Tell us about your acoustic bass.

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Permalink Reply by Jack McGregor on June 19, 2009 at 9:05am

I've been playing a '75 Fender Precision for years now and two years ago, during a two martini fueled spree, bought a Michael Kelly acoustic bass when I was at Merlefest. I think it sounds great but have heard some players and an engineer criticize the tone... "sounds like a home recording" "too many inconsistent volume levels between notes"... just to name a few. I really like the sound myself but wonder how others have recorded an acoustic bass. I have used the internal pickup and just gone direct. I do use different pre-amps but have strived to keep the signal path to recording as lean as possible. I know this is a variance to the thread but what the hey?

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Permalink Reply by Old Man Arthur on June 26, 2009 at 3:42pm

I am waiting for an Ovation Celebrity (import) CC2474. I am a wannabee guitarist, and I just had this sudden urge to buy an acoustic bass (I really gotta quit looking at evilBay). After a quick search of YouTube and tuning sites, I decided that a bass is tuned the same as the fat strings on my guitar, 'cept an octave lower. So I am gonna give this a shot. Edward Sparks sez that his CC74 is a 'short scale' bass. I have no idea if the one that I have coming is short scale or what. But I will find-out on Monday... I hope. Being as I have Never played a bass in my life, this will be a learning experience.

This has a laminate (plywood) top, and a preamp with a tuner and EQ. It is used but very little. Apparently the previous owner plays electric bass and bought this in a fit of GAS. There was no place to put his thumb, so he sold it to me. I got a little bass amp, but it IS an acoustic bass.
I will be back looking for pointers on how to use this thing once I get it.

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Permalink Reply by Edward Sparks on June 26, 2009 at 10:44pm

Hey, I see you found the acoutsic bass group! Welcome!
Did you get your new bass yet? Edward

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Permalink Reply by Old Man Arthur on June 26, 2009 at 11:20pm

Monday... If UPS don't squish it.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Bernhard on September 13, 2009 at 4:30pm

I have a Samick, looks like an oversized cutaway guitar. I love that low end rumble!! If I ever get any chops on bass I may get a fretless too, love that sound.

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Permalink Reply by Charles on October 5, 2009 at 4:17pm

I'm a guitarist and have been for over 40 years.....this community only records up to "30 years or more" so I guess not too many will fess up to 40 years!
My first attempt at bass was noodling around on a buddy's Fender P-bass when we got together for jams with others years ago.
My first bass was an Alvarez Acoustic about two years ago. The body was soo deep I almost attempted to play it like an upright.
My current bass is a Martin 00C-16GTAE BASS. Almost as narrow as an electric bass, but you can still hear it acousticly.
I have to bow to anyone playing anything fretless. I tried a fretless guitar at a dealer once. Felt like I just washed ny hands and couldn't do a thing with them!

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Permalink Reply by Edward Sparks on October 25, 2009 at 2:44pm

Hey speaking of fretless, I am very interested in the new Epiphone fretless bass, the Triumph II. It has a regular magnetic pickup and a bridge mounted piezo and some pretty cool features...the fretless version has fret lines inlaid to keep you in the right place! Check it out here:

http://www.epiphone.com/m/mobile1624.html

I think you can only get it via Sam Ash web sales at the moment...It's not available in stores in the states yet, but it's coming! Edward

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Permalink Reply by G.J.Manno on October 29, 2009 at 6:26am

I have a few acoustic basses. I bought a Tacoma CB28C right before they ended production. It is a nice bass, but too much bottom. My Guild B30 is a nice well balanced instrument. Too bad it is discontinued. I buy two more if I could.
The last time I was in the studio, the engineer had a Halfing bass made by Rebbecke. It was the best acoustic bass I have ever played. Before I order one, I'd seriously consider one of Dave Maize's basses.They start at $4500.

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