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Tacoma® CB105C 5-String Thunderchief Bass

daveonbass

daveonbass

Gold Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Apr 5, 2001
1,306
2,285
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Waupun, WI
www.daveonbass.com
#1
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Well, I'm looking for a new 5 String Acoustic - been watching ebay for months, nothing really tripped my trigger yet. So I'm thinking about buying one of these NEW.

Price list:
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According to the above price list:
Bass: $1372
Fishman Electronics: $250
Case: Included
Total List: $1622

My local store will sell me this bass new for $800-900 which seems like a helluva deal considering what I see them going for USED on eBay.

Love the LOOK of this bass, but haven't tried one in a LONG time... I remember liking it when I did play one many moons ago - just wondering if any TBers have any recent first hand experience with this bass at all?

:hmm:
 
#3
A Thunderchief 5 with a Fishman prefix plus pre?? I doubt that you will get this for $800.00, unless of course,they really like you. The Thunderchief is the my favorite acoustic bass. When I purchased mine I compared it to the Victor Baily, Fender, Michael Kelly, Ovation, and the Martin acoustic basses. NONe of them ever came close to sounding as deep and rich as the Tacoma. The Tacoma resonates really well and has pretty good volume when unplugged. Go for it, you wont regret it.
 
#4
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Whay is the Tacoma® CB285C 5-String Acoustic Bass so much more? I can't find any huge differences in the specs...

:confused:

Yeah, I deal mostly with Music Center in Kenosha, WI - they're awesome on price. I know they used to ship gear to all kinds of touring musicians who'd just call them when they needed something, not much need to haggle once they give you a price: http://www.musiccenterinc.com/

;)
 
#5
seansbrew said:
A Thunderchief 5 with a Fishman prefix plus pre?? I doubt that you will get this for $800.00, unless of course,they really like you. The Thunderchief is the my favorite acoustic bass. When I purchased mine I compared it to the Victor Baily, Fender, Michael Kelly, Ovation, and the Martin acoustic basses. NONe of them ever came close to sounding as deep and rich as the Tacoma. The Tacoma resonates really well and has pretty good volume when unplugged. Go for it, you wont regret it.
Click to expand...

They always surprise me when I call for prices. I just bought a SRMM5 there, their price was like $300 less than any other music store quoted me, including Bass Central. I do buy a lot of gear, but I think that's just how they run the business. Sell a lot of gear at the best prices available ANYWHERE. Once you get a deal like that you tend to just buy from THEM, ya know?

$800 does seem low, it'll probably be more with the Fishman... I didn't specifically state that when I called for price...

:hmm:
 
#6
daveonbass said:
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Whay is the Tacoma® CB285C 5-String Acoustic Bass so much more? I can't find any huge differences in the specs...

:confused:


;)
Click to expand...
The think its the wood and finish. The regular TC's are mahogony body and neck with plain spruce top. This one is off the charts with figured wood, finish and ebony fingerboard.
 
#7
I LOVE mine. One of the most fun basses to fiddle around on. Sounds sooooo good.

2000sBasses.jpg


My wife paid $1049 new last Father's Day for mine, including shipping and an amazing hard case. Has E4 Fishman Prefix plus preamp, FWIW. I think the one without the pre was more like $800.

B string is pretty tight, but isn't super loud unplugged due to the limitations of physics. Sounds good plugged in, but I'd recommend getting a feedback destroyer made for it (cost me about $30 including shipping for a nice rosewood one to fit in the paisley soundhole).

Moderator "HeavyDuty" has one too, IIRC., and I think is came with no electronics. Some people really like to get the one with no electronics and have a K&K installed later.
 
#8
BartmanPDX said:
I LOVE mine. One of the most fun basses to fiddle around on. Sounds sooooo good.

2000sBasses.jpg


My wife paid $1049 new last Father's Day for mine, including shipping and an amazing hard case. Has E4 Fishman Prefix plus preamp, FWIW. I think the one without the pre was more like $800.

B string is pretty tight, but isn't super loud unplugged due to the limitations of physics. Sounds good plugged in, but I'd recommend getting a feedback destroyer made for it (cost me about $30 including shipping for a nice rosewood one to fit in the paisley soundhole).

Moderator "HeavyDuty" has one too, IIRC., and I think is came with no electronics. Some people really like to get the one with no electronics and have a K&K installed later.
Click to expand...

I haven't experienced feedback with my Tacoma TC, but then again, I haven't gigged with it. Are you talking high volumes here? Is this bass as sensitive to feedback as any other electric/acoustic? I have the Tacoma TC with the prefix plus. How effective is this pre amp at eliminating feedback?
 
