to learn, making you BETTER on your daily driver.
Like I said, the only complaint I have is the keys seem to slip slightly. Ive had mine almost a year, and the strings stayed in tune after only a couple of initial tunings, when new.
If I were serious, I'm sure I could have better keys installed.
I told my wife I wanted to buy a rather full size beater that would stay in tune from a pawn shop. They want more for those few basses I might find, than she gave for this.
It could still be a beater some day, but that resonant mahogany beauty ain't nicked yet.

Not even from,the outhouse!
Enjoy it!

 

[Buster53]

Had a brilliant discussion today with Nick from Ovation customer service. My new wish list is an Ovation Viper or Celebrity Viper bass. Anyone have any knowledge or pics???

he also confirmed the AE40 is a deep bowl and that I likely would be unhappy with it, thus his suggestion of the Viper series but he says they’re a bit hard to find.

 

[Buster53]

I really like mine man, and totally agree.
I'd never even take it to a paying gig, but in the park with friends, sitting in the front seat of your car, jamming with the Windows up in the pouring rain.........it'll even fit inside an outhouse. You're not out much money, it's easy to pick up when you hear a sudden lick you want to learn, making you BETTER on your daily driver.
Like I said, the only complaint I have is the keys seem to slip slightly. Ive had mine almost a year, and the strings stayed in tune after only a couple of initial tunings, when new.
If I were serious, I'm sure I could have better keys installed.
I told my wife I wanted to buy a rather full size beater that would stay in tune from a pawn shop. They want more for those few basses I might find, than she gave for this.
It could still be a beater some day, but that resonant mahogany beauty ain't nicked yet.

Not even from,the outhouse!
Enjoy it!

Damn. Now I gotta find an outhouse to practice in! LOL

Hoping it will arrive Saturday. I opted for the spruce top - just aesthetics, no other reason.

 

[Flamingo21]

@Gothic here's my favourite example of how the ABG has its own place. Neither an upright bass nor an electric would fit into the music like this ABG does.
Contains a solo that begins about halfway.

 

[Buster53]

Have to say this is my fave acoustic bass example. Can’t tell what it is other than a 5-string and almost certainly plugged in but put some phones on (doesn’t come in till 2nd verse) but nicest bass tone I’ve ever heard bar none!!

 

[MD]

That is really cool and you can use a bow. This may be the thing that changes my mind about ABG's

Eh...unfortunately you can't really, by all accounts: a combination of C-bouts not being deep enough (in practice, waist is too wide), bridge not tall enough and radius not small enough.

Correct, it doesn't respond well to the bow.
It does however have a very different radius compared to other ABGs and slabs.

 

[B-Mac]

You're talking about plugging in, right?
Because you won't find anything better than this for a sweet plugged-in tone.
View attachment 4399721

^
^
^
^
What he said

 

[B-Mac]

I have a medium scale Dean (fretless) acoustic, handmade in Korea... but not sure they make that scale now. I play mostly 34" and one 35", but have to admit 32" is very comfortable to play.

They stopped making the 32" Performers around 2006

 

[Deleted member 165050]

That is really cool and you can use a bow. This may be the thing that changes my mind about ABG's

Sadly the bow is a non-starter on the TB10, waist way too wide and curve too shallow. I'm sticking to cello for arco, but I love my TB10 either transverse or upright...

 

[coy garcia]

Sadly the bow is a non-starter on the TB10, waist way too wide and curve too shallow. I'm sticking to cello for arco, but I love my TB10 either transverse or upright...

I love your collection

 

[Jeff Scott]

I love your collection

Have you ever seen the group photo of his wives?

