High End Acoustic Bass Thoughts/Recommendations

My Martin does pretty well at producing acoustic volume with not-too-huge physical volume. That said, out of everything I've tried (most of what you've listed), the Emerald Balor beats them all rather handily. The old Earthwood has finally been dethroned.

 

I've never been happy with the volume I've heard from ANY acoustic bass. My solution with mine (a fairly cheap Dean acoustic with flats) is to plug it into a JVC Kaboom that I bought from Costco a loooong time ago. It's perfect. It has a 1/4" instrument input and mic input. It even has a built in drum machine. (they've come up with newer models since then).

 

I own a Tacoma Thunderchief and a Guild B50. I use them for the tone, not their volume. On stage an amp is needed. Both are strung with nylon wraps strings, and with the right EQ and technique they can sound quite "upright-ish". People who are disappointed with acoustic basses usually bought them with unrealistic expectations of hanging with an acoustic band unplugged.

I played an upright for years, but at 64 my hands are just getting beat up so I sold it and went ABG all the way. The guys in the band(s) don't seem to mind.

 

For unplugged volume you cannot rule out the cheaper Deans, and the original issue BA4s can hold their own as well (made from completely solid woods, I have read): very resonant and mid-rangey. Or a Regal Bassoguitar, but those have become as hard to find as an Earthwood.

A very good sonic but weird-looking compromise would be a 1/4 DB played seated across the knee.

 

Yep. I've found that with the Kaboom It brings them up in the deep registers to compete with an unplugged or lightly amplified acoustic guitar. It's just right.

 

Here's one for ya ...

 

Here's mine:


(seller's pic, no ink on me)

 

Don't know if he's still building them, been emailing for over a year now, no replies...

 

Sorry meant to include that, it's the B1. Very nice and surprisingly loud for its size - "punches above its weight class" - still no competition to the Balor.

If you've got the scratch, also check out Toby Chennell's Arco bass:

 

I haven't played around with an acoustic bass for a while, but if I recall the Martin and Guild models were both fantastic. The best one was the Taylor/Klein AB-1. That thing was incredible.

 

I'm pretty happy with the Breedloves I've had and still have - they're 3 for 3 with me...

 

I play electric and double basses and have never been motivated to play acoustic bass guitars.
Regardless, about 20 years back I was made aware of a beautiful example made by Dave Maize, being played by Bobby Vega (with Zero) for one of their rare acoustic performances at a festival.

Coupla years later I am literally entertaining folks at the same festival (the Oregon Country Fair) at one of the many hidden camps and along comes a guy plucking a beautifully made, behemoth of a bass guitar. We start jamming.
I asked him his name and of course - it was the one and only Dave Maize:
Dave Maize Acoustic Guitars: Acoustic Bass Guitars

 

I haven't played one of these but to my ears they sound wonderful...

Svoboda | Public Peace

Hope this helps you in your search....