GASing for an acoustic bass guitar

I've always had luck with any decent low tension non-bronze strings on acoustics. I usually use Ernie Ball .45-.100 with no problems. Just don't use stainless steel high tension ones. Good luck.

 

I use a Tacoma Thunderchief, and I use it for coffee shops, jams, and around the house playing with my roommate, as well as playing at parties, etc. I almost never plug it in.

Make sure you play with an acoustic guitar before buying, to check the volume levels. In my experience, the Tacoma and the Taylor are the only ones that are even close to keeping up, and it's still a battle.

I use labella nylon tapewounds on my bass.

 

I bought a rather inexpensive Stagg acoustic/electric. I don't plug it in much, but it's great for playing unplugged with my acoustic guitar playing friends. Mine came with stainless steel strings, I have to adapt my style a bit to play loud enough to hear it myself, but from talking to other people who listen in they say that they can hear me just fine.

I actually think it has helped my playing overall, forcing me to play "crisply" I guess would be the best way to put it. Having a strong attack that is also clear.

It's great for sitting around the campfire and jamming, and I do that a lot so it was worthwhile for me.

I think flatwounds are just going to make your playing sound like a dull thud. (ETA: But give it a try if you are just going to play through an amp, it might get you closer to an upright tone, but as you already know, it won't get you all the way there. )

 

My tacoma with the nylon tapewounds, acoustically, is one of my favorite bass tones, period. It's very responsive to touch, and can be really mellow and thuddy, but suprisingly, can also be very growly and "rock and roll." I've been thinking about trying to mic it and use it in a rock recording.

 

If you're planning on playing through an amp all the time, look into the Godin acoustic electrics. Fantastic for the money, great acoustic sound through an amp.

 

These:

 

I have (and LOVE) this one.
A Martin 00C-16GTAE

 

I feel your pain! I've been gasing for an Alien Acoustic for quite some time now. Hopefully by the end of next month I'll have one!



The Victor Bailey is pretty damn good. I've played a couple of them and liked them alot. Their tone plugged in is the real selling point.

Peace!

 

I just recently bought an old Yamaha ABG. I bought partly because it was such a unique piece, but it also fits in well when I'm jamming with some folk and bluegrass guys I play with. It isn't loud enough to play with more than one guitar and since I put TI Jazz Flats on it it's even quieter. Tapewounds would be great. I have them on my Rob Allen MB2 and they sing. BTW the Rob Allens are great semi-acoustics. They're pricey, but the sound and playability beats just about everything out there. I use mine in most contexts and can get anything ranging from Upright to Pbass to JBass tones out of it based on where I pick.

 

Great for plugging in, great for rocking out solo, great for small jams.

my Ibanez has a pretty nice Preamp: Shape, phase button, 3 band EQ, built in tuner.

It's nice to get that acoustic-esque tone.

 

If you can play the Tacoma (it'll make a man out of you, that's for sure) and you can afford one, I highly recommend one! It's my favorite sounding ABG, and some of the electronic models sound AWESOME. I picked mine up for 600 used here on TB, and that's not so bad. Expect around 950 new.

If you're going to be playing plugged in all the time, the Victor Bailey is nice (it has GREAT electronics), but if you're going to be doing any unplugged playing at all, I think you'll find it's too quiet, and has zero low end. It was definitely not satisfactory for me. ALWAYS bring an acoustic guitar player along when testing these out. It's really easy to convince yourself it's loud enough, because it's right against your chest, and you forget how loud acoustic guitars are.

Per above, Rob Allens DO kick some serious tail. Especially the fretlesses. I wish I could afford to have one.

 

I have a Talkamine Jasmine for about 6 years now and have rarely if ever used it on a gig, in fact I can only remember using it on a gig once and it didnt go smoothly.

I do use flats on it, but get little volume when playing with other acoustic guitars.

I use it mainly for farting around in the woods or at the beach, but i can say with confidence that it is the most useless instrument i have ever owned. id sell it but ive cracked it a couple of times and dont think id get anything for it.

get one if you like, but get a thunderchief if anything, so far they are the only worthwhile ones, volume wise that ive come across.

 

The Godin is very nice!!! I attended a high school jazz festival a few years ago where the bassist alternated between an upright and a Godin acoustic/electric fretless. This girl played and sounded AWESOME!!! The Carvin AC40/50 fretless basses are at the top of my list, followed by the Godin.


A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste!

 

I don't mean to dis on the Victor Bailey, but try it out with an acoustic guitar player. Maybe it'll work for you, if you play with people with a lighter touch. I play with flat pickers playing on dreadnoughts. They sound really great, plugged in. Plus, that little logo victor on the headstock is awesome.

Try a tacoma. You'll dig it, I promise.

If I'm plugging in, I'll usually play my fretless or my p-bass. My acoustic? meh. It's really hard to play comparatively.

 

I loved the Tacoma and Taylors I tried, but went with a much cheaper Michael Kelly dragonfly and I have to admit, I love it. I've used in on many gigs and open mics and it always gets attention for the big round sound from other musicians. LIke any abg I tried out live, if you are standing directly in front of a loud monitor or speaker it may feedback. I love everything about it except the overdone inlay on the neck which is a bit flashy for me.

I pick that bass up all the time around the house and I think it made me a better player.

 

If you're going to get an acoustic bass, I suggest putting flatwounds on it and fingerpicking--otherwise it'll just sound like a rubber band. Listen to "Blister in the Sun" by the Violent Femmes for an example of dreadful, unforgivably bad acoustic bass tone.