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loudest acoustic bass guitar?

#41
+1 - Once at a backyard party that I attended, a Spanish band was hired to play. The bassist had one of those HUGE acoustic bass guitars and I was pleasantly surprised at how he could still be heard along with the other guys playing guitar, mandolin, trumpet and singing.

Twocan said:
It's a hopeless quest - give it up. Unless you're going to carry around one of those Mexican guitars that are the size of a small automobile, you'll never be satisfied with the volume.
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#44
nocontrols said:
Sadly, this is true. Bass never sounds good unless you're pushing some real air. To get real volume, you're going to want it amplified. Completely on its own, an acoustic bass guitar isn't a very satisfying instrument if you're going for actual rumble and its not very convenient, relative to most situations. I think you'd actually get more volume using a standard solid-body electric bass plugged into a small practice combo... I can probably get more volume out of my measly 20-watt Acoustic B20 than any acoustic bass guitar.

I hate to be so negative... it sucks just saying "you can't do it". But that's the same cold pragmatism you have to give whenever people ask how they can make a tiny combo with one 12 inch speaker loud enough to keep up with their very heavy-hitting drummer and guitarist who happens to like 100-watt Marshall stacks for playing heavy metal. It can't realistically be done.
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I haven't played that many models, but I have played a few cheapies, some middle-priced and even a few from the expensive companies..... and the straight volume they all produce is very low.

To me, they are not at all useful without an amplifier, even when playing with acoustic guitars, which makes them then seem pointless to me. It IS sad! It would be so nice to have something that projects by itself without it being a guitarron. Those things are just way too big.... and not that cool-looking.
 
#45
I had a Spencer acoustic bass guitar that was an acceptable size, had a really nice sound, and was loud enough to be heard over at least two guitarists who play with a lot of attack.

Sound too good to be true? It was.

The bridge is just terrible quality and they're not put together very well; I had to repair the bracing in mine. Yet, they sound really good, they're inexpensive, and if you go into it knowing the risks, they really aren't too bad.

To be fair, I had no trouble until a few years in, and even that came after being rather careless with it.

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#46
(What's the) loudest acoustic bass guitar?
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ANSWER: The one plugged into the biggest amplifier.

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#47
I've tried the following ABG's, ranked loudest to quietest:
  • Guild B-50
  • Boulder Creek, 4 and 5 string
  • Gold Tone ABG-4
  • Larrivee
  • Michael Kelly, various models
  • Lawson
  • Luna
  • Dean
  • Hohner
  • Ovation
  • Johnson
The Guild is the only one that can keep up with more than one acoustic guitar and mandolin. More than that, and you need amplification, or an upright or guitarron.
 
#50
Takamine EG512C is the answer to your question. Jumbo body, strong voice, articulates chords, good electronics, even good w flatwounds but you lose some flavor, naturally. Balanced re: neck dive. I've looked for a strong acoustic for years. This is what I found.
Honorable mention--Guild (can't recall the model; I didn't buy it but almost did).
EG512C is under 600 US. They also make one w flamed top for a higher price. Never seen it in person but online.

Samick makes a very handsome acoustic fretless. I haven't played one yet but I aim to. It's said to be loud etc
 
#51
The Morgan Monroe I played at GC yesterday was fairly loud, more so than the Ibanez models I had my eye on. But also consider, it was in GC's acoustic room with no one else playing guitar nor was there any other kind of back ground noise. I put it on layaway and when I get it out, I'll jam some with my band acoustically. I'll let you know how it does in a band setting.

+1 on all the replies that say most ABG's need some kind of amplification to be heard. I will probably find out the same thing with the Morgan Monroe but it's worth a try to play it acoustically just to see.
 
#53
I tried the ABG with the resulting issues described above... it wasn't loud enough without being plugged in. Amplified, it was very bright. It really needed an EQ pedal between the bass and amp... or something to thicken the sound. I returned the ABG to the person I borrowed it from before I found a solution.

For "acoustic" gigs now, just bring a regular electric bass and a small amp. I usually sit on the amp, or place it behind me. Mostly it is used a monitor... the real mix of guitars and bass is sent to the FOH.

For jamming acoustically with friends... I just play guitar. :hmm:
 
#54
Don't know if it's the loudest but very good volume is the Tacoma Thunderchief. Whether if they are available in Europe, I don't know. It has recently been discontinued but can be found used. They were made with and without a piezo pickup.
 
#55
An upright ;)

...But seriously, I've heard good things about both Earthwood and Tacoma in terms of volume and tone. Like most others are saying, basically the one with the biggest body possible. Long scale, heavy strings and lots of tension are good too. Basically, more of everything will give you more volume.
 

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