Rich C
Joined: 01/09/04
Posts: 218
Loc: Leamington Spa
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Hi,
I wonder if someone can offer me any advice. I am looking for an acoustic
bass and I have a few questions. So far, I have tried a Freshman and a Cort both for
around £300. I have also seen a Westfield including hard case on eBay for £200 - is this
likely to be a good deal or false economy? I was looking for something as loud and bassy
as possible - maybe I'm just too used to an electric bass and I should be thinking of the
instrument differently.
I have never played a fretless bass before, but I'm
wondering if it's a bad move to go straight to a fretless acoustic bass. I just have the
feeling it might sound better in the context I'll be playing - all acoustic instruments. I
have played a cello before so I'm reasonably used to (attempting) to get a note in tune on
a fingerboard with no frets. Would I be better taking it in stages and looking for a
standard acoustic bass first?
Finally, if I needed amplification of the
acoustic sound, what would be my best bet? Are there any specific acoustic bass amplifiers
or would a bass combo do, or is it best to just put it through the P.A.?
Any
pointers to a good budget make would be gratefully recieved - thanks.
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www.slowworm.net
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zenguitar
active member
Joined: 05/12/02
Posts: 3520
Loc: Devon
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The short answer... NONE.
The fundamental problem with an acoustic bass is,
quite literally, the fundamental of the note. The body is nowhere near big enough to
reproduce the lowest octave or more.
There are some luthiers who have
experimented with folded baffle and transmission line designs to extend the bass response
acoustically. But even a cursory glance at other stringed bass instruments (double bass,
the mandobass in this months  ) will tell you that the acoustic bass isn't even on the bench, let alone
on the pitch. It just ain't big enough. You specified loud and bassy, neither applies to
acoustic bass guitar from 1st principles.
If you really want an acoustic bass
guitar, the ONLY option is an electro-acoustic. Let the piezo's do the work of reproducing
the bottom end. But be warned, while any decent clean bass amp will do the job (Danny
Thompson used to endorse Trace Elliot, but used an SWR Redhead, a Phil Jones would be
excellent) the amp alone would be more than your budget.
As for fretless, think
of that as a separate instrument with a separate approach.
From what you
describe, I would recommend sticking to electric bass. It works very well with acoustic
instruments. And if you need more of the upright bass sound and feel, invest instead in a
decent electric fretless.
Hope that helps.
Andy 
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When the going gets weird, the Weird turn Pro.
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Tony
member
Joined: 14/07/04
Posts: 37
Loc: London
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Yep, you will need to get an electro acoustic. I use a tanglewood through a LR Baggs para
acoustic DI and get a very warm bass sound.
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Phil Ward
Joined: 04/08/06
Posts: 189
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Rich,
I'd head over to www.basschat.co.uk if I were you. Lots of folk there who have been
down the same route and will have ideas for you.
Phil
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Freelance audio product designer/writer
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IvanSC
Joined: 08/03/05
Posts: 7548
Loc: UK France & USA depending on t...
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I wound up buying a cheap old clunker acoustic bass - upright - and several months on I am
glad I did.
I have tried all the acoustic bass guitars I could find & also owned
a good quality fender Fretless.
There is no substitute for an upright.
I can`t think of any reason you would want to have an acoustic fretless bass guitar,
other than to try and get close to the upright sound, as an amplified ABG just winds up
sounding like a rather naff solid Bass guitar with a peizo pickup added.
Even
martin`s offering is totally lacking in bass, btw.
Forgot: There is
ONE alternative that sort of works. A Baja Sexto.
Google it and then go look at the
prices and the waiting lists.
--------------------
Me? But I`m such a loveable old bugger!
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Rich C
Joined: 01/09/04
Posts: 218
Loc: Leamington Spa
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Thank you for the advice. When asking the question I suspected this might be the kind of
response. The acoustic basses I tried I just could not imagine cutting through or even
being heard alongside other acoustic instruments. I suppose a big thing is if everything
else is acoustic - guitar, violin etc you think the bass 'should' be acoustic. I think
maybe an electric bass might underpin everthing well though.
I love the idea of
an upright, but transporting it around would be a complete pain - plus it means learning a
new instrument - and my electric bass skill is not virtuoso as it stands.
I've
never been on basschat - so I'll have a good root round there - thank you for the link.
I'd like to try a fretless as I think the sound might work well considering the context,
plus it's not as much of a jump from standard electric as it would be to an upright. I
think the only sticking point is that an amplified instrument might just be
psychologically out of place alongside all acoustic instruments. I need to go and rethink
what I'm going to do.
These replies have really helped - all advice seems to
point to the same conclusion very definately.
Cheers
--------------------
www.slowworm.net
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IvanSC
Joined: 08/03/05
Posts: 7548
Loc: UK France & USA depending on t...
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Quote Rich C:
Thank you for the
advice. When asking the question I suspected this might be the kind of response. The
acoustic basses I tried I just could not imagine cutting through or even being heard
alongside other acoustic instruments. I suppose a big thing is if everything else is
acoustic - guitar, violin etc you think the bass 'should' be acoustic. I think maybe an
electric bass might underpin everthing well though.
I love the idea of an
upright, but transporting it around would be a complete pain - plus it means learning a
new instrument - and my electric bass skill is not virtuoso as it stands.
I've
never been on basschat - so I'll have a good root round there - thank you for the link.
I'd like to try a fretless as I think the sound might work well considering the context,
plus it's not as much of a jump from standard electric as it would be to an upright. I
think the only sticking point is that an amplified instrument might just be
psychologically out of place alongside all acoustic instruments. I need to go and rethink
what I'm going to do.
These replies have really helped - all advice seems to
point to the same conclusion very definately.
Cheers
Got news for you son - an fretless
will show just how crap you are equally as well as an upright!
Guess how I know
that?
I`ve played a Rickenbacker 4001 Stereo through a HUGE Orange stack with
tablas and a sitar.
Also played with all acoustic bluegrass band with a
Precision fretless and actually liked the sound of the Ricky with the acoustic stuff
better.
Just use your ears and trust your good sense and taste.
--------------------
Me? But I`m such a loveable old bugger!
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