acoustic basses

I say get the Fender BG-32, available at music123.com

 

I recently bought a Washburn AB-34 used for $450 and it comletly blew the frenders away in the store... even with the shot string. I brought it home and ut Elixers on it and fell in love with it...

The eiphone el catain was also a decent acoustic. I was going to get that until I found the Washburn. If acoustic volume is a Big concern Regal offers an acoustic bass with a resonator that has a retty good sound. You have to watch if you play acousticaly with it you will need a large body ( like my washburn) or a resonator (like the regal) or you will get buried by the acoustic guitars.

 

I must have played at least 15 different accoustic basses this summer - i was looking for "IT" - From Taylor, Fender, Martin, Ovation to lots of "no names" -
By far (with not even a close second) the Takoma Thunderchief was the best - these can be found used for around $500 (new about $900) - The bad news is (IMO) you won't find "IT" in an accoustic bass with a body the size of everything on the market (too small) - i even looked at the huge marriachi (SP?) basses - still not close to what i was looking for - while most had decent to acceptable tone - none had volume that came close to keeping up with even 1 accoustic guitar.
I finally gave up and kept my cheap $150 ebay "no name special" and ended up happy that i did not have to justify spending more money on a bass that likely would get very little playing time -

i was right about playing time - when i left the US for the winter i didn't bother taking the accoustic with me - left it with a friend to mess around with.

 

I also have a Tacoma and have played many others. I can say that IMO the Tacoma CB10 totally outclasses everything else on the market by a wide margin regardless of price.

However, it's a $900+ instrument new. You may be able to find an older one used someplace at closer to your price. The first year they came out with three different preamps, mine has the Fishman Prefix Plus. I think it is better than the current custom "Tacoma" preamp so it would be worth your while to seek out an older used one.

 

I've got a Samick, yes i know the Samick snobs here will poke fun, HFB 590 acoustic bass that i totally love! Plays and sounds great. I think they are around 900 or more new, i got mine used in great shape for 250$. Really a cool looking bass, everyone that sees it says "wow cool bass", and they like it even more when they hear it amped. In fact, i've been afraid it will get stolen someday a few times the way some guys have gushed about it. It's not especially loud unplugged, but what acoustic bass is? It has "F" holes instead of the sound hole in the center. I never have any feedback trouble with it on stage. It's loud enough for me to practice my stuff in my apartment, but not so loud as to bother the neighbors.
I used it on the older country stuff we play, as well as any bluegrassy stuff. it makes a nice contrast, both in terms of sound and playability, to my G&L L2500.
It may be a bit hard to run across one, i just did by luck, but if you do see one, give it a chance for sure. Trent

 

The Deans I've fondled seem to be pretty good boom for the buck

I have plaed quite a few Dean acoustic basses and have found that all of the ones i have played were very poorly fretted. Notes were sharp or flat all over the neck. I also ad alot of buzzing frets and a very twangy sound. My washburn is fretted beautifully and has a much largwer body. Plus it has an xlr out if that is of any imortance to you.

 

I have a Dean.....
It played good, but one fret buzzed. I got it fixed for free, my uncle fixed it in like 2 mins. I was satisfied.

 

the best acoustic bass i have tried (and this was at the bass centre in london), was a crafter 5 string (they didn't have the 4 string, but i'll be purchasing the 4 based on my thoughts of the 5)
very nice electronics, nice feel, cutaway etc, and only £300 ($450?)

just my thoughts
*Si*