This is a very good point as many, not all, but many ABGs are built based on existing acoustic guitar body designs with a bass neck added.
Some are even thin bodied to accommodate the electric guitarist/electric bassist.
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Acoustic bass suggestions?
- Thread starter Buster53
- Start date
This is a very good point as many, not all, but many ABGs are built based on existing acoustic guitar body designs with a bass neck added.
Some are even thin bodied to accommodate the electric guitarist/electric bassist.
The comment that gets me going in addition to the ‘useless’ comment is the ‘might as well play my P-Bass’ (or other slab of wood bass’
Even when an ABG is plugged in it still sounds like an ABG.
Owning 104 basses concurrently, with 21 of them being ABGs, I can say without hesitation, that when plugged in none of them sound like a slab of solid wood electric bass.
Of course everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but I can A-B these plugged into the same amp at the same time and believe me, they don’t sound the same.
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- Dec 21, 2007
- 15,222
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- Lark in the Morning Instructional Videos; Audix Microphones
@B-Mac I hear you, but that latter comment doesn't get me as much. As an EB player considering an ABG, the issue was "could I play it with friends at an acoustic jam?" and the answer, to me was, "if I have to bring an amp, I might as well bring the bass I love to play, enjoy the ergonomics of, etc." I wasn't thinking about the particular tone of an ABG because I didn't have an ABG, was merely considering it.
Now I have an ABG coming, but my reasons for getting one have evolved beyond "jam acoustically with friends".
- Dec 21, 2007
- 15,222
- 45,001
- Disclosures
- Lark in the Morning Instructional Videos; Audix Microphones
Well, I wasn't in lust with it until after it started being builtYou’re getting that custom built ABG because you’re in lust with it!
The scenario that got me buying a custom ABG went kinda like this.
I work from home. I live in a beautiful place. When I have breaks at work (10 min here or there) I like to go outside and I like to play bass. I'd prefer not to have to choose "which can I do?"
Schlepping a bass amp outside does not make good use of a 10 min break... Taking an electric bass outside to play acoustically is barely adequate but not that much fun.
An ABG would fit this particular need nicely - regardless of whether or not it has "enough volume for a jam".
Answer - get an ABG.
So why go custom?
Well, I'm used to playing nice basses (Zon).
I play 5 string, fretless. That's what I enjoy, so I want that in the ABG.
And the Michael Kelly I had, while decent, had ergonomics that I didn't enjoy.
The more I looked (and scanned the classifieds here, Reverb, etc.) the less I saw basses that fit my criteria. I could buy a bass and defret it, but even then, not much came along.
The Warwick Rockbass Alien Thinline fretless 5 seemed pretty close, but was only available from the EU - none were being shipped to US distributors this year. At that price point, "get a custom built" was not a particularly far leap.
We're calling it "The Phoenix" and in part it commemorates my family (and my home) surviving last year's CZU Lightning Complex fire that burned literally to our carport and destroyed many of our neighbors' houses.
It's almost ready to ship. There will definitely be a NBD post and some video/audio.
Deep man, really deep.Well, I wasn't in lust with it until after it started being built
The scenario that got me buying a custom ABG went kinda like this.
I work from home. I live in a beautiful place. When I have breaks at work (10 min here or there) I like to go outside and I like to play bass. I'd prefer not to have to choose "which can I do?"
Schlepping a bass amp outside does not make good use of a 10 min break... Taking an electric bass outside to play acoustically is barely adequate but not that much fun.
An ABG would fit this particular need nicely - regardless of whether or not it has "enough volume for a jam".
Answer - get an ABG.
So why go custom?
Well, I'm used to playing nice basses (Zon).
I play 5 string, fretless. That's what I enjoy, so I want that in the ABG.
And the Michael Kelly I had, while decent, had ergonomics that I didn't enjoy.
The more I looked (and scanned the classifieds here, Reverb, etc.) the less I saw basses that fit my criteria. I could buy a bass and defret it, but even then, not much came along.
The Warwick Rockbass Alien Thinline fretless 5 seemed pretty close, but was only available from the EU - none were being shipped to US distributors this year. At that price point, "get a custom built" was not a particularly far leap.