#9
seansbrew said:
I haven't experienced feedback with my Tacoma TC, but then again, I haven't gigged with it. Are you talking high volumes here? Is this bass as sensitive to feedback as any other electric/acoustic? I have the Tacoma TC with the prefix plus. How effective is this pre amp at eliminating feedback?
Click to expand...

I haven't gigged with mine, either. I've had feedback both through my main rig and my practice amp. The preamp is pretty useful at eliminating feedback. The feedback destroyer helps, too, and looks good (I had mine made with rosewood to match the fretboard).

With some tweaking, I can eliminate the feedback. However, with an instrument that resonates as much as a Tacoma, it IS an issue that people should be aware of. Any ABG will do it, and the Tacoma, as one of the loudest, most resonant ABGs, will do it as much if not more than most. This is where the notch filter comes in so handy.

If you want to play plugged in most of the time, and want NO problems with feedback, you're better off getting a semi-hollow bass like a Godin A5. I just sold my Godin A4 fretless, but I could not ever get it to feedback, and it had a great plugged-in tone.
 
#10
BartmanPDX said:
I haven't gigged with mine, either. I've had feedback both through my main rig and my practice amp. The preamp is pretty useful at eliminating feedback. The feedback destroyer helps, too, and looks good (I had mine made with rosewood to match the fretboard).

With some tweaking, I can eliminate the feedback. However, with an instrument that resonates as much as a Tacoma, it IS an issue that people should be aware of. Any ABG will do it, and the Tacoma, as one of the loudest, most resonant ABGs, will do it as much if not more than most. This is where the notch filter comes in so handy.

If you want to play plugged in most of the time, and want NO problems with feedback, you're better off getting a semi-hollow bass like a Godin A5. I just sold my Godin A4 fretless, but I could not ever get it to feedback, and it had a great plugged-in tone.
Click to expand...

Do you have a pic?
 
#11
seansbrew said:
Do you have a pic?
Click to expand...

The Tacoma and the Godin are in the above picture. As for the Feedback Destroyer, if you're really interested, I can take a pic of the Tacoma with it in the soundhole, or you can see what they look like by googling "Lawrence Pimentel," who is the guy who made mine.

Here is another picture of my old Godin:

IMG_0847.jpg


Fortunately, my best friend bought it, so I didn't have to say goodbye forever. :)
 
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#12
I've got a Tacoma Thunderchief 5 string. I'd played any accoustic bass I could get my hands on and the Tacome won hands down every time. Had not played a 5 string until I took mine out of the case after I ordered it from my local music store. I paid about 900.00 for mine. My local music store actually called Tacoma and talked to one of the guys there about electronics options on the bass. He suggested the L.R. Baggs as the best for the 5 string. He said it was better voiced. I play through a SWR California Blonde and the 2 together makes for a KILLER sound. The notch filter helps with feedback as does the Feedback Buster but it will still feedback under the right conditions. My feedback buster is a little loose and rattles but it will be fixed for free if I'll just send it back. I've had mine for 3 years and had no issues with it. They may have to pry it from my cold dead hands.:D
 
#13
I have both fretted and fretless TB105's, and they are fine instruments. Occasionally they have needed shimming under the neck heel to adjust the action, in addition to truss rod adjustments.

I have played "strolling mariachi" gigs with the fretted one with a latin guitarist and an accordianist at local hotels, which were a lot of fun. Also, I have accompanied singer/songwriters with the fretless, both acoustically and amplified, and it has worked out fine, though after a long night of playing either one acoustically I feel like I've been strumming a cheeze grater.

Loud electric gigs are a problem, due to feedback issues. It is a pain to keep trying to dial out feedback with the preamp, and if you set it down between sets without turning it off; watch out!

Some years ago I asked Mike Tobias to make me an MTD ABG for a "beach bass" to replace my Martin B1 which was useless. He suggested I get a Tacoma, with the plainest wood and finish option for best sound and projection. He was right, and they have worked well for me.

Aloha,

Jonathan Starr
 
#14
Hi I have just bought a Tacoma cb285c and have found to my surprise that it does not have electronics on board. I thought they came fully kitted out with Fishman Prefix? It would appear that there are totally acoustic versions of this bass but I cant find any refs to them. Anyone cast any light? Yrs GC
 
#18
Philbiker said:
Zombie thread!!!!!

Yes, Tacoma did offer the Thunderchief bass with no pickup or electronics as an option. I would consider this a fortunate thing! Get your luthier to install a K+K transducer in the bass, get an outboard preamp, and you're absolutely gold!
Click to expand...
I actually have one of each - a pure acoustic and one with a barn door. The one without a pickup is great around the house or mic’d.
 

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