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Loud acoustic bass

#3
I'll add the Tacoma Thunderchief and Boulder Creek acoustic bass (the one with the cedar top). I've owned both, I think the Boulder Creek might've been louder, but the top reference soundhole might've just made it seem that way, the Tacoma DEFINITELY sounds and plays considerably better. I play a fretless Thunderchief with Rotosound TruBass strings set up with medium-high action for old-time string band/campfire jams in lieu of an upright (just couldn't justify owning a doghouse anymore). It does the job very well, but I do have a K&K Pure Bass pickup and a Phil Jones Bass Briefcase for competing with percussion or heavy-handed flatpickers. With responsibly picked acoustic guitar (when playing with me, I usually offer my Gibson L-00 to aggressive pickers), a fiddle or two, and open back clawhammer banjo it's more than sufficient acoustically. I'm pretty sure Tacoma's budget import line, Olympia, made a Thunderchief variant, and I would think they'd be very similar to the real deal, but the thin solid wood construction and super-thin finish on the US model seem to be a big part of how loud and good they sound.

I've never played one, but everyone says the old Guild big body basses are as loud as or louder than the Thunderchief. They're 32" scale and probably a smidgeon easier to play.

An outfit called Lamont guitars is now making a model called the Flatback, which is essentially a modern, (more) affordable Ernie Ball Earthwood. I've played an Earthwood, they're THUNDEROUS. The Rigel Acoustabass is also available, they're really big and according to everyone as loud as Earthwoods with a more upright-y tone, it'll be my next bass purchase.

@bholder is right, as far as I'm aware there aren't any especially manageably-sized or especially affordable acoustic bass guitars that will truly hold their own unamplified. Aside, presumably, from the models bholder mentioned, the Lamont, and the Rigel, all of the basses mentioned thus far are out of production, and all are somewhat hard to find.

All, even upright, are limited when it comes to percussion and such.
 
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#5
Even with a large very loud fully-carved double bass, the minute the doumbeks and djembes come out, I can't hear anything unless I have a serious amp. I honestly think such situations call for playing claves, not bass.
 
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#7
People will tell you there are several that can be easily heard in an acoustic setting, but unless you're sitting right in front of the crowd and your bass has those horrible bronze-wounds and your ripping the hell out of them with a stone pick whoever's playing the acoustic guitar is sitting twenty feet behind you, it's an uphill battle. We're bassists, it's all about tone. There's only so much tonal variety you can get out of an unplugged acoustic bass. Now, using a battery-powered amp, is an entirely different thing. The Roland Micro Cube will really get the job done...it's a good little practice amp, too, and the Joyo iMA 10-B is small enough to wear strapped to your back. Then, you'll be able to put a nice set of D'Addario black tapewounds on your bass, instead of those awful bronze-wounds.

Speaking of the Joyo, after wondering about it for the past two months, I finally took the plunge and bought one and I can't say enough about it. Louder than thought it would be and well worth the price.
From now on when people ask "Which acoustic bass should I buy that's loud enough to be heard in an acoustic setting?" I'm going to say "Buy whatever you like, just make sure you buy a Joyo MA 10-B, too!"
Photo-Collage-20200527-184617351.jpg
 
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#8
Came across something that might be as loud as an Ernie Ball Earthwood, but I’m just guessing
that it could be. Never saw one posted on TB or any where for that matter.
2D50B1C8-7DA8-4ABB-8F99-07BF0D277C92.jpeg
2EABB8E7-8243-42D9-AB64-D3C30E903405.jpeg

Acoustic Basses +++ the legendary Acoustic Bass 4-5-6-String +++ Luthier

Made by Stoll guitars in Germany. Comes in 4,5 & 6 string varieties.
Around $3,000
This thing is huge or the people in the photos on the website are dwarfs.

Incidentally, there’s an Earthwood currently on ‘Regurge’.
 
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#12
I have one of these https://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifiers-effects/pignose-hog-30-amp but as much as they are charging for them now I would probably buy the Roland Micro Cube for bass. When I bought mine it was only $ 150.00.
I take it when I am playing with an acoustic guitar or two. I can easily keep up.
When outside I use my older MIM P bass that I am not worried about getting damaged.
 
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#13
Everything each of the posters has said is true.
The bronze wounds sound bad if you refuse to adjust your technique and if the bass is inexpensive and if the strings are inexpensive OEMs.

The Guild is not particularly loud. It has a laminated top which limits tone volume and projection. The shorter string length actually 30.5 like an EBO conspires to limit volume. The diminutive Martin is louder and plays a world better. If they had made a dreadnought we’d be having less of this conversation.

Play an ABG for the sound, tone and if those amplification suggestions reproduce your bass’s sound then go for it. I can’t speak for any of those haven’t tried. I’ve owned and played the Guild, the Earthwood, the Taylor and the Dave Maize. My Maize is as loud as an acoustic Olsen guitar played reasonably. I mean how loud is a drum kit? Depends on the player.

I have tapes on my Taylor AB-2 because it sounds great with them. It has a K&K upright two piezo pickup glued to the sound plate in front of the bridge staggered. Sounds great. OEM pre & bridge piezo bypassed. But really I love my ABGs unplugged.

Recommend Jonas Hellborg’s “Silent Life.”
 
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#14
Hate if you want but the answer is there isn't one unless you're into gituarron, which I think is way cool but not what you're asking. I have Guild and an old Ferrington Kramer. They are both fun but with bright, brand new round strings with a pick I can get as loud as a Takamine cutaway with the anti-feedback soundhole cover on it and dead strings.
Go get one anyway because it's super fun to throw in the car and take it with you. It's also nice to sit on the porch and play to the rain without any gear. But I've never seen one at any cost that is as loud as a mid-range acoustic guitar in any circumstance. But again, you can cheat a little if you use a pick.
 
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#15
It is a matter of physics. Bass notes need to move a lot of air. There simply isn't a way an acoustic bass guitar can be a playable size and put out enough volume. Even an upright bass can have a problem in a loud acoustic jam if it is play pizzicato and the acoustic setup isn't good. I have one, I enjoy playing it. It is Ok when my friend who plays nylon stringed acoustic guitar comes over but it doesn't cut it for anything more.
 
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#18
I used to have an Epiphone El Segundo, and it was pretty loud. The El Capitan is a little bigger and loud as well.

I don’t think these are still in production, but on the used market they are reasonable.

My guess is that this is a campfire/outside casual jam instrument in which case you want something that won’t have to be babied.

If I am wrong and it is for gigs, then probably there will be amplification anyhow in which case a loud soundbox won’t matter.
 
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