Electric bass for acoustic set?

[blahblahblake]

I don't own an acoustic bass but have been approached about doing an acoustic set. Would it be sensible sensible for me to go at this with my p-bass or are there too many sound issues to deal with? I'm sure plenty of TBers have experienced this plight before. Any suggestions (other than picking up an acoustic bass)?

 

[Thankful birds]

Take a p bass. You'll have to amplify an acoustic bas to be heard anyway so no harm no foul.

 

[jumbosilverette]

I play electric over acoustic musicians all the time and it works for them.

 

[dwjazz54]

If YOU really want to, go get an acoustic bass guitar. But, in my experience, a nice warm sounding electric fits just fine.
Whenever I'm playing an acoustic set, I play MUCH more laid back, I pluck closer to the neck than I usually do, and on my Jazz basses I'll favor the neck pickup and roll the tone down. Works like a charm.
In my experience, I've never been able to justify for myself the purchase of an acoustic bass guitar (no matter how many times I try). They seem like one-trick ponies that need to be plugged in anyway to be any kind of useful, and if I feel like my Jazzes (or my fretless) can cover just about anything I want, why would I get anything else?
Again, just my opinion.

 

[blahblahblake]

I was hoping for these types of replies. Thanks for the confirmation guys. I appreciate the suggestions. I assumed I would have to pay special attention to what kind of tone I dial in, but I figured that an electric would fit the bill.

 

[Bardley]

I've played my P with flats for a few acoustic gigs. Used a small amp and, as said above, tended to play a little closer to the neck for a fuller sound. Just be laid back and have fun.

 

[Floridabwoy]

I use an Ampeg ba115 (which i bought specifially for acoustic set's) and Fender P.

Works great. You don't want to be overly loud, so watch your level's. My guitar player uses a Fender Acoustisonic amp so it works great. Vocals and mic'd hand drum go thru the PA.

 

[MNAirHead]

Only reason I take an upright or acoustic fretless is for the different visual vibe.

IF out shopping.. I'd consider an ashbory before acoustic bass (I own 2 acoustics)

 

[walterw]

if they made an acoustic bass guitar that actually sounded "acoustic" when plugged in, rather than like a string-y piezo pickup, then i might disagree with everyone else.

as it is, unless you're cool enough to actually use an upright, a regular bass with the tone mellowed out is probably just as good.

 

[honestjohnny]

Check out the Ashbory or Kala U-Bass at roadtoadmusic.com for something different.

 

[testing1two]

If your P-bass doesn't have flatwounds on it, this would be a good opportunity to try them.

 

[Blake Bass]

anything made by Rob Allen will do the job..I use a Mouse 30 fretless for jazz /acoustic gigs..it's awesome.

 

[rob2966]

anything made by Rob Allen will do the job..I use a Mouse 30 fretless for jazz /acoustic gigs..it's awesome.

+1, I use my MB-2 fretless for all my "acoustic-y" gigs.

Later
Rob

 

[Bofee]

Just because the guitar (or whatever) is acoustic doesn't mean the bass has to be sugar free. Listen to some acoustic Hot Tuna for a differnet take on where the bass fits in. My $.02.

 

[Bofee]

A sample of the above:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBks7V3SzJo&feature=fvw

 

[Gintaras]

if they made an acoustic bass guitar that actually sounded "acoustic" when plugged in, rather than like a string-y piezo pickup, then i might disagree with everyone else.

I have an Epiphone El Capitan that the piezo was removed and replaced with a K&K Pure pickup and use the K&K outboard pre. It basically reproduces the acoustic sound. Beware...if your acoustic sounds bad then the K&K's won't help.

 

[sedgwick1489]

Carvin AC40 / AC50.

 

[jayen_aitch]

Heh, let us know if anyone comes up afterwards to tell you that you "cheated" for playing an electric bass.

Last time we played acoustic, one of my bandmates also pulled out a stylophone, so at least that diverted the attention away from me.

 

[gareth dunster]

I play the P-bass with acoustic guitars and for quiet upright tones I play with my first two fingers together to give a fuller thuddy pull and rest my thumb on the fingerboard.
With flatwounds this gives a pretty good deep double bass like sound, though of course it doesn't have the total loveliness of a double bass.
I also found a bit of damping on the bridge( I use a rolled up cotton drinks coaster) cuts down on the sustain and sounds good.

 

[bergy9650]

try making the distance between pups and strings bigger it will fit right in