 

[B-Mac]

My ABGs

1. Dean Exotica Quilt Ash (2013) A/E w/Aphex® Gloss Natural 34-inch new set MIC
2. Dean Exotica Quilt Ash (2015) A/E w/Aphex® Gloss Trans Black Fretless 34-inch new set MIC

3. Jay Turser 5 String Quilt Maple (2016) ABG w/Belcat EQ-2058 5 Band Sunburst Gloss 32-inch one of a kind demo set

4. Dean Performer ABG Dean EQ-7545 Preamp Satin Natural solid top Spruce/Mahogany 32-inch used (1999) set MIK

5. Takamine GB72CE Jumbo ABG Takamine TK-40B preamp GN Maple 34-inch (2016) used set

6. Dean Exotica Radiant ABG Shadow P7 Preamp GN solid top Spruce/Mahogany 32-inch (2003) used set MIK

7. Samick HFB490 ABG Samick preamp Archtop w/F holes Spruce/Mahogany 34-inch (1999) used set

8. Michael Kelly Dragonfly Quilt Maple 4 string ABG (2006) 34-inch bought demo used set

9. Epiphone El Capitan 34" 4 string set neck Black Gloss ABG (1999) used set

10. Stagg AB203CE-SB 30 inch 4 string dreadnaught ABG pre-amp used set

11. Dean Performer Exotic Quilt Ash PBEQA ABG 34" 4 string (2008) Elan-4TN pre-amp used set

12. Dean 2013 Exhibition Faded Denim ABG w/Aphex® 34" 4 string set neck used

13. Dean EABC ABG with Spruce Top Mahogany Back and Sides and LC-5 Preamp (PO mod) 34" set (2013) MIC used

14. Dean Performer Plus ABG Quilt Maple 5 string 32" with Fishman Preamp set (2003) MIK used

15. Dean Performer Plus ABG Quilt Maple 5 string 32" with Fishman Preamp set (2004) MIK used

16. Dean Performer Bass QM ABG Quilt Maple Gloss Natural 34" w/Prener Dual w/Mic. Pup (2006) 34" set MIC used

17. Dean Performer CE 32" 1999 ABG set EQ-7545 Preamp MIK used

18. Dean Exotica Supreme ABG 2013 Black with MOP inlays and MOP Rosette w/Aphex set 34" MIC

19. Ovation Celebrity ABG 1991 34" set MIK used

20. Fender Kingman V1 ABG Dreadnaught 34" 2010 set neck MIC used

21. C.F. Martin B-1e Satin Natural 1993 ABG 34" MIA used

 

[Buster53]

Wow wow wow!

 

[B-Mac]

Well, one would expect an acoustic instrument to be actually audible acoustically. There's the relevance. DB's are. Sure, they're not WOW loud but they're audible. And built a specific way to be able to actually project sound acoustically. The fact that they have to be amplified (now) as well is actually irrelevant to that argument. Acoustics are much more quiet. They don't have the body for it, if you will. And (to me) they seem "gimmicky". As in, someone in marketing decided "ok, here's an acoustic guitar. People like acoustic guitars, why not make an acoustic bass based on that!". And there we go.

As for the bold, a lot of people (myself included) don't. And that's okay too. I like how some of them sound, sure, I've even thought multiple times of getting one but I found no pros apart from the weight for that list and quickly abandoned the idea.

Again, the cons to playing an acoustic are what I wrote in my previous post. They're big, unwieldy, without much thought for ergonomics, they're usually a tad harder to play (for me) and set up than electrics, they do pretty much nothing acoustically (again, as the name would suggest) unless amplified, not to mention, like a DB, they can't take the same abuse an electric can.

Totally unrealistic scenario: If you could only have one bass, would you choose an acoustic over an electric?

If one, like the OP, actually WANTS one for whatever reason, cool. To each his own. But other than that, calling people who have valid (for the umpteenth time, for me/them) reasons not to like them, "full of BS" isn't really good manners now, is it? One can dislike a p-bass for whatever reasons, doesn't make them "wrong".

Still, I'll gladly eat my words publicly if you can "sell" me on an acoustic. Seriously, not being a -male member- here, I mean it. Explain to me (if you wish) what you think I have not seen or considered that makes an acoustic (not hollow or semi) bass a good choice and I might just get one.

