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Forty-Thirty

Forty-Thirty

Guest
Feb 22, 2015
399
1,208
Arkansas
#1
Went to the guitar store today to get my Squier Jag adjusted (can't pick it back up until Thursday, and I'm having major withdrawals!). I ended up playing around with a few acoustic basses. I had never played one before, and I fell IN LOVE with Invalid Link Removed. I'm just beside myself I love it so much.

So do I need an acoustic bass? Is it worth the purchase? (Not that I have $400 right now; it'd have to be something I save for.)

I sort of feel like since I'm a beginner, I'm not worthy of having two basses... Like I should be more proficient in order to justify having more than one. I would sort of feel like a poser if I owned multiple basses but wasn't that good yet. Is that weird of me? But this one is different. It's acoustic. So it's really a totally different instrument, right? Please tell me why I should buy this. I know you'll help me out. We're all enablers here.

Here she is up close...

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It's so gorgeous it makes my heart hurt. The photo does not do it justice.
 
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#4
Finding a bass you really love does not happen everyday. I have played hundreds, very few stood out for me. Go back, play it again, if it's the one you should put it on layaway.

As for needing an acoustic, as long as you are playing alone they are great. Don't expect to keep up with an acoustic guitar that is digging in. I have never been able to use one for anything other than practice. All the ones I have played were set up terribly. Never could get one to set up right. There are gems out there. Maybe this is the one for you.
 
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#5
If you like it, and you want it, buy one when you can afford it - and sort out the angst later.

There's nothing wrong with having two (or more) instruments. Switching back and forth can be beneficial to your learning experience. Different sound, different feel, possible different playing technique to fit the instrument - it's all good. And it expands your range of experiences and skills.

Once nice thing is that the Ibanez sounds very different than your Jag. So it's not like you own a Precision and want to get another Precision. That 'electro-acoustic' will get you a whole additional and distinct palette of tones to work with. That's what I'd call "buying smart."

You're a good person. Stop being so hard on yourself. If you want one - get one. It's only rock & roll. :thumbsup:

(P.S. Good choice for an avatar. Daria rules!)
 
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#6
The friend that I was with said that he too had had trouble being heard over an acoustic guitar on the acoustic bass. Surely there's a way to make it work! I would have a lot of fun just practicing on it, but I think my husband would veto the idea of me buying a $400 instrument that is really only good for playing at home.

In other news, I told him about it when I got home and he says "saving for a dishwasher is our first priority right now." But, see, I could just serenade him with my beautiful new bass while he hand washes the dishes. I think that's a wonderful idea. ;)
 
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#9
Forty-Thirty said:
The friend that I was with said that he too had had trouble being heard over an acoustic guitar on the acoustic bass. Surely there's a way to make it work!
Click to expand...

There is. Just plug it in. Once you do that it can rattle your windows and put the fear of the lord into your pets.


Forty-Thirty said:
In other news, I told him about it when I got home and he says "saving for a dishwasher is our first priority right now." But, see, I could just serenade him with my beautiful new bass while he hand washes the dishes. I think that's a wonderful idea. ;)
Click to expand...

That would work for me. We need a new dishwasher. But guess what? My blues-playing GF recently got offered a terrific deal on a very nice Strat. Short version: we got her the Strat (which makes it her third) and we continue taking turns handwashing the dishes. Maybe in October we'll finally get that new dishwasher. And we're both good with that. :laugh:
 
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#11
40Hz said:
rattle your windows and put the fear of the lord into your pets.
Click to expand...

Haha. This poor boy right here (Fredegar "Fatty" Bolger) sees me open my case and, in true hobbit fashion, runs for the hills and doesn't emerge from whatever crevice he's crawled into until after he's sure it's safe. :)

(Note: he does not normally wear a bow tie. This was a little Christmas collar we bought him and thought he looked quite dapper.)
 

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#12
My signature is the big give-away of my story, but here goes; I started playing bass less than a year ago after playing guitar for almost 50 years. I ordered my first bass, an acoustic, and while waiting for it, I ordered a second custom acoustic fretless, so before I even had one in my hands, I "owned" two.

After the first one arrived and while waiting for the custom to be delivered, I converted a small solid body guitar into a bass. So after about 3 months of playing, I had three basses, but wait, after the custom arrived, I ordered a custom solid body bass Telecaster guitar style, then while roaming the internet, I ran across a couple of poly string solid bodies that I immediately knew I would modify. Just last Friday I ordered another acoustic u-bass, but when it arrived today, the preamp or pickup was DOA, so I immediately returned it for refund.

So now I have six basses and don't feel one bit of guilt. Granted I'm not married or have children so I don't have anyone to answer to, but I say do it. If anything, in case your main one needs repair, you have another to fall back on.
 
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#13
Forty-Thirty said:
The friend that I was with said that he too had had trouble being heard over an acoustic guitar on the acoustic bass. Surely there's a way to make it work! I would have a lot of fun just practicing on it, but I think my husband would veto the idea of me buying a $400 instrument that is really only good for playing at home.
Click to expand...
And there's the problem. Hardly any of them except the huge, very expensive ones will cut it all by themselves. A single acoustic guitar played enthusiastically will bury it, so an amp is almost always needed. Which kind of defeats the purpose. IMO/IME.
 
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#17
i find it's sometimes very handy to have an acoustic bass to practice on. yes, it's quiet (until you plug it in - then it's as loud as you need it to be), but you can play anywhere without amp or batteries. the back porch, the park, waiting outside school to pick up friends' kids... and it's so beautiful to you, too. our local GCs will let you pay for stuff over 2 payments - 3 if you make arrangements, so maybe your will, too and you can get 10% to 15% off from GC if you trade in pretty much any piece of musical gear including smaller, crappy pieces.

my husband doesn't complain when i practice, and if i'm not working on a particular exercise, he often will pull out one of his guitars, plug it in and we'll have a quiet jam.

btw, i love daria!
 
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