You can play it fingerstyle, it works fine. It isn't as loud as with a pick though so when playing acoustic with other instruments a pick is better.
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Loud acoustic bass
- Thread starter Bergerac
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- loud acoustic
I have wondered about stringing an acoustic bass guitar ADGC, with the idea that the higher tuning would fit the resonant frequency/size of the instrument better and yield more acoustic volume.
Although given that many ABGs aren’t much bigger than a guitar, even that tuning would be below the instrument’s resonant frequency. (I’ve read that standard guitars aren’t even quite large enough for their bottom E—the resonant frequency is closer to G, if memory serves.)
So I could see how CGDA (or maybe DGCF, if one wants to stick with fourths) would suit these instruments well. Of course, at that point they’re not really a bass anymore...
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IMHO your potentially missing out on the unique sonic qualities of a good amplified ABG. My Tacoma Thunderchief sounds incredible plugged in at low volume. There's a certain interaction between the amp and bass that is simply awesome! You're not going to reproduce this sort of sound with a slab.
On the downside, I will say the Tacoma becomes uncomfortable to play rather quickly. The size of the body forces me to hold my arms out at angles that cause uncomfortable pressure in my joints.
So for recording I think the running the Tacoma through an amp would work really well. For an extended gig, it's probably going to get uncomfortable.
I actually have one of those, same year, even. Not as loud as you might think, but it's the right idea. I think the top is a bit too thick. I got mine going fairly well with GHS Crossovers EURB strings.
Oh, and that price is actually quite good, if I didn't already have one (I paid a bit more), I'd be thinking of snagging it...
I think this thread / post is the "large with endpin" ABG I was thinking of: What happened to the 4 string Classical Contrabass Guitar?
I tried tapes and bronzes on my Dean Playmate. Meh, but a loud meh. Then i tried Savarez classical bass strings. Winner! And it even made the passive electronics sound good; no need to swap out.
I do not see anything rough or wrong with the fingerboard, and that at worse is the second best-conditioned bassoguitar I have encountered . . . maybe the best. And, very rare, it appears to be all original, the only exception possibly being the bridge. And yet, that bridge looks very like one on mine, which I thought was a home-carved replacement. I nearly choked on my A&W when I saw the bridge on this one.
For a bassoguitar in this condition, this is priced *very* reasonably.
Regal had the sense to put an overstand on the neck on these, like on a DB. They are not DB loud, but they are loud enough to hang with a few acoustic guitars. The tops may be overbuilt (a common flaw of ABGs in general), but I think the sonic issues have more to do with the ladder bracing, which is overbuilt.
Mine do not sound like a DB. I'm going to have to try different strings.
One thing to keep in mind about the Regals is that they were designed for all metal strings, not URB strings (typically metal wraps over gut or nylon core). The higher tension strings I tried on it, the louder it got.
I wouldn't say they're not a bass, they're just a piccolo bass.
This photo concerned me a bit. Notice the top fret line.
I don't know anything about these instruments, so I don't really know what I am looking at. However, it looks like the bass was originally fretted, and the frets have been removed and the holes filled. The top line looks like something is going on, but perhaps it's just the photo.
Otherwise looks like a very cool old instrument in very good condition.
I don't know where they got or made them, but I'm pretty sure the original strings were basically just big guitar strings - bronze wraps for sure, I think metal cores, but I don't know now where I got that...
This photo concerned me a bit. Notice the top fret line.
View attachment 3857829
I don't know anything about these instruments, so I don't really know what I am looking at. However, it looks like the bass was originally fretted, and the frets have been removed and the holes filled. The top line looks like something is going on, but perhaps it's just the photo.
Otherwise looks like a very cool old instrument in very good condition.
The original fingerboards are lined fretless. A clean 'board suggests a replacement. And over decades, a slot filler can wear.
"regal bassoguitar" - بحث Google
They were never fretted, the fret lines were made by cutting fret slots and then filling (with what, I'm not positive, not solid wood though). I agree with @GretschWretch, that's in the best condition I've seen.
This photo concerned me a bit. Notice the top fret line.
View attachment 3857829
I don't know anything about these instruments, so I don't really know what I am looking at. However, it looks like the bass was originally fretted, and the frets have been removed and the holes filled. The top line looks like something is going on, but perhaps it's just the photo.
Otherwise looks like a very cool old instrument in very good condition.
songwriter21
I have an obsession for wood. The musical kind.
Funny how some people don't seem to realize this, but are well aware of the difference in tone between a Precision and a StingRay.
Just saying I wanted a flat-top AEB just for acoustic messing around learning and practicing things. Started with the cheapest no name, I assume Chinese mfg ones. Went through two, just seeing if I really wanted one and would use it. They were junk and even had bridge pull the top into a warp.
Then found a deal on a Dean that I used for a while. It was ok, but lacked tone and volume. Then got a deal on a Michael Kelly a little better, but still lacked some power and punch.
I went out and played a lot trying to see what was out there. Mind you never picked up a Martin, but did try a Tacoma Thiunderchief. The Thunderchief was the bomb, but since they aren't manufactured any longer, hard to find, and prices are up there. So good luck.
I play Electric bass, and the AEB was just a thing to have to carry to a barbeque or carry around the house to work on something.
Then I found out the Spector folks bought a Thunderchief and took it apart measuring everything. They built a Timbre on that design with ladder bracing and etc. And that the Spector Timbre was selling new on the street for $700 or so. Ok I made the buy.
Believe me, I can bring a Timbre to a jam session with a couple of acoustic players and it holds its own. And it can be heard laying down bass. I do use Acoustic Bronze bass strings, they work fine. And they are louder than trying to put an Electric Bass String or an Electric Tape Wound Bass string onto an AEB. Just saying using strings like that will curtail your volume and punch.
Currently loving the volume of Elixir Bronze 80/20 strings
They keep up acoustically with 2 acoustic guitars, three vocals, harmonica, and even a cajon player and a tamborine. And not plugged in an amp. Acoustic.....
Then found a deal on a Dean that I used for a while. It was ok, but lacked tone and volume. Then got a deal on a Michael Kelly a little better, but still lacked some power and punch.
I went out and played a lot trying to see what was out there. Mind you never picked up a Martin, but did try a Tacoma Thiunderchief. The Thunderchief was the bomb, but since they aren't manufactured any longer, hard to find, and prices are up there. So good luck.
I play Electric bass, and the AEB was just a thing to have to carry to a barbeque or carry around the house to work on something.
Then I found out the Spector folks bought a Thunderchief and took it apart measuring everything. They built a Timbre on that design with ladder bracing and etc. And that the Spector Timbre was selling new on the street for $700 or so. Ok I made the buy.
Believe me, I can bring a Timbre to a jam session with a couple of acoustic players and it holds its own. And it can be heard laying down bass. I do use Acoustic Bronze bass strings, they work fine. And they are louder than trying to put an Electric Bass String or an Electric Tape Wound Bass string onto an AEB. Just saying using strings like that will curtail your volume and punch.
Currently loving the volume of Elixir Bronze 80/20 strings
They keep up acoustically with 2 acoustic guitars, three vocals, harmonica, and even a cajon player and a tamborine. And not plugged in an amp. Acoustic.....
