Boulder Creek acoustic basses?

[Funkyvlad]

Hey guys!

I've been looking for a good ABG for a long time (for my jazz and acoustic-pop project) and this topic helped me a lot. So as a newbie-owner (have it for few weeks) of a Boulder Creek BOULDER CREEK BCEBR3-N5 Bass I'd like to share some thoughts.

I was considering buying a Warwick, Tacoma or a Boulder Creek. As far as it's a difficult thing to find a used Tacoma in my region, I decided to take a risk and ordered a BC.

First of all, the setup of the bass was extremely poor when I received it (made in China, huh?). The piezo pickup was badly mounted (the G string didn't ring at all) and the action was like one mile high.

But to tackle with these problems took me one day. I've replaced the bridge (it's a cheap plastic one) with more resonant one, lowered the action. The piezo was just glued inproperly and - that's all. Unfortunately, these problems are quite common among the instruments in this price range.

BUT... after all - the sound, tuning and overall feel of the bass are fantastic. This instrument definitely has soul and it's a dream to play. It's also very responsive to touch and articulation (hand placement, vibrato and so on).

So if you know what the acoustic instrument is, you have the vision how to use it in your music, for 1k $ (in Europe at least) it's a great choice I believe.

For some sound samples, here's a little clip of me playing it live (I'm running through Epifani UL 502/UL 410, the audio was recorded on Zoom H1). If you want to hear it in higher registers go to bass solo (4:01). Thanks a lot and greetings to all!

W

 

[dgce]

Hey guys!

I've been looking for a good ABG for a long time (for my jazz and acoustic-pop project) and this topic helped me a lot. So as a newbie-owner (have it for few weeks) of a Boulder Creek BOULDER CREEK BCEBR3-N5 Bass I'd like to share some thoughts.

I was considering buying a Warwick, Tacoma or a Boulder Creek. As far as it's a difficult thing to find a used Tacoma in my region, I decided to take a risk and ordered a BC.

First of all, the setup of the bass was extremely poor when I received it (made in China, huh?). The piezo pickup was badly mounted (the G string didn't ring at all) and the action was like one mile high.

But to tackle with these problems took me one day. I've replaced the bridge (it's a cheap plastic one) with more resonant one, lowered the action. The piezo was just glued inproperly and - that's all. Unfortunately, these problems are quite common among the instruments in this price range.

BUT... after all - the sound, tuning and overall feel of the bass are fantastic. This instrument definitely has soul and it's a dream to play. It's also very responsive to touch and articulation (hand placement, vibrato and so on).

So if you know what the acoustic instrument is, you have the vision how to use it in your music, for 1k $ (in Europe at least) it's a great choice I believe.

For some sound samples, here's a little clip of me playing it live (I'm running through Epifani UL 502/UL 410, the audio was recorded on Zoom H1). If you want to hear it in higher registers go to bass solo (4:01). Thanks a lot and greetings to all!

W

I've been researching these ABGs and found myself on TalkBass. Sorry to hop on this thread so late. Hey Funkyvlad, niceclip! You guys sound great. And the bass work is very tasteful and the tone is excellent! What strings are you using?

Thanks!

 

[boombloom]

I purchased a Boulder Creek ABG through Craigslist today, with case for $300. The instrument is mint. I have yet to plug it in but I played it for an hour. I owned a Guild B50 for many years and sold it when I bought my first upright. I'm going to come out and say it--the Boulder Creek is much less expensive, louder, nicer to play and more comfortable due to smaller body. I was jamming with a fiddler, a guitarist and a mandolinist and there was plenty of volume. This thing seems to be pretty cool.

 

[Funkyvlad]

@dgce

sorry for the late reply

I'm using stock D'addario's, bronze, 45-120 I believe.

and thanks for the compliment!

still using this bass, no problems at all, find it great both in the studio and in live situation...

however, dedicated soundhole covers would do a decent job, the thing (feedback) is sometimes difficult to control.

greetings!

 

[dgce]

@dgce

sorry for the late reply

I'm using stock D'addario's, bronze, 45-120 I believe.

and thanks for the compliment!

still using this bass, no problems at all, find it great both in the studio and in live situation...

however, dedicated soundhole covers would do a decent job, the thing (feedback) is sometimes difficult to control.

greetings!

Good to know. Thanks for getting back to me. I may pull the trigger on one myself by the end of the summer.

 

[basslivesinside]

I purchased my Boulder Creek Bass a few months ago. I got the EBR3-N5. That is the Cedar top 5 string. The bass has an amazing tone. I am really impressed. Reminds me of my old Tacoma but a bit louder. My buddy has a monster acoustic bass collection and always raves about the Boulder Creek line. I purchased mine from Invalid Link Removed. Every Boulder Creek bass they had was at least $50-$100 cheaper than anywhere else I found. I am playing through an Ampeg and it sounds even better plugged in. Also mixing live is super easy with the dual outputs. Only thing I did not like was that is comes without a case. So I talked to the dude at lovies and he discounted one heavy I would recommend these basses to anyone.

 

[eldad]

I plan to buy my first acoustic bass And I also want to be Fretless I am debating between Two:
1 breedlove Solo Fretless
2 Boulder Creek EBR3-N4F
What I checked Boulder Creek manufactured in China or Korea ?
I would be happy for any advice and information on the subject

 

[bholder]

I plan to buy my first acoustic bass And I also want to be Fretless I am debating between Two:
1 breedlove Solo Fretless
2 Boulder Creek EBR3-N4F
What I checked Boulder Creek manufactured in China or Korea ?
I would be happy for any advice and information on the subject

Zombie Resurrection! (That seems to be the standard response, although if you start a new thread, the standard response seems to be "there's already a thread for that, use the Search function"!)

Anyway, I have a Boulder Creek 5 fretless, it's fairly nice, can't decide whether it's a cheap good bass or a good cheap bass. Odd construction on the inside, interesting approach. Mine was made in China. I'm happy enough with it, but if I could have had the same thing in a Breedlove, I would have in a heartbeat (not that I've ever played one, but I remember good reviews from ages ago, hope they're still good). But I don't think Breedlove offers a fretless 5.

 

[eldad]

Thank you

 

[Wfrance3]

Sorry to be late to the party here but, no Sadly Breedlove does not make a 5, fretless or otherwise. - I checked with their CS via email. From my response, it doesn't seem like it's in any kind of future plan either.

 

[Basically Bob]

I purchased a Boulder Creek ABG through Craigslist today, with case for $300. The instrument is mint. I have yet to plug it in but I played it for an hour. I owned a Guild B50 for many years and sold it when I bought my first upright. I'm going to come out and say it--the Boulder Creek is much less expensive, louder, nicer to play and more comfortable due to smaller body. I was jamming with a fiddler, a guitarist and a mandolinist and there was plenty of volume. This thing seems to be pretty cool.

I played a Guild B50 for several years, also. (man, that thing was a beast!) i have never played a Boulder Creek but if it is louder than that old Guild I had, that's loud! Would really be interested in trying a fretless BC.

 

[bholder]

I have a Boulder Creek fretless 5 I like quite a lot, very nice bass, but its volume isn't very "acoustically competitive" without amplifaction. It does fairly well, better than most, but I wouldn't quite classify it with my "loud" ABGs (Earthwood, Tacoma Thunderchief, etc.). Great sounding bass though. Very very nice for back porch solo practice (which is what I got it for).