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Guitar Scale Acoustic Basses
- Thread starter SBassman
- Start date
Funny, that's what I did, too: I sold my electric bass and even my amp as part of a broader 'musical re-calibration.'
There’s barely been a weekend I haven’t gigged my little Ibby since things have lifted Covid-wise. All duo/trio acoustic stuff. I love it to bits!
I haven't seen the Orangewood, and I'm not sure about steel-core strings at this scale length.
Still, if it works as well as the better basses in this class, don't be surprised if you find that it's good for a lot more than the couch. My Guild and Ibanez have both shared the stage with my big-buck Dingwall 5-string.
The Michael Kelly Port Sojourn bass has steel core strings, and the LaBella MBLS flats work on mine.
I'm curious about that, too. From the handful of samples I've heard and the bits I've read about the Orangewood, I'm hopeful, but of course the proof of the pudding is in the eating.
The two distinct approaches for these ultra-short scale acoustics--Taylor, Ibanez, and Guild using the special nylon-core strings and Orangewood and Michael Kelly sticking with traditional steel-core strings--make me wonder about differences in bracing, etc. to optimize a design for one string type or another (and whether the nylon-cores could work on a bass designed for steel-cores--not the other way 'round, of course!).
I've tried the Taylor Mini and Ibanez PNB, so I have a sense of how the nylon-core strings sound and play, and I'm interested to see how the steel-cores compare.
Oh, certainly--just a little tongue in cheek!
My Orangewood Oliver Jr. bass arrived this week! The biggest test for an instrument is whether I feel musically inspired when I pick it up. That's a resounding 'yes' with this bass.
The acoustic tone is stout and woody--just what I was hoping for. The bass comes strung with Ernie Ball Earthwood strings (the E, at least, is made for the 23.5" scale, tapering after the nut).
Because they're steel-core, the Earthwoods are perhaps not quite as warm-sounding as the nylon-core D'Addarios. (That's based on what I remember after trying the Ibanez PNB14E and the Taylor GS Mini a couple of years ago.) But it also means they don't roll and don't have that spongy feel. Tension is low but not floppy, and it's possible to dig in a fair bit. The tone and volume is well-balanced overall, although one can tell that the higher strings are a better match for the body's natural resonance--no surprise there. Even so, the E string has some depth, and the high strings sound bassy, not just like a low guitar. Intonation is good enough but not perfect.
My guess is the acoustic volume is enough to hang with an acoustic guitar (maybe two?) for some parlor music. (I tested this by playing along with the stereo and recording the room on my phone. The bass was easily heard.) Plugged in, the Fishman preamp sounds very nice, especially with the tone control turned down some for a really fat, pillowy sound.
I really like Oliver Jr.'s looks, from the headstock to the fretboard inlays to the discreet sound hole-mounted preamp to the color and finish. Very nice all around. The build quality is very good, and the set-up is great, with very nice fretwork. The instrument's overall feel is comfortable and well-proportioned, and it balances well on a strap (I like the compact tuners).
I've compared a bunch of specs, and it seems the lower bout of the Orangewood is the widest of this breed (15.5"). It's overall just slightly bigger than the Guild Jumbo Junior or the Taylor GS Mini. Because the Orangewood, Guild, and Taylor bodies join the neck at the 14th fret, they're all about 2" shorter than the Ibanez PNB and AVN bodies. (I couldn't find specs for the Michael Kelly Soujourn Port or the Gold Tone M-Bass.)
I've tried a variety of acoustic basses over the years, from U-Basses and M-Basses to full-size ABGs to a couple other GSABs, and I'm very pleased with my new Orangewood.
The acoustic tone is stout and woody--just what I was hoping for. The bass comes strung with Ernie Ball Earthwood strings (the E, at least, is made for the 23.5" scale, tapering after the nut).
Because they're steel-core, the Earthwoods are perhaps not quite as warm-sounding as the nylon-core D'Addarios. (That's based on what I remember after trying the Ibanez PNB14E and the Taylor GS Mini a couple of years ago.) But it also means they don't roll and don't have that spongy feel. Tension is low but not floppy, and it's possible to dig in a fair bit. The tone and volume is well-balanced overall, although one can tell that the higher strings are a better match for the body's natural resonance--no surprise there. Even so, the E string has some depth, and the high strings sound bassy, not just like a low guitar. Intonation is good enough but not perfect.
My guess is the acoustic volume is enough to hang with an acoustic guitar (maybe two?) for some parlor music. (I tested this by playing along with the stereo and recording the room on my phone. The bass was easily heard.) Plugged in, the Fishman preamp sounds very nice, especially with the tone control turned down some for a really fat, pillowy sound.
I really like Oliver Jr.'s looks, from the headstock to the fretboard inlays to the discreet sound hole-mounted preamp to the color and finish. Very nice all around. The build quality is very good, and the set-up is great, with very nice fretwork. The instrument's overall feel is comfortable and well-proportioned, and it balances well on a strap (I like the compact tuners).
I've compared a bunch of specs, and it seems the lower bout of the Orangewood is the widest of this breed (15.5"). It's overall just slightly bigger than the Guild Jumbo Junior or the Taylor GS Mini. Because the Orangewood, Guild, and Taylor bodies join the neck at the 14th fret, they're all about 2" shorter than the Ibanez PNB and AVN bodies. (I couldn't find specs for the Michael Kelly Soujourn Port or the Gold Tone M-Bass.)
I've tried a variety of acoustic basses over the years, from U-Basses and M-Basses to full-size ABGs to a couple other GSABs, and I'm very pleased with my new Orangewood.
I have an Ibanez AVN1BE that I bought in the Spring for all the reasons covered in this thread. I'm just not playing it. Haven't posted in the classifieds yet. PM me if interested.
Just came across this.
Probably already posted here?
Michael Kelly Sojourn bass
24.75” scale
Anybody ever see or play one?
victor bailey acoustic bass for sale - Google Shopping
Ignore what the link says
Probably already posted here?
Michael Kelly Sojourn bass
24.75” scale
Anybody ever see or play one?
victor bailey acoustic bass for sale - Google Shopping
Ignore what the link says
Yes, I prefer 22-23" scale and no longer than 33" total. This is also deeper than I like. I'm partially handicapped.
Sure is. Steel core strings and a pinless bridge - plus it sounds good unplugged or plugged in.
Out of boredom, I went to a local big box and they had 3 MK Sojourns (2 Ports and 1 Original), Taylor Mini and a 23" Gold Tone.
I came across two abg Traveler basses
23.25” scale
And
22.15” scale
anybody here ever play one?
23.25” scale
And
22.15” scale
anybody here ever play one?
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I like the look and bridge set-ups of the MK's the best. The volume is low unplugged but fine plugged in. The Taylor was okay, never have really liked it...not sure why though. The Gold Tone was a synthetic string model....I liked it too!
If I were to buy one, it would probably be the MK, is it appears to also be able to take flat-wounds made for some of the Gold Tones. I do like the tone of the Guild Jumbo Junior the best, just not in love with the aesthetics.
If I were to buy one, it would probably be the MK, is it appears to also be able to take flat-wounds made for some of the Gold Tones. I do like the tone of the Guild Jumbo Junior the best, just not in love with the aesthetics.
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