acoustic basses

[Herrick]

The Emerald Balor bass looks promising but it's very expensive in the $2500 and up range. In the Balor thread, someone said they could play it with two other acoustic guitars and it was audible.

 

[ninepoundjammer]

I like that guitar-sized mando on the bottom left of the top pic above.

Mandocello. A guy I used to play in a couple bands with plays one in the Modern Mandolin Quartet. All of the violin family instruments have a mandolin counterpart (viola->mandola etc).

 

[sowilson]

contra bass balalaika, sounds a lot like an ABG but much louder

 

[matthewbrown]

does anyone know of a fretted acoustic bass guitar that truly sounds good acousticaly(not plugged in) one that can stand up in a setting of two acoustic guitars and a mandolin? one that the low notes of the E string don't peter out. I have found that anything below low A loses volume. any suggestions?

How many acoustic guitarists do you know who play in public without amplification? How many of those perform with a group?

 

[HaphAsSard]

contra bass balalaika, sounds a lot like an ABG but much louder

^ This, or another Russian/Ukrainian instrument, the contrabass domra, which has a similarly huge, round-backed body but with a less unwieldy, rounded shape.

Now for my usual heads-up in these cases:
Kickass Bass
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Another TBer (Mr. @Kickass is also a member here) who built one:
Loud enough ABG (kind of)

 

[buldog5151bass]

Tacoma Thunderchief is about as loud as you are able to get. But get a small amp. Trust me.

 

[boombloom]

I had a Guild B50 for years. Thought it was the best. But I replaced it with a much less expensive Boulder Creek. I like that much more in every way.

 

[jd56hawk]

any battery powered amp you can recommend/

I like this.

Some people prefer this.

 

[mikeoso]

If your intent is jams in living rooms, there are decent abgs. Martin, Tacoma, etc...big and not cheap. No, Dean, Tak, etc will not get it. If you plan to perform publicly in any venue bigger than a quiet corner of a coffee shop, amp or die.

 

[SteveC]

Phil Jones amps have a battery option.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Even the Earthwood isn't really all that loud. I had a friend (R.I.P. Barry) who had one that I've played a few times over the years, going back the the mid 70s, most recently in the mid '00s;, so. IME.

 

[Kevin1960]

I have a 5 string Dean,which worked pretty well with 2 acoustic guitars and a pair of bongos in a small room by ourselves with the bronze strings but since I changed strings to Labella white copper tape wounds I would think it would only be heard well amplified a little, even with 1 acoustic guitar. The tone now comes close to an upright tone but these strings are much quieter than the bronze strings that came on her originally. I guess it's a good thing I upgraded the original passive pickup system with a Fishman Presys pickup system.

 

[jd56hawk]

Phil Jones amps have a battery option.

Missed one once for a great price.
I've regretted it ever since.
Plenty of "one that got away" bass regrets but only two amp regrets.

 

[Drgonzonm]

Consider a gutrion or use the technology used to fret it to fret a doghouse bass 7/8 or larger. If Clarence can fret a bass so can you.

 

[tat2clod]

I had a Martin Bcpa4 and used a Phil Jones Briefcase couple of Banjos and acoustic guitar. You'll need something for about anything that involves any area.

 

[BAG]

I've done quite a bit of fire side jamming with my two daughters who both sing and play guitar. I used to have an ABG which i played with rounds and a pick. Even when i picked as hard as i could any note lower than an A was virtually unheard more than 5 feet away.

I eventually made myself a travel bass and use a Roland Cube Street. It works really well and my youngest can also plug in so her solos on her Mini Maton can be heard. Together they take up much less room than the acoustic, it sounds so much better and the 6 AA batteries last around 20 hours. With a spare set I'm sorted for a five day camping trip.

Very handy for back porch practice too!

 

[GregT]

I use a Taylor GS Mini-Bass and a Fender Rumble 15. It might not work for anyone else, but I think it is perfect for playing with unamplified acoustic guitars. The Rumble 15 is small enough to be almost invisible in situations like that.

 

[bassfilthy]

My kramer ferrington bass is pretty loud

 

[timonvh]

I have one of those little Black Star things that fits in my ABG case, just under the neck. Works fine in living room/rehearsal settings.

 

[Rainer Glas]

does anyone know of a fretted acoustic bass guitar that truly sounds good acousticaly(not plugged in) one that can stand up in a setting of two acoustic guitars and a mandolin? one that the low notes of the E string don't peter out. I have found that anything below low A loses volume. any suggestions?

YES! It was built for me, here in Germany by the Lutheraner Hans Hermann Herb (Erlangen). It is an arch top bass, 5-string, fretless. Better than all the basses by the "famous" companies. Each instrument is an individual. 4-string/5-string. Frets or fretless. I got this bass with and without frets. Perfect sound without PU and Amp. But also perfect with amplification. I got SHADOW Pus. Nanomag & Nanoflex. I can play Stereo. Invalid Link Removed