Is an Acoustic bass worth it

[dbsfgyd1]

If someone has never or rarely played a double bass, this is a recipe for disaster. The intonation challenge is one part of it, but the other (and maybe more significant one) is purely physical. Ergonomics are different, the approach and techniques are different, and "fretting" notes require much more effort from your left hand and forearm. Cramping up and becoming useless after about 15-20 minutes of playing has a very high probability.

Egads, isn't that the truth? What you said can take years of dedicated practice to develop. I have a nephew that is a symphonic quality bassist. The hours he puts in are insane.

My experience owning and playing one is a little different. I could play some very basic stuff pretty much out of the box. After a day or so of practice I could be labeled a hack with bad intonation skills. A month later my intonation skills greatly improved, but I was still a hack… But I did play a few gigs and nobody complained, but I knew better, and gave it up. LOL!

Good post.

 

[JohnnyChatter]

I had gas for an acoustic bass a few years ago. I got a nice fender one that had a great neck. Than it sat in my house for two years and I played it maybe 5 times. Sold it for a loss. If my band asked me to buy another I would tell them they can buy it for me. It wasn't even loud enough to hear myself over my guitar player and me writing in his apartment.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

Our band has a upcoming acoustic show coming up and they say that I should get an
acoustic bass for the gig. I have a fretless precision bass and was thinking should I just put nylon strings on it and roll off the tone. I will be playing direct through a pa so I don't know that it would make any difference. Some of the band are not fans of fretless bass but I do use it for a few songs when we play live. Any thought on this?
thanks.

thing is, fretless electric bass sounds GREAT against acoustic guitars. I've always been of the mindset that an "acoustic" gig doesn't necessarily mean acoustic bass too. The many many people i've played these types of gigs with would agree. Another consideration: acoustic bass (with pickups obviously) can pick up low end feedback at times.

 

[darwin-bass]

I played exclusively ABG for about a year. Moved back to EB and have not returned. The ABG was too quiet acoustically and the tone just wasn't right for most purposes. Thumpy lows and pingy highs. Ergonomics were an issue. The one thing that it did teach me was how to play without resting my thumb on anything and that one lesson has been a huge benefit for me ever since.

 

[waynobass]

IME an electric bass with the tone rolled down sounds and feels better than an acoustic bass guitar.

Arguably it looks better too. An ABG seems like the bassist is trying too hard to get into the folkie vibe.

 

[MattZilla]

The reality of them is what it is.

If your bandmates are aware of how they sound out of the box and how that sound will mix with the rest of the ensemble and prefer that sound, then a fretted Jazz wide open with Roto 66's will get a lot closer to that sound than a fretless with tapes.

if you're in the instrument-buying mood and want to cater to both their janglybass sound and plain polished wood with strings aesthetic, a blonde J with a dark tort or black guard and dark fingerboard would hit the sweetspot with zero concern for feedback and thus having to play with filters, foam, etc to tune for the room.

FWIW, to my ear, your idea of anything with tapes and nearly zero treble allowed out of the speaker would be a lot more enjoyable.

——

You really ought to have a convo with the guys about the soundscape.

——————

But, having a Thunderchief, Rick Turner or other known nice Acoustic Guitbass with or without frets is kinda like owning a 1950s Jaguar- it's not something you're apt to use for more than five hours a month, but it's kinda nice to have around to toy with on a Sunday afternoon.

 

[foolforthecity]

I don't use ABGs gigging, and I don't care for the general bulkiness, nor do I like the way they feel in my hands or the anemic sound unless amped. I myself would go for a used Hofner Ignition. It's a better on-the-couch noodling bass, it's not bulky or heavy, and it can be used in varying capacities live. YMMV

 

[B-Mac]

I assume the guitarist has an electric guitar and an acoustic guitar and probably other guitars as well.
Why is this a problem for the bass player to have similar type tools?

 

[rutabaga bob]

Acoustic bass? In a word: no.

 

[kerrycares]

Uh , no ….. unless it a great paying , recording , touring band and you have a really good endorsement deal on the ABG

 

[SteveFromBerlin]

Don't bother is my invaluable (as in without value) opinion.
It sounds like a waste of money for a look

This! If you did not already want something like that before for a long time, don't do it! If so: Check out the mini ukes and don't bother with big acoustics. Just my 2 cents…

 

[Doug4321]

I've been tempted but acoustic basses aren't very loud and tend to a grinding sound like low notes on a regular acoustic guitar.

