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High End Acoustic Bass Thoughts/Recommendations

#61
Several years ago I did some looking around and determined that the best sounding ABG was the rosewood back and side Martin. Better sounding and more playable than anything else I tried. A few years later when I really wasn’t in the market I found a great deal on a B-40 that I bought and owned for only a few months.
Now I’m in the market again (sort of - I don’t really need anything), and have been impressed with the Breedloves. I want a fretless one now.
I still think it’s hard to beat the Martins for quality and sound, of course there are lots of custom options that are probably great too.
 
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#66
AndyPanda said:
Here's a real world example of trying to compete acoustically with guitar and mando etc. I just don't see them being workable over other acoustic instruments without amplification.
Click to expand...

Agreed. When playing with more than one other instrument, you need an amp. I use the the little Phil Jones Bass Cub. His smaller Double Four can be used with a "laptop charger" type lithium-ion battery, and it gets good reviews.
 
#67
does this count?
upload_2018-3-16_22-44-20.png
 
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#68
IMHE, pretty much no ABG unplugged can keep up with more than 1 acoustic guitar and someone singing. And even then, you'd better pluck pretty hard, which becomes a problem after a while for us older folks. I've owned a Guild B-50, Guild BC4e, Breedlove Atlas, and a Tacoma Thunderchief, and have tried in a store a Martin B-30 (?) and a Taylor AB-1. Of these, the loudest acoustically to my ears, in no particular order, were the Guild B-50, Breedlove Atlas and the Taylor. I still own the Guild BC4e and always amplify it unless noodling by myself. It sounds great, though a B-50 is a bit deeper and richer (but too big a body for me to handle comfortably). I prefer tapewounds to give it more of an upright vibe, and sometimes also use a foam "Patton" mute (made by the wife of a fellow TBer) to really kill harmonics and get uprighty. I'm sure the high-end ones mentioned here that Jack and Phil have used are fantastic instruments, but they were probably designed to be amplified (so not especially loud acoustically) and too pricey to bring to a campfire jam fer sure. A real guitarron will get you heard in an ambient way (could hear a 6-string in a mariachi band playing outdoors that may have been picked up by the PA mic), and they're not heavy (about 6 pounds or so for the one I saw), but it's got a very limited range and you have to play it an angle (like a dobro, but about 45 degrees) and the one I saw had "rubber" strings. Hope this helps and good luck, DM
 
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#69
Dee-man said:
IMHE, pretty much no ABG unplugged can keep up with more than 1 acoustic guitar and someone singing. And even then, you'd better pluck pretty hard, which becomes a problem after a while for us older folks. I've owned a Guild B-50, Guild BC4e, Breedlove Atlas, and a Tacoma Thunderchief, and have tried in a store a Martin B-30 (?) and a Taylor AB-1. Of these, the loudest acoustically to my ears, in no particular order, were the Guild B-50, Breedlove Atlas and the Taylor. I still own the Guild BC4e and always amplify it unless noodling by myself. It sounds great, though a B-50 is a bit deeper and richer (but too big a body for me to handle comfortably). I prefer tapewounds to give it more of an upright vibe, and sometimes also use a foam "Patton" mute (made by the wife of a fellow TBer) to really kill harmonics and get uprighty. I'm sure the high-end ones mentioned here that Jack and Phil have used are fantastic instruments, but they were probably designed to be amplified (so not especially loud acoustically) and too pricey to bring to a campfire jam fer sure. A real guitarron will get you heard in an ambient way (could hear a 6-string in a mariachi band playing outdoors that may have been picked up by the PA mic), and they're not heavy (about 6 pounds or so for the one I saw), but it's got a very limited range and you have to play it an angle (like a dobro, but about 45 degrees) and the one I saw had "rubber" strings. Hope this helps and good luck, DM
Click to expand...

It definitely helps, I appreciate your input. I’m a younger guy (23) so luckily I don’t have a problem with plucking harder. Your and every else’s input here is invaluable. I’m still in the “just thinking about it” stage so everybody’s feedback here will definitely help formulate an opinion on which way to go. Thank you again for your help Dee-man.

Edit: you also have a point about a lot being designed to be amplified.
 
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#70
I bought a PA mixer amp from a guy. He asked what I played, told him I loved my BTB with a 35" scale. He then proceeded to pull out a massive Taylor acoustic bass. It was beautiful, top of the line, had to of been at least a 38" scale or more.
I'll get a hair every once in a while to get one. I always talk myself out of it knowing I won't use it much. Good luck on your search.
 
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#71
BurnOut said:
I bought a PA mixer amp from a guy. He asked what I played, told him I loved my BTB with a 35" scale. He then proceeded to pull out a massive Taylor acoustic bass. It was beautiful top of the line, had to of been at least a 38" scale or more.
I'll get a hair every once in a while to get one. I always talk myself out of it knowing I won't use it much. Good luck on your search.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I appreciate it. A local shop owner had a couple of those Taylors in his personal collection. I should have asked if I could have tried them out.
 
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#72
Tanner5382 said:
Thanks, I appreciate it. A local shop owner had a couple of those Taylors in his personal collection. I should have asked if I could have tried them out.
Click to expand...
He let me play it, very cool. I was nervous as hell, especially since I was wearing my coat with zippers and snaps all over it. I was pretty keyed up about getting a sweet Carvin 1200 watt powered mixer for $200 to. Was second in line for it and the 1st guy didn't come through. A gently church used piece of equipment. Put the old Behringer to shame, but I digress. One beautiful bass.
 
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#73
Dee-man said:
IMHE, pretty much no ABG unplugged can keep up with more than 1 acoustic guitar and someone singing. And even then, you'd better pluck pretty hard, which becomes a problem after a while for us older folks. I've owned a Guild B-50, Guild BC4e, Breedlove Atlas, and a Tacoma Thunderchief, and have tried in a store a Martin B-30 (?) and a Taylor AB-1. Of these, the loudest acoustically to my ears, in no particular order, were the Guild B-50, Breedlove Atlas and the Taylor. I still own the Guild BC4e and always amplify it unless noodling by myself. It sounds great, though a B-50 is a bit deeper and richer (but too big a body for me to handle comfortably). I prefer tapewounds to give it more of an upright vibe, and sometimes also use a foam "Patton" mute (made by the wife of a fellow TBer) to really kill harmonics and get uprighty. I'm sure the high-end ones mentioned here that Jack and Phil have used are fantastic instruments, but they were probably designed to be amplified (so not especially loud acoustically) and too pricey to bring to a campfire jam fer sure. A real guitarron will get you heard in an ambient way (could hear a 6-string in a mariachi band playing outdoors that may have been picked up by the PA mic), and they're not heavy (about 6 pounds or so for the one I saw), but it's got a very limited range and you have to play it an angle (like a dobro, but about 45 degrees) and the one I saw had "rubber" strings. Hope this helps and good luck, DM
Click to expand...
It helps somewhat to use a pick.
 
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#77
mikewalker said:
I had an Emerald ( a red one!) about seven or eight years ago, and though it was a little heavy, it really sounded great!
Click to expand...
The new Emerald Balor puts their old basses (which were pretty darned impressive in their own right) absolutely to shame. The new body design is sheer genius!
 
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