Once it’s set up for steel core flats, you’d probably be ok with any steel core rounds. I’m interested to hear how you like the bass, if I was in the market for a bass Uke I’d most likely do the same! Good to know about this option.
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Guitar Scale Acoustic Basses
- Thread starter SBassman
- Start date
I just put a set of CB40s on my AVNB; first impressions are that they are a bit softer in volume than the stock strings, a lot less zingy sound (way less twangy) and less string noise. Will see how they do after a few days of settling in. I really didn't like the bronze strings at all, and these are much nicer feeling. Keep in mind that every other bass I own is strung with flats (upright, P bass, fretless electric)
Just need to decide if that is the there I'm going! Still would like to try the Kala Journeyman with rounds first. Can't beat it's looks!
Yes, they are definitely a bit softer in volume. I should have stated that already.
Mine continue to break in. As they age, they are feeling even more comfortable. Just about the nicest Feeling strings I have ever played.
Looking forward to hearing what you think after spending more time with them after break in.
I can't stop playing my bass. I have never enjoyed an instrument this much. I don't gig on bass at this time - I actually gig on drums. If I ever resume gigging on bass, I will Absolutely buy a second bass - most likely the AVNB, staying in the Ibanez close-to-25 world.
Imagine this design in a production instrument. A version with no mag pickup, just the piezo, at 25" scale, with La Bella CB40s. It would, for me, be - Perfection.
The picture is an archtop bass design by Veillette. A builder that I am blessed to have right in my region.
The picture is an archtop bass design by Veillette. A builder that I am blessed to have right in my region.
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My thought would be to keep the magnetic pickup, dump the piezo and stay at 25 inch ish length. Even maybe a 5 string .
I hear you. In my case, I already have 25" scale with magnetic - the Picco bass I designed and sold in the past. I'm now connecting to the weight and tone of an acoustic, and I can only continue my CB40 journey with a piezo.
I hear you. In my case, I already have 25" scale with magnetic - the Picco bass I designed and sold in the past. I'm now connecting to the weight and tone of an acoustic, and I can only continue my CB40 journey with a piezo.
How do the CB40s feel compared to flats? I know they will not be as smooth, but do they at least feel as soft?
Agree with this, mostly due to low tension in my opinion but nice feeling strings. I really don't like rounds at all as a rule but I can live with these.
Let me add something on how the CB40s feel. Yes, the tension is part of it. But the other demonstration of the soft nature of these strings is the fact that they can be cut to any length. Take a flat, cut it, and it will break when trying to string it without taper. These strings can be cut to any length and strung with no problems. They have to be very soft to be able to do that.
Wow, where has that been my whole sub-short scale life (four years). Never came up when I do a search online. Cedar top, 23.6" scale, €450/$523 (US distributors are $599-$699), it's as close to an Ovation as you can get, I love it and may be in my future... near future.
I had one, and I had some dialog with Mimmo and company on it. It is a Very nice design. Love the round back.
Would Love to see a slim body roundback acoustic bass with metal strings - at 25" scale.
Biggest challenge is finding a dealer. But it is a very nice bass.
Would Love to see a slim body roundback acoustic bass with metal strings - at 25" scale.
Biggest challenge is finding a dealer. But it is a very nice bass.
I wonder if it's worth trying the Gold Tone La Bella 25" flat wounds and add a trapeze tailpiece to get the strings to fit. Might be an experiment to try. BTW, is the output jack in the strap button or separate (I prefer separate)?
With a 20% discount and shipping from Italy to Los Angeles, the price for the Aquila ShortBassOne is $460.73 US. The future is here, I just bought it.
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If Aquila is still going for some kind of acoustic volume with the bowlback version and make it with the super-light top (and I guess bracing) that the full-wood version reportedly has, turning it into a trapeze tailpiece + floating bridge system might cause cave-in problems. So proceed with caution.
Do you mean not amplified? I'm always amplified.
I'm not going to do a floating bridge, only a tailpiece, which I've done before on other basses, works perfectly fine. The idea is to extend the mounting point for the 25" strings on a 23.6" scale bass.
I also did a mockup with a chrome tailpiece and tuners.
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If you research into the ShortBassONE, you'll see that the manufacturer has claimed that it works unamplified, at least in some contexts. Owners have reported that the instrument has a very light top, most likely it being a feature aimed at increasing the acoustic volume - to what extent I don't know, my point being the possible fragility of the top and bracing, not the unamplified volume aspect per se. Nor do I know if the above extends to the roundback version. Either way, moving the anchoring point to a tailpiece above the top will change the mechanics of the string pulling as it applies to the top; would it change the tone, or put the integrity of the top in jeopardy? Maybe - maybe not - just a heads-up. As for the bridge not being floatified in your plan, objection noted, but you'll still have to account for the different stiffness of the flats vs the Thunder Reds, and have a - possibly severely - compensated saddle made.
As for Shortbassone loudness: I played the previous version unamplified along several soprano ukuleles, and it was loud enough. The new version should be even louder.
