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Acoustic basses that actually project when played unplugged

silky smoove

silky smoove

May 19, 2004
13,687
19,695
44
Seattle, WA
www.aroguestory.com
#1
I've recently become involved in an acoustic project that's more into playing on park benches and coffee shops than actual venues (I've got other projects to fill that need anyway :p )

As I don't currently have an acoustic bass of my own I've been borrowing a friend's Dean acoustic bass. I've been having a difficult time cutting through the band mix (two guys playing acoustic guitars, a drummer playing a djembe and two vocalists, all of which are unamplified). I've found playing with a pick helps to cut through, but it really goes against the more mellow tone I'm looking for in this project.

Okay... All that said (sorry for the long-winded'ness) are there any acoustic basses out there that project really well unplugged?

I've read that moving to a flatter string (halfwound, quarterwound, or even full-blown flatwound) will help, as will playing with a pick (see above for my concern with pick playing in this group).

I've read that the Tacoma Thunderchief is one of the best projecting basses out there. I've heard good comments about the Michael Kelly Dragonfly cutting through a mix nicely, but the impression I get is that its more of a heavy midrange voicing rather than simply having great acoustic projection... Maybe that voicing and acoustic projection are synonymous...

I'm heading to Seattle this weekend and hope to stop into Bass Northwest and give a few acoustic basses a spin, so hopefully I'll find something that's appealling.

Suggestions? Thoughts?
 
#2
I don't think anything in the "Guitar" type category is going to have enough projection for what you're talking about. Body size is everything for unplugged acoustic presence. My cardboard box bass works well enough to be heard with an acoustic guitar, but I still think it would be nice if it were a bit louder. A doghouse bass or perhaps a cello would be the way to go.
 
#4
I think my pick would be the Taylor AB-1. I'm not sure if these are even made anymore, but that have a huge sound. Problem is they're huge instruments.

The Tacoma Thunderchief series are also touted as having good unplugged sound and projection, but it's a simple physics problem; even with a jumbo, you simply are not going to get the resonating space needed to really amplify bass to the point where you'll hear it over more than one guitar.
 
#5
This is a tough one. I own a Guild Acoustic bass. I've had it for years and used it in various situations. It sounds, looks and plays beautiful, but a Martin guitar will bury it volume wise. I've never heard an acoustic bass that could keep up with loud acoustic guitars, let alone percussion without some kind of amp reinforcement/mic to the PA. How do you feel about playing upright bass?:hmm:
 
#6
silky smoove said:
are there any acoustic basses out there that project really well unplugged?
Click to expand...

Yeah, one of these:
300px-Bassdiagram.jpg
 
#8
Discontinued Ernie Ball Earthwood, or a Mexican guitarron. I'm not kidding.

If you can plug in, somehow, that's really the best option, even on one of those portable, rechargeable amps. Phil Jones makes a very cool battery-operated bass amp.

The Tacoma indeed projects goos, but still, it will always be a workout making yourself heard.

Generally, it's all about a big box: the bigger and deeper the body, the more projection and volume you will get.
 
#9
Ugh... I feared this would end up being the case. The appeal of this project is the ability to grab our instruments, go find a park bench and start playing. Moving to an upright would all but kill that possibility Maybe I'll just have to keep playing with a pick so I can be heard despite the tone not being exactly what I want... Oh well.... Definitely a situation of wanting to have my cake and eat it too...
 
#12
I use a small amp (or a mic) with upright, and most of the upright jazz players I've seen do the same. An upright or ABG doesn't lose all or even most of its particular tone simply because the player uses amplification, unless the player is completely tactless with his EQ settings. If a hollow body served no purpose once amplified, all those guys with Super 400s and piezo-equipped dreadnoughts would have switched to Les Pauls by now.

Some of these threads read like an ABG is worthless if you have to plug it in. That's not the case at all.

To the TS: Get yourself an ABG and just play it. You're not going to be heard in the park over any acoustic guitar, so accept that and get a battery-powered amp. But don't pass on the idea because of a lack of acoustic volume. The tone will still be there.
 
#18
Warning! Science Bomb!

Bass sound waves are very slow and wide. With this principle they need space to be loud... This is why when your in your room playing you may have to have the volume on your amp at max, while on stage at an indoor gig you may only need 75% volume, I don't know the exact science of why it does this but it does. So even if you have an acoustic, the acoustic well won't amplify it by much...
Think of mariachi bands, there is either an upright bass or a guy with an acoustic that would barely fit in a refrigerator box.

Either buy an upright (Though that still may not provide enough sound), wich will cost you alot, but hey you will have an upright, and also join a rockabilly band to maximize your investment.

Or buy an affordable acoustic and a small one speaker acoustic amp.
 
#19
Kirkowitz said:
...How do you feel about playing upright bass?:hmm:
Click to expand...

Even some double basses (uprights) have problems being heard in a simple bluegrass band (fiddle, banjo, guitar, mandolin, 3 voices, maybe a dobro).

Honestly, a modest quality upright is going to be over $3K. How do you feel about tuba? Bass is a problem that the laws of physics places on us. :D

All that said, upright is the way to go for all acoustic ensembles. :cool:
 

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