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cheap decent acoustic bass

#21
bholder said:
Hehe, ok, I'll take that challenge, but not with my Earthwood, with the new Emerald Balor. Mmmmmmm. Acoustic tone and volume that can compete with the big boys, and plugged in tone to die for. Of course, it was just ever so slightly more expensive than a Dean... ;)
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Yeah, I think the LR Baggs setup in my Breedloves would measure up to that challenge pretty well, too...
 
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#22
drewphishesp said:
SO I tried a uke bass.

The strings and scale just don't work for me. Returned it.

Looking for an acoustic bass to practice w downstairs on the couch, also to take camping/friends houses/outside on my deck

dont wanna spend alot bc itll basically be a beater

any suggestions?
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DEAN
 
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#24
I had an Alvarez with the cutaway. Was a nice one. Great neck and even sounded good plugged in. Had a samick with f holes. And let’s say it was a different story. Sounded bad plugged in. Could’ve maybe rectified that but didn’t have it long enough. I think I traded it in or something. It all runs together sometimes. But yeah Alvarez. I’ve been curious how the deans are though.
 
#25
Dean +1
I payed $75 for my Dean EAB a few years ago and have yet to find one that sounds better. Great with nylon tape wound strings on it. Loud enough without amplification that I had to stop playing it in my office because my colleague next door could hear it (although our walls are stupidly thin to be fair) And, as much as I think it's worth it on the acoustic sound alone, it sounds good through an amp or into my computer. Best bargain I have for sure.
 
#28
drewphishesp said:
Looking for an acoustic bass to practice w downstairs on the couch, also to take camping/friends houses/outside on my deck
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I had one and the reality was that playing with two acoustic guitars (and not loud strummers at that) and two voices the only person who could hear the bass during camping jams was me..... even picking as hard as possible with a 2mm plectrum. I'd find myself playing higher octaves a lot just to be heard, which pretty much made the bass a waste of time.



I ended up making my own travel beater-bass which I plug into a Roland Cube Street. I can now be heard quite well and the bass and amp combined take up less room than the acoustic bass. I also use the bass with a ZoomB1on as a travel practice rig.

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#29
Yep, Dean was my first thought, as well. :thumbsup:

Big body gets you about as much sounds as you will
be getting from an ABG.
Loud enough to enjoy by yourself.
Don't expect to be heard jamming with a couple of guitars.
Full scale 34 inch neck, a bit chunky, but that's what you expect from an ABG.
Not a huge baseball bat, but probably fatter than your electric.
Plugged in, it is on the thin and weak side.
If that is your goal, spend the extra bux for the Exotica. drool

They can be found in 4 or 5 string, with or without a cutaway,
fretted or frettless.

Mine is an ABGC 4 string.
I paid 150 in a pawn shop, in like new condition.
If you want it to stay in like new condition,
pay attention to the available space aaround you.
They take up more of it than you expect. :laugh:
I like mine enough that I ordered the Dean padded gig bag
to go with it.
A fine bit of gear itself and also the very most likey to fit it.

If I were starting over, I would get the Exotica, but then
I like to plug in and be loud. :smug:
Not a problem around the house.
 
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#30
I love my Dean AEB. Loud unplugged as stated. When plugging in the piezo pickup needs a preamp. My first was just a bass eq pedal that boosted the output just enough for an amp and gave a way to tailor the sound. More recently using a Fishman B II preamp that helps the 'thin' sound even more. Also have an Ibenez AEB5, which is less satisfactory in my opinion, with a fret buzz in one spot and a black finish making it far less 'beatable'. The Dean has stood up to a lot and for maybe $90 used, a great instrument for a hack like me. Now for twice the money, I love my Michael Kelly Club Custom fretless. Not as loud as the Dean, but much nicer to play, and definitely not a beater. Watch craigslist; deals are out there and make it possible to try a variety of used, inexpensive AEBs.
 
