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Acoustic Bass suggestions

J

joechummer

Feb 15, 2009
37
1
Ohio
#1
I've been considering getting an acoustic bass, but after playing a few a my local music store, the problem I've encountered most often (after trying three different models: a Dean, a Laguna/Lacuna?, and I forget what the other one was...) was that I have some trouble comfortably reaching half and 1st position on the neck when sitting down (and I have no way to gauge the standing up reach since none of them had straps on them). I'm guessing this is because of the size of the body and where the "waist" fits across my leg. I can reach if I stretch, but I like angling the neck just a little so that I can partially see the other strings below the E. I can't do that with these basses I tried, so I felt like I was flying blind by playing close to the nut. I'm only about 5'7", but I don't have a reach problem on a standard 34" scale electric bass.

Do all acoustic basses have this kind of feel, or is it just these models I've tried? Does anyone have suggestions for someone without gigantically long arms?
 
#5
joechummer said:
I've been considering getting an acoustic bass, but after playing a few a my local music store, the problem I've encountered most often (after trying three different models: a Dean, a Laguna/Lacuna?, and I forget what the other one was...) was that I have some trouble comfortably reaching half and 1st position on the neck when sitting down

Do all acoustic basses have this kind of feel, or is it just these models I've tried? Does anyone have suggestions for someone without gigantically long arms?
Click to expand...

My question to you would be why do you want an acoustic bass? Would it be just for the sound and vibe of the tone, or do you want the look and feel of the huge guitar thing.

If you want the look and feel of the huge guitar thing plus the (remote) possibility of being able to play unamped, then you'll just have to deal with the problems.

But if what you want is just the tone, I'd suggest getting a Carvin semihollow acoustic like I have. Terrific tone. super upright simulation. explosive percussive sound (piezo), and virtually no feedback problems at a gig. small and super light weight. However, it can't be heard unamped.

Just something to think about.
 
#6
bassbenj said:
.... if what you want is just the tone, I'd suggest getting a Carvin semihollow acoustic like I have. Terrific tone. super upright simulation. explosive percussive sound (piezo), and virtually no feedback problems at a gig. small and super light weight. However, it can't be heard unamped.

Just something to think about.
Click to expand...

I agree 100% with bassbenj (I own an AC50 Carvin bass, amongst other ABGs). On the other hand, because I have played my Godin A4 unamplified against a nylon string and a steel string acoustic guitar, and I had no problems being heard (yes, I have a pretty heavy hand when needed) I am on the mission to try the unamplified tone of the AC50 with different strings than those provided with the bass (LaBella blacks). The strings in question are the Dean Markley and DR acoustic bass strings (TI strings will be tested on my Wechter 9400 ABG)
 
#8
34" scale acoustic basses require a long reach up to the 1st or 2nd fret due to how they sit on you leg when sitting and how they hang on a strap when standing. You can adapt (I have) but many folks prefer a 30" or 32" scale when it come to acoustics, just to shorten the reach a bit.

Dan
 
#9
bassbenj said:
My question to you would be why do you want an acoustic bass? Would it be just for the sound and vibe of the tone, or do you want the look and feel of the huge guitar thing.

If you want the look and feel of the huge guitar thing plus the (remote) possibility of being able to play unamped, then you'll just have to deal with the problems.

But if what you want is just the tone, I'd suggest getting a Carvin semihollow acoustic like I have. Terrific tone. super upright simulation. explosive percussive sound (piezo), and virtually no feedback problems at a gig. small and super light weight. However, it can't be heard unamped.

Just something to think about.
Click to expand...

I kind of want an acoustic bass for both the acoustic tone and to be able to play unamped.

I've enjoyed ABG tone since I first heard it throughout Alice In Chains' Jar of Flies EP. I've just never broke down and bought one.

On the other hand, I'd like a bass that I can sling on my back and take out to a cabin in the woods with some friends for a jam around the campfire or whatnot. I know they don't really make travel-size basses (and those silicon-string jobs don't count if you ask me), but I'd be interested in something more along the lines of the mentality of a "travel-size bass" rather than the actual size of a travel instrument, if that makes sense.
 
#10
I went ahead and got an Ibanez AEB10E, and I'm loving it so far! The 32" scale makes it much easier to play than all the full-bodied 34" ABGs I tried. However, I have two things I'm wondering about:

1. I've started hearing a rattle from inside the bass when I hit an open string, and I'm pretty sure it's due to the battery compartment rattling. If I take the batteries out, the rattle disappears. I tried tightening the screws around the plate, but that didn't see to help. Anyone else have this happen and/or have any suggestions on how to keep the battery slot from causing this?

2. I love the acoustic tone I get with this, but the E string sounds a little dull vs. the brightness of the other strings. Think an upright sound (E) vs. a phosphor-bronze acoustic guitar string sound (A, D, and G). Is this just from the factory strings (I'm planning on replacing them soon, as I believe factory strings are pretty much only useful for keeping proper tension on the neck), is this part of the "ABG curse," is it due to setup, or could it be caused by something completely different? This isn't a dealbreaker for me, but it's just odd having one string that has a completely different tonal quality than the others.
 
#14
I replaced the strings my bass (D'Addario phosphor bronze!), which got rid of both the dull E string and the rattle I was getting when I had batteries in the compartment.

It's amazing what new strings (vs. factory strings) will fix.
 

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