I'm looking for a bass for acoustic settings, but mostly just for hobby playing, so I don't really want to spend a lot on a super nice one. That said, I don't really want a super super cheap one either. What are some good brands for acoustic bass guitars?
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Good, Cheap Acoustic Bass Guitar
- Thread starter rarbass
- Start date
May as well start with this thread: Recommendations for an acoustic bass guitar for campfire jams
Pretty much all been said in there already.
Pretty much all been said in there already.
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I'll just add this - this is definitely a category where the price range you can afford makes a huge difference in the quality of the results you get. The louder you need it to be, the more it'll cost you, and the bigger the box will be. You need to decide where you are on the price / volume curve, basically.
Also, it will depend largely on what you mean by "acoustic settings." As you'll see from the thread linked by @bholder -- and at least a dozen others just like it over the last few years -- most ABG's, in most settings with other instruments, simply are not loud enough to be heard clearly without amplification. What kinds of "acoustic settings" did you have in mind?
I pretty much agree with bh, he who will have an acoustic bass for all seasons (where's the banjo bass, b?), but I would like to point out that the Dean Playmate and EAB, two of the cheapest production basses out there, also have womba-big bodies.
I don't have a pic of it, but I have a fretless lefty Gold Tone banjo bass converted to righty.
Pics coming shortly...Edit, here you go, one bass banjo, stat!
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I understand that those are considered the loudest available in that price range, so it makes sense they'd be big. There are few exceptions to the correlation. I'll say the Martin B1 sure gives a good run at being louder than the physical volume of the body would suggest, but then, that's not an inexpensive instrument, either.
The first question has to be how it will be used. If it has to be totally acoustic, unplugged...or can it plug in? What instruments will you be playing behind, and how big is the venue?
If it's going to be completely unplugged, and played with more than one softly played guitar, you can NOT use a low cost abg. Even the Deans just don't have the volume. If you get to use an amp, you have a lot of options.
BTW...would it make sense for there to be some way to consolidate all of the threads that deal with abgs? We seem to be repeating ourselves even more than the Pbass threads.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/bass/dean-eab-acoustic-electric-bass?rNtt=dean eab&index=1
It's cheap. It's big. Put some stainless steel strings on it, and it is loud.
It's cheap. It's big. Put some stainless steel strings on it, and it is loud.
Having worked at a store that carried Martin, Taylor, Fender, Washburn, Ibanez, etc. here is my humble opinion.
There isn't a good enough and loud enoug ABG at all.
I admit I ha e not played one of the new carbon fiber ones. But I ha e played a dozen kinds or more that varied greatly in price. NONE of them would survive a campfire jam and keep up with even one acoustic guitar, much less multiple acoustics, a tambourine and vocals.
There isn't a good enough and loud enoug ABG at all.
I admit I ha e not played one of the new carbon fiber ones. But I ha e played a dozen kinds or more that varied greatly in price. NONE of them would survive a campfire jam and keep up with even one acoustic guitar, much less multiple acoustics, a tambourine and vocals.
This is exactly what I found to be the case.
As mentioned in previous threads I gave up on the ABG and made my own travel bass by butchering a short scale electric. This, with a battery powered Roland Cube Street, works great for around a campfire or at a backyard BBQ jam with a couple of acoustic guitars and vocals. As an added bonus it takes up much less room than the ABG in a hard case.
Oh my goodness. We're here again?
I think "what's a good cheep ABG" has replaced "what's a good bass for metal" threads.
OP: you can have good or cheap, but you can't have both. Pick one, and start over.
I think "what's a good cheep ABG" has replaced "what's a good bass for metal" threads.
OP: you can have good or cheap, but you can't have both. Pick one, and start over.
Dean. Stated before, stated above. Reasonable quality, large body, good volume. Very inexpensive.
This thread happens every year when the weather gets nice and people start thinking about camping.
Time for somebody to build a folding neck ABG with a secret mini amp built into the body where the soundhole should be. It would:
1) look acoustic
2) sound loud enough
3) silence all the TB curmudgeons
Time for somebody to build a folding neck ABG with a secret mini amp built into the body where the soundhole should be. It would:
1) look acoustic
2) sound loud enough
3) silence all the TB curmudgeons
Just sold my ABG on ebay tonight. Paid around $550 (without a case) for it about 4 years ago. Only got $290 for it (with the case) . Oh well....... It was my first bass and helped get me started so it was money well spent.
I have an Dean EAB C5. The cheap construction of mine has led me to upgrade the tuners, the preamp, and strings to an investment ($200.00+) that far exceeded my original cost ($100.00). The output when not plugged in reaches a level that can keep up with 2 guitars, if the guitars are not pushed to hard. More than that, you will need a small amp. just to keep the sound level up loud enough to be heard. If all musicians and singers can manage their sound levels within the group it can be rewarding. It also helps to spread out the sound with a percussionist (bongos or congas work well) that you can work with and has good control. I do have problems with enthusiastic singers and guitar players who have a hard time adjusting their sound levels sometimes.
