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Yes, it's ANOTHER ABG thread! Looking for NEW input.

#44
Worldeeeter said:
UGH!!!
After placing a deposit on the Warwick and waiting 3 weeks, I was informed today that the shipment that came in on 11/22 was sub-standard, and all guitars were returned to the factory to correct QC issues. NOT GOOD!!!
I am canceling this order ASAP. I have a bad feeling about the whole deal, and think there is likely a better way to go.
Breedlove once made an acoustic 5er (ABJ250/SM5), but it appears to no longer be available. I'm confirming this now. I have been reading lots of user reviews, and the Breedloves get a lot of positive feedback.
The Ovation 5er seems to be extinct as well. If I can't find one of these, I'm backing out and sticking with my electric for acoustic gigs.
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Bummer! How anticlimactic. Does it have to be a 5er?
 
#45
I picked up one of the standard Warwick Rockbass Alien's and I like it a lot (paid around $450 shipped). Mine is a 4 string, but the thin neck and shorter scale make it really easy to play. No QC issues with mine....

Just as a point of reference, I have also owned a Carvin AC40, a Godin A4, a Victor Bailey and a Washburn AB20. All have something to offer, but for a true "acoustic" bass, I think I like the Warwick the best.
 
#46
Worldeeeter said:
I finally broke down and took a look at the AC50 on Carvin's website. It appears to be nothing more than a semi-hollow electric. Can you even play it without an amp and hear it?
The pic of the chambering in the body didn't impress me.
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Not exactly sure what it takes to impress you. The ac40/50's construction is unique in the bass world,which certainly made an impression on me. (Try finding another semi hollow neck through-if one exists,it probably is a custom design costing 5 times more) The main thing is the quality is way above the price.
But,as far as playing it unamped,it has pretty much zilch acoustic volume. I pick mine up and play it unaccompanied and unamped,and can hear it just fine,but an amp would be necessary to play along with anyone,even in acoustic settings. However,i found that to be true even with the huge thick bodied Tacoma Thunderchief i used to own.
 
#47
I used to have an AC40F. My electric was louder unplugged than the Carvin. It was however an amazing instrument that I regret selling.
Easy on the eyes too
072612022.jpg
 
#49
woodyng said:
Not exactly sure what it takes to impress you. The ac40/50's construction is unique in the bass world,which certainly made an impression on me. (Try finding another semi hollow neck through-if one exists,it probably is a custom design costing 5 times more) The main thing is the quality is way above the price.
But,as far as playing it unamped,it has pretty much zilch acoustic volume. I pick mine up and play it unaccompanied and unamped,and can hear it just fine,but an amp would be necessary to play along with anyone,even in acoustic settings. However,i found that to be true even with the huge thick bodied Tacoma Thunderchief i used to own.
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Well, if I were looking for a semi-hollow electric bass, this might interest me.
If you read my initial post, I made it pretty clear that I was seeking an ABG. Completely different animal. Yes, I'm going to plug in, but I want that acoustic tone to the bass sound.
Your loyalty to Carvin is to be commended; however, it doesn't help me here.
 
#54
3234718 said:
These are really nice. I played one in GC once, and I bet a properly setup one would be great.

N_1624a.jpg


Edit: just saw you want a fiver. Still a cool bass though.
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That is a cool bass! Unique sound - they came up with cool pickups for that thing. The only thing I don't like is the muffled, fretless-like sound it puts out. I'm looking for a grinding, raw acoustic sound (i.e. - old Violent Femmes).
 
#55
Worldeeeter said:
Yeah, it really needs to be. It would make it much easier on me, and a ton less tuning between songs. We do a couple of songs in C#, and I don't know that a low E will handle that.
Plus, the versatility the 5-er brings would make it much more fun.
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Gottcha. Guess I can't recommend Takamine, since for some reason they don't offer a 5 string. Have you checked out the Boulder Creek mentioned earlier? Search the Basses forum for "Boulder". They make a 5er in several flavors.

And regarding the blue slab... unless the guitars are also painted in colors, I think it will look out of place. Just my opinion based purely on subjective, visual esthetics.
 
#56
When did you play a Carvin OP? The piezo bridge in my Carvin is amazing, easily the highlight of the electronics as the pickups are bland. Even when I took my Carvin to another known bass manufacturer they were commenting on how good the piezo sounds (they also like how smooth the knobs blended, this is not something I would have noticed in a million years)

If you have played one recently and still didn't like it, I can't hold it against you, they are your ears.

I cannot offer any ABG input, sorry, I am just not a fan.
 
#57
MD said:
Gottcha. Guess I can't recommend Takamine, since for some reason they don't offer a 5 string. Have you checked out the Boulder Creek mentioned earlier? Search the Basses forum for "Boulder". They make a 5er in several flavors.

And regarding the blue slab... unless the guitars are also painted in colors, I think it will look out of place. Just my opinion based purely on subjective, visual esthetics.
Click to expand...

Yes, I have. Honestly, I think I'd probably go in that direction if I felt an overwhelming urge to buy an ABG at this point. I saw some complaints online that it's difficult to find a hard case that fits the BCs, but I'm sure I could find a gig bag.
This Warwick debacle really put me off - I think I'm over it.
 
#59
DiabolusInMusic said:
When did you play a Carvin OP? The piezo bridge in my Carvin is amazing, easily the highlight of the electronics as the pickups are bland. Even when I took my Carvin to another known bass manufacturer they were commenting on how good the piezo sounds (they also like how smooth the knobs blended, this is not something I would have noticed in a million years)

If you have played one recently and still didn't like it, I can't hold it against you, they are your ears.

I cannot offer any ABG input, sorry, I am just not a fan.
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I bought an Icon5 in 2008; I promptly traded it for a Spector Euro5LX in 2009, when I calculated how much it was going to cost me to gut the electronics, pickups, etc. and replace it with something that sounded decent.
I did not like a single tone that came out of that bass. It was beautiful, and it felt great to play, but that wasn't enough.
I really wanted to like Carvin basses, but I do not like their pickups, piezos, or electronics. Just a personal opinion. They make good stuff.
The AC40/50 is NOT an ABG. It is a semi-hollow electric bass. That is absolutely not what I'm looking for.

At this point, I think I'm done with the ABG hunt. If a used Tacoma, Taylor, BC, or Warwick Deluxe pops up, I may grab it. I'm so sick of music retailers and their BS that I will not purchase a new one.
 
#60
It appears that everything indeed happens for a reason. I found a Michael Kelly Dragonfly 5er in the TB classifieds today. It looks like I'll be purchasing it shortly. The best part is that it's 40% cheaper than the Warwick I was waiting for, and less than half the price of the only Breedlove 5er I found on evilBay.
Not being a fan of sight-unseen purchases, I read reviews from several places, and the Dragonfly had tons of positive feedback. It sounds great in the videos I found as well, and appears to have low, fast action vs. a lot of other ABGs.
Hopefully this will go through and I'll be the happy owner of a new ABG in a few days. :D
 

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