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Guitar Scale Acoustic Basses

#661
SBassman said:
This bass is awesome. I want to get my hands on other 4Ks to see if I just have a special one, or if they all have this special E.
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Hard to understand since it has an even thicker string than most of the other short scales. I'll have to pick up the Sojourn over at Sam Ash and have another listen. I wasn't impressed with it when I played it a few times before, but I'll pay special attention to the E. Maybe you just happened to get your hands on a supernatural instrument that defies basic physics :)
 
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#662
I really had high hopes for the Magma Transpositor, but the description of the FB radius and tiny frets is killing it for me.

So, I’m looking at other options that aren’t a five. MK, Guild, Taylor - I’m at the early stages and just don’t know where I want to go with this. My use is playing open mics with a single guitar player who also plays a uke for part of her set. I figure can do it all with my current ABG (an Emerald Balor 5), but these little basses have a huge appeal for me.

Another option is to just play the Gold Tone that I have, but to be honest I’m more comfortable with steel strings.

I may swing by the local Sam Ash today to see if they have the MK.

Edit - and I just emailed Emerald to get their thoughts on a short scale 5er.
 
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#663
HeavyDuty said:
Another option is to just play the Gold Tone that I have, but to be honest I’m more comfortable with steel strings.
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So put any of the strings you like on your goldtone. Since it can handle the tension of flats, any of the short bass acoustic strings will work. Also, if you haven't tried pahahoe strings for longer scale, they take a while to settle in but that's what I have on my goldtone after trying the dadarrio ones as they were just too brite, but that is all personal taste. Mechanically, they were great. Silverbacks from goldtone are similar too.
 
#664
tymbrewolf said:
So put any of the strings you like on your goldtone. Since it can handle the tension of flats, any of the short bass acoustic strings will work. Also, if you haven't tried pahahoe strings for longer scale, they take a while to settle in but that's what I have on my goldtone after trying the dadarrio ones as they were just too brite, but that is all personal taste. Mechanically, they were great. Silverbacks from goldtone are similar too.
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I thought converting these to steel strings required a trip back to Gold Tone to have the bridge reset?
 
#665
I stopped at the local GC yesterday at lunch and had a chance to compare the $250 Ibanez, one of the Guilds and a Taylor. For me, the Taylor won the comparison hands down - I realize this may have been due to individual differences and the generally crappy quality of GC instruments, but I also preferred the feel and scale length. I managed to find a clean used Taylor for substantial savings over new, it’s on the way to me now.

I’m thinking I’d like to try the LaBella CB40 strings mentioned numerous times above. I need to re-read the thread in depth, but they’re still considered to be a good go-to for the Taylor, right?

Also, has anyone found a specific soundhole plug that works well on these? I’m guessing that they are the same size as the GS-Mini guitar, but it doesn’t hurt to ask.

Time to list the Gold Tone...
 
#666
HeavyDuty said:
I stopped at the local GC yesterday at lunch and had a chance to compare the $250 Ibanez, one of the Guilds and a Taylor. For me, the Taylor won the comparison hands down - I realize this may have been due to individual differences and the generally crappy quality of GC instruments, but I also preferred the feel and scale length. I managed to find a clean used Taylor for substantial savings over new, it’s on the way to me now.

I’m thinking I’d like to try the LaBella CB40 strings mentioned numerous times above. I need to re-read the thread in depth, but they’re still considered to be a good go-to for the Taylor, right?

Also, has anyone found a specific soundhole plug that works well on these? I’m guessing that they are the same size as the GS-Mini guitar, but it doesn’t hurt to ask.

Time to list the Gold Tone...
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Hi I'm curious about what specific ways the Taylor excelled over the Guild. I'm not an experienced bass player, but I was able to do two direct comparisons at two different stores and found them to be quite comparable in what I could assess, both unplugged and amplified. I just couldn't get comfortable with the short scale, otherwise I was going to get the Guild. Mainly asking so I know what to listen for or check next time I'm checking out an acoustic bass guitar.

Having said all that, I really do love the sound and feel of both the Taylor and Guild. I like the arched backs on both and the maple on the Guild. Is the Taylor you got the Maple or Sapele version? Pleas post pics when you get it!
 
#667
skycruiser said:
Hi I'm curious about what specific ways the Taylor excelled over the Guild. I'm not an experienced bass player, but I was able to do two direct comparisons at two different stores and found them to be quite comparable in what I could assess, both unplugged and amplified. I just couldn't get comfortable with the short scale, otherwise I was going to get the Guild. Mainly asking so I know what to listen for or check next time I'm checking out an acoustic bass guitar.

