Can an Acoustic bass....

[Bass-desires]

Even really be heard above an acoustic guitar? I mean, other than the really warm tone and practice, what is the point of an acoustic if you can't be heard over or even with the guitar?

I have one, and love it, but think of selling it because its a little uncomfortable to play where/how I play.

If I use a heavy pick, would it be audible with the guitar?

Thanks ya'll

 

[bassist4dalord]

Nope, not really. I've heard that Tacoma Thunderchief basses are pretty loud (for an acoustic bass) but they cost like $1,500. The point of an acoustic bass is, in my situation, practicing in the dorm (or apartment) without getting kicked out, and playing outside with my iPod when it's warm out.

 

[Gord_oh]

Nope, not really. I've heard that Tacoma Thunderchief basses are pretty loud (for an acoustic bass) but they cost like $1,500. The point of an acoustic bass is, in my situation, practicing in the dorm (or apartment) without getting kicked out, and playing outside with my iPod when it's warm out.

+1

i was going to say the exact same thing.

 

[lomo]

An ABG also sounds different from a regular solidbody when amped.

 

[Bass-desires]

Yeah it does, I realized that my ABG is worth more than my other two solid bodies I use at least 3 times a week and was thinking of selling it to get a better electric. ABG sure sounds great though...

 

[GreggBummer]

An ABG, when mic'd, sounds great. If you are playing in an "acoustic" group... give it a try. An SM57 near the 12th fret will do the trick. You will have to play around with the distance to get it right. Downside: You have to sit, and can't "rock out".


As far as volume goes: If you are playing an ABG with a friend who is on a six string... use a pick. It will help. This is in a quiet room or at the park. If you are playing a noisy coffee shop, you better mic it or plug it in to an amp. You don't need a lot of volume, but you will need some.

 

[ajn]

An ABG also sounds different from a regular solidbody when amped.

I agree with this, but there are other piezo style semi-hollow basses that totally capture that sound when amplified. I owned a pretty good ABG for a couple of years, and even recorded with it. But I found it too big and awkward to take on gigs and ended up using it only very occasionally to play along with my neighbor's acoustic guitar on the "front porch." And even then it was often hard to hear the ABG. If you are really wanting that type of sound, but don't want to go as pricey as a Rob Allen, Turner, etc., companies like Carvin, Godin, or even Epiphone (if they ever start shipping the new Zenith) all make good products. They aren't quite as loud as an ABG unplugged, but they are plenty loud enough to practice with alone.

 

[JTE]

I've only played three acoustic bass guitars that came close to working well as acoustic instruments. They're all very large, and a bit clumsy due to that. But then look at the physics of what you're trying to get it to do. The flat-top guitar isn't the most effective way to pump air. That's why most early jazz guitars were arch-tops. Now then, a double bass (upright, string, doghouse, whatever you call 'em) is big enough to do the job, but just barely. Asking a small bodied acoustic guitar design to do the job of creating low notes with authority and volume is IME and IMO just asking too much.

The way acoustic instruments work is that the strings make the bridge vibrate, and that drives the body to pump air. To get more volume, you need to move a lot of wood so you can move a lot of air. That means a big sound board that's flexible enough to vibrate but stiff enough to not fall apart. To get low notes with authority, you need to be able to create big waves, which again means a big soundboard.

The three I've played (in order of utility) are the big Guild (they made two, and the smaller one is just as problematical as everyone else's small one) B-50/B-30, the Ernie Ball Earthwood, and a very distant third is the Tacoma Thunderchief. There are some other designs I've seen that might work but I don't have any experience with the great big Martin (all the Martin ABGs I've played were smaller ones), the Taylor (designed I believe with Mike Tobias' help?), and the Azolla arch-top ones.

So, if you want a truly unplugged experience, resign yourself to a large body. If you want the sound of an amplified ABG, then get one with a really good pickup system and don't worry much about the acoustic sound. As for me, if I gotta take the amp, I'll just take one of my solid-body electric basses too.

John

 

[standupright]

I've got a junky Johnson ABG that has no problem keeping up when with one to two other acoustic guitars. anything more than that it starts to get drowned out. it's also the first bass i grab when i want to work on a tune, practice, or just noodle around on.

 

[dvh]

A pick helps but the tone is completely different and not bass-like enough. I speak from direct experience. I tried this approach with an ABG with a quartet of two guitars, mandolin, and me for a buskers festival.

Bottom line: I found it really inadequate.

