campfire bass?

[BarfanyShart]

That sounds perfect. I haven't looked up parlor basses yet I'm going to do that.

They got a short scale ABG on Amazon right now for under $100, and the Ibanez offerings (which I have) start at $200. So that and some carefully-selected string guages will get you to the "proof of concept" stage. I guess "parlor" actually refers to a small body with no cutaway - i actually wish i had the cutaway, so i would recommend a mini-dreadnought style anywhere between 24-28 inch scale. You should be able to tune it down to B (octave above a five string bass) and still have it project as well as any guitar acoustically.

 

[Funky Phantom]

Battery amp.

“You know what they told me? If you’re not sleeping in Atlanta, you’re just campin’ out”.
- Jerry Glanville

 

[John Le Guyader]

For a battery operated bass amp sitting round the camp fire, I'd go with the PJB Double Four. Not cheap but runs on a laptop battery. And if you also play upright, it's well suited to the insrument.

Guild, Taylor, Ibanez all make short scale acoustic bass guitars that don't break the bank, especially if you can find them as an open box or b-stock...lots of choices

 

[Eilif]

Thanks for that recommendation. The best uke bass I've played was the standard gold tone and I've really itching for the 25 but it's so pricey...which is understandable since they blew up the body but still. Thank you for the recommendation on the hadean too-that looks like the best budget option and probably what I'll get if I go the uke route. And I haven't heard of those strings too. Btw my cousin has the same name as you!

You're welcome!
Don't be put off by the price. Hadean basses punch well above their price point.

Pretty cool to hear about another Eilif (my middle name). There are very few of us. Does he know it means "ever-living", "Immortal"?

 

[CarpeBasso]

My campfire rig is a Squier Jaguar short scale with a Pignose Hog 30 battery amp. Cheap and effective, and the amp battery lasts a very long time.

 

[Rabidhamster]

Well if you want to be only slightly louder than unplugged and only for yourself you could try resting the butt of the bass on a box while you play. A shoebox is a handy size. Or butt it up against the drywall in the house, headstock or butt. It’ll be louder for sure.


But a campfire bass needs to be louder than that. For that, then I’d pick a resonator bass or maybe Ubass

 

[Jack Butler]

Well if you want to be only slightly louder than unplugged and only for yourself you could try resting the butt of the bass on a box while you play. A shoebox is a handy size. Or butt it up against the drywall in the house, headstock or butt. It’ll be louder for sure.


But a campfire bass needs to be louder than that. For that, then I’d pick a resonator bass or maybe Ubass

+1 on a resonator bass.

 

[AdeptBerry]

Can someone explain unorthodox bass solutions? Stethoscopes? Shoeboxes? Resonators? Ubasses? I've heard some not so good things about acoustic basses.

 

[KarateChris]

I have an acoustic bass that I like. It was cheap, and it's loud. Loud enough for campfire jamming for sure. It's kinda big though, my friend doesn't like it becase it has too large of a body. It should be less than twohundred dollars, a Dean EAB acoustic bass. My favorite thing about this bass is the fact that its acoustic, so I can just pick it up and start playing. I have the fretless model, which has helped improve my playing and my ear.

 

[landrybass]

Wall of text warning:

Hi I may have posted years ago but this might be my first post. I've been playing bass casually for over 15 years. I never learned to read music and only sometimes might look up tabs for something. I've never played with people save for maybe twice but I don't know notes so it gets frustrating for them. I don't use an amp even when I have one-i play loud enough for myself and I'll stick my chin to the horn if I really want to hear it. What I like to do is slap and noodle around for stress relief and that's the way I've done it since 2002. Im not really any good, but I'm no beginner. I enjoy busy, difficult rock/metal-ish music. I like when the bass is in the forefront and honestly I lose focus otherwise... I love Primus and Les is who I mostly sound like...I kinda sound like if Les and victor had a kid and he really liked death metal but was not any good.

Ok now for my point. I want a bass for solo play but with some richness to the sound.I want a campfire bass. There's a few songs out there that I think I could play and sing with no other instruments present. think Longview or a violent femmes song and the big goal to play a Primus song that way. but all I have is this cheap Yamaha electric- I used to have a Warwick Corvette pro though.
Like I said I do have experience...I know how acoustic basses sound and I don't really like it...you know what I mean.

Someone once lent me their kinal kompact once and I fell in love. He put nylon core rounds on it and it was magical. I want that...but y'know not for 2k$.

Should I get one of those uke basses? I know they aren't loud but if I put nylon core strings on one do you think I could strum and slap with it? I don't like how short the scale is...I'm often fiddling around the 16th fret so damn often it might be wierd for me...but it might suffice for my goal of campfire bass.
Or would the better route be to get just any acoustic and put nylon core strings on it? Like I said, I don't like acoustics much-they're not loud and they sound like guitars and I'm not experienced enough to alter the action on an acoustic bass which is generally awful I've found.
Also what about semi acoustic? Like I said I'm almost loud enough on my own especially if I don't cut my fingernails.

Thank you for listening. I know this is the best place to go for such a wierd scenario and request.

Maybe plus a Roland Cube amp. These Larger Uke basses are awesome!

 

[Funky Phantom]

I have an acoustic bass that I like. It was cheap, and it's loud. Loud enough for campfire jamming for sure. It's kinda big though, my friend doesn't like it becase it has too large of a body. It should be less than twohundred dollars, a Dean EAB acoustic bass. My favorite thing about this bass is the fact that its acoustic, so I can just pick it up and start playing. I have the fretless model, which has helped improve my playing and my ear.

Had the same bass. Bought it ‘cause it was cheap, and I figured I wouldn’t play it a lot.
Wound up playing it constantly. It was just easier to grab it and go! No amp, cord, nothing.
It sounded fat, now, I did play it by itself, for practice. Made my electric bass skills
better as well. Now I know why guitar players play acoustics. Good for your chops..

