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Acoustic basses that actually project when played unplugged

#21
I finally broke down and put a piezo pickup in my Guild a while back. It really sounds good amplified. I had used one of those magnetic gu*t*r pickups in the soundhole occasionally. Now, I'm thinking of going the opposite direction on amplifying this thing. If I can't get enough volume to play without an amp, I might try those thomastik strings that are supposed to work with piezo pickups really well. I hear they sacrifice acoustic volume for really sweet amplified tone. I've had no problem being heard with my upright at all. Matter of fact, I think I could take the banjo pickers legs off at 20 paces!:) Oh yeah, Experiment with where you pick that acoustic bass (closer to neck/closer to bridge/center of soundhole/etc) it can really affect your tone and volume in interesting ways.
 
#22
I had an old Guild that, because I'm a fingerstyle player, I played with fingerpicks. Two, reversed, on my index and middle fingers. It was plenty loud for busking.
I read recently in Bass Player about some metal bassist doing the same thing on his electric.
 
#23
Someone earlier mentioned a Taylor AB-1. I used to own one. Great bass when it's plugged in, but not loud enough to play acoustically. I also have an Englehardt upright. That will do the trick, and you'll be surprised how quickly you adjust to hauling the thing around. Another option might be to get a battery powered amp. I believe Roland just came out with a new one for bass.

Good luck!
 
#24
love the guitarron. lucida guitars makes a pretty nice affordable one (about four and a half bills). what about that icoustic amp system? if you've never seen, it's basically a speaker mounted in the soundhole of an acoustic instrument. it certainly adds a noticeable amount of volume to an alvarez 30" scale acoustic-electric bass. but it's also, for some reason, more expensive in that instrument than the others they sell pre-installed. i emailed them about it, no response yet. the rest of their guitars have pricing schemes that match the components (ie, cost of guitar + cost of their system + relatively cheap labor cost) but the markup on the alvarez bass is -if i remember correctly- over 200%.

they have a website with videos as well.

i may get one for much the same purpose. but i've got a pjb briefcase already and i'd like to add one of those NSdesign wav basses to my small gear list.
 
#26
The acustic bass I own is the Tacoma Thunderchief; the name says it all. Projection can't be beat and it also has the L.R. Baggs onboard electronics, if you feel the need to amplify. I've played alot of the acustics (Taylor was really sweet but out of my price range) and the Tacoma logs-in as the loudest unplugged. It's affordable, plays great with a PJ type neck (1 5/8" nut width) has electronics when needed and ....... it's made in the U.S.A.
 
#27
guitarron - play it like a guitarron - don't try and make it or tune it to a bass.

its low note is A and is played double string. You will have to play differently - much like you can't play all electric bass guitar parts on an upright or vice versa but if played in the manner it was intended - it will cut through drums, guitars, piano etc...
 

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