is there a difference in strings? ik Ernie Ball sells earthwood strings that are copper. is there a difference in sound between what the strings are made of?
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anybody out there play acoustic basses?
- Thread starter thebassics123
- Start date
I like the idea of an ABG, but every time I pick one up to play (except when I played an Ernie Ball Earthwood in the mid-'70s), I lose any urge to buy one. They're bulky, fragile, cumbersome to play (at least for a short thick guy like me), prone to feed back, need a heavy hardshell case for protection, and the piezo gives'em a thumpy, quacky sound. I played a used Breedlove that sounded nice, but not nice enough to justify the expense, the bulk, the cumbersome aspects.
If you want a upright-like tone from a bass guitar, you'll come closer with a fretless with humbuckers and flat- or tapewounds. I use a G&L ASAT semihollow fretless and often get comments on how acoustic it sounds (through an amplifier). Or if you want more acoustic mechanics behind the sound, check out a Rob Allen, Rick Turner, Godin A4/A5, or Epiphone Zenith. Even then they sound more acoustic when fretless, and they are way less bulky than the ABGs.
The Ernie Ball was truly a marvel, easily loud enough to keep up with acoustic guitars, but the body was much bigger and the fretboard clear of the body much shorter. Ernie's design was inspired by a similarly proportioned guitarron he brought back from Mexico. That's not me in the pic, but it does show the proportions you need for a functional all-acoustic bass guitar.
If you want a upright-like tone from a bass guitar, you'll come closer with a fretless with humbuckers and flat- or tapewounds. I use a G&L ASAT semihollow fretless and often get comments on how acoustic it sounds (through an amplifier). Or if you want more acoustic mechanics behind the sound, check out a Rob Allen, Rick Turner, Godin A4/A5, or Epiphone Zenith. Even then they sound more acoustic when fretless, and they are way less bulky than the ABGs.
The Ernie Ball was truly a marvel, easily loud enough to keep up with acoustic guitars, but the body was much bigger and the fretboard clear of the body much shorter. Ernie's design was inspired by a similarly proportioned guitarron he brought back from Mexico. That's not me in the pic, but it does show the proportions you need for a functional all-acoustic bass guitar.
Bronze roundwounds have that snarly tone you always get with bronze roundwounds. The flatwound steels sound sweeter and smoother but not as loud acoustically.
I had an Olympia copy of Tacoma's Thunderchief. Loved it until the headstock gave out. My current non-upright acoustic is a Kala U-Bass 2 and I love it. It's got another useful sound to add to my palette for gigging, adds a travel-friendly short scale to my arsenal for practice, and sounds HUGE plugged in. I love it.
I discovered a long time ago that they were pretty useless as true acoustic instruments except for personal practice. So, I decided to get a semi-hollow thinbodied bass to eliminate problems I had with a dreadnuaught sized body with my first. Naturally wanting an upright sort of sound, I wanted a fretless, so I purchased a Carvin AC40F.
I experimented with several different string types, and after years of trying many sets, I have settled on GHS Precision Flats in light gauge. They give the bass a sound somewhat like a cross between a fretless bass and an upright. If fits the folk/roots based music I play very well, and I do not look out of place when every one else is playing their acoustic guitars and fiddles, whether they are plugged in or not.
I experimented with several different string types, and after years of trying many sets, I have settled on GHS Precision Flats in light gauge. They give the bass a sound somewhat like a cross between a fretless bass and an upright. If fits the folk/roots based music I play very well, and I do not look out of place when every one else is playing their acoustic guitars and fiddles, whether they are plugged in or not.
I have a (now discontinued) Dean Stylist that is a very cool bass ... short scale 32", big body, works extremely well in the typical light "acoustic" gigs. This bass is about as far away as you can get from my normal gear, but I really do enjoy it 
There is a definite difference in tonal quality when plugged in, and it also provides the "acoustic" vibe. It's the only 4 string bass I own ....
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There is a definite difference in tonal quality when plugged in, and it also provides the "acoustic" vibe. It's the only 4 string bass I own ....
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In terms of volume, I think that the Tacoma Thunderchief is the loudest ABG I have heard, they also have a nice tone. In terms of getting a really good fretless tone for "acoustic/plugged in gigs" I think the Rick Turner Renaisance has been the best sounding instrument I have played. But, both of those are $$$$$ and I am happy with the cost/performance of my Dean Fretless for the small amount of those types of gigs that I do. In a perfect world, I would have an upright again and those basses too...