 

[Eilif]

Can someone explain unorthodox bass solutions? Stethoscopes? Shoeboxes? Resonators? Ubasses? I've heard some not so good things about acoustic basses.

-Acoustic Basses or Acoustic Bass Guitars "ABG" are, IMHO a compromise instrument. Generally loud enough to be heard with low volume acoustic guitars and such, they don't have the projection to compete against energetically strummed acoustic guitars without really picking hard. However for a few folks playing around a campfire, you don't need a ton of projection.

However, they are very nice for personal porch play without amplification and very portable compared to an upright bass. What some folks miss is that they do have a unique tone all their own that can be quite pleasant amplified and unamplified. ABG is probably a workable campfire bass if you're willing to wail on it.

-Resonator is a variation on the ABG theme. Rarely seen on a bass they are often a bit louder than a regular ABG, but not much. Also, its a pretty distinctive tone, and not for everyone

-As for Stethescopes, I've actually gotten quite good tone from a stethoscope strapped to the body of an electric bass (I
think I used rubber bands?). Of course no one else can hear you, but it sounds better to me than some cheap headphone amps I've played with and you don't need batteries.

-As for a U-Bass, I just explained that to you a page ago:
campfire bass?

-Shoeboxes- Not sure what you mean.

-Most small multi-effects pedals can be battery operated and work great as a headphone amp. For a good sounding portable headphone/travel amp I just bought a Zoom B1on (seems to have gone up in price). Sounds great in headphones and has audio in, and that's before you consider all the amps and effects.

 

[dan1952]

• "I'm not a beginner. I don't know the notes."

You lost me there...

 

[DonaldR]

An acoustic bass would take as much space in the car as the camping equipment, so for me it would be an Ibanez Mikro and a Roland Micro Cube Bass RX (battery operated, tuner, aux-in and rhythm box).

 

[sporadic29414]

They got a short scale ABG on Amazon right now for under $100, and the Ibanez offerings (which I have) start at $200. So that and some carefully-selected string guages will get you to the "proof of concept" stage. I guess "parlor" actually refers to a small body with no cutaway - i actually wish i had the cutaway, so i would recommend a mini-dreadnought style anywhere between 24-28 inch scale. You should be able to tune it down to B (octave above a five string bass) and still have it project as well as any guitar acoustically.

I rolled the dice on the $90 BCP Bass off Amazon and glad I did. Needed to re-set the nut on it and some fresh strings, but that was it. There's an issue with the pickup on the E string, but haven't bothered messing with it since I never plug it in. It hangs on the living room wall and easily gets the most play time. My review of it is on amazon here - Excellent value. Set expectations accordingly. Would definitely buy again. if you're interested and don't mind taking a gamble. Besides, it's Amazon. Can always send it back if it's junk!

 

[AdeptBerry]

-As for a U-Bass, I just explained that to you a page ago:
campfire bass?

-Shoeboxes- Not sure what you mean.

If an acoustic bass does nto have good sound, how is a smaller ubass able to have one?

Well if you want to be only slightly louder than unplugged and only for yourself you could try resting the butt of the bass on a box while you play. A shoebox is a handy size. Or butt it up against the drywall in the house, headstock or butt. It’ll be louder for sure.


But a campfire bass needs to be louder than that. For that, then I’d pick a resonator bass or maybe Ubass

Shoebox.

 

[Blackjac97]

 

[diegom]

And 'round and 'round it goes...
Yes, the ABG is a compromise instrument, kind of like the modern viola, not large enough for the register, but good enough for its specific use...

Now, has anyone experimented with exciters? These "speakers without a cone", could use the ABG's body as its "resonator". The concept is explored by the Tonewood Amp, but its main purpose is to add "effects", not necessarily more volume...

If anyone were so inclined, the could get a mini, battery-operated 10w+10w amp board, attach couple of exciters to the back of the guitar, and tell us how it goes...

As usual, not enough money or time to try out all my ideas...

Diego

 

[Blackjac97]

 

[fermata]

My campfire bass is a piccolo I made from the cheapest "parlor bass" I could find, tuned CGDA, like a cello, an octave up from where I tune my BG. It's got flats on it, so it has the tone of a bass, and guitarists like what it adds to the sound of a jam. Chordal stuff sounds good - straight up strum it if you want - and it works very well to accompany myself singing. There is a guitar-scale acoustic bass thread on here if you are looking for way too much info on these types of instruments. I used to bring a DB to the campfire, but this is a bit more portable, and you won't really miss the lowest octave for what you are trying to do.

I think this is a really good idea. I often wonder about moving the ABG's range into the baritone guitar or cello range, which might align better with the natural resonance of the typical ABG body.

If one wanted to stay in fourths tuning, ADGC would be an option, or, assuming the combination of scale length and string tension wouldn't put too much stress on the bass, up one more step to create a BEAD-tuned bass. Something around a 28" scale would seem ideal for that (like a cello), but ABGs seem to either fall in the 30"+ or 25"- range.

I got one of these.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I've eyed these more than a few times--can you share more details? How's the tone and volume? And what's it like playing on a 23.75" scale?

Now, has anyone experimented with exciters? These "speakers without a cone", could use the ABG's body as its "resonator". The concept is explored by the Tonewood Amp, but its main purpose is to add "effects", not necessarily more volume...

If anyone were so inclined, the could get a mini, battery-operated 10w+10w amp board, attach couple of exciters to the back of the guitar, and tell us how it goes...

That's a really good idea! It maintains the simplicity of an amp-less ABG but would presumably up the volume enough for a civilized acoustic jam.