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good acoustic basses? a myth?

basstotheface

basstotheface

Jun 19, 2009
416
8
29
Galveston,TX/St.Pete,FL
#1
I'm in the market for an acoustic bass. want a good sound, acoustic/electric would be nice but not a necessity, $0-$1000, doesn't have to be too loud not gonna play in gigs just loud enough for when i'm playing with friends that are using acoustic guitars so that i'm heard. if you need more detail just ask questions, free to answer.
 
#3
The Michael Kelly ABG's are great for the money. Your price range would include a used Tacoma Thunderchief. But my favorite of the genre are made by Boulder Creek guitars. They have the most volume and best tone of the bunch.
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But let's face it, none of these will keep up with more than a pair of acoustic guitars, and even then you may find yourself digging in fairly hard.
 
#9
The short of it is... ABG's are loud enough to be played unplugged when it's you or someone else singing, and probably 1 acoustic guitar who's got a gentle touch. After that... many people singing around a campfire with guitar(s) mandolin, banjo, etc... forget it. The ABG will get totally lost volume wise.

But... if you're okay with plugging it in, it's very possible (likely even) that you'll get a type of tone that is very hard to get any other way, and some of us think that tone sounds great. Not just something "trying" to sound like an upright... it's own unique sound. I happen to love it.

Now go do a search and you'll see that this has been discussed to death :D
 
#12
Definitely false expectations and user error. Try to get decent volume with low action and a light touch and you'll be sorely disappointed.
The jumbo body ABG's will be more likely to produce a bigger sound, Tacoma, Olympia, Dean, Takamine... I'd love to try the Boulder Creek fretless.
 
#16
jallenbass said:
Mine cost $760. I use it to play along with my son playing trumpet and it's fine. I'm not trying to project my sound to an audience though.
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that sounds good to i play in school band so i know you need a big sound to go over a trumpet. 760 sounds like a good price too. also i also had a thread on the Washburn AB10 Thinbody Acoustic Bass with little response. its a really good deal too its retail for 890 and i found one for about 400. anyone ever try these??????
 
#18
basstotheface said:
that sounds good to i play in school band so i know you need a big sound to go over a trumpet. 760 sounds like a good price too. also i also had a thread on the Washburn AB10 Thinbody Acoustic Bass with little response. its a really good deal too its retail for 890 and i found one for about 400. anyone ever try these??????
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We're only playing in a small practice room.

Don't have any experience with the Washburn.
 
#19
I played a bunch and got the M Kelly for cheap ($375) not wanting to risk $700-$1k or more on so-so. I hate the inlay on the neck, but plugged in it sounds great at open mics or even bigger shows and for writing or learning a song, acoustically it sits next to me on the stand for quick inspired moments in front of the pc. With anyone on guitar that is aggressive, it's going to get drowned and I've played the tacoma, same results.

With some acoustic guitars and even a little 10W practice amp it's a party.
 
#20
basstotheface said:
that sounds good to i play in school band so i know you need a big sound to go over a trumpet. 760 sounds like a good price too. also i also had a thread on the Washburn AB10 Thinbody Acoustic Bass with little response. its a really good deal too its retail for 890 and i found one for about 400. anyone ever try these??????
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You won't get that from an unplugged ABG.
 

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