Inexpensive bass with piezo pickups?

[bassbenj]

For weirdly specific reasons I'm looking for a four-string bass with piezo pickups. I'd prefer something without any mags whatsoever, but so long as the piezos can be soloed I don't care. And I'd prefer it to be as inexpensive as possible as this is just something to fart around with. I got one of those "sandalwood silent basses" that are all over eBay, but it was an unmitigated disaster. I personally love crappy chinese basses - so long as they're capable of being repaired, but the one I got was flawed far beyond repair.

Anybody have any ideas? I checked out most of the stuff on the market by the major manufacturers, but it's all priced outside of the impulse buy range.

You didn't say if you wanted acoustic or solid body. If it were me I'd grab some interesting cheap bass and experiment with Piezo pickups. Get some here:

Link Removed

Remember that Piezo bass pickups need to go into a 10 MegOhm buffer circuit to get low notes.

 

[Webskipper]

Saw a local Uke club jam today.

One guy had the solid sub ubass. Looked like a baby axe in red. Black or sunburst is my preference.

It felt strange to be playing something so disproportional for a grown man.

It did sound like a real bass though, through an 18" speaker.

Can either Kala ubass accept steel strings or will they break the neck?

I'll find an acoustic ubass and compare feel and sound.

 

[1stnamebassist]

No steel strings for the ubass at this time, although their is talk that Labella may introduce tape wound steel strings in the not to distance future. I prefer the stock black Paehoehoes that come with it, others like Aquila thunderguts or silver rumblers. Pyramid makes strings also but I'm not sure of the strings composition.

 

[Webskipper]

The current offerings are pretty gummy with little sustain. Would a brass or bone nut help with these strings?

 

[1stnamebassist]

Don't know about that.im quite happy with the sound and sustain of the stock strings and they are not gummy at all. In fact they are quite smooth while the thunderguts are way to sticky for my taste.

 

[Webskipper]

the thunderguts are way to sticky for my taste.

Yep, those are the ones I played.

 

[Webskipper]

Found a dealer across town with a old rumbler ubass. Sounded great plugged and had enough volume for my personal space. Undecided between $100 bass amps for traveling. Peavey 20w 8" or other.

Inquired at my Local dealer to get the acoustic-electric bass I want.

I'll sign off here and continue with a ubass topic or start one.