#31
Then there is this one,for sale. Stagg acoustic, with built in electronics. With nice hard shell fitted case. Like new! Might be able to buy acoustics,for $150,or less,but not including hard shell case? Most cases are around that much,case alone?
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#33
BAG said:
I had one and the reality was that playing with two acoustic guitars (and not loud strummers at that) and two voices the only person who could hear the bass during camping jams was me..... even picking as hard as possible with a 2mm plectrum. I'd find myself playing higher octaves a lot just to be heard, which pretty much made the bass a waste of time.



I ended up making my own travel beater-bass which I plug into a Roland Cube Street. I can now be heard quite well and the bass and amp combined take up less room than the acoustic bass. I also use the bass with a ZoomB1on as a travel practice rig.

View attachment 2871752
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Exactly!
I believe in the MTV Unplugged school of thought…plug in!
I don't care how loud an unplugged bass is, you still don't have the same ability to fully express yourself, no matter what kind you own, without that tone control. I'm all about tone and I have this strange feeling that most bassists are, too.
I never met anyone who doesn't try to dial in different tones from time to time, even with a P bass.
I can get a tone out of my Exotica that I can't get out of my G&L L2000, because plugged in I can use the equalizer, the enhance switch and the phase control. Try as I might, they just don't work without an.amp.

Practing around the house is a bit different, of course, but I like to play along with the songs I have in my "Bass" playlist on my ipod, so my Micro Cube is essential.
 
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#34
I got a Dean Playmate from a buddy of mine for $75. It’s a decent beater, but I liked it a lot better once I sanded the word “Playmate” off the headstock. Even at its best, the action is a little high. I have thought about filing the bridge grooves a little to tweak it, but I also don’t want to turn it into an unplayable project bass instead of a semi-playable wallhanger.
 
#35
jd56hawk said:
Exactly!
I believe in the MTV Unplugged school of thought…plug in!
I don't care how loud an unplugged bass is, you still don't have the same ability to fully express yourself, no matter what kind you own, without that tone control. I'm all about tone and I have this strange feeling that most bassists are, too.
I never met anyone who doesn't try to dial in different tones from time to time, even with a P bass.
I can get a tone out of my Exotica that I can't get out of my G&L L2000, because plugged in I can use the equalizer, the enhance switch and the phase control. Try as I might, they just don't work without an.amp.

Practing around the house is a bit different, of course, but I like to play along with the songs I have in my "Bass" playlist on my ipod, so my Micro Cube is essential.
Click to expand...

Yeah, my intended use for any AEB is for it to be plugged in...
 
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#37
bolophonic said:
I got a Dean Playmate from a buddy of mine for $75. It’s a decent beater, but I liked it a lot better once I sanded the word “Playmate” off the headstock. Even at its best, the action is a little high. I have thought about filing the bridge grooves a little to tweak it, but I also don’t want to turn it into an unplayable project bass instead of a semi-playable wallhanger.
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I had one of those Playmates, and with a little setup work I was able to make it very playable - for the money, they're definitely one of the best options, IMO...
 
#38
jd56hawk said:
Nothing better than plugging mine in the day it arrived at GC and having someone walk into the bass room to see who was playing and asking me if I wanted to join his band.
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Nothing wrong with that, lol - it earned it's keep right there... Mine have made me some decent coin in full band settings, acoustic duos and trios, and in a part time wedding thing... I was working with one enough that I decided to buy a 2nd to have as a backup - although I never bring more than 1 with me...
 
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#40
bolophonic said:
Did you wind up doing any work on the bridge?
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Yes, but instead of cutting grooves, I sanded down the underside of the saddle, like I would when setting up any acoustic instrument - and properly set the nut slots as well... The only time I would make grooves in an acoustic instrument's saddle would be if it didn't match up well with the fretboard's radius, or I wanted to do something with string spacing...IME, most acoustic electric instruments can benefit from truing up the saddle's contact point with the pickup, and making sure everything's good to go there...

Edited to add: this is typically a bit time consuming to get right, and takes some caution and meticulous work...
 
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