Looking for a good acoustic bass. It will be mainly for practice but I wanna know what are some good options around 200 bucks?
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Good Acoustic Bass around $200?
- Thread starter Bass_Nishi
- Start date
Don't expect much for that price. Used Deans show up all the time for less than that. They aren't awful. I think you can find them new for around $200. http://www.musiciansfriend.com/bass/dean-eab-acoustic-electric-bass
BassHappy
Supporting Member
Fender T-Bucket. I LOVE mine. If you look around you may be able to score one for $279-$299. Sounds like a little more than you want to spend, but it's quality goods.
FENDER T-BUCKET REVIEW BY ED FRIEDLAND
Fender’s new T-Bucket Bass is a small-bodied entrant to the genre, with tasteful hot rod-inspired graphics and electronics by Fishman. An unplugged Bucket won’t send you running for earplugs, but its smaller, Grand Concert-style laminated mahogany/ maple body works well for close-miking in the studio, and when you do plug it in, its diminutive profile also helps reject feedback. The 1.650” nut width gives the 32"-scale neck a comfortable feel, and the dual-action truss rod makes accurate adjustments easy and effective. The onboard preamp is Fishman’s Isys III system, with volume, bass, mid, and treble controls, as well as a built-in tuner/mute function. The EQ is flexible enough that you’ll only have to twist a knob to go from bright grind to warm, upright-like thump.
I took the T-Bucket out for several acoustic-oriented gigs and was pleasantly surprised at how well it fulfilled the bass function, and how easy it was to play. On a Django-esque guitar trio gig, rolling off the highs, bumping up the lows, and plucking by the fingerboard gave me a texture that came close to an upright tone—the medium scale length gives the bass just enough tubby-ness to help simulate the doghouse. (A set of nylon tapewound strings would have nailed it.) On an acoustic singer-songwriter gig, I played with more treble; the zing of the factory-supplied Fender Phosphor Bronze strings blended nicely with the acoustic guitar, while still supplying a welldefined bottom in support.
To be honest, I am not usually a fan of acoustic bass guitars. I’ve found only a few that I enjoyed playing, and I wouldn’t take most ABG’s to a real-world gig. But the T-Bucket is an exception: A modest, laminated acoustic instrument whose easy playability, familiar neck, and flexible electronics go a long way toward making this hot rod ready to race.
FENDER SPECS
Model Name: T-Bucket™ Bass E, Rosewood Fingerboard, 3-Color Sunburst, Flame Maple
Model Number: 0968081000
Series: Acoustic Bass Guitars
Color: 3-Color Sunburst
Body Material: Flame Maple Top with Laminated Mahogany Back and Sides
Body Finish: Gloss Polyurethane
Body Shape: Grand Concert
Bracing: Quartersawn Scalloped "X"
Rosette: T-Bucket Pinstriped
Body Binding: Multiple
Body Back: Laminated Mahogany
Body Sides: Laminated Mahogany
Body Top: Laminated Flame Maple
Neck Material: Mahogany
Neck Finish: Gloss
Neck Shape: "C" Shape
Neck Binding: Ivory
Scale Length: 32" (813 mm)
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Fingerboard Radius: 11.81" (300 mm)
Number of Frets: 22
String Nut: Graph Tech® NuBone™
Nut Width: 1.650" (42 mm)
Position Inlays: Dot
Electronic Controls: Built-In Chromatic Tuner with On/Off Switch, Volume, Bass, Mid, Treble
Special Electronics: Fishman® Isys III System with Active Onboard Preamp and Tuner
Bridge: Rosewood with Compensated Graph Tech® Nubone™ Saddle
Hardware Finish: Chrome
Pickguard: None
Strings: Fender® Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Bass 7060, (.045-.095 Gauges)
Unique Features: Holographic T-Bucket rosette, 12th-fret "F" logo, "C"-shaped mahogany neck, forward mounted strap button, end-pin jack, Graph Tech NuBone™ nut and saddle, 3-Color Sunburst flame maple top, 32" medium scale
Good luck, whatever direction you decide to go.
BassHappy
FENDER T-BUCKET REVIEW BY ED FRIEDLAND
Fender’s new T-Bucket Bass is a small-bodied entrant to the genre, with tasteful hot rod-inspired graphics and electronics by Fishman. An unplugged Bucket won’t send you running for earplugs, but its smaller, Grand Concert-style laminated mahogany/ maple body works well for close-miking in the studio, and when you do plug it in, its diminutive profile also helps reject feedback. The 1.650” nut width gives the 32"-scale neck a comfortable feel, and the dual-action truss rod makes accurate adjustments easy and effective. The onboard preamp is Fishman’s Isys III system, with volume, bass, mid, and treble controls, as well as a built-in tuner/mute function. The EQ is flexible enough that you’ll only have to twist a knob to go from bright grind to warm, upright-like thump.
I took the T-Bucket out for several acoustic-oriented gigs and was pleasantly surprised at how well it fulfilled the bass function, and how easy it was to play. On a Django-esque guitar trio gig, rolling off the highs, bumping up the lows, and plucking by the fingerboard gave me a texture that came close to an upright tone—the medium scale length gives the bass just enough tubby-ness to help simulate the doghouse. (A set of nylon tapewound strings would have nailed it.) On an acoustic singer-songwriter gig, I played with more treble; the zing of the factory-supplied Fender Phosphor Bronze strings blended nicely with the acoustic guitar, while still supplying a welldefined bottom in support.