We're calling it "The Phoenix" and in part it commemorates my family (and my home) surviving last year's CZU Lightning Complex fire that burned literally to our carport and destroyed many of our neighbors' houses.
It's almost ready to ship. There will definitely be a NBD post and some video/audio.
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View attachment 4403312
Wow! Just how deep is it?
Were you aware of @Steve Burke 's work before @Cullen G started posting about his work? Seems like quality lutherie at reasonable price?
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- Dec 21, 2007
- 15,222
- 45,001
- Disclosures
- Lark in the Morning Instructional Videos; Audix Microphones
I believe it's 5.5" deep.Deep man, really deep.
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Wow! Just how deep is it?
Were you aware of @Steve Burke 's work before @Cullen G started posting about his work? Seems like quality lutherie at reasonable price?
You are correct. I learned about @Steve Burke from @Cullen G . I saw (and heard) "Zircote Wan Kenobi" and was blown away.
And working with Steve has been an absolute pleasure. Incredible skill set, great communicator, nice guy. He has sent pics at various points throughout the build, keeping me informed and up to date.
It looks amazing.
The final (and ultimately biggest) thing will be how it feels and sounds when it arrives.
In my mind, I'm singing "How deep is your bass" to the well known tune.
Over the years I've tried a lot of acoustic basses with the hope of using them unplugged with acoustic guitars. That proved to be impossible for me and the plugged in tones and feedback didn't thrill me or my guitarists. The acoustic basses were also very cumbersome and uncomfortable for me to play so I decided to go with an old favorite, my Danelectro Silvertone Model 1444 which is mostly hollow. That was a much better solution for me from the standpoint of comfort, playability and a bit of a hollow-ish tone.
I used the Ibanez AFB200 for several months but the body was just too big for me to play comfortably so I went back to the 1444.
After a few years I semi-retired the 1444 and started using an Epiphone Allen Woody Rumblekat which worked well for a few years until Hofner issued the Ignition Club bass. For me the lighter weight and smaller body of the bass was a plus, the narrow neck is easier for me to play and the tone was "hollow-ish" and sort of "uprighteous" which was what I was hoping for from an acoustic bass.
So there it is, after years of trying I settled on the Hofner Ignition Club bass with nylon tapewound strings for my "acoustic" needs.
I used the Ibanez AFB200 for several months but the body was just too big for me to play comfortably so I went back to the 1444.
After a few years I semi-retired the 1444 and started using an Epiphone Allen Woody Rumblekat which worked well for a few years until Hofner issued the Ignition Club bass. For me the lighter weight and smaller body of the bass was a plus, the narrow neck is easier for me to play and the tone was "hollow-ish" and sort of "uprighteous" which was what I was hoping for from an acoustic bass.
So there it is, after years of trying I settled on the Hofner Ignition Club bass with nylon tapewound strings for my "acoustic" needs.
That's why I'm interested in how they are being used. That can explain a lot, if you aren't satisfied with volume
I also needed a small portable ABG for quiet indoor practice, so I settled for a used Ibanez PNB14E. Practicing through headphones got too tiring for me. I have thought long and hard about the merits of ABG's, but I didn't know how valid the couch practice argument was until I finally got it. For that alone, the price of a used one was more than worth it. And I really enjoy the earthy wooden unamplified tone. It's got a voice of its own, distinct from EBG and DB.
I've gone back and forth over the acoustic volume issue, theorizing hard about how to make it work. Now that I own one, I can finally speak from some experience. The PNB14E can keep up with a uke just fine, but an acoustic guitar can drown it out. That's not the end of the world, though. Of course an ABG won't hold its own against a gung-ho guitarist crazily strumming away, but a mature guitarist can be sensitive enough to let it keep up. There's some adjusting to the technique that can add a little more volume. Also I figured that tuning it higher would help, and I was thinking of doing this down the line anyway since it's got such a short scale length.
-Cal.
I've gone back and forth over the acoustic volume issue, theorizing hard about how to make it work. Now that I own one, I can finally speak from some experience. The PNB14E can keep up with a uke just fine, but an acoustic guitar can drown it out. That's not the end of the world, though. Of course an ABG won't hold its own against a gung-ho guitarist crazily strumming away, but a mature guitarist can be sensitive enough to let it keep up. There's some adjusting to the technique that can add a little more volume. Also I figured that tuning it higher would help, and I was thinking of doing this down the line anyway since it's got such a short scale length.
