Plusses and minuses to an acoustic bass

Pros:
-Practice anywhere.
-Cool, upright-ish sound.
-Looks better when playing with acoustic guitarists.

Cons:
-Usually have to be enormous to be heard.
-Might be awkward to play (depending on the person and bass).

 

Pros: seems like a good idea.

Cons: terrible in reality. They're just too quiet with no amplification.

 

In my experience, acoustic bass guitars are mostly for looks. You still have to plug them in for any real volume. They fit right in for an "unplugged" set (looks-wise) but you will still need an amp to be heard, especially if you're playing outside (e.g. busking). Plus, they just don't sound that great, unless you spend a LOT. Kasha-style ABGs sound good but they are not cheap.

Taylor's discontinued ABGs are built on the Kasha designs, and this guy also builds Kasha basses:

http://www.jthbass.com/index.html

Watch out, they are ~$9k.

There are battery-powered amps but you might as well go with an electric if you're gonna do that.

Hope this helps.

 

Pretty much. Takes an expensive ABG to compete with the volume of a cheap acoustic guitar.

The body thickness can change wrist angle on your right hand. A friend of mine had an acoustic gig and he's now experiencing numbness issues in his right hand.

Acoustic instruments also need the bridge to be about 4-5" from the edge of the body, which is essentially making your left hand reach 4-5 extra inches.

Semi-acoustic or chambered piezo basses won't get lots of volume without an amp, but do a great job with the acoustic sound plugged in without the extra size or feedback problems.

 

If you're just noodling around at home, the acoustic volume thing isn't an issue. If you're playing with just an acoustic guitar next to you, the smallest of amps will get you where you need to be. There are even some battery-powered units that will do the job if you don't have 'lectricity nearby. Keep in mind also that not every acoustic guitar is a volume machine either.

With regard to quality, if you don't get too picky, you can get into something serviceable for a few hundred bucks. This is an example of something on the lower end:
http://www.rondomusic.com/dbg29ce.html
It may be better than you think, and Rondo's return policy is pretty fair.

Above all else, be sharp and shop wisely - the deals are out there if you put some effort into looking.

 

in my experience, I've only tried 3 different acoustic basses, but we always had to use a small amp anyway, just to be heard over the unamplified acoustic guitars I was playing with.
stick with your electric, get you a small portable amp for playing on the street, and get you a decent set of headphones for the dorm room.

 

LOL, this is exactly why I'm a loyal Rob Allen user. I remember trying a Dean 5 string after I got my MB2. The MB2 has me absolutely spoiled! I get all the benefits of an acoustic bass or EUB, but don't really need to compromise my technique.

 

Dave Wendler also makes a NICE sounding acoustic bass...(look up electrocoustic.com........When it comes up,click the top that says Ozark Instruments.) Check out his sound clips. You WILL need an amp....I'm not aware of any that don't need amps,and MANY of the cheap ones sound....CHEAP. For $1100 Dave can build you a nice guitar.
IMHO
Kent

 

If you're using this for a gig situation, you better invest in a hybrid (electric/acoustic) or some acoustic pickups to get put in there, because it sounds fine when you're playing by yourself but ask any bass player in here, you THINK you'll be loud enough at practice till you get there and the guitarist is beating your 1x15 and 4x10's with 1x12 at 50w while you're cranking out 300w with a stack the height of an average teenager.

Don't be afraid of electrics, you can get lots of practice amps that aren't very loud or just get a headphone amp w/ a DI box. And if you're looking to do some busking, this guy seems to be doing ok with a little peavey combo:

 

Like many people here I have not had a positive experience with an acoustic bass guitar... yet. I keep looking though.

When I was in the Army, I used to practice on my P-Bass in the barracks without an amp.

Check this out: http://www.guitarcenter.com/Epiphone-Jack-Casady-Signature-Bass-Guitar-518245-i1149947.gc

I played one at a party once... I loved it. I recently saw a guy play one at a local gig. It has a really nice tone. I am sure it would cover your need for quiet practice. It also looks great. You will need an amp of course....

 

Check out the album, "Garden of Eden" by Paul Motian. It's Jazz, but the bassist (the name momentarily escapes me...) plays an ABG. The liner notes and photos indicate it. Strangely, it's a fretted ABG. I don't know of any other jazz albums where the bass player plays an ABG. Maybe someone else does.

 

I've been wanting an Ibanez AEB for a while now (just a little bit now and then). I have a Dean 5 string that isn't that bad. It is, as many have mentioned, mostly for the looks. I'd like to have a black acoustic to compliment the black acoustics that the guitarists play. Or maybe one of those nice natural brown Ibanez basses (wood grain, not like the yellowish gold acoustics).

The good thing is that if you are playing an acoustic bass, it is typically with acoustic guitars (otherwise, what's the point). A small practice amp can cut through nicely and sound great. My only experience with that was playing with two acoustic guitars and a Peavey combo (MAX 115, which is 50 or 60 watts driving a 15" speaker). It didn't take much to fit in nicely.

Now that I think of it, I was playing along with the guys. It was a slow acoustic song, very nice sounding. I had a fun bass part (simple but complimented everything nicely). Later that night my brother mentioned to me that he really liked the sound of the bass with the acoustic guitars and how the bass made it a lot better. I figured it may have been his way of being nice to me, but I think he really felt that way. It felt great receiving that compliment.

That just goes to show that acoustic guitars and some soothing low end goodness are a great combination.

That is my current line of thinking. I can't imagine using an AEB in a large setting. It'd be great for a coffee house setting; as long as you can dig the feel and sound.

Now I want a small but nice sounding practice amp. I don't need to be spending any more money.

 

For practicing in a dorm room, stick with your electric and get yourself a Tascam CD Bass Trainer (or the MP3 version). It has built-in bass tones and a headphone jack/mixer, plus of course the ability to loop, slow-down etc parts for transcription.

 

I've really tried hard to find an ABG that I really liked. I've tried Taylors, Godins, Carlo Robelis, Tacomas, etc etc.

I must've played about 100-150 different models, new and vintage, when I was looking for one I liked.

Well I found one, but I haven't seen another in person since. The Fender Victor Bailey Signature. Its very slim, very warm, and surprisingly loud. It kept up with an acoustic guitar player without anytrouble. The neck was also a dream to play. This bass is honestly one of the most overlooked basses ever. I mean, Fender only makes Ps and Js right?

My only gripe was that this bass belonged to a friend and he wouldn't sell it to me.

I recommend you try it if you can find one.

 

Buy a keyboard amp- I use a Roland for small and coffeehouse things. Plus, you can use it for just about everything (electronic drums, acoustic guitars, keyboards, vocals, basses of all kinds), except electric guitars.

 

Do yourself a favor...

Search: ABG, acoustic, Michael Kelly, Takamine, Playmate...
Read the posts from all the people who love their ABG's.

Get out and try one. Wrap your arms around the jumbo body and dig in.
It's no slab.

Understand and accept the instrument for what it is. It's not going to stand out in a fifteen piece ukulele band, but it will hang with an acoustic guitar or two, depending on the players.

Oh.. and the people who say "if you have to plug in, just bring your electric"; man, that's such a load of crap.