Maybe a better idea is a hollow body with flat wounds? They rather look the part and can sound more like a double bass kind of sound. La Bella LTF strings help that.

Here's an interesting old one I came across a demo for….. but something like a Guild or Epiphone is more available

 

[Doug4321]

One gig—- he'll no.

Some band members don't like fretless?
How's your intonation?

Fretless usually sounds a bit funky and out of tune even with Jaco playing. Not everyone likes that!

 

[Canadian APII]

Our band has a upcoming acoustic show coming up and they say that I should get an
acoustic bass for the gig. I have a fretless precision bass and was thinking should I just put nylon strings on it and roll off the tone. I will be playing direct through a pa so I don't know that it would make any difference. Some of the band are not fans of fretless bass but I do use it for a few songs when we play live. Any thought on this?
thanks.

Buy an acoustic Aria Pro II. They are built amazing and sound awesome. You could also try an acoustic/electric.

 

[Eilif]

I did like the Ibanez that I played today much more than the Taylor. I just don't know how many acoustic gigs we will have in the future. I liked the size and the tone but the feedback was loud.

There are ways to help ameliorate feedback. For starters, see if it has a soundhole that will fit a feedback reducer.

My 2 cents is that if you like the tone of an ABG, go ahead and buy one. It's a nice sound, that is different from any other bass guitar. It's not the same as an upright, semi-hollow, fretless, full-hollow electric or anything else and that's a good thing. It's also nice for messing around on the porch (alone).

I ascribe real value to the fact that it does look good to have an ABG at an acoustic show. There is something to be said for not having a bass that looks like a "regular" electric instrument in an acoustic lineup, but a semihollow or violin/viola bass can envoke a smiliar "look" to the audience.

I have a DB and a Wendler fretless, both of which have tone and look that fit into an acoustic lineup, but I used to take a vintage fully hollow viola bass to acoustic gigs and got some good feedback about it. Note that if a DB sound is what you are after, a Fully-hollow violin bass like a rogue may actually get you closer than an ABG. The way the top to which the pickups are attached resonates with no center block and the shorter scale really brings you into the tonal realm of an upright.

If you aren't into the tone and/or don't play alot of acoustic gigs don't bother.

 

[Wasnex]

I assume the guitarist has an electric guitar and an acoustic guitar and probably other guitars as well.
Why is this a problem for the bass player to have similar type tools?

IMHO it's not a problem, but some players simply don't see value in owning an ABG. Also, not all guitarists have multiple instruments.

 

[Tim Skaggs]

Maybe, it depends.

"Worth" implies a value that can be measured in something such as $$, traded stuff, or time.
"It" implies nothing or everything.
So, asking if something has a value equivalent to everything or nothing is difficult to answer.

If you are looking at a specific bass at a specific price, you can will likely get some specific answers.

 

[Jeff Scott]

...

This is what I used for the acoustic duo I was in during the mid '70s (the bass, not the amp).

But I always used rounds on it back in the day, and it fit just fine.

 

[salmon256]

In my honest opinion, if you were going hardcore acoustic in a genre you can do it, I would go Upright but obv that takes time and I'm guessing you are aiming for something quick. IMO, an acoustic bass most models just suck, unless you can spend 1k-3k range on a rare find or one the best it's not worth it. Most acoustic bass things like MTV live was hours and hours, hell probably even weeks of fine tuning and making an acoustic bass sound nice, some can sound nice on their own or in a band, IMO if you really want something that sounds kind of better I would go with a Ubass, but honestly most acoustics sets I see are either an Upright or someone using an electric, maybe get something with a very wood look LOL. But FR this is up to you but I think you are better off sticking with your main axe. GL! Keep us posted on your choice.

 

[jd56hawk]

Our band has a upcoming acoustic show coming up and they say that I should get an
acoustic bass for the gig. I have a fretless precision bass and was thinking should I just put nylon strings on it and roll off the tone. I will be playing direct through a pa so I don't know that it would make any difference. Some of the band are not fans of fretless bass but I do use it for a few songs when we play live. Any thought on this?
thanks.

To people who don't buy into the "You can't really hear them unplugged" bs, yes, they're definitely worth it.
No, an acoustic bass isn't as loud as an upright.
No, you don't have to spend a lot of money for a good one.
No, you don't have to buy a U bass to get great tone or become part of the "Just buy a hollow-body" crowd.
However, you should buy a nice battery-powered bass amp, available from $50 to $1,000...I have three.
By the way, there's more than one reason to go acoustic...incredible tone is just one of them.