 

[lomo]

I agree with this, but there are other piezo style semi-hollow basses that totally capture that sound when amplified. .

I've heard many piezo-equipped solid, semihollow and thinline hollowbodies, but none that sounds quite like a true hollowbody ABG, except maybe a Rob Allen that has a wood bridge and sounds darned near a dog house.

 

[bassteban]

IMO/IME(having played a few, both cheapo & fancy-schmancy), no, not really. I believe a search will yield results leaning more towards *no* but it's certainly a controversial(and often-rehashed question).

 

[nic salsus]

Even really be heard above an acoustic guitar? I mean, other than the really warm tone and practice, what is the point of an acoustic if you can't be heard over or even with the guitar?

Yes but no store will ever set one up with the strings as high as they need to be to get that kind of volume...it would scare everyone away. The comfy low "electric bass" action they all come with won't do it so the popular conception is that it's impossible. It's not but you gotta be motivated to get the action raised (by someone who really understands acoustic instrument setup) and learn to play it for max acoustic volume. A lesson with a double bassist who's worked on his acoustic volume (and not all have so much in this age of amps) might be worthwhile if you're real serious.

It's not like the guitarist shelling out $500 for a Takamine and yer in bizness. For us bassists it's a more serious project and a bigger commitment. One thing you can do right away is hold the bass more upright like classical guitarist and dig in with the side meat of your fingers rather than the finger tips....more like a double bass player.
This pic illustrates the point:
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This buys you more volume. Work on this and you'll see the reason for higher action pretty quick.

 

[ajn]

I've heard many piezo-equipped solid, semihollow and thinline hollowbodies, but none that sounds quite like a true hollowbody ABG, except maybe a Rob Allen that has a wood bridge and sounds darned near a dog house.

I totally agree that there are subtle differences in their sound when you compare them alone, side by side. However, in my experience those differences nearly disappear in a live, amplified mix. At one point I owned at the same time a Rob Allen fretless, a Breedlove ABG and Godin A4--all strung with nylon tapewounds. They obviously sounded different from each other when compared (especially the fretless), but I found the Godin and the Breedlove, which were both fretted basses, were pretty interchangeable when used in the mix with other instruments.
I guess the point I was trying to make is that whatever it was I was hoping to gain by having an ABG in my arsenal has been more than met through other, more accessible (at least for me) instruments.

 

[Philbiker]

If the acoustic guitar player plays quietly, a very loud ABG can do quite well. I can jam with my brother Peter on guitar all day, but he's a master guitar player who plays very quietly. If either of us begins to sing (we both have loud projecting voices) all bets are off.

95% of guitar players with acoustics in their hands play them loud. Very few guitar players play acoustics softly, and IME it's the best master players who appreciate the subtleties of the instrument enough to play soft. (That same paragraph goes for acoustic piano for the most part) Most guitars sound best played quietly and amplified or miced.

 

[tdub0199]

I just use my acoustic to practice even though it's harder to play than an electric, it just makes my electric that much easier to play....

 

[Bass-desires]

Yeah, I have been using it for practice mostly, but find myself going in favor of the instrument I would actually be playing with the song so I can get the feel and articulation down better.

I love the ABG tone though, I know it can't be reproduced to a T, but can piezo pickups get close? Anyone have a sound clip or example of the Piezo sound?

And yes, it is very awkward especially to play while standing. I think having to tie the strap to the headstock because I lack the second strap button sucks too. Haha

I will try playing it a little different as was suggested and see what happens...

 

[Mikey5701]

I really like distinct sound of Brian Ritchie using an acoustic bass in Violent Femmes.

First off, my Fender Jazz is my bass of choice. I bought a used Takamine acoustic bass for $400 bucks earlier this year and now I always get crap from my band mates for not bringing it when I don't. I jam with one of our guitarist sometimes and with just the two of us I can play unplugged and be heard. But with the band we use a snare/cymbal and two guitars on most of our songs. So I'm pretty much always plugged into an amp because there is absolutely no way I'd be heard without it. We've recorded with my Takamine and although I personally think it's ok (still prefer to play my Fender Jazz), everyone else in the band seems to really like it and prefer it for our sound.

So... I can see why someone would say an ABG is not worth playing and its only for practice but with my experience I disagree. I'd say it definitely has its place but its not for everyone.

If you already own one, and you mentioned you love playing it, then why sell it? I think having a variety is good. I'm assuming this isn't your only bass.