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Guitar Scale Acoustic Basses

#2,042
I can't help myself. I build two more.

Acoust O’Sonic #1.jpg


Acoust O’Sonic #3.jpg


If you want to check out the Summer Build Off voting threads, they are stickied at the top of Luthiers Corner.

For these two GSAB, you can stuff the ballot box at: https://www.talkbass.com/threads/20...ssembly-build-category-voting-thread.1660700/ . ;) Voting closes tomorrow, so a few votes probably won't really make a difference.
 
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#2,043
2groggy said:
I can't help myself. I build two more.

View attachment 7044988

View attachment 7044989

If you want to check out the Summer Build Off voting threads, they are stickied at the top of Luthiers Corner.

For these two GSAB, you can stuff the ballot box at: https://www.talkbass.com/threads/20...ssembly-build-category-voting-thread.1660700/ . ;) Voting closes tomorrow, so a few votes probably won't really make a difference.
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Awesome. "I, wanna rock n roll all night acoustically, and party quietly every day."
 
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#2,046
Auer said:
Actually contemplating a fretless next, but it seems that will have to be at 32" or so.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...oustic-electric-bass-guitar-mahogany-sunburst

It's glossy, unfortunately.
Click to expand...

How handy are you? I have de-fretted a couple of basses for the cost of a few specialized hand tools, some epoxy filler and sandpaper.

The Ibanez PNB14 - or its identical twin from Cort - are not so expensive that I would worry about a few nicks on the fretboard from the process.
 
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#2,047
JohnMalay said:
How handy are you? I have de-fretted a couple of basses for the cost of a few specialized hand tools, some epoxy filler and sandpaper.

The Ibanez PNB14 - or its identical twin from Cort - are not so expensive that I would worry about a few nicks on the fretboard from the process.
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I'm "handy", I built Broadcast/theatre/corporate/live music sets most of my life but have no interest in luthier work.
DIY amps and cabs is as far as I go, I leave the instruments alone.
 
#2,048
Auer said:
Actually contemplating a fretless next, but it seems that will have to be at 32" or so.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...oustic-electric-bass-guitar-mahogany-sunburst

It's glossy, unfortunately.
Click to expand...
Try hunting for a used Ibanez AVN1BFE. They sounded absolutely stellar- far superior to any normal Ibanez acoustic bass.

I had the fretted version, and my decision to switch to the Guild was very challenging. I mostly did it because of the cosmetics, and having 2 more frets before the body. I still regret selling the Ibanez occasionally, and I almost never pine over “the ones that got away”.

 
#2,050
bassbrad said:
I ordered a Mitchell EZB in sunburst when it was recently a SDOTD and really like the little bugger. The first one had a defective pickup but MF was happy to send me a new one that was operating properly. I had intended to make it a piccolo bass but it sounds too good as a tiny bass.
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MF has them listed at U$50 cheaper than the PNE14, which, if possessing equivalent sound and construction, makes them a good alternative. The fact that you can get three different styles is good as well.
 
#2,052
Auer said:
FWIW, PNB14 made in Indonesia, Mitchell EZB made in China.
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I have been told that the 'Ibanez' is made by Cort and there is a 'Cort' model that is an exact copy of the PNB. Whatever, my little parlor model is my main axe in the "acoustic" band I play out with. At the moment we are gigging a half dozen times a month. I might want one of the EZB models as a backup. (Or not. I have a 30" scale Fender Kingman that is pretty good as well.)
 
#2,053
I've been having some back trouble lately, and that coincided with a new gig backing a youth Gospel choir- rehearsals and concerts all over the place, often at a distance and a few flights of stairs away from the parking lot.

So, I bought a Fender Rumble 100, modded the cab to tighten up the low mids, and have been using that with my electric slab. Gives me a nice, thick Ampeg-y sound that suits the fast walking bass parts in a lot of Gospel shouts. Surprisingly, the open low B punches through a lot better than I would expect from a small, 100 Watt combo.

It sounds great in that context, so I thought I'd try it for an acoustic set with the Guild.

Big mistake. The EQ that makes that amp work on electric, triggered resonances at relatively low levels, making some notes ring on unnaturally, as though they were right on the edge of feedback. It didn't matter how I adjusted the 4-band EQ on the Rumble, I couldn't dial that out.

I went back to my AudioKinesis 112 this weekend, which is pretty much an FRFR speaker, and bingo- the Guild sounded amazing again.

I'm wondering what everyone else uses for amplification with their GSAB's?
 
#2,054
steve_rolfeca said:
I've been having some back trouble lately, and that coincided with a new gig backing a youth Gospel choir- rehearsals and concerts all over the place, often at a distance and a few flights of stairs away from the parking lot.

So, I bought a Fender Rumble 100, modded the cab to tighten up the low mids, and have been using that with my electric slab. Gives me a nice, thick Ampeg-y sound that suits the fast walking bass parts in a lot of Gospel shouts. Surprisingly, the open low B punches through a lot better than I would expect from a small, 100 Watt combo.

It sounds great in that context, so I thought I'd try it for an acoustic set with the Guild.

Big mistake. The EQ that makes that amp work on electric, triggered resonances at relatively low levels, making some notes ring on unnaturally, as though they were right on the edge of feedback. It didn't matter how I adjusted the 4-band EQ on the Rumble, I couldn't dial that out.

I went back to my AudioKinesis 112 this weekend, which is pretty much an FRFR speaker, and bingo- the Guild sounded amazing again.

I'm wondering what everyone else uses for amplification with their GSAB's?
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Direct into the PA, which goes out to various powered speakers depending on the size of the gig: Bose L1, JBL EONs, etc.
 
#2,055
Just received a Mitchell EZB Acoustic-Electric Mini-Bass. I needed a backup for my PBN-E, they were on special at GC and I had $200 burning in my pocket from some holiday gigs. I got the one with the natural spruce top. Sounds a bit brighter than the Ibanez but the strings are brand new. The mini-dreadnaught (torpedo boat?) size body gives you 3 extra frets up the neck. They weigh about the same and both run on a 9-volt, with 2-band EQ and tuner.

We sometimes pare down the 5-pc to 3-pc for some pub gigs with lower budgets and now we can present a Kingston Trio-like array of identical spruce tops. Very 60s vibe... hmn.

Mitchell EZB Acoustic-Electric Mini-Bass | Mitchell Guitars
 
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#2,058
JohnMalay said:
I think most of these GSL basses use the D'Addario metal-clad nylons.
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Exactly.

They’ve been around long enough, that there are a number of other options now. I prefer La Bella CB-40BE’s, which are cheaper and have a little more tension. I believe others have had good results with the new Aquila copper spirals, and Magma and other classical string makers offer similar strings in this string length.

I’ve had to very gently open up the holes in the tuner shaft for the E string on my GSAB’s, because of the slightly larger gauge of the La Bella’s. if you’re not good with tools, of have a history of breaking things, you might want to hand that job off to a good tech.

Strings by mail carry a good selection of GSAB-compatible strings.
 
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