Thanks for the info. I can tell that this thing needs some care, but I wasn't quite sure the best way to approach it. I also found a Fishman acoustic pickup at a yard sale, so someday, I might have a decent Playmate to experiment with.
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cheap decent acoustic bass
- Thread starter drewphishesp
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- acoustic cheap double bass
Thanks for the info. I can tell that this thing needs some care, but I wasn't quite sure the best way to approach it. I also found a Fishman acoustic pickup at a yard sale, so someday, I might have a decent Playmate to experiment with.
You're welcome - my Playmate actually had a decent neck/fretwork, and took a setup pretty well...
I haven't used it in the studio yet…probably because we've only been to the studio twice…but it was perfect for the few open mic nights I went to with my buddy. With him sitting on a stool playing his Guild 12-string, I would've felt weird standing there with a P bass or a Jazz, etc.
These are pretty nice. Don't think they fall into the "beater" category. If you can find a used one for a price that works for you, it would be a goodie.
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I have a fretless 5 and really like it a lot. I put (i wanna say) elixer strings on it. The ones with the coating so they don't hurt your fretboard. They're 2 years old now and are completely dead. Just the way I like it.
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I have a fretless 5 and really like it a lot. I put (i wanna say) elixer strings on it. The ones with the coating so they don't hurt your fretboard. They're 2 years old now and are completely dead. Just the way I like it.
Me too, but I have the GHS pressurewound bronze on mine - love these stings!
suprised no one has brought up a Michael Kelley. I have a fretless dragonfly an love the sound...you should easaly find one in your budget....like all others use an amp
I also recommend Dean, got a 5 string Dean 6 or 7 years ago for $125 scratch and dent from MF. great for putzing around without an amp
I own a Dean 4 string and a Micheal Kelly Dragonfly frettless 5er. IME the size of the body means everything (the bigger the better) when talking about loudness and tone. NONE of them will project enough to be heard in a jam session so expect to need an amp, but as a practice bass or used on a quiet stage (like at my church) with an amp they are great.
EVERY time I bring out the Frettless Dragonfly I get complements. Sweet tone.
EVERY time I bring out the Frettless Dragonfly I get complements. Sweet tone.
Ibanez is coming out with a 25" scale acoustic. Two models are probably going to hit the 600 usd range, but there is one cheaper model I'd expect to hit around 300-400 that is also 25" scale.
These are the more expensive versions, there is one cheaper one that is fretted.
Ibanez also has a 32" scale acoustic bass (PCBE12MH) for like 250 bucks. Ibanez products are some of the best value for the buck there is.
Well... ...they exist, but not cheap by any means. And even so, regardless of acoustic volume, eventually virtually everyone is going to hit a situation where it's necessary to plug in...
Mine too, it's certainly the prettiest ABG I own, and sounds quite nice, just not terribly loud acoustically. But would seem to fit OP's requirements, sure.
Constant refrain..."NO abg is loud enough to be heard". Well, no small cheap ones, anyway. Acoustic isn't like electric...you can NOT get good and cheap, or small. If you want an abg that works as an abg (unplugged) in ensemble or jam, expect to pay a couple thousand...Earthwood, Martin, Taylor-Klein, Emerald, old Guilds, etc. And look for the biggest body out there, and shut up about the ergonomics. You sound like someone who wants to play tuba, but it has to weigh 2 pounds and fit in the glove compartment.
If you intend to plug in, fine, ignore the acoustic volume and look at the electronics. Then you can get loud and cheap and comfy. But please quit hunting for cordless drills in the fruit section. Bananas aren't meant to drill very well, stop criticizing them for it.
If you intend to plug in, fine, ignore the acoustic volume and look at the electronics. Then you can get loud and cheap and comfy. But please quit hunting for cordless drills in the fruit section. Bananas aren't meant to drill very well, stop criticizing them for it.
