One more "what do you recommend" question

A suggestion, and a serious one, is to not bother. If it's completely unplugged, and you're playing with guitars, the unplugged bass will be lost. If by 'unplugged' you mean 'electro-acoutsic guitars and precussion instead of drums', I'd just stay with what you've got - the only thing the acoustic bass will give you is the 'right' look.

I toyed with the idea of getting an acoustic for jamming with acoustic guitars, until I played one and realised how quiet they are. And when we do any 'unplugged' stuff at church, it's not really unplugged so I, or whoever's playing bass, just play regular electric basses plugged into the PA.

 

An alternative suggestion, if you have a burning desire for a new bass that's a bit different, is fretless. I think fretless works well in an 'unplugged' church setting - I'd like to get one at some point.

 

A few will debate this but IME ABGs are useless when accompanying ANYTHING louder than a tired mosquito(talking *unplugged*) Also, IME, one needs to hear ones clams in order to fix them.
That all said, I wouldn't spend more than 2 or 3 bills on one as there are many nice ones(if you do decide that will work for you)at that price point. Happy hunting, and let us know how it works out.

 

How many other musicians are you playing with?

I often recommend the Fender Kingman AEB when people ask for an acoustic...though I'm a bit biased, because I own one. It's a great instrument, but in can only realistically keep up with one acoustic guitar and a mandolin. Anything else might require a small combo, to keep you "unplugged" but still audible.

 

Is that genuinely unplugged, or are the voices mic'd up etc?

If the former, an acoustic bass may be loud enough but no guarantees. Or you could get an upright!

If there's any sort of amplification involved, I'd keep to an electric bass.

 

If everyone else is truly "unplugged" (no mic for vocals/guitars) then an AEB should do fine.

 

I have tried a number of AEBs, and I have never found one that I thought would produce enough volume to be practical for live performance. I tried the Fender Kingman, (in the store) someone has recommended here, and it was not bad, but I doubted it's viability along with any other that I tried. If anyone can recommend a specific AEB that is exceptionally louder than most, I would like to know about it.

Since Martin has a reputation for building high quality acoustic instruments, maybe someone who owns one can tell us about their experience with them.

 

Possibly - it depends what sound you've got in your head when you say 'acoustic'. I'd say things like string choice, EQ and where you pluck/pick would have a bigger effect.

If you mean to sound softer in the attack, less sustain and not so zingy, then the sort of things that would help (with your existing electric bass) would be flatwound (or maybe tapewound) strings, playing closer to (or over) the neck, turning the treble down, and either good muting technique or using a foam mute at the bridge. Even note choice can help, e.g. playing a B on the E string 7th fret for a fatter, rounder tone compared to the A string 2nd fret.

I've played a friend's fretless J equipped with tapewounds and, whilst not quite an upright sound, it can get you in the right direction.

 

Your alternatives:
1.True acoustic setting: upright or one of those Mexican Guittarones (a real monster to play) and that's about it. Nothing else will be loud enough.
2. Semi-acoustic setting (Acoustics, but plugged in, or only bass plugged in) I'd go with a Carvin AC40 fretless (I can vouch for it) or a Godin ABG. The Fender Kingman is quite impressive as well. Why thin bodied ABGs? Less likely to feedback, a problem with those things. Junk the phosphor bronze strings, by the way, and go with flats or tapes. Less fingernoise and more uprite-ish.
3. Just go fretless, as others have suggested. If you know you won't use it often, I suggest the Squier fretless Jazz that retails for about $299. Great bass for the money and sounds really cool with a set of flats or tapes.

I wish you well no matter what path you wish to take and hope it works out.

 

Use small 10" or 12" combo amp instead with your bass. Acoustic basses dont produce enough volume to accompany acoustic guitars.

 

How about a Stingray with a Piezo bridge? It would be at the high end of your budget for sure, but it would give you the "best" of both worlds. The best "acoustic" sound you'll get with an electric bass, and all the awesomeness of a Stingray as well.