High End Acoustic Bass Thoughts/Recommendations

[Bassist Jay]

I used to have a Guild B4ce and absolutely loved it. It got stolen around 2004 and I’ve never found another acoustic bass that played as well as it.

 

[shortscalesrule]

That's some nice thickness there! How deep is that Epi?

Epi is 4"; Guild is 3"

 

[shortscalesrule]

As for volume wars - I’ve had the guitarists that I play with complain that they can’t hear me...

That’s my fault though. I completely expect to plug in, so I end up crippling myself acoustically. I only play with my fingers, and my touch is pretty light. I also use tapes, so my acoustic volume is very low.

Also, the guitarists aren't listening!

 

[mesaplayer83]

Here are Epiphone Masterbilt (L) and Guild B4CE (R) side-by-side, front.
View attachment 2953334
and side, so you can see respective depth:
View attachment 2953335
The Epiphone comes with coated strings; would probably be louder with different strings.

VERY NICE!!!

 

[mesaplayer83]

Anyone who says that AEBs have no valid use hasn't tried hard enough - here's a couple gig shots of me using my Breedlove Stage BJ350 cr4:

 

[GretschWretch]

Ahhh, I do so miss my Angus, wish he was back in my lap right now...
View attachment 2953103

I thought a black Angus was a cow.

 

[Tobiasfin]

Case in point: my Guild B50 against a Martin dreadnought and my Alvarez-Yairi DY87 (as loud as any Martin D):

View attachment 2953200

I'm on the doubleneck, some random young guy on the Guild in this pic. I loaned him my pick, he was then loud enough I had to upgrade and pull out my cymbal brass pick to play lead over him. No problems being heard. (Never did get my pick back, aargh, I liked that one!)

FWIW. Was heard. And Balor >> Guild B50, no contest. YMMV.

+100

 

[GretschWretch]

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.

I'm not buying this as a representative sample. The bass and percussion are sharing sonic space, and it sounds like the mic is inside the drum. Atrocious recording balance. And the bassist does not look she is burning many calories with her right hand. Hear this without the percussion and a little more engagement from the bass player, and your conclusion might be quite different.

 

[GretschWretch]

The bridge is right in the middle of the soundboard, where it should be, not near the butt end like most cheaper ABGs, that's got to be part of it...

It's a very important part. Lots of body behind the bridge makes the instrument louder, makes the A and E strings bassier, and adds fundamental to the lower notes.

 

[MD]

"And if you're a low action, light touch type of player, you're in trouble."

Add in "prefers flat-wounds" and that's absolutely the perfect storm that compounds my own problem when it comes to finding an ABG that will work for me.

So to review:

•unplugged, not very many ABGs project adequate volume for much more than solo, practice noodling
•many of the few that do tend to be either out of production and relatively rare or boutique/hand-made items and, therefore, prohibitively-expensive
•I play finger-style pretty exclusively with a light touch & low action (partly to minimize arthritis pain)
•I prefer flat wounds

> Dean, Epi, Takamine, Boulder Creek, Tacoma, Breedlove... all capable of hangin' with one or two other instruments, given the other players aren't knuckle bleeding neanderthals.
> All of the above can probably be found for less than $1,000.00.
> This is your problem right here - light touch/low action. You'll never produce any kind of acoustic volume if you can't get the strings moving and the top vibrating. That's all there is to it. You're trapped by your own technique.

 

[MD]

Anyone who says that AEBs have no valid use hasn't tried hard enough - here's a couple gig shots of me using my Breedlove Stage BJ350 cr4:
[

That's because there's an ABG, nay-sayer's motto here at TB; it goes like this....
"If I have to plug in, I'll just play my electric".

 

[MD]

Case in point: my Guild B50 against a Martin dreadnought and my Alvarez-Yairi DY87 (as loud as any Martin D):

View attachment 2953200

.

Love it BH. Reminds me of time spent on Skaneateles Lake many years ago.

 

[tfer]

That's because there's an ABG, nay-sayer's motto here at TB; it goes like this....
"If I have to plug in, I'll just play my electric".

My acoustic IS an electric. I don’t distinguish between them.

“Why play an AEB then?”

Because it sounds good. Why do you play a P-bass and a Jazz? The difference between my AEB and my EB is significant. There is no substitute for a good sounding AEB.

 

[mesaplayer83]

That's because there's an ABG, nay-sayer's motto here at TB; it goes like this....
"If I have to plug in, I'll just play my electric".

I know, I've seen it said - and always thought it was stupid and uninformed... I've played some killer gigs and made some good $$$, just because of my AEBs at times - their loss, I suppose...

 

[mesaplayer83]

My acoustic IS an electric. I don’t distinguish between them.

“Why play an AEB then?”

Because it sounds good. Why do you play a P-bass and a Jazz? The difference between my AEB and my EB is significant. There is no substitute for a good sounding AEB.

+1

 

[Mustang Surly]

"> This is your problem right here - light touch/low action. You'll never produce any kind of acoustic volume if you can't get the strings moving and the top vibrating. That's all there is to it. You're trapped by your own technique."

For me it's not an arbitrary choice: it's the only way I can play without inflaming my arthritis. I'm just happy I've found a technique that enables me to keep playing at my age.

To those of you who still have youth, health and the unrestricted use of your hands: bang away on those ABGs! More power to ya!

 

[Herrick]

Nope just a pic, nobody recorded, would've been nice. I have samples of the Balor and others on my soundcloud page linked in my sig if you want to check them out. Don't have any ABGs in acoustic jams recorded yet, working on getting that together too actually.

I'd love to hear the Balor in an acoustic jam!

 

[Tanner5382]

I'd love to hear the Balor in an acoustic jam!

There's a couple good videos of that on Emerald's youtube channel. I would link them but I'm on the mobile site.

 

[Herrick]

There's a couple good videos of that on Emerald's youtube channel. I would link them but I'm on the mobile site.

I've seen a few but I haven't found one where the Balor is played with other instruments.

 

[MD]

"> This is your problem right here - light touch/low action. You'll never produce any kind of acoustic volume if you can't get the strings moving and the top vibrating. That's all there is to it. You're trapped by your own technique."

For me it's not an arbitrary choice: it's the only way I can play without inflaming my arthritis. I'm just happy I've found a technique that enables me to keep playing at my age.
To those of you who still have youth, health and the unrestricted use of your hands: bang away on those ABGs! More power to ya!

Yes of course, I should have acknowledged that point in my post. I'm 60 and have other physical issues which require I approach certain activities in a more cautious mindset then I did 5 years ago. I'm glad you've found a way to keep the music flowing.

Now, for the rest of you who can't get any volume out of an ABG, raise your string height and get ferocious.