The Epiphone El Capitan and Dean Exotica are both good choices. I’ve tried and really liked both. I own an El Capitan and I can’t say enough good things about it’s tone.
There’s also the new Microbass from Gold Tone (of banjo and roots instrument fame) that looks promising since it can be strung with either those godawful rubber or a custom set of LaBella phosphor-bronze strings. They do solidbody and acoustic versions. I haven’t tried one personally yet. So take this as a heads up for something to check out rather than a recommendation.
There’s also the new Microbass from Gold Tone (of banjo and roots instrument fame) that looks promising since it can be strung with either those godawful rubber or a custom set of LaBella phosphor-bronze strings. They do solidbody and acoustic versions. I haven’t tried one personally yet. So take this as a heads up for something to check out rather than a recommendation.
I played one at s local shop. It had just come in from an auction. Was not prepped or setup. If I recall correctly it might have even been fretless. It sounded decent, but was owned by a heavy smoker. The layers of nicotine were quite impressive. Between that and all the filigree, it was a no-go. Even if I cleaned it all up I woulda felt like Gene Autry playing it. Wouldn’t I have been quite the dandy...
i also have a Fender BG-32 i found used ... $300 ish , mine is older -2002 - made in Korea .. ! mine measures a 30" scale ... it's not as long as the Deans ..
not that loud with the current tapewounds , but a cool thumpy sound ...
i also ordered a new set of GHS Pressurewound Bronze ( BSO of course ) so if i need more volume , without the usual hardness of Bronze , i hope these will be a good alternative ... when/if needed .?!
not that loud with the current tapewounds , but a cool thumpy sound ...
i also ordered a new set of GHS Pressurewound Bronze ( BSO of course ) so if i need more volume , without the usual hardness of Bronze , i hope these will be a good alternative ... when/if needed .?!
I play almost exclusively with acoustic guitarists and quickly got over that concern. I decided that ease of playing plus a much nicer sound was more important to me than looking like I was playing an acoustic bass.
The only time I'd bother playing one live is if I was going for a real thumpy upright sound in a bluegrass or similar setting.
Not sure on whats a LOT but I do love my Spector Timbre I got it here in the Classifieds used...
The thing is, my acoustic bass sounds great…never played a solid-body bass that could produce the exact same tone. For 80% of our music, all originals, I'm just fine with my G&L L2000 or SB-2, but for an acoustic setting, my Exotica not only looks good but sounds good, and I'm perfectly comfortable playing it for three songs, of course.
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Ha, I owned a Dragonfly for about a year....I totally felt fancy. A bit too fancy. Nice bass though.
DEAN, but personally I'd stay away from the Playmate and EAB and EABC Dean ABG models (ones with white string pegs). No offense, but they're made from cheaper materials than the Performers and Exoticas. That's just me.
Anyone of these though...
My Dean ABG's
1. Dean Exotica Quilt Ash (2013) A/E w/Aphex® Gloss Natural 34-inch bought new
2. Dean Exotica Quilt Ash (2015) A/E w/Aphex® Gloss Trans Black Fretless 34-inch bought new
3. Dean Performer A/E Dean EQ-7545 Preamp Satin Natural solid top Spruce/Mahogany 32-inch bought used (1999)
4. Dean Exotica Radiant A/E Shadow P7 Preamp GN solid top Spruce/Mahogany 32-inch (2003) bought used
All actual pictures of my basses
Anyone of these though...
My Dean ABG's
1. Dean Exotica Quilt Ash (2013) A/E w/Aphex® Gloss Natural 34-inch bought new
2. Dean Exotica Quilt Ash (2015) A/E w/Aphex® Gloss Trans Black Fretless 34-inch bought new
3. Dean Performer A/E Dean EQ-7545 Preamp Satin Natural solid top Spruce/Mahogany 32-inch bought used (1999)
4. Dean Exotica Radiant A/E Shadow P7 Preamp GN solid top Spruce/Mahogany 32-inch (2003) bought used
All actual pictures of my basses
