campfire bass?

[Eilif]

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

I wouldn't say the ABG doesn't have a good sound. Just different.

The Acoustic Bass Guitar (ABG) by virtue of the bronze strings and fully hollow body tends to have a hollowness and yet a ringing snap to the sound. It does fit well into an "acoustic" sound (espeically when amplified) as it cuts pretty well, but it is not loud enough to be heard well in a truly acoustic unamplified setting.

Note that you can change the tone quite a bit by swapping strings. I heard a lovely tone from an ABG with tapewound strings, but it was notably quieter acoustically than with snappy bright bronze strings.

The Ashbory, U-bass, Microbass and other plastic stringed ultra uke/short scales (18-25" scale) have a very round warm tone to them. Can be pretty funky (in a good way) if eq'd right. This is a function of the scale length, and string material. They're very thick strings.

Neither is necessarily better, just different. Each has a unique tone that is not quite like anything else. However, neither is really suited well for unplugged acoustic ensemble playing.

In my personal opinion, completely unplugged, my favorite tone is probably the Gold Tone Microbass. It's very pleasing. However, if I were going to pick a campfire instrument or an instrument for porch playing I'd probably go with a full-scale fretless on the largest body ABG I could find. Then at least I could play along with any soft-handed acoustic guitarrist (or a classical guitarrist) that came along.

As it stands, I gave up on the idea of a porch instrument or dedicated travel bass a while ago. I sold my 24" Solid body uke bass as it just wasn't played much. If I have an acoustic gig (unplugged or true acoustic) I bring my double bass. If I just need a near-acoustic or near-upright sound I have a fretless Wendler that nails that tone plugged in. That does leave me without a bass for camping but I can bring any electric and my Zoom B1on for practice on car trips at least.

 

[HaphAsSard]

I wouldn't say the ABG doesn't have a good sound. Just different.

He was addressing one of the points in the OP, namely that ABGs don't sound that good to them, because too guitar-like. Which should have kind of preempted a number of suggestions in the thread.
(As should have their specifying that the campfire situation would be totally solo, hence no real need for jam-worthy volume. Which is not to say that it wouldn't be wise to plan ahead for the occasional guitar-slinging visitor, but some posters seem to just have missed that point entirely.)

OTOH, @giantoz may only have experience with steel-core, bronze-wound ...-stringed ABGs, whereas most parlor basses have nylon-core strings and most uke-basses have synthetic ones.* Beside the difference in amplified response, the two (contiguous and partially overlapping) categories of basslets do sound like their own thing acoustically too, even though their bodies are even smaller.

* Speaking of which:

In my personal opinion, completely unplugged, my favorite tone is probably the Gold Tone Microbass. It's very pleasing.

With what type of strings? Aquila Thunderguts? La Bella Silverbacks (nylon-core)? La Bella steel-core flats?

 

[The Bass Clef]

I know you said you don’t like the way acoustic basses sound, but there is no better “campfire” bass than a resonator IMO. Mine is loud as hell and easily heard over a couple other acoustic guitars. It funny you mentioned Primus because Les Claypool actually performs with one of these basses (made by Michael Kelly). And speaking of the Violent Femmes, here’s a play thru video I made a few months ago. The bass is not plugged in BTW (although it does have a piezo pickup in it of you did want to run it thru an amp). This is just the acoustic sound of the bass in the room, recorded on my ipad, no interface, mics, or anything...

 

[MrLenny1]

Ovation acoustic with a heavy pick.
https://www.ovationguitars.com/bass/CEB44X-7C

 

[Lowtonejoe]

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?

The scale length requires a bit of getting used to, but once you do, it's easy peasy. ZERO problems.

The tone is VERY bright. I think it has to do with the Earthwood strings they put on it. As time is going on, they are mellowing out a bit and I am learning not to be so lazy (dragging my fingers on the strings).