To be honest, I am not usually a fan of acoustic bass guitars. I’ve found only a few that I enjoyed playing, and I wouldn’t take most ABG’s to a real-world gig. But the T-Bucket is an exception: A modest, laminated acoustic instrument whose easy playability, familiar neck, and flexible electronics go a long way toward making this hot rod ready to race.
FENDER SPECS
Model Name: T-Bucket™ Bass E, Rosewood Fingerboard, 3-Color Sunburst, Flame Maple
Model Number: 0968081000
Series: Acoustic Bass Guitars
Color: 3-Color Sunburst
Body Material: Flame Maple Top with Laminated Mahogany Back and Sides
Body Finish: Gloss Polyurethane
Body Shape: Grand Concert
Bracing: Quartersawn Scalloped "X"
Rosette: T-Bucket Pinstriped
Body Binding: Multiple
Body Back: Laminated Mahogany
Body Sides: Laminated Mahogany
Body Top: Laminated Flame Maple
Neck Material: Mahogany
Neck Finish: Gloss
Neck Shape: "C" Shape
Neck Binding: Ivory
Scale Length: 32" (813 mm)
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Fingerboard Radius: 11.81" (300 mm)
Number of Frets: 22
String Nut: Graph Tech® NuBone™
Nut Width: 1.650" (42 mm)
Position Inlays: Dot
Electronic Controls: Built-In Chromatic Tuner with On/Off Switch, Volume, Bass, Mid, Treble
Special Electronics: Fishman® Isys III System with Active Onboard Preamp and Tuner
Bridge: Rosewood with Compensated Graph Tech® Nubone™ Saddle
Hardware Finish: Chrome
Pickguard: None
Strings: Fender® Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Bass 7060, (.045-.095 Gauges)
Unique Features: Holographic T-Bucket rosette, 12th-fret "F" logo, "C"-shaped mahogany neck, forward mounted strap button, end-pin jack, Graph Tech NuBone™ nut and saddle, 3-Color Sunburst flame maple top, 32" medium scale
Good luck, whatever direction you decide to go.
BassHappy
Eko Florence
what follows is just a (natural) example
http://basschat.co.uk/topic/211677-eko-florence-acoustic-reduced-to-l175-now-l160/
mine is black and there's a (slightly) sunburst version too
The link I enclosed shows one with its stock bronze strings, which I don't like, while regular steels are just too bright for it. I suggest coated strings as perfect compromise for these kinda instruments.
Cheers,
Wallace
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I recently bought a Dean Exotica ($399) for $215…brand new at Guitar Center...there's two on ebay right now, new, for $218.99 in black…beautiful guitar. Great deal since ten other places are selling the same bass for $400. Hey, I might buy one!
Nice bass for playing out in small venues like coffee houses, etc. One of the best preamps you can get in an acoustic bass.
You're going to see a few "can't hear it if you're playing with someone strumming an acoustic" responses...but just check out a this youtube "Unplugged" video. Yeah, an acoustic bass amplified...what a strange idea!
Alice in chains - "Would?"
Unplugged [HD]
Seriously though, if you just want one for practice,
they're great, and if you want to play with a few friends at a backyard barbecue or something similar, just get yourself a battery powered Hog 30 or Roland Microcube…either one will do the job.
I have my Dean EABC on craigslist for $150…with a 15 watt Behringer amp and V-tone. Too bad you aren't local.
Nice bass for playing out in small venues like coffee houses, etc. One of the best preamps you can get in an acoustic bass.
You're going to see a few "can't hear it if you're playing with someone strumming an acoustic" responses...but just check out a this youtube "Unplugged" video. Yeah, an acoustic bass amplified...what a strange idea!
Alice in chains - "Would?"
Unplugged [HD]
Seriously though, if you just want one for practice,
they're great, and if you want to play with a few friends at a backyard barbecue or something similar, just get yourself a battery powered Hog 30 or Roland Microcube…either one will do the job.
I have my Dean EABC on craigslist for $150…with a 15 watt Behringer amp and V-tone. Too bad you aren't local.
Last edited:
- Apr 2, 2014
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- Endorsing Artist: Conklin Basses, Ashdown Amplifiers, Morley Pedals
Ibanez AEB10. Its great unplugged or plugged in. Theres a used one on GC's website for $199. A new brown burst one is on sale for $299, i think til the end of the month.
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I bought an Ibanez AEB5e when I decided to start playing bass again. I bought it new for $200 at guitar center figuring that if I decided I didn't want to pick up bass again I wouldn't be out on a ton of money.
Sounds good, comfortable, decent QC, an onboard tuner, and not bad to look at. What's not to like?
Picking up bass again was the best decision I made in a long time and the AEB5 kept it fun and moved me on to bigger and better things.
Sounds good, comfortable, decent QC, an onboard tuner, and not bad to look at. What's not to like?
Picking up bass again was the best decision I made in a long time and the AEB5 kept it fun and moved me on to bigger and better things.
You can't get a good electric bass at that price, let alone a good acoustic.
Sorry.
