• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Ibanez 25" Scale Acoustic Basses - PNB14E, AVNB1E, AVNB1FE

SBassman

SBassman

Jun 8, 2003
9,799
3,365
Northeast, US
#1
I am having so much fun with my super affordable Ibanez PNB14E 25" scale bass that I thought this category was worthy of a separate thread. There is a small PNB14E thread, but with the Ibanez AVNB1E bass, I thought we should do a thread for both.

The beautiful AVNB1E is twice the price of the PNB14E. Has anyone played both? Can you offer any information on the quality and tone differences?

AVNB1E
Ibanez AVNB1E.JPG

PNB14E
Ibanez PNB14E.JPG
 
  • Like
Reactions: ThinCrappyTone and MakoMan
#6
Hi there!

I'm a longtime AGF (Acoustic Guitar Forum) member who has just decided to plunge himself into the world of bass. After much research online (including a few threads on this forum) I ended up ordering the PNB14E, which should arrive sometime this coming week.

As an acoustic guitarist first and foremost, I chose this model primarily based on the scale length that is close to those of my 6-stringers. I figure this would minimize having to get used to different scales going from one instrument to another.

Regarding the strings, the La Bella CB40 strings look to be interesting alternatives to the GS Mini strings from D'Addario, especially given the huge price difference. But it seems that only Strings by Mail sells the CB40. Is there another retailer for those strings?

Thanks for the answer in advance.
 
#7
I picked one of these up since it was similar scale to the Gold Tone 23" scale ukes that I like. I found that it had feedback when amplified with a group I play with so I made a feedback buster for it (the 3-5/8" soundhole is smaller than the 4" standard guitar size that all the commercial ones seem to be made for).

I'm not finding it quite as comfortable as the ukes but I do like the standard strings for sounding like an acoustic guitar. I picked up the ChromaCast gig bag (thanks for the heads-up on that).

I should be able to take it to a rehearsal this week and see if my feeback buster (a foam circle glued to a 3D printed decorative mandala) actually works. I'm not 100% sure it's going to stick with me in the long run (I have finicky wrists for what I can play comfortably) but I really dig it and it's a great value for the money.

feedbackbuster-1.JPG feedbackbuster-2.JPG feedbackbuster-3.JPG feedbackbuster-4.JPG pnb14e-1.JPG
 
  • Like
Reactions: Michael Vee, dfp and Jeff Klein
#10
TokyoNeko said:
Regarding the strings, the La Bella CB40 strings look to be interesting alternatives to the GS Mini strings from D'Addario, especially given the huge price difference. But it seems that only Strings by Mail sells the CB40. Is there another retailer for those strings?
Click to expand...
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Link Removed
They do appear harder to find, at a quick websearch. The 6-string set (La Bella CB60) is apparently a little more common though. Sure, you'd have to throw away or, preferably, use the top two strings on a classical guitar, or give them to a friend for the same purpose (either of you would have to have a use for them, they're in extra-light D and A gauge territory), but if the price is right...

Speaking of price, don't forget that the D'Addario EXPPBB190GS set is coated, if that matters to you.
 
Last edited:
#11
SBassman said:
Did you enjoy seeing how well the bass fit in the ChromaCast bag? Perfect fit.
Click to expand...

At first I didn't think it was going to fit since the bag was all folded in the box and retained the memory of the folds -- but in the end it's like the bag was made specifically for the bass. Excellent fit and the price was right :)
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: SBassman
#12
HaphAsSard said:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Link Removed
They do appear harder to find, at a quick websearch. The 6-string set (La Bella CB60) is apparently a little more common though. Sure, you'd have to throw away or, preferably, use the top two strings on a classical guitar, or give them to a friend for the same purpose (either of you would have to have a use for them, they're in extra-light D and A gauge territory), but if the price is right...

Speaking of price, don't forget that the D'Addario EXPPBB190GS set is coated, if that matters to you.
Click to expand...
Thanks for that information. Strings by Mail still offers the lowest price for the set, but it's nice to know that options are available.

As for the EXP strings, I'm not a big fan of them on the 6-string acoustics. The bass will ship with these strings when I get them this week, so I'll have to give them a shot to begin with. Since the bass strings are much more expensive than guitar strings, I'll be forced to give them long trials.
 
  • Like
Reactions: HaphAsSard
#13
cultrvultr said:
ugh, I hate the fact that I am gonna have to buy this just to try it out. Are the electronics and fit & finish better than the GoldTone 23 and 25? The GT was pretty unique a few years ago, but leaves so much to be desired in terms of playability.
Click to expand...

I've had a couple of the Gold Tone 23 fretless acoustics (still have one). I like them well enough. I've still got the Aquila Thunderguts on it and use it when I want that rubbery, bouncy, acoustic-ish tone. I've actually found the solidbody Hadean UKBE 22-33 to be more balanced and easy to use without any other preamps/additions than the Gold Tone acoustic but it was fretted only (I just found the Savannah and have one of those on the way to try).

For my prefs I like the GT a little better from a physical comfort perspective. The neck is a bit slimmer and shorter, and the body is noticeably smaller. My wrists can tell that the Ibanez neck is larger and ends up in a different location because of the bigger body.

Tonally they don't sound much the same - the rubber/plastic/composite/whatever Thundergut strings (and the other equivalents) have, to me, their own unique thing going on. I do like it as with my wrists the tone is as close as I'm going to come to an upright in anything I can play. I'm not saying it sounds the same, but it's the same kind of ballpark to my uneducated ears. That said the G string is noticeably quieter and the feel is quite different.

The PNB14E sounds much more like a low-tuned acoustic guitar. With the bigger body and wound strings it has a lot more resonance and sustain. I love it by itself but it is so lively I had to put together the feedback buster to hopefully allow me to play it with others. I do like that the electronics run on a 9v battery instead of the watch batteries of the GT. It has a lot of output so I have the volume on the Ibanez dialed way down to not overwhelm the amp (dialed back it's got as much output as my G&Ls and I don't know how much it would have with the volume cranked). I find it very usable without an additional preamp. The GT acoustic is usable the same way as well for me, but requires the volume to be cranked up a lot more (and don't get me started on the solidbody GT MEbass).

I would say the Ibanez G string is also a bit different character than the other 3 to my ears (not as much bite and growl) but it's usable and the volume balance is better than the GT's. I'm pretty happy with the D'Addarios overall but wouldn't mind trying the LaBellas on it sometime. The strings are pretty flexible and upper fret access is limited, but I like how it does what it does and it's comfortable enough for me to think about keeping it around as an acoustic option.

I never had any complaints with the fit-and-finish on the GTs and don't have any on the Ibanez either to this point.
 
#15
Really enjoying this bass with the La Bella CB40s on it. Not going to go back to the DAddarios. Those were good, but the CB40s are more what I am after. And they feel really good.

Best $250 spent on a low end bass in my life. Really fun bass, and it looks amazing for that price.
 
#16
SBassman said:
Really enjoying this bass with the La Bella CB40s on it. Not going to go back to the DAddarios. Those were good, but the CB40s are more what I am after. And they feel really good.

Best $250 spent on a low end bass in my life. Really fun bass, and it looks amazing for that price.
Click to expand...

Can you explain the difference is sound/tone between the strings? I really don't like the zingy acoustic sound of typical acoustic strings. D'Addarios seem better then other strings. Are the CB40's more mellow, maybe closer to a flatwound sound? Or will I end up having to spend $100 on custom flatwounds?
 
  • Like
Reactions: woodbirdbassman

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back