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Need a cheap ABG for coffee shop gigs

#63
hrodbert696 said:
While we're on the subject, can I just ask a question. People have commented, and I've heard before, that the Warwick Alien and the Tacoma Thunderchief manage high volume without amplification. Does anyone know HOW? Like I said in an earlier post, the physics are the physics; you need larger vibrating surfaces to get longer wavelength sounds with amplitude. So what voodoo do those ABGs have that ordinary ones don't?
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Well, even if I owned this
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I still wouldn't use it to play an acoustic set at the Hava Java unless I could get the amount of tonal options out of it that I can with this
15mn59d.jpg
 
#65
bholder said:
My '37 Regal Bassoguitar has them all beat on internal physical volume, but it's in somewhat of a different category - at 41.5" scale, it's really more of an ABG shaped upright. It has good acoustic volume, but doesn't beat the Earthwood as it is, because it's strung with upright strings. What it needs are really heavy gauge metal core bronze wrapped ABG strings, which is what is was designed for, but nobody seems to make them 78 years later.
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Have you considered mando-bass strings?
D'Addario EJ79 Mandobass Copper Coated Steel Wound 4-string jetzt online kaufen bei SchneiderMusik.de
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(Sorry for the eurolinks but I bet you can easily find a US vendor for at least two of the sets if your interest has been piqued.)
The D'Ads are copper plated steel (hmm, I'd turn them green in no time), the La Bellas phosphor bronze (same as the above or worse IME, YMMV), the Pyramid are silver plated copper (I get a lot more mileage out of like-wound strings), on a steel core (just like the other two I guess).
 
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#67
Mine is a Dean Exotica through a Line 6 Studio 110 on the "R&B" preset. I get asked to bring that thing to electric gigs, it sounds so good. Yes, it's an odd match of instrument and amp, but for some unknown reason, it works. That, or it's the tapewound strings. Or maybe the Aphex preamp in the Dean.
 
#69
old-fashioned said:
An amp and a u-bass will make you happy, just try not to be too itchy about intonation... or, if you can play it better, go fretless. It is the closest thing to an upright bass. No abg will sound as thick as an u-bass.
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I just ordered a Carvin MB15 to go with my custom fretless u-bass with Kala metal wound on nylon strings. The bass to me sounds really good through an amp, and can work in a limited acoustic session.
 
#71
Kukulkan61 said:
ABGs IMO are a worthless as the boobies on a Bore hog, you still have to amplify them so what's the use of having one when your gonna have to lug an amp around with you, just play your fav electric and save your money..
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Whether anyone agrees or not with that comparison, "as worthless as the boobies on a bore hog" is the greatest thing I've heard all month :roflmao:
 
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#73
I'm at a conference for work. I just saw a couple guys playing downstairs doing a duo "acoustic" gig. Bass player was playing an old Harmony semi hollow that looked like it was from the early 60s. Tape wounds. Foam under the strings. Best URB cop tone I have ever heard hands down. Sounded incredible.
They did everything from bluegrass to Allman Bros and Van Morrison deep cuts and that bass sounded amazing on all of it. DI right into the board with a Yamaha floor monitor turned toward the crowd for volume. Awesome. Loved it.
 
#74
Kukulkan61 said:
ABGs IMO are a worthless as the boobies on a Bore hog, you still have to amplify them so what's the use of having one when your gonna have to lug an amp around with you, just play your fav electric and save your money..
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You tell 'em chief.
And what's with those electrified acoustic guitar things? Folly! If you have to plug in an acoustic you might as well bring your strat or something...
:rollno:
 
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#75
gary m said:
Mine is a Dean Exotica through a Line 6 Studio 110 on the "R&B" preset. I get asked to bring that thing to electric gigs, it sounds so good. Yes, it's an odd match of instrument and amp, but for some unknown reason, it works. That, or it's the tapewound strings. Or maybe the Aphex preamp in the Dean.
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The Aphex preamp in the Dean is amazing...better than any Fishman I've heard. I put D'Addario flatwounds on my Exotica...and strange but true, adding a Planet Waves sound plug actually improved the plugged-in tone, too.

Warwick Alien, Breedlove, Boulder Creek, etc, etc, etc...I wouldn't trade my Exotica for anything else. In fact, I'm buying another Exotica very soon...I really like them in blue.
The simple truth is, I can't make either of my Jazz basses sound like my Exotica!
And for all those acoustic bass naysayers with that ridiculous "You gotta plug 'em in" BS...yeah, no fooling!
 
#76
jd56hawk said:
The Aphex preamp in the Dean is amazing...better than any Fishman I've heard. I put D'Addario flatwounds on my Exotica...and strange but true, adding a Planet Waves sound plug actually improved the plugged-in tone, too.

Warwick Alien, Breedlove, Boulder Creek, etc, etc, etc...I wouldn't trade my Exotica for anything else. In fact, I'm buying another Exotica very soon...I really like them in blue.
The simple truth is, I can't make either of my Jazz basses sound like my Exotica!
And for all those acoustic bass naysayers with that ridiculous "You gotta plug 'em in" BS...yeah, no fooling!
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Yea well when you have a soundstage like that.................
 
#78
I play out about once a month with two other acoustic guitar players with my Dean EAB.Where we play at has a small pa and condenser mics already on the stage.Its been working out great for me.Idk if it would hold its on just alone but with a condenser mic about a 1ft or less in front of it,it works out good.
 

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