- Jan 28, 2009
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- Owner: Moonshine Custom Guitars
Don't forget about resonator basses...
Reso's have a more pronouced mid range which makes them cut through a little better acoustically.
As for ABG's, I think Tacoma & Martin make excellent models. I have also played a couple of models made by a company called Tanglewood and their upper end ABG's sound great.
Moonshine
Reso's have a more pronouced mid range which makes them cut through a little better acoustically.
As for ABG's, I think Tacoma & Martin make excellent models. I have also played a couple of models made by a company called Tanglewood and their upper end ABG's sound great.
Moonshine
Au contraire. That's like saying that a slab electric guitar sounds like a plugged-in acoustic. The timbre and decay patterns are very different.
I love my Washburn AB-10 but it sits in the case too much! It's great playing the acoustic (+electric) for an hour THEN playing an electric right after, making it seem like butter (although my acoustic does play very well).
- Nov 8, 2010
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I'm waiting on an Ibanez AEB10 to get here, Wanted something I didn't need an amp for while I'm deployed.
I got one (used) a few months ago for an acoustic set our praise and worship band was doing at a festival (middle set between 2 electric sets)...now I am using it pretty regularly....it fits well with the acoustic guitar sound etc..... I need to get used to it though....still get some fret buzz etc now and again....
Ernie's design was inspired by a similarly proportioned guitarron he brought back from Mexico. That's not me in the pic, but it does show the proportions you need for a functional all-acoustic bass guitar.
But this Earthwood is not a "functional all-acoustic bass guitar", as proven by the mic directly in front of the sound hole. Clearly someone thinks it needs some sound reinforcement.
Nothing against the Earthwood, but eventually, it comes to a point where an ABG will not project over the accompanying instrumentation. At that point, one must decide whether the tone of the acoustic is worth the effort and plug in, or just grab a slab. For me it's a no-brainer, as it is for this guy.
Generally the bigger the body the bigger the acoustic volume. Very few ABGs sound loud enough to be used acoustically with the typical heavy-handed acoustic guitar player. If you are lucky enough to play bass along with someone who knows how to play an acoustic guitar appropriately, some of the larger bodied instruments can work. However, at that point if you have someone who really projects with their voice you both probably need sound reinforcement.
The Tacoma Thunderchief line is regarded as one of the loudest mass produced ABGs currently readily available. A few rare basses like some Guild models, the legendary Ernie Ball Earthwood, Taylor's ABG are similarly voiced (and similarly gigantic), but the Tacoma is probably the easiest to find. It's gigantic and uncomfortable to play, but sounds very nice and is loud. Unfortunately they are out of production and getting harder to find every day. I know mine certainly is not for sale; I love the thing.
It's not "bad" to have to plug in by any stretch. Even when used as an electric, hollowbody ABGs have a great and completely unique tone that fits beautifully with other acoustic instruments. With phospor bronze strings they sound just wonderful when played with an acoustic guitar. For any kind of live work at all acoustic guitar players have to plug in also.
Personally, among currently manufactured ABGs I like some of the more expensive Dean models and the Breedlove basses.
I've always wanted a Fender Coronado II Bass (not acoustic but a semi-hollowbody), but judging from their unpopularity, I wouldn't expect it to sound all that great. I tried out a Gretsch semi and thought it was the muddiest thing I had ever played. Personally, I've never liked acoustic basses because if you still have to plug it in to be heard with other acoustic guitars and such, then it defeats the whole purpose to me. I guess the EB bass solved that issue, but who wants to have to wear a fricken tuff shed around their neck just to cut through? I'll take an electric bass and a small amp anyday for an acoustic gig.
- Nov 8, 2010
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- Unofficial Endorser: Ibanez, D'Addario, Zoom
Has anybody played an ABG paired with a guitarist using a smaller bodied acoustic like a blues box(gibson/epiphone 00 size)? I think that would blend well...
I played a Wine & Cheese venue last week with my AEB and of course I always bring my B-450 combo, even though I don't use a lot of volume.
I don't get it if you even consider an acoustic and then you don't want to carry an amp - this just baffles me.
I'm old, set in my ways and yet I can haul an amp and an acoustic bass (and another bass, usually my SR500) to just get the job done with class.
