Acoustic Basses

[MD]

Same here. I've owned three, a Takaminie Jasmine, Michael Kelly Dragonfly (both sold when money got tight) and my Dean EABC. All have sounded fantastic unplugged. Even against acoustic guitars (Alverez / Yari, Dean, Fender, Dean, etc.).

But it could just be us.

Yeah, it's us... and others like us; but it's really them.

cchorney
I have an entry level Ibanez. I like the sound for working out new melodies on the couch, but for most songs I play the piezo picks up way too much clack. No feedback problems as long as I don't face the amp. It might be better if I miced the soundhole but then I'd be really anchored on stage.

I found turning down the mids can help to squelch the piezo clack.

 

[P_bass]

I had a tacoma thunder chief and it too could not hang without amplification with only one Taylor 300 series. Sold it and just play my P-bass with a small amp. Sad because it sounds so good alone too.

 

[noiseguy]

Sorry, what's "piezo clack?" I thought I'd heard every audio term out there.

Has anyone ever tried hooking up a piezo-style pickup to an electric guitar? The sound should be completely different than the wound pickups... I would think it would sound a lot like an ABG...

 

[wkbryan]

I have a very old (old enough that knobs are on the front instead of sliders in a barn door) Alvarez and really like it. I actually play it more than my Precision. It's a jumbo size but a shallow body and is laminated woods. It's not very loud unplugged but it's not horrible. Plugged in it is an entirely different beast. I have GHS tapewounds on it and to me it sounds a lot better than it did with bronze strings (too zingy). I don't really gig any more but for several years I played it every Sunday at church and I've had no feedback issues with it.

 

[MD]

Sorry, what's "piezo clack?" I thought I'd heard every audio term out there.

Has anyone ever tried hooking up a piezo-style pickup to an electric guitar? The sound should be completely different than the wound pickups... I would think it would sound a lot like an ABG...

I read some one else using the term "piezo clack" and noticed it in my ABGs tone. Can't really describe it other than it's just a clacking sound when hitting the strings. Found less mids to be very helpful.

There are quite a few EBGs with piezo pups. The Godin/Rob Allen/Rick Turner/Carvin chambered basses come first to mind.

 

[randyripoff]

I own an Applause AE-140. Normally I don't like the sound of Ovation-style acoustics, but I think it works well for a bass, at least in terms of giving a unique and distinct tone. I think the trick to playing it amplified is to use an amplifier designed for acoustic instruments as opposed to one designed for electrics.

A good option for a hollow/semi-hollow might be a Rogue VB-100. I've never played one, but I know there are lots of people who love them. That might be a better choice, unless you're really trying to get that ABG sound.

 

[Scottkarch]

I'll suggest to mod one of the basses you already have, since if you buy an ABG you'll likely need to plug in anyway.

Graphtech's Ghost Saddles or Invalid Link Removed would be the ticket to electric/acoustic-like nirvana in the same ol' familiar axe.

Or get a U-bass or similar.

I just purchased a Spector Core Piezo from a TBer. It has one pickup and piezo saddles. It really sounds different when using piezo and no magnetic pickup. The body is a semi-hollow with 1 F hike.

I live how it plays and sounds. But not with piezo only. I always blend in some mag pickup and a bit of bass from the tone knobs.

 

[zphreaky1]

I have a different experience than most in this thread. I have an aeb 10 ibanez that I got as a second off eBay. Had a fret job and labella tapewounds put on it. Jacked the action way up and learned to play with a pick.

I keep up with two acoustic 6 strings just fine around a campfire or in the backyard. When recording we are all plugging into something and I go finger style. It sounds great.

Campfire jams for me involve a lot of alcohol and who knows what else. Those guys are constantly asking me to settle down (bassist you are stealing our thunder) at that point I can really dig in and piss em off

Go play with a guitarist at a GC or something of the like. Hit the wrong note several times on purpose. I guarantee you it will be heard....bassists only seem to be heard when doing something wrong half the time anywho

 

[MD]

I have a different experience than most in this thread. I have an aeb 10 ibanez that I got as a second off eBay. Had a fret job and labella tapewounds put on it. Jacked the action way up and learned to play with a pick.

I think a lot of people don't get this. String height on my Takamine G series is 1/4" of the board at the octave. It can be heard at neighboring campsites 60' away, and easily over the rushing water while sitting in a stream.

 

[thunderstation]

I have a Martin - if the other acoustic guitars are unamplified it keeps up with them fine - In a amplified setting I use a Peavey minx with a Boss equalizer - not perfect but the guys always call me when they're getting an acoustic set together.

 

[tmdazed]

I actually just got a new acoustic bass, nice Fender Cutaway with fishman electronics in it and it keeps up very nicely with a 6 and 12 string unplugged (haven't even tried plugging in yet), This being odd because i detest Fender P and J's due to the crappy few I have owned previously. This acoustic plays smooth as silk and neck and action were set to a tee from the box opening on. color me impressed for under 300 bone and it beats the heck out of the short scale cornflakes box with a survey spike for a neck I had before! Here is my eat my words thread.

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/i-have-eat-my-words-1009570/