OP, sorry for the tangent but I do find this debate interesting. Mods, delete at will if you so wish.

Cheers

Guild started making ABG basses with no electronics since the late 70’s IIRC. That’s a long duration for a ‘gimmicky’ anything.

 

[B-Mac]

Had a brilliant discussion today with Nick from Ovation customer service. My new wish list is an Ovation Viper or Celebrity Viper bass. Anyone have any knowledge or pics???

he also confirmed the AE40 is a deep bowl and that I likely would be unhappy with it, thus his suggestion of the Viper series but he says they’re a bit hard to find.

I own an Ovation Celebrity (pictured above) which has a bowled back. It is a bit unwieldy, but you adapt. It has quite a deep dark tone when plugged in compared to my other ABGs, excluding my ABGs that have the Aphex circuit.

 

[B-Mac]

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.

I have one short scale ABG which I purchased from @Chrome Dome .
It’s made by Stagg which isn’t known for high quality instruments, but I have to say that I was surprised with the sound from this bass. I think the difference is in the Dreadnought body.

The second version of the Fender Kingman is short scale, but they do not have the Dreadnought body like the first version 34” Kingman’s did.

 

[B-Mac]

Have to say this is my fave acoustic bass example. Can’t tell what it is other than a 5-string and almost certainly plugged in but put some phones on (doesn’t come in till 2nd verse) but nicest bass tone I’ve ever heard bar none!!

One of my favs

 

[Ed Goode]

View attachment 4400682
20. Fender Kingman V1 ABG Dreadnaught 34" 2010 set neck MIC used

What do you think of this Kingman? Does it have any balance issues?

 

[Buster53]

Well, one would expect an acoustic instrument to be actually audible acoustically. There's the relevance. DB's are. Sure, they're not WOW loud but they're audible. And built a specific way to be able to actually project sound acoustically. The fact that they have to be amplified (now) as well is actually irrelevant to that argument. Acoustics are much more quiet. They don't have the body for it, if you will. And (to me) they seem "gimmicky". As in, someone in marketing decided "ok, here's an acoustic guitar. People like acoustic guitars, why not make an acoustic bass based on that!". And there we go.

As for the bold, a lot of people (myself included) don't. And that's okay too. I like how some of them sound, sure, I've even thought multiple times of getting one but I found no pros apart from the weight for that list and quickly abandoned the idea.

Again, the cons to playing an acoustic are what I wrote in my previous post. They're big, unwieldy, without much thought for ergonomics, they're usually a tad harder to play (for me) and set up than electrics, they do pretty much nothing acoustically (again, as the name would suggest) unless amplified, not to mention, like a DB, they can't take the same abuse an electric can.

Totally unrealistic scenario: If you could only have one bass, would you choose an acoustic over an electric?

If one, like the OP, actually WANTS one for whatever reason, cool. To each his own. But other than that, calling people who have valid (for the umpteenth time, for me/them) reasons not to like them, "full of BS" isn't really good manners now, is it? One can dislike a p-bass for whatever reasons, doesn't make them "wrong".

Still, I'll gladly eat my words publicly if you can "sell" me on an acoustic. Seriously, not being a -male member- here, I mean it. Explain to me (if you wish) what you think I have not seen or considered that makes an acoustic (not hollow or semi) bass a good choice and I might just get one.

OP, sorry for the tangent but I do find this debate interesting. Mods, delete at will if you so wish.

Cheers

 

[B-Mac]

What do you think of this Kingman? Does it have any balance issues?

I like it quite a bit. I play seated so I can’t say much about balance. The Dreadnought body definitely ads to the sound of the bass, even though it is a cutaway body for upper fret access.

The earlier versions of the Kingman V1 came with a PreSys preamp. However, later versions of the V1 came with the PreSys + preamp which has a notch filter which is great for eliminating feedback when plugged in. If you’re looking for a V1 Kingman I’d strongly recommend the later models that had the PreSys + preamp.