Having said all that, I really do love the sound and feel of both the Taylor and Guild. I like the arched backs on both and the maple on the Guild. Is the Taylor you got the Maple or Sapele version? Pleas post pics when you get it!
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I liked the tone, comfort and playability of the Taylor over the others. The Guild was my second choice.

The one I bought is the standard sapele version. I’ll post pics when it gets here.
 
#669
The short scale acoustic bases all use strings like the DA Dario the come on the tailor and the Guild what not that have a non steel core. Those are like the silver backs that gold tone sells for your bass. Therefore all you needed to have a similar instrument to the Giuild or Taylor short scale was dadarrio strings on your goldtone bass and having a Set up
 
#670
I know in another thread a gig-bag was identified that works with the Ibanez 25" scale bases. I wanted something stiffer and with a little more protection than that one, and picked up the Gator 4G Series Classical Guitar Gig Bag. It's a stiff, sturdy bag that fits the PNB and AVN basses fairly well. I would prefer a little more depth, but I can easily fit my hand in without a really tight feel, so I don't think it's putting any strain on the guitar. It also has pretty much functionally useless pockets with this bass inside. I think it would put too much strain on the bridge by putting anything more than paper sheets in the pocket. All I have right now is a strap so not a big deal for me, and obviously I would use another bag to carry other supplies.
 
#671
tymbrewolf said:
The short scale acoustic bases all use strings like the DA Dario the come on the tailor and the Guild what not that have a non steel core. Those are like the silver backs that gold tone sells for your bass. Therefore all you needed to have a similar instrument to the Giuild or Taylor short scale was dadarrio strings on your goldtone bass and having a Set up
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And a new nut, obviously.
 
#677
SBassman said:
Plugged, I can't call it the Best Tone, because this bass, and all acoustic basses, have very different tone than electric solid bodies.

But the quality of the note of the E - this bass has the Best across any bass I have ever owned - acoustic or solid body. It's a tight, beautiful, musical E. Not an E that on some basses sounds a bit undefined/muddy. The context to point out, too, is we are talking about 25" scale. There are a whole lot of people on the planet who would instantly assume that a guitar scale acoustic bass would sound muddy and not be viable. I would want to put this bass in their hands. :)

I don't know how else to best describe it. This bass is awesome. I want to get my hands on other 4Ks to see if I just have a special one, or if they all have this special E.
Click to expand...

Um, so, I have, er, other data*** on these E's, from my ears anyway. And, the second one I played - sounds exactly like the first one. The E just sounds more Right than any other E of my travels.

_____________________________________________

***other data = I own two of these now. They are coming to taking me away now ...
 
#678
SBassman said:
Um, so, I have, er, other data*** on these E's, from my ears anyway. And, the second one I played - sounds exactly like the first one. The E just sounds more Right than any other E of my travels.

_____________________________________________

***other data = I own two of these now. They are coming to taking me away now ...
Click to expand...

You're gonna have to do a demo video or audio recording on this magical E string phenomenon.
 
#679
skycruiser said:
Hard to understand since it has an even thicker string than most of the other short scales. I'll have to pick up the Sojourn over at Sam Ash and have another listen. I wasn't impressed with it when I played it a few times before, but I'll pay special attention to the E. Maybe you just happened to get your hands on a supernatural instrument that defies basic physics :)
Click to expand...

Make sure it's the current model, which has the extra sound hole like SBassman's. There may be a few of the original Sojourn 4s out there. I had one of those and I was not impressed with its acoustic sound at all.

Original Sojourn 4 -

Michael-Kelly-Sojourn-4.jpg
 
#680
macmanlou said:
Make sure it's the current model, which has the extra sound hole like SBassman's. There may be a few of the original Sojourn 4s out there. I had one of those and I was not impressed with its acoustic sound at all.

Original Sojourn 4 -

View attachment 3390466
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Yeah, it's got the big hole in the side, same finish as the ones SBassman showed. I thought the hole might have been the reason it had such a drastic difference (to my ears) in unplugged sound - maybe it was affecting body resonance. When I was trying out basses before choosing one to buy, I went to that Sam Ash probably 10-12 times, and must have picked up that MK at least half of those times. And each time I fairly quickly put it back on the hanger, unsatisfied with the sound, and picked the PNB or Taylor back up, most often the PNB because I preferred the scale length over the Taylor. I probably won't be able to stop in and play it again until late next week. Not a high priority now that I have my bass at home!
 

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