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High End Acoustic Bass Thoughts/Recommendations

#22
I have the 2016 model of the new [Invalid or Expired Link Removed], and I am very pleased with it (mine is fretless). The "Side Monitor Sound Hole" is a nice feature for hearing yourself unplugged when playing with others. I also like that the strings are top-loaded through the bridge, instead of having to mess with bridge pins and sharply bending bass strings at the bridge. The LR Baggs pickup and preamp function well, too.

Here's a review of an older model fretless.



18-SOLO-JUMBO-BASS-HEADER_890x310.png
 
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#25
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#26
Tanner5382 said:
Some interesting suggestions, thank you. Is the Bassoguitar what you have in your profile pic? That thing is cool.
Click to expand...

My avatar indeed does feature a Bassoguitar. They are loud (but not as loud as a 3/4 DB), have FAT necks, and can be played quite comfortably across the knee.

I neglected to mention in my previous post that there is at least one fairly high-end luthier in the greater Atlanta area, but I forget his name. I suggest you log into the website of the Guild for American Luthiers (GAL). They may have a directory of luthiers with locations.
 
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#27
GretschWretch said:
My avatar indeed does feature a Bassoguitar. They are loud (but not as loud as a 3/4 DB), have FAT necks, and can be played quite comfortably across the knee.

I neglected to mention in my previous post that there is at least one fairly high-end luthier in the greater Atlanta area, but I forget his name. I suggest you log into the website of the Guild for American Luthiers (GAL). They may have a directory of luthiers with locations.
Click to expand...

Thanks, that’s a mighty cool instrument you have there. I’ll check out the GAL.
 
#29
macmanlou said:
I have the 2016 model of the new [Invalid or Expired Link Removed], and I am very pleased with it (mine is fretless). The "Side Monitor Sound Hole" is a nice feature for hearing yourself unplugged when playing with others. I also like that the strings are top-loaded through the bridge, instead of having to mess with bridge pins and sharply bending bass strings at the bridge. The LR Baggs pickup and preamp function well, too.

Here's a review of an older model fretless.



View attachment 2952423
Click to expand...

Very nice, I really like the side monitor soundhole and I do hate dealing with bridge pins so the top load feature is awesome.
 
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#30
silvertone said:
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
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That’s a cool story, I had forgotten about his work. Heard nothing but good things, but alas, never seen one in person.
 
#31
Tanner5382 said:
Very nice, I really like the side monitor soundhole and I do hate dealing with bridge pins so the top load feature is awesome.
Click to expand...

I had a really hard time getting flexible TI flatwounds on the fretted Martin I owned about 20 years ago. The fretless Breedlove comes with Chromes, and string changes are a breeze in comparison.

It comes with a well-made gig bag, too. I got mine from Sam Ash. I got a little extra off their already discounted price by calling in the order. For the money you'd spend on a Martin or vintage Earthwood, you could afford a nice-sounding, very portable Phil Jones amp as well.
 
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#32
I have a Martin B-15E that I have strung with nylon tape wounds (don’t remember which brand) and it does okay unplugged when rehearsing in the living room. Sounds very boxy (upright) ish while plugged in. I think the tapewounds are a big part of it. None of the harsh clack from the actually acoustic bass strings.
 
#33
JSandbloom said:
I have a Martin B-15E that I have strung with nylon tape wounds (don’t remember which brand) and it does okay unplugged when rehearsing in the living room. Sounds very boxy (upright) ish while plugged in. I think the tapewounds are a big part of it. None of the harsh clack from the actually acoustic bass strings.
Click to expand...

Yeah, most of my favorite tones I have heard on acoustic basses have been with the player either using tapewounds or flats. Thanks for your input! I am rather partial to the tones of the Martins I've heard.
 
#34
I confess, I almost never hear an URB played acoustically in a band setting -- players virtually always use sound reinforcement. I did hear one guy playing outside with a band -- while the keyboard player played through an amp (!?). If URB is almost always amplified except in the most intimate performance situations, then the idea of playing an ABG unplugged seems unrealistic, at least to me.

That said, I'm a big fan of my ABG, a Michael Kelly Club Deluxe 5, strung with Thomastik flats and a K&K pup. It does make me think about upgrading to an even nicer one. But I'm getting a new URB...
 
#35
matthewbrown said:
I confess, I almost never hear an URB played acoustically in a band setting -- players virtually always use sound reinforcement. I did hear one guy playing outside with a band -- while the keyboard player played through an amp (!?). If URB is almost always amplified except in the most intimate performance situations, then the idea of playing an ABG unplugged seems unrealistic, at least to me.

That said, I'm a big fan of my ABG, a Michael Kelly Club Deluxe 5, strung with Thomastik flats and a K&K pup. It does make me think about upgrading to an even nicer one. But I'm getting a new URB...
Click to expand...

Yeah I understand overall, but it's quite possible with the Emerald Balor (carbon fiber) and certain Martin models (have heard unplugged jams with these), and certain custom builds. Just depends on the thought process behind the build (bracing in particular) and materials. Luckily, I have no plans to gig with an acoustic bass guitar. Most of the reason I'm interested in them actually is that I have little to no interest in gigging anymore, and just want something to play around the house, and jam with a few buddies in reasonably close proximity to each other with an acoustic guitar or two, or an acoustic and a mandolin or banjo.
 
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