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What's a good acoustic bass?

J

jakehooker

Jan 3, 2011
11
0
#1
I'm a guitar player who started playing bass in a band a couple years ago, and I've learned alot, mostly through buying gear, then playing on better gear. My band is starting to do acoustic gigs on occasion, and I wanna be a good bassist and own all my gear (rare in Beaumont, TX!), and if I'm gonna buy, I wanna buy at least decent.

I go for a bright and punchy sound, generally, as I prefer to be heard as opposed to just upsetting people's bowel cycles. I'm quite interested in a resonator bass, but I'm not in love with the Fender they have available at the local shop.

Please recommend some good stuff, preferrably less than $1000. And thank you.
 
#3
In the case of Acoustic Bass Guitars, except in the quietest of musical context, 90% of the time you're going to have to use at least a small amp or be mic'd or SOMETHING to be heard.

There just isn't enough body volume to produce useable "bass" on the vast majority of them. (the old Ernie Ball Earthwood and Taylor/Klein Acoustic Basses are two rare exceptions)

So just buy whatever feels good in your hands and has the appropriate "look" for your acoustic presentation. You're going to have to amplify it somehow anyway.
 
#5
Cool, thanks! I'm sparked on the Michael Kellys. I think the whole band is going DI to the soundboard, so yeah, it's really a comfort/cosmetic thing. I'd like to be able to hold my own without a soundboard though. I'm about to borrow a Dean, we'll se hiw that goes!

Thanks again for the suggestions!
 
#6
I have a Tacoma 5 string fretless that has a great sound and plays well with the exception that the string spacing is a little tight on the 5, but you, coming from a guitar background might not have an issue with that. It's got good volume for tangling with one guitar, But I run mine through a little Podium PA speaker with an 8" and 140 watts because I'm usually up against a couple of Taylors and a Strat sometimes with Congas or a Cajon. Nice woody tone! Great through the board too! The 4's are nice too, and more readily available. They come alive when you dig in a little!!
 
#10
The Tacoma is much louder than any other ABG I've tried. Plays nicely, too. One day I will own one, when the right circumstances present. Good luck finding an Earthwood! The older Guilds are reputed to be quite nice. But for under 1k I'd look no further than a used Tacoma.
 
#15
Thank you all for the input! My bandmates keep bringing up the option of just turning down my electric, but I'd like to preserve the acoustic feel for all involved. Plus, though my Neo-D speakers save a lot of weight, my all tube heads make up for it in spades!
 
#16
spufman said:
The Tacoma is much louder than any other ABG I've tried. Plays nicely, too. One day I will own one, when the right circumstances present. Good luck finding an Earthwood! The older Guilds are reputed to be quite nice. But for under 1k I'd look no further than a used Tacoma.
Click to expand...

+++1 on the Tacoma. For what it costs it's easily the best acoustic ABG available. I've had a Taylor, an Azola and right now have an old Guild B30. I make a habit of playing as many different ABGs as I can and most that are readily available are junk for one reason or another. If I were trying to keep it well under $1K a Tacoma is all I'd be considering.
 
#20
The Michael Kelly's seem cool, but that may be Troy, of Mastodon, and his endorsement talking. My big disadvantage is that I have guitar tendencies, so it's hard for me to tell what's gonna sound best in the mix. I go for bright and punchy, and I play mostly with a pick.

I apologize for the plug here, but the band I play bass for has vids and stuff at wewerewolvestx.com, if anybody wants to give a listen and make a recommendation based on what I already sound like. I use a Fender Jaguar bass with SCN pickups, if that furthers anything.

Again, I appreciate all the help! Now to research the Tacoma...
 

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