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Campfire Acoustic Bass Guitar??

#41
Okay, update time...
Sorry for the delay but I have a resolution to this issue...
After trying out several different makes/models that were available to lay my hands on locally, I ended up renting the new Ibanez PCBE12MH OPN (Mahogany Grand Concert) for the camping trip, in large part due to the smaller size. But it sounded good and it's a beauty as well. I got some great looks from folks on the way camping as I had the hard case strapped to the bike rack on the outside of the car with a bunch of other gear but secure and dry ;)
It performed much as I expected in the bush; just loud enough to hear when playing with an acoustic guitar and vocals but not much more than that. I decided to extend it's try it out in other situations when we got home and found that it sounds great plugged in with no volume issues (400w Yorkie combo) and the built in electronics give me some room to vary the tone. I really (again) like the smaller size (med scale) for comfort and the look and feel of the all mahogany body.
Probably the biggest bonus/surprise to me was that when I leave it in the main part of the house rather than in the Bassment (music room) I end up picking it up way more often just to work on something quickly or jam to a tune on the stereo...which has ended up in more and easier practice time for me!! I think this was a main factor that lead me to purchase it out of my rental agreement. My wife said 'I think you were leaning towards buying it before you even rented it.' I guess they just know :p
Anyway, thanks again for all input and feedback.
I would recommend this bass to anyone looking for a great practice device and a more portable solution for road trippin' it!
I've got some black nylon tapewounds on the way for it which I think will help me get closer to the tone I'm ultimately after (a little less like an acoustic guitar)...but all in all...welcome to the stable Ibby:thumbsup:
Cheers!
Ibby, Wanda & Blue.jpg
 
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#45
herbygardener said:
I absolutely love them! The tone and playability are fantastic.
Can't see putting anything else on there...highly recommended!
Cheers!
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Thanks!

I'm picking up a lightly used ABG today at a bargain price, after testing the breed in music shops and GASing for some time. I use flats on most my basses and think those stock rounds usually sound thin and clanky (more of a guitar sound than bass).
 
#46
Shardik said:
Thanks!

I'm picking up a lightly used ABG today at a bargain price, after testing the breed in music shops and GASing for some time. I use flats on most my basses and think those stock rounds usually sound thin and clanky (more of a guitar sound than bass).
Click to expand...

Ya I wasn't a fan of it sounding like an acoustic guitar more than a bass, those strings definately made a difference.
Cheers!

BazzTard said:
Yes, throw your ABG on the campfire, that is it's only useful purpose
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Thanks for sharing your helpful expertise and knowledge of ABG's with the uneducated masses.
 
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#48
Alden Vines said:
If I'm gonna be honest, y'all are better off just playing a Precision bass with a battery powered amp. I can't say that's true since I've never played a campfire gig at all before, but it's just a suggestion.
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Sometimes that's effective. The issue then is does this battery powered amp sound like you want it to. If the bassist is looking for the alternate tone an ABG brings then an EB won't do. I love the sound of EB with acoustic guitar. I do it professionally but for that other tone, ABGs are unique. To pick up and play anytime at home is also a thing some of us are choosing.
 
#49
Alden Vines said:
If I'm gonna be honest, y'all are better off just playing a Precision bass with a battery powered amp. I can't say that's true since I've never played a campfire gig at all before, but it's just a suggestion.
Click to expand...

I'll be honest, too. I've been playing indoors and outdoors with ABGs for about 25 years. If you have a decent instrument, sensible people to play with, and reasonable expectations, an ABG is very usable. We get loads of people who've never done it telling us it cant be done, but there's quite a few of us who do it every week. It's not cheap and you cant tickle one like you would a P, or expect to outwhang the bangers. But then, nobody's bringing a Strat and a halfstack to a weenieroast either, are they?
 
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#51
Alden Vines said:
If I'm gonna be honest, y'all are better off just playing a Precision bass with a battery powered amp. I can't say that's true since I've never played a campfire gig at all before, but it's just a suggestion.
Click to expand...

Soooo... to be clear... you're resurrecting a 6 year old thread, to give advise on something, that by your own admission, you have zero experience with?

Carry on.:thumbsup::)
 
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#52
BassHappy said:
If I am not sportin' enough wood - and I am fighting several acoustics - I use a battery powered Roland Micro Cube amp at the dock or down at the beach - works fine - with my Fender T-Bucket.

View attachment 2275198

View attachment 2275199

Models a bunch of pretty cool amp sounds, and has a decent drum machine.

Take her down to the dock and at the beach around the campfire. The bass plays great and I don't care if I get sand in it at $399!
BassHappy
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I bought a Breedlove Atlas at a great price brand new and I got a Roland BC from here on TB for that bass because I had a few ABGs and knew that they would not hold up... That Roland is a great little head. It is perfect for an ABG but I have been using it as a travel practice amp and it does the job quite well.

I would also recommend that you consider a Tonewood amp for your ABG. A friend had one and he let me borrow it for a few days. It gives you just that extra umph in an acoustic setting. It would hold up with a cajon .. but not a drum kit.
 
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#53
I know the thread's old and it doesn't matter anymore, but I'd like to add for posterity that I play my fretless Tacoma Thunderchief (1998, pre-Fender, with Rotosound TruBass strings) as a reasonable facsimile of an upright with a fingerstyle guitar or two, open back clawhammer banjo, a fiddle and a (responsibly picked) mandolin all the time, it's loud enough. I made a new saddle for it and raised the action a smidgeon, and I tend to hit it pretty hard, but I'm heard just fine.

If I want to play more rock-style stuff with a couple dreadnaughts or bluegrass with flatpickers/resonator banjo or anything like that, though, I do so with the soundhole plugged through my Phil Jones Bass Briefcase via the K&K Pure Bass pickup I put in it (something was wrong with the factory L.R. Baggs stuff, so rather than troubleshoot it I went with what I knew). It's battery powered, so I can take it anywhere, camping, festivals, whatever. I'm a little worried about having my fragile Thunderchief in some outdoor situations, but I bought it to use. If it breaks, I'll fix it or have it fixed.

The old big Guild acoustic basses (B30 and B50, maybe more models) are supposed to be at least as loud as a Thunderchief. The old Ernie Ball Earthwood Basses are absolutely loud enough, if you can find or afford one. The Lamont Flatback is, from what I can gather, essentially a modernized Earthwood. Then there's the Rigel Acoustabass. To my knowledge, that's all there is. I'm sure I left something out, though.
 
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#54
Since you brought the fire into this, I just cant help myself. I smashed my ABG to bits just to settle the score. We had some good times, don't get me me wrong, but that relationship has no future. Burn.
 

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