I was wondering where I could find just generally large size acoustic/electric basses? I was just wondering because I just now discovered Acoustic basses and I like how they look like acoustic guitars, but I'd like to get one the biggest they come but still be that style.
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The Biggest Acoustic/Electric bass there is!!!
- Thread starter Team_Violet
- Start date
theepiphone el' capitan (sp?) is one of the biggest I've seen. if you find the Taylor/klein it may be bigger but for my money the Epi. projects better I've had one for years and love it. also I played one of those Dean paymaker's yesterday it sounded huge but felt flimsy
gox42
gox42
The Tacoma Thunderchief is that biggest I've seen. Except for the Ernie Ball Earthwood from the 1970s, but they are rare and expensive if you can even find one.
Tanglewood T55A/Bass B... super Jumbo sized... very big
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I has one
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I has one
Woah, the Chitarrone is absolutely huge! However, I think that's well in the realm of uprights like the doublebass and the Gibson Mandobass.
The largest horizontally played, non-custom, acoustic bass would probably be a Guitarron. It's a 6 string fretless acoustic bass played in mariachi music The cheapest one available is this one http://folk-instruments.musiciansfriend.com/product/Lucida-Guitarron-with-Bag?sku=514035
Traditionally strung a bit differently than a bass guitar, there are strings sets available that string EADGCF. The very worn unlabeled cheapo I played in a mexican music shop here in chicago was louder even than a Tacoma Thunderchief! It's a loud round tone that I think sounds just wonderfull, but it doesn't have the same attack as a steel stringed ABG (Acoustic Bass Guitar).
If you want to stick with a longer scale the Tacoma is, IMHO, the loudest and nearly the largest of the ABG's.
The largest horizontally played, non-custom, acoustic bass would probably be a Guitarron. It's a 6 string fretless acoustic bass played in mariachi music The cheapest one available is this one http://folk-instruments.musiciansfriend.com/product/Lucida-Guitarron-with-Bag?sku=514035
Traditionally strung a bit differently than a bass guitar, there are strings sets available that string EADGCF. The very worn unlabeled cheapo I played in a mexican music shop here in chicago was louder even than a Tacoma Thunderchief! It's a loud round tone that I think sounds just wonderfull, but it doesn't have the same attack as a steel stringed ABG (Acoustic Bass Guitar).
If you want to stick with a longer scale the Tacoma is, IMHO, the loudest and nearly the largest of the ABG's.
One thing that you're going to have to accept with an ABG......no matter how big the body, you'll need a small practice amp to be heard if playing more than one or two acoustic guitars. There's no way around it. No matter what anybody tries to tell you about a particular model.
Over the years, I've owned several different brands and models and that is the one thing that's been consistent about all of them!
That being said, an ABG is IMHO, an very important tool to add to the bag of tricks.Here are a couple of other tips I've found out along the way.......
If possible, get a fretless. Every fretted ABG I've owned has had some fret rattle to some degree. Believe it or not, when I first got my Michael Kelly Fretless Dragonfly 4, it had roundwounds on it and, like all the others exhibited fret rattle.
I did some research and reading and decided to install tape wound strings and get a Pro setup. It was worth EVERY penny!
I sounds and plays VERY nice with no more annoying fret rattle.
BTW......my MK has a Jumbo Maple body and, when plugged in, comes very close to the sound of an upright bass with the tapewounds on it
Good luck! Let us know what you decide.
Here's a pic of mine.......
Over the years, I've owned several different brands and models and that is the one thing that's been consistent about all of them!
That being said, an ABG is IMHO, an very important tool to add to the bag of tricks.Here are a couple of other tips I've found out along the way.......
If possible, get a fretless. Every fretted ABG I've owned has had some fret rattle to some degree. Believe it or not, when I first got my Michael Kelly Fretless Dragonfly 4, it had roundwounds on it and, like all the others exhibited fret rattle.
I did some research and reading and decided to install tape wound strings and get a Pro setup. It was worth EVERY penny!
I sounds and plays VERY nice with no more annoying fret rattle.
BTW......my MK has a Jumbo Maple body and, when plugged in, comes very close to the sound of an upright bass with the tapewounds on it
Good luck! Let us know what you decide.
Here's a pic of mine.......
Nice ABG, there Skyreader.
I vaguely recall seeing a drawing of a bass on the Atlansia site that was bigger than that huge gitarron; you actually sat on/in it.
Ah, yeah, I remember that Atlansia drawing. As long as we're drifting onto the always-fun topic of large basses in general, here's a copy of Vuillaume's 3-string.
And an original.
I've also heard of (and heard one recording of) a modern "triple bass" which is supposedly even larger.
Somewhat more on-topic, I recall seeing a Japanese luthier's site which offered guitarrons built for guitar-style tuning, and also classical-style "contrabass guitars". I've seen references to these contrabass guitars in both 4-string and 6-string versions. Here is a Singaporean guitar orchestra's site referring to both types of instruments, but without photos: Link Removed
And a site with photos: Invalid Link Removed - apparently they use guitarrons with endpins. You learn something every day!
Edit: Aria apparently makes contrabass guitars: Invalid Link Removed
And an original.
I've also heard of (and heard one recording of) a modern "triple bass" which is supposedly even larger.
Somewhat more on-topic, I recall seeing a Japanese luthier's site which offered guitarrons built for guitar-style tuning, and also classical-style "contrabass guitars". I've seen references to these contrabass guitars in both 4-string and 6-string versions. Here is a Singaporean guitar orchestra's site referring to both types of instruments, but without photos: Link Removed
And a site with photos: Invalid Link Removed - apparently they use guitarrons with endpins. You learn something every day!
Edit: Aria apparently makes contrabass guitars: Invalid Link Removed
Very True. I tried to wail on a thunderchief, and was just about able to get to a volume that would compete with two strummed acoustics, but it wouldn't be practical to keep up that kind of playing for long.
That said, a Guitarron can compete with a couple acoustics, a precussionist, and a few violins, though I'm not sure it strictly qualifies as a ABG.
As far as I know, the Earthwood was the only mass-produced ABG that can compete with two acoustics.
WHOA.... that bass must stand 15 or 20 feet tall! How the heck are you supposed to play that thing?!
Another option is a 1/4 size DB. The scale length is around 34", it'll just need a really long endpin for an adult to play it. Or you could try attaching a strap, I guess, for the Pete Steele look. Some folkies use those (or 1/2 size DBs) as portable basses for small ensembles, sometimes even tuned ADGC.
See those bars on the neck? Those are controlled by levers and pedals - though I think the guy who had a modern copy made changed the design so it's levers only.