The sound is perfect - what is expected in a cool jazz venue and smooth sounds, so if you think you want to slap and pop and generally play metal on an AEB - then you have another thing coming to you in the reality department. Same reality for needing an amp.
We have a number that we do, and this is the model for it that we used::: (CAUTION - OLD GUY MUSIC!!!)
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Now - try to do that while you slap your bass and see how many in the audience leave.
This is the next number we are working on- gads, it's tough!
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This is one we have in the works right now. Yeah - we like Tony Bennett:::
http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/s/I+Thought+About+You/35ZsMy
Check out those bass lines, and you'll hear class.
And ya know what? I play for free. I just enjoy the music too much and if I had to pay for the privilege, I might just do that too.
I can play Road House and Electric Blues and a lot of Beatles and Motown, but this cool jazz and crooner-style walking bass and this discordant and odd harmony is really fun.
That's what you need - dedicated old farts with instruments and a passion for the music.
I digressed again - but it's just a special instrument, the AEB/ABG, and if you want to play one, then fine, but unless one lives in Mamby-Pamby Land where the color yellow makes one sad, then the cold reality is that an acoustic bass needs amplification.
You wouldn't bring a knife to a gun fight - why can't people see that an AEB is a tool that is necessary in a certain venue (not metal) and if you don't have an upright, then it's a pretty fair substitute.
I don't get it if you even consider an acoustic and then you don't want to carry an amp - this just baffles me.
I'm old, set in my ways and yet I can haul an amp and an acoustic bass (and another bass, usually my SR500) to just get the job done with class.
The sound is perfect - what is expected in a cool jazz venue and smooth sounds, so if you think you want to slap and pop and generally play metal on an AEB - then you have another thing coming to you in the reality department. Same reality for needing an amp.
We have a number that we do, and this is the model for it that we used::: (CAUTION - OLD GUY MUSIC!!!)
Invalid Link Removed
Now - try to do that while you slap your bass and see how many in the audience leave.
This is the next number we are working on- gads, it's tough!
Link Removed
This is one we have in the works right now. Yeah - we like Tony Bennett:::
http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/s/I+Thought+About+You/35ZsMy
Check out those bass lines, and you'll hear class.
And ya know what? I play for free. I just enjoy the music too much and if I had to pay for the privilege, I might just do that too.
I can play Road House and Electric Blues and a lot of Beatles and Motown, but this cool jazz and crooner-style walking bass and this discordant and odd harmony is really fun.
That's what you need - dedicated old farts with instruments and a passion for the music.
I digressed again - but it's just a special instrument, the AEB/ABG, and if you want to play one, then fine, but unless one lives in Mamby-Pamby Land where the color yellow makes one sad, then the cold reality is that an acoustic bass needs amplification.
You wouldn't bring a knife to a gun fight - why can't people see that an AEB is a tool that is necessary in a certain venue (not metal) and if you don't have an upright, then it's a pretty fair substitute.
I bought an ac/el Hohner (not, not HOFner, but HOHner). Very cheap. I eventually had to replace all four tuners. But, the two guitarists/singers in our band and I also play 12-15 acoustic gigs per year, and that Hohner fits in perfectly. All three plug into the small p.a. (XR600 and two EV speakers on poles) and that leaves three mic channels, and we play four hours with three-part harmony and no amps. Very decent money.
But, the acoustic fits in with the overall appearance of an acoustic group. A slab of wood would look quite out of place. The tone is fine - and, as mentioned earlier, quite different from any of my solid-body basses. Fits right in, perfectly.
However, I use it mostly to learn new songs. I can find something on youtube and grab that acoustic and learn my part. Don't have to plug in an amp, find a two-prong/three-prong adapter, don't have to look for a cable, etc. Just grab and play. IMHO, that one feature makes it worthwhile.
But, the acoustic fits in with the overall appearance of an acoustic group. A slab of wood would look quite out of place. The tone is fine - and, as mentioned earlier, quite different from any of my solid-body basses. Fits right in, perfectly.
However, I use it mostly to learn new songs. I can find something on youtube and grab that acoustic and learn my part. Don't have to plug in an amp, find a two-prong/three-prong adapter, don't have to look for a cable, etc. Just grab and play. IMHO, that one feature makes it worthwhile.
