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Baritone Guitar Vs. Acoustic Bass Guitar

basshound123

basshound123

Nov 17, 2010
13
0
#1
Hi there.

I'm a Double bass player who has been looking into getting a Bass guitar for a while, one for portability (16 and and only a bike for transportation) and to get away from the orchestral setting. At first I had my eyes set on a Dean Edge 09, but after going on down to my local music shop (Dirt Cheep Music) I fell in love with a Dean EAB Acoustic bass guitar they had. It was easier for me to play because of it's size and similarities to an Upright, and the fact that it was 200 and I didn't need an amp was another plus. I went home to do some research, and discovered that Acoustic basses have a fatal flaw of being too quite when playing along guitars and pretty much any other instruments. If I had another bass, I wouldn't care, but seeing as I only have so much money, It'll be a while before I can get a second one. Well, a little while I stumbled across the baritone Guitar. From what I've gathered (and correct me if I'm wrong) It's somewhere between a guitar and bass (in terms of size), has six strings, but plays lower than a guitar. Now for my question: Should I buy An acoustic bass, or would it be better to get a baritone Guitar. If I went with the baritone, how similar is it to the bass? Would it be easier to learn than a standard guitar for a bass player? Which one makes a better solo instrument? Thanks in advance for any help I can get.

Additional Info: I primarily like to play jazzy, folk type of things, but I'm open to playing any genres if needed.
 
#3
Well, let's see:
- Yes, acoustic basses do not project well (as a general rule) without some kind of amplification. There are any number of threads around here about what works best for that, so I'll let you decide what works for you. It's possible that you may wind up playing in a setting where it's not necessary, but that's not likely.
- No, a baritone guitar is just that-a guitar. Thay are slightly longer than a regular guitar, and use (slightly) heavier strings, but they are still a guitar. What do they sound like? think Duane Eddy. So, you would still have to learn to play a guitar.
- The better solo instrument? A regular guitar, followed by the baritone. There are a number of baritone guitar solos on the 'Tube, if you want to hear what they're like. I have one myself (Eastwood Sidejack Baritone); it's nice, but doesn't get played much, since I don't play guitar a lot.
- Personally, if you like the Dean Acoustic Bass, I would say get that, and play the snot out of it. Pick ups and amps are concerns for the future; things like that generally work themselves out with time. For now just enjoy playing.
 
#6
blastoff99 said:
An ABG will be slightly more portable on your bicycle than your double bass. This is to say it won't be very portable.

Have you considered a U-bass?
Click to expand...

I just looked at the U bass, and that would be PERFECT, with only one problem: Price. As I mentioned, I'm only 16. From what I read and heard though, the U bass is based on the body of a Baritone Ukelele. Would it be possible to take something like this:http://www.amazon.com/Kala-KA-MK-B-...d=1370913129&sr=1-1&keywords=baritone+ukulele

And convert it into a U bass? If so What would I need?

Edit: The most I could shell out would be about 250, but the lower the better.
 
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#7
Frankly, I would just go with a regular electric bass. Baritone is an interesting instrument but it tends to be a niche instrument, kind of falls between two stools, neither really bass nor standard guitar. Most folks I've heard of just pull it out as a specialty thing on certain songs, not as a main instrument. Acoustic bass guitar is cool, and nice for practice situations when you don't have an amp, but it CAN't be heard over a conventional acoustic guitar - certainly not the cheap ones, I've heard claims made for boutique ones - so you need an amp anyway. I wouldn't get one as my first (and, for the time being, only) bass. It's more like something interesting in the arsenal when you have three or four basses. At your limited budget, I would stick to getting a good VM Squier or an SX and an amp.
 
#8
hrodbert696 said:
Frankly, I would just go with a regular electric bass. Baritone is an interesting instrument but it tends to be a niche instrument, kind of falls between two stools, neither really bass nor standard guitar. Most folks I've heard of just pull it out as a specialty thing on certain songs, not as a main instrument. Acoustic bass guitar is cool, and nice for practice situations when you don't have an amp, but it CAN't be heard over a conventional acoustic guitar - certainly not the cheap ones, I've heard claims made for boutique ones - so you need an amp anyway. I wouldn't get one as my first (and, for the time being, only) bass. It's more like something interesting in the arsenal when you have three or four basses. At your limited budget, I would stick to getting a good VM Squier or an SX and an amp.
Click to expand...

+1
 
#9
I just bought an abg a few weeks ago and couldn't be happier.
I didn't have room in the budget to get a guitar and amp. I stumbled
Across a used one for $100. It's fine right now for learning on.
All I do us pick it up and play.

If it comes time to play with someone else, maybe I can afford
a small practice amp by then.
Baby steps are easier on the wallet.
 

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