Is an Acoustic bass worth it

[Steve Fox]

NO!!!! Get a Uke Bass! THOSE still project a great volume even UNPLUGGED!!! Acoustic basses ALL need to be plugged in….at which point just get a hollow/semi-hollow to get the same sound and same thump.

My wifes Kala is very good acoustically and sounds miles better plugged in than my 90's El Capitan!

 

[jd56hawk]

NO!!!! Get a Uke Bass! THOSE still project a great volume even UNPLUGGED!!! Acoustic basses ALL need to be plugged in….at which point just get a hollow/semi-hollow to get the same sound and same thump.

Greater volume unplugged than an acoustic bass, especially a jumbo acoustic?

 

[GodsLove66]

Greater volume unplugged than an acoustic bass, especially a jumbo acoustic?

YES!!!! The only Acoustic basses worth buying are Upright/Double Basses and Ukulele basses.

 

[GodsLove66]

My wifes Kala is very good acoustically and sounds miles better plugged in than my 90's El Capitan!

EXACTLY!!! Bought a Kala and Guild Junior Jumbo for couch Quarantine basses during Covid….still got the Kala. That Guild looked beautiful but even plugged in was dismal.

 

[JACKSON JS1XM]

Rent one & see how it goes. I wouldn't buy a concert bass unless I was in a orchestra & played classical music. I get a cello bass is a bass, but if the usual band play doesn't involve one, there's no need to own when you can get by on a rental.

 

[Steve Fox]

Greater volume unplugged than an acoustic bass, especially a jumbo acoustic?

In my experience; in terms of unplugged volume a uke bass isn't as loud as a jumbo, but it's loud enough for a jam session or rehearsal (obviously much less low end). For live performance from either you'll still need to be plugged in.

I should note that my wifes uke bass has rubber strings, not roundwounds. The rounds are significantly louder.

 

[BioDriver]

Upright? Yes

Acoustic bass guitar? No, unless you're dropping fat stacks on a Rob Allen, but even then it's a stretch.

IME, YMMV, etc.

 

[Bassist Jay]

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.

The best acoustic bass that I ever owned was a Guild B-4ce. It was made in America and was a solid acoustic bass. It was stolen in 2004 and non of the other acoustic basses compare to it in quality. If I can ever find another one in excellent to great condition then I will buy it in a heartbeat but other than that one or maybe a Martin acoustic, which I believe is also made in the United States, the Chinese made acoustic basses are hot garbage!

 

[Steve Fox]

EXACTLY!!! Bought a Kala and Guild Junior Jumbo for couch Quarantine basses during Covid….still got the Kala. That Guild looked beautiful but even plugged in was dismal.

Yup, ours is a Covid bass too. We were stuck indoors for months, but dang we got really good at our instruments!!


Ive been jonesing for a Kala Journeyman with flats, I really want one before bonfire season!

 

[capnjagg]

Personally, unless you're in a Violent Femmes tribute band, I don't think it's worth it.

 

[jd56hawk]

YES!!!! The only Acoustic basses worth buying are Upright/Double Basses and Ukulele basses.

 

[GodsLove66]

The best acoustic bass that I ever owned was a Guild B-4ce. It was made in America and was a solid acoustic bass. It was stolen in 2004 and non of the other acoustic basses compare to it in quality. If I can ever find another one in excellent to great condition then I will buy it in a heartbeat but other than that one or maybe a Martin acoustic, which I believe is also made in the United States, the Chinese made acoustic basses are hot garbage!

Exactly!!! The ONLY good use for playing a Chinese AB near a campfire is as the kindling….

 

[Joe Nerve]

An acoustic bass has a vibe to it that an electric doesn't.

An acoustic bass is fun sometimes to play around with on the couch.

An acoustic bass can inspire things that an electric never would. At least for me.

And if its not going to be used regularly, a decent sounding/playing acoustic bass can be had for between $200-$300.

IMO, its always good to have one in the arsenal.

LOL... despite the fact that I haven't seen or touched mine in almost a decade.

Handle this post with care.

 

[InkCow]

For the people saying that the band should buy me the bass isn't really called for. I love the guys in my band and this has been one of the best bands I have ever been in.

Blink twice if they're there and making you type this.

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

I thought it was obvious.
Who uses 100% nylon strings on an electric bass? It's going to be pretty hard to get any signal

Exactly my point.
I do not read minds, nor do I make assumptions. I only work with the information given.
Since nylon has since been clarified to nylon wrapped, and other's have given good advice based on that clarification, I have nothing else to add.

 

[zontar]

Believe it or not that's actually a thing!

Doesn't surprise me one bit.

 

[spade2you]

ABGs are at a logistical disadvantage. Lots of tension and cheaper usually means "overbuilt". That tends to be an acoustic buzzword. Budget instruments have heavier bracing to compensate for poor humidity and storage conditions. It prolongs the life of the acoustic guitar/bass, but at the price of volume, tone, response, resonance, etc. The bracing really kills bass volume.

 

[mcnach]

Exactly my point.
I do not read minds, nor do I make assumptions. I only work with the information given.
Since nylon has since been clarified to nylon wrapped, and other's have given good advice based on that clarification, I have nothing else to add.

ok, I don't see the problem here :shrug:

 

[Cleezmo]

First, I wouldn't buy a bass for a one-off gig just because my band recommended it. Second, for any acoustic set, I'd just bring my fretless (my band actually suggested that, so they are cool with it), even though I have an acoustic/electric (see all the feedback and ergonomic differences pointed out in prior posts). Third, I really enjoy having an acoustic/electric around, it's fun to noodle on when you have a few minutes and don't want to mess with an amp. But the caveat is that I got mine super cheap from a buddy, so it was a bit of a no-brainer deal. I wouldn't go drop $1,600 or something on a new Martin just to have to noodle in my practice room, and probably wouldn't drop $500 on a new Fender/Ibanez/etc. either.

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

ok, I don't see the problem here :shrug:

Me either, now.