-Cal.
Just out of the box. Need to tune it up and see what I think. It’s really small. Looks great. Tuners feel cheap. Someone here suggested replacements, might want to look at that. Couple of frets feel like they need sanding.
Off to tune it and play it.
That's the genre one of my basses was built for. The bass on the left was built for fado by Jose Mota.
It's got a box that's 25" long, 18.75 wide, 5.75 deep. 34 scale.
If I am to play standing up, I will use an Epiphone El Capitan or a non-cutaway Dean. If I know I will be playing seated, I will use what is in my avatar or else a 1/4 size DB. With either of these, the yap and bleat about it not being loud enough to hang with other acoustic instruments will become just what it is, yap and bleat.
I do find that at music party/house concerts standing up like with an upright gets me out of the circle of musicians. It’s not my preference. I’m 6’2” so these bodies, even an Earthwood aren’t an issue sitting down.
If you’d been waiting as long as we who have played since the mid ‘60s the availability of ABGs has been very welcome.
I played an Earthwood and a Guild at Union Grove Music in Los Gatos, CA in 1976.
If you’d been waiting as long as we who have played since the mid ‘60s the availability of ABGs has been very welcome.
I played an Earthwood and a Guild at Union Grove Music in Los Gatos, CA in 1976.
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Getting back to the original thread idea, I have a Micheal Kelly 5 string Dragonfly which I like very much and once owned an Applause, which is ovations second line.
I didn't like the tone of the Applause. I thought it was because of the synthetic back but in retrospect, I probably should have just put on different strings. It had the usual Bronze ABG strings.
When I got the MK I put black tape strings on it. A sacrifice of some volume but more playability and better tone.
It serves me as a way to practice anywhere and through an amp has a great woody sound none of my solid body Basses can do.
Sorry, but I don't yet have a picture of an attractive women playing it.
I didn't like the tone of the Applause. I thought it was because of the synthetic back but in retrospect, I probably should have just put on different strings. It had the usual Bronze ABG strings.
When I got the MK I put black tape strings on it. A sacrifice of some volume but more playability and better tone.
It serves me as a way to practice anywhere and through an amp has a great woody sound none of my solid body Basses can do.
Sorry, but I don't yet have a picture of an attractive women playing it.
NBD!! (or a couple weeks late. The holidays have been busy).
Was looking for a short ABG to have at my desk or couch to pickup whenever I want. Maybe also to play in local acoustic open mics. A big thanks to @B-Mac for advice and suggestions. I really appreciate the assistance.
A few weeks ago SW had a demo Guild Jumbo Jr that was in really good condition. They also had a demo of the matching gig bag (Dix Gig Bag Jumbo Jr). So I decided that the signs all pointed to this one.
Nice spruce top. Lovely grain on the rest of the body wood.
Feels like it weighs nothing. Here is the mass in both Imperial and useful units.
Fits nicely in the gig bag as well.
Now it sits happily next to my desk so I can pick it up and play along (either acoustically or plugged into my ELF + 208 setup) with lessons, videos, Spotify, or whatever.
At some point I might be looking for different strings. Any suggestions for replacements, upgrades, flats, whatever would certainly be welcome.
Was looking for a short ABG to have at my desk or couch to pickup whenever I want. Maybe also to play in local acoustic open mics. A big thanks to @B-Mac for advice and suggestions. I really appreciate the assistance.
A few weeks ago SW had a demo Guild Jumbo Jr that was in really good condition. They also had a demo of the matching gig bag (Dix Gig Bag Jumbo Jr). So I decided that the signs all pointed to this one.
Nice spruce top. Lovely grain on the rest of the body wood.
Feels like it weighs nothing. Here is the mass in both Imperial and useful units.
Fits nicely in the gig bag as well.
Now it sits happily next to my desk so I can pick it up and play along (either acoustically or plugged into my ELF + 208 setup) with lessons, videos, Spotify, or whatever.
At some point I might be looking for different strings. Any suggestions for replacements, upgrades, flats, whatever would certainly be welcome.
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