New Martin acoustic basses

[D.A.R.K.]

I do think that, if you want an acoustic bass, you want a mini one - smaller acoustical instruments, while they don't play loudly on their own, tend to do better when amplified in terms of being more resistant to feedback. I've always like mini acoustics when doing FOH - you have a much better chance of getting a good sound when amplified with a mini or concert size guitar than you do with a dreadnought or jumbo.

This is absolutely true- in all my decades of live engineering, the smaller, parlor down to the mini guitars always have less issues. The big acoustic bass guitars like the Takomas are always a nightmare. Can't say I care for the Uke type basses, they can sound good but just a bit too small for me. And the ones with the rubber strings- can't stand them.

 

[bigjames]

You have this Guild B-30 owner's attention.

As far as the minis go, if I wanted a smaller ABG, I'd go for a Kala. Which I own.

Agreed. I have not found an acoustic that I really like enough to buy, but the kala has come close. It does what it does really well.

 

[B-Mac]

And the ones with the rubber strings- can't stand them.

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This

 

[Manticore]

I LOVE my Martin acoustic bass guitar. I don't think I can hang with a short scale though, particularly a scale that short. It must require an unusually soft touch.

 

[D.A.R.K.]

I LOVE my Martin acoustic bass guitar. I don't think I can hang with a short scale though, particularly a scale that short. It must require an unusually soft touch.

The ones I played, you can dig in just fine. It's like playing in a higher position, scale- wise.

 

[Frankie Fender]

The fretboard dots are wonky, why be different than the other 99%?

 

[Auer]

I can’t seem to find info on where they’re made.

My guess is Mexico.

 

[B-Mac]

View attachment 5031194

Thanks
Odd that it isn’t in the specs on the website.

 

[HaphAsSard]

I just wish they would make a set of flats that work with these mini basses. Maybe physics is in the way, but both my full-size acoustic bass guitars come to life with EB cobalt flats.

They do:
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Nickel flatwound on a nylon core.

There's a couple more.

 

[Maxi Funkl]

kinda cool added to the gas list gee thanks lol

 

[rorsini]

They do:
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Nickel flatwound on a nylon core.

There's a couple more.

Yeah, these didn't work for me. I bought that set, and a GS Mini Bass and discovered that without physically modifying the bass bridge they wouldn't fit. I'd be curious to hear about anyone who's installed flats on these. I couldn't afford the risk of not being able to return the bass for that experiment. I tried...

 

[HaphAsSard]

without physically modifying the bass bridge

The pins. Yeah, I remember:
Flat wounds on a Taylor GS Mini-e Bass?
Still, they do make a set of flats that work with these mini basses.

 

[Jeff Scott]

The fretboard dots are wonky, why be different than the other 99%?

They might be a reference to an earlier time in Martin's history, just as the fingerboard dots on my custom OM-18 are a throwback to an earlier time.

 

[rorsini]

The pins. Yeah, I remember:
Flat wounds on a Taylor GS Mini-e Bass?
Still, they do make a set of flats that work with these mini basses.

I hope you're right. Unless something has changed though, my experience was that the packaging indicated they would work, but in fact they did not.

My guess is that they just based their claim of compatibility solely on scale length alone, and not on trial (and possible error $$$) with each one of the basses in this list:

 

[J Wilson]

I don't know how we got to this scale format for bass, longer than a uke, and shorter than traditional short scale, for these little plonkety-plonk basses, but I'm disappointed they don't come with Chuck E Cheese tickets or Hello Kitty stickers.

 

[elkkid2]

I just wish they would make a set of flats that work with these mini basses. Maybe physics is in the way, but both my full-size acoustic bass guitars come to life with EB cobalt flats.

Good to know! --I might try them!

 

[skycruiser]

Did I read that right - 24" scale? That's crazy short.

 

[Major Seven]

Wonder how much these would cost if made in the U.S.?

You are joking, right?

 

[Major Seven]

You are joking, right?

Never mind

 

[D.A.R.K.]

I don't know how we got to this scale format for bass, longer than a uke, and shorter than traditional short scale, for these little plonkety-plonk basses, but I'm disappointed they don't come with Chuck E Cheese tickets or Hello Kitty stickers.

Ukes are for wussies, that's why