So I'm playing with only me and a guitarist at some open mic nights. Problem is, lugging my GK combo for an open mic night is not only a hassle but not courteous considering I'd be holding up the show for other acts. I need something quick and dirty, and, if need be, may be put up to a microphone (the extent of amplification going on). Any electronics are not necessary. Budget is ~$250.
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Need a cheap ABG for coffee shop gigs
- Thread starter Tupac
- Start date
Try the Roland micro bass cube. Battery powered...
Roland Micro Cube Bass RX Bass Amp | Sweetwater.com
Roland Micro Cube Bass RX Bass Amp | Sweetwater.com
I would suggest a Fender Rumble 40 amp. http://www.googleadservices.com/pag...3Dc%26matchtype%3Db%26network%3Dg&cad=rjaMine has plenty of volume for any open mic venue I've taken it to and has to be the best practice amp made.
If you still want an acoustic bass, there is the Ibanez AEB5. They also go for about $200 new. http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...HyXN11uATKjeSI7-Gk-Jjcw&bvm=bv.97653015,d.aWw I got one because open mic hosts let me play it through their PA systems where my regular electric basses were not welcome if I did not bring an amp. I sold it when I got my Gold Tone Microbass, which is what I would recommend for your purpose, but it costs much more than your budget.
Since space is a tight in many open mic venues, you might want to look into the acoustic uke basses at Rondo Music. Link Removed I have no idea how it would sound if you mic'ed it, but it would work through a PA. It has the same strings as the stock strings on my Microbass. I didn't like them. I got the Road Toad pahoehoe strings string_store
If you still want an acoustic bass, there is the Ibanez AEB5. They also go for about $200 new. http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...HyXN11uATKjeSI7-Gk-Jjcw&bvm=bv.97653015,d.aWw I got one because open mic hosts let me play it through their PA systems where my regular electric basses were not welcome if I did not bring an amp. I sold it when I got my Gold Tone Microbass, which is what I would recommend for your purpose, but it costs much more than your budget.
Since space is a tight in many open mic venues, you might want to look into the acoustic uke basses at Rondo Music. Link Removed I have no idea how it would sound if you mic'ed it, but it would work through a PA. It has the same strings as the stock strings on my Microbass. I didn't like them. I got the Road Toad pahoehoe strings string_store
Need will be. In my opinion, a mic'd ABG sounds kinda awful. A tiny amp would serve you better. Something like an Ampeg BA108 maybe.
I don't understand why you think using a small combo would be a problem: How long does it take to plug it in, and then plug in your bass? If your current combo is larger than you want to carry, get a smaller one -- and use your favorite bass instead of getting a new one just for this purpose.
Yeahh...seems like it would take longer to setup a mic for the acoustic rather than plug into an amp.
If you read any of the many threads on ABGs, you'll see that they need amplification anyway. It's sheer physics; you need a large resonating surface (or a lot of power in a small one) to generate long sound wavelengths, which bass notes are, with any amplitude. There's a reason upright basses are doghouse sized, or that a tuba is bigger than a trumpet. An ABG uses a guitar-sized body to generate sound waves with much much lower frequencies; it simply can't compete with the higher-pitched guitar for volume. A couple of the expensive ones do better, but not on a $250 budget.
Bottom line; unless you're going to bring an upright to these coffeehouse gigs, you need an amp, no matter if you're using a solidbody or an ABG. It doesn't need to be a BIG amp, just a little one will do the trick, but you need something.
Bottom line; unless you're going to bring an upright to these coffeehouse gigs, you need an amp, no matter if you're using a solidbody or an ABG. It doesn't need to be a BIG amp, just a little one will do the trick, but you need something.
I agree there is no way I will use an ABG and I have owned and tried to like quite a few. They all sound terrible to me.
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Especially since you can show up at the beginning, set everything up ahead of time, and then when it's your turn plug in and turn on.
i tend to disagree with the whole acoustic bass needs amplification thing, my warwick alien bass can hold its own in a small jazz group unplugged. but that bass is probably out of your budget, so id reccomend one of the breedlove basses
Can the audience members in the back vouch for that?
well i should also state that we were using marching quads instead of a drumkit (worked really well actually) and the horns were playing very quietly. i was also using a pick for additional volume
Almost any unamplified ABG will be virtually useless in a live situation. Once there are people talking, shuffling around, glasses clanking, etc, it won't be heard. A nice ABG mic'd will probably not sound great either. All of these issues are magnified considerably when you get into a $250 bass. IMO, best bet is to use the $250 for a portable combo and just use an electric bass.
I was thinking the same thing.. I have a small 60w powered speaker that I use for small stuff like that but I am thinking of getting a Roland RXMC or a Hog 30 specifically for those ABG kinds of things..
slobake
resident ... something
I agree with this. Better to get a small light amp and use a good solid body base.
I have an Ampeg B108 and one of the new Rumble 40's. The Rumble weighs 15lbs and puts out some nice tones. It also fits in the budget of $250 for a new amp. I like the Rumble better than the Ampeg. It is lighter, louder and sounds better.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
Almost any ABG will need amplification to be heard in a gig situation - this is coming from the owner of a Tacoma Thunderchief. Amping it will sound much better than miccing it (no to mention miccing will only make feedback issues worse).
As others have said, you are better off getting a small amp. Plug it in behind the stage between acts. When it is your turn, slide it up to where you are, and plug in - should take all of 15 seconds. Plus, you will have an amp you can use for practice at home.
As others have said, you are better off getting a small amp. Plug it in behind the stage between acts. When it is your turn, slide it up to where you are, and plug in - should take all of 15 seconds. Plus, you will have an amp you can use for practice at home.
I did say that some of the more expensive basses do better, though still none of them is all that loud. I have done the unplugged-ABG-and-guitar-duo thing with my wife. If I dug in very hard with a heavy pick and she played lightly with a felt pick, we could almost even out the volume. That was with a Michael Kelly Dragonfly, which is more than double the OP's budget and, what, half or a third what a Warwick Alien would cost? And it was pretty strained and limiting, technique-wise, to do.
There are steps you can take to make an unplugged acoustic be audible, but are they worth it? Play hard with high action and a pick and have the other band members play as quietly as possible and you might, just might be heard. Is all that hassle and sacrifice of good tone worth not bringing an small amp?
Acoustic basses aren't useless in band situations. They have a unique sound that an electric can't reproduce but they have to be plugged in. It's just how it is.
Acoustic basses aren't useless in band situations. They have a unique sound that an electric can't reproduce but they have to be plugged in. It's just how it is.
Not true. Acoustically competitive ABGs do exist, but they are hard to find and usually expensive. Unless you get extremely lucky, cheap ain't loud and loud ain't cheap. Since price is a factor here, I generally agree, get a small amp or plan on having a mic right in front of the soundhole - sharing a mic with a cheap ABG isn't going to cut it.
Unless, of course, OP manages to get extremely lucky and score a loud ABG for cheap - it is possible, just happened to me recently, thanks to another TBer.
(I have a few loud expensive ABGs, but just scored a Tacoma Thunderchief for not too much - a bit banged up, but hey, that's why it wasn't so $$ive.)
