My wife and i recently purchased a property which we will be spending most of the summer camping out on. I want to pick up an accoustic bass or possibly a hollow body to noodle on around the campfire. preferable to not have to plug it into an amp while still being able to hear some tone, and needs to be able to stand up to summer nights outside without warping into something that becomes unusable/unrepairable. Where do i start looking what do i look for?
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which type of bass am i looking for?
- Thread starter kleaver
- Start date
i would spend the money for a quality instrument that stands the test of time
You can always get a battery-powered amp...I bought two, one for $60, perfect for backyard barbecues etc, and one for $300, loud enough to disturb the neighbors should I choose to.
Seriously, the only way to fly, IMO.
No matter what anyone tells you about the volume of an unplugged bass, you can only get so much tone out of it. With my amped acoustic basses, I can get more tone variations than quite a few solid body basses, and for me, it's all about tone.
Seriously, the only way to fly, IMO.
No matter what anyone tells you about the volume of an unplugged bass, you can only get so much tone out of it. With my amped acoustic basses, I can get more tone variations than quite a few solid body basses, and for me, it's all about tone.
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This is a good idea. Otherwise you might want to consider a different instrument to take out. I have learned guitar and banjo in part because they are better for camping. I have yet to find an acoustic bass that both has sufficient volume to be effective up amplified and durable enough to not worry about environmental conditions. The closest is probably the Taylor GS-Mini Bass.
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I recommend the older Dean Exoticas, if you want an acoustic bass...I have two.
I've played plenty of other good acoustic basses, but unlike solid-body basses...where I'll play or recommend basses from several companies...I only find myself recommending the Dean.
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I'd buy a cheap one, and not worry about it getting damaged.
I have a no name brand (Woods) acoustic 4 string bass guitar. It sounds great.
If playing unplugged you are going to need the action fairly high to get any solid sound out of it, so paying extra for sweet action is just throwing money out the window.
Go cheap, and don't be too sad when someone sits on it in the dark next to the campfire
I have a no name brand (Woods) acoustic 4 string bass guitar. It sounds great.
If playing unplugged you are going to need the action fairly high to get any solid sound out of it, so paying extra for sweet action is just throwing money out the window.
Go cheap, and don't be too sad when someone sits on it in the dark next to the campfire
sweet! i was looking at the cheap acoustics and were wondering if they were worth it, unfortunately these days its hard to try before you buy when looking for new stuff
I would say any ABG - even the shortscales and guitar scales, and the cheap ones - in a piccolo tuning. Going a fourth or fifth up from standard tuning makes a huge difference in acoustic volume. With bass strings, especially flats, it will still sound like a bass, and contribute plenty of bass tone to the campfire.
Really most if not all the newer cheap ABGs are plywood construction so cracking isn't a issue.. and they all sound about the same... if you find a good one it's a good one... also despite what a lot of people think [because magical flying mules that kick sleeping children in the head at night are numerous] lighter string tension will be louder...
I play a Dean EABC (cutaway) at a friends, it is so far the loudest acoustic bass I have played unplugged, a pick is almost necessary to keep up the volume with an acoustic guitar. Around $100-150 used in my neck-o-tha woods. YMMV GL.
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If you want full carbon fiber, you will not have to worry about it because it will be durable. A few options exist, but I am sure @bholder was referring to these Bass Archives - Emerald Guitars as I know we both own one. Great basses from a great company. They occasionally pop up used, but also tend to get half of original price at a minimum on the used market (which means that even used ones are on the expensive end of the acoustic spectrum).
Alternative two is the other way you would not have to worry about it... Buy a relatively cheap one that you can replace if/when it finally gives up. Upside to this one is price. Downside is most of them are not all that great on the acoustic output side of things (cheaper ones tend to be smaller bodied) and you may eventually need to replace it.
If you plan on playing it a ton and/or have a good amount of money to spend on it, then the Emerald is a worthwhile purchase. If it is something that you plan on playing occasionally, I would probably go the other route and pick up a Michael Kelly or something along those lines.
Yes, I ought to have elaborated, but I can't type well on my phone hehe - meant the Emerald Balor, of course, though there are some others, too. But yes, expensive. No other way I know of to be both loud and impervious to weather.
Fender and Ibanez make some inexpensive ABG. They have smaller bodies, and while you think this may be a disadvantage, try sitting back and chilling with a regular size ABG.
Will it boom through the hills and forest, no, but most ABG will not anyway.
Anything that has a good deal of poly on it will hold up fine. Drying out is the bigger concern.
Will it boom through the hills and forest, no, but most ABG will not anyway.
Anything that has a good deal of poly on it will hold up fine. Drying out is the bigger concern.
Even if you get the biggest loudest ABG there is (the mighty DB), you'll eventually want amplification if you're planning on ever playing with others.
Are they still in business? I've never been able to get them to respond to email queries. I want one. (No big surprise there haha.)
Turns out you aren't looking for a bass at all.
You're looking for a Badgermin.
You're looking for a Badgermin.