It's size makes it EXTREMELY portable.
It's tone helps it both to CARRY in a crowd and CUT through the mix.

It really is a joy to play.

 

[Eilif]

He was addressing one of the points in the OP, namely that ABGs don't sound that good to them, because too guitar-like. Which should have kind of preempted a number of suggestions in the thread.
(As should have their specifying that the campfire situation would be totally solo, hence no real need for jam-worthy volume. Which is not to say that it wouldn't be wise to plan ahead for the occasional guitar-slinging visitor, but some posters seem to just have missed that point entirely.)

OTOH, @giantoz may only have experience with steel-core, bronze-wound ...-stringed ABGs, whereas most parlor basses have nylon-core strings and most uke-basses have synthetic ones.* Beside the difference in amplified response, the two (contiguous and partially overlapping) categories of basslets do sound like their own thing acoustically too, even though their bodies are even smaller.

* Speaking of which:

With what type of strings? Aquila Thunderguts? La Bella Silverbacks (nylon-core)? La Bella steel-core flats?

I'd recommend anyone who doesn't like what they perceive as "the tone" of an ABG but wants a solo porch instrument to are least consider trying some regular electric bass tape wound strings. It's a very different tone and to me it's more pleasing solo. Warmer but also a bit quieter.

As for the microbass acoustic tone I loved it was with whatever black strings it had in the store. That said I really liked the Pahoehoe strings I replaced the Aquilas on my solid body uke bass with.

 

[ShawnG]

I’m going to throw this into the mix, Traveler TB-4P. I play mine all the time on the couch unamped and it’s plenty loud to allow me to practice acoustically. It’s light, only 35” long but 32” scale and takes long-scale strings. Its headless construction makes it super maneuverable around the house or in a close space with no headstock to bang into anything. It has a built in headphone amp, and aux in to allow playing along with your phone and sounds way better amped than it should. You can find excellent condition used ones for $350ish if you look around.

 

[ShawnG]

Resonator bass is way cool though!

 

[HaphAsSard]

Stop the presses!

@giantoz: in line with my previous suggestions, how about something that slightly amplifies the unplugged tone of your electric bass, while not tying your ears to anything? Check out the DelSonix SD28, basically a totally passive, plastic megaphone clamped to the headstock (you may want to cut to the chase at around 2'10'', then go back to the intro):

Link Removed is down, but the basic idea is clear enough the thing can be DIYed (for one's personal use - I've read somewhere a patent was awarded).

A TB discussion here - where I first read of the stethoscope and clamp piezo tricks, by the way:
Genius invention or crazy person?

 

[jd56hawk]

If you're talking about simply hearing a solid-body bass yourself instead of playing to entertain your friends while camping out, let me suggest what William "Doc" Waters used to hear his bass while practicing without an amp.

 

[giantoz]

*UPDATE * I got a bass!

Thank you guys for all the awesome responses! After I talked with you guys I thought a lot about what I wanted. It might surprise you guys what I got. Lol isn't that how it happens sometimes?

spector core 4 - بحث Google‏


Spectorcore 4. Fretted. I'm sorry I can't find a good link. It has passive single coil emg and a fishman piezo bridge. My reasoning is this: it has acoustic qualities while still maintaining the playability of a solidbody. I found one used for $550 and since my bday came along...

I love it. It has just enough volume for myself on the couch. For the campfire, I think I have to use some sort of amplification....and thank you guys for the awesome and zany ideas in that area. The parlors and ukes are sweet but I kinda still wanted something I can slap and really wail on. And it's great for that.

It has rounds on it which is really great for the chordey stuff but I do get some abg fret noise.. should I get flats? I've never used them before. It says the fishman can't use tapewounds but maybe I can just remove the tape where the bridge magnets are?

Also now I need a preamp or headphone amp. Im going to do a thread on that maybe. Thanks again guys!

Also-it does sound a bit resonator like which is great because I was looking at those too. That new album where Les uses one is great