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Non-electric bass guitars?
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Non-electric bass guitars? |
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Subject: Non-electric bass guitars? From: GUEST,JimP Date: 26 Jul 07 - 10:28 PM Hi, all. I've not been shopping for guitars for a long time (I'm very happy with my Takamines), but it seems like I've been noticing something new (to me) lately in a couple of guitar stores: the acoustic bass guitar. Now, it seems to me that I recall stand-up bass, and if you were in a rock band, electric bass guitar, but I have no memory of any acoustic bass guitars. Is this really something new? Anyone have any experience with this class of bass guitars? Is this something that could be added to an acoustic-only group to advantage? Anybody know the pros and cons? |
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Subject: RE: Non-electric bass guitars? From: Rowan Date: 27 Jul 07 - 12:36 AM There have been at least two I've seen around the Oz scene. One was used in the early 70s by a member of the Melbourne-based Cobbers bush band; he died in the mid 70s and his name, for the life of me, I can't yet drag out of my memory bank. Matey Swallow, their accordionist, is still around and would know. Cheers, Rowan |
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Subject: RE: Non-electric bass guitars? From: Cluin Date: 27 Jul 07 - 12:37 AM I think the old mariachi bands played big honkin' bass guitars in their combos? |
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Subject: RE: Non-electric bass guitars? From: Cluin Date: 27 Jul 07 - 12:43 AM And Glen Reid makes a very nice, very portable acoustic bass guitar, amongst other fine instruments. Great sound to `em. |
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Subject: RE: Non-electric bass guitars? From: JohnInKansas Date: 27 Jul 07 - 01:18 AM We've had a Washburn acoustic bass guitar sitting in a stand in the corner for several years, unplayed. We've had "interest" when we offered it for sale, but nobody serious enough to take it off our hands. I frankly have no idea about model numbers, and haven't found any ID markings, but it looks much like - and possibly is - the AB10 pictured here. Pickups built-in are apparently standard in the type: at least I can't recall seeing one that wasn't "wired." Ours has a 3-band EQ + Vol. They're quite common in the guitar shops in my area, but seen in use mostly/only in old-timey country western (western swing) bands who yield to an amp for the Bass (and the steel guitar) but want to keep the "acoustic look." Bands in that tradion don't get a lot of play in local teenybop shops, but are fairly common in N Texas areas we've visited. John |
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Subject: RE: Non-electric bass guitars? From: Cluin Date: 27 Jul 07 - 01:42 AM A buddy of mine, who usually plays electric bass, used to work at a local music store part-time. When another buddy wanted to record the last track on his indy, old-style, as in all gathered around one microphone, the bassist borrowed a Washburn acoustic bass guitar that had been hanging on the wall for a few months for the session. It sounded great. I was waiting for the price on that bass to drop enough to buy it. It kept steadily coming down every few weeks. But somebody else beat me to it. |
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Subject: RE: Non-electric bass guitars? From: Richard Bridge Date: 27 Jul 07 - 02:25 AM We had another thread on this not long ago didn't we? There are a lot that are too small-bodied and too quiet unless plugged. Also when plugged if you go really loud there can be feedback problems. The old Guilds (large bodied) came out well, and I think there was a modern Dean that was better than most expected. |
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Subject: RE: Non-electric bass guitars? From: GUEST,JimP Date: 27 Jul 07 - 03:36 AM Thanks for the replies. Richard, I'm sorry, but I don't recall the previous thread; if I had I wouldn't have made a new one. So: too quiet unless amped? That makes sense, I guess. It would be nice to add a bass to our acoustic group, but not if it would be too drowned out by the other instruments. |
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Subject: RE: Non-electric bass guitars? From: SharonA Date: 27 Jul 07 - 04:17 AM I've been using the Dean "Playmate" model acoustic bass, but the complaints aired here are the same ones I'm hearing off-Mudcat: it can't be heard over other instruments in an acoustic jam, and there are problems with amping it on stage. Specifically, the Dean's pickup makes the instrument sound "quacky" when amped. I've found the most success and the truest sound by using an instrument mic in front of it, and letting the sound-board personnel deal with the volume issue. Even so, it's kind of wimpy. JimP, I'm afraid that, for your acoustic-only band, you'll need to: (a) find a stand-up bass and a player thereof; or (b) find one of those big honkin' mariachi-band bass guitars of which Cluin speaks (the guitarron) and a player thereof. According to this Wikipedia article, the guitarron "achieves audibility by its great size, and does not require electric amplification for performances in small venues." |
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Subject: RE: Non-electric bass guitars? From: stallion Date: 27 Jul 07 - 04:52 AM I am not sure who made it but Mike Tavener, of Los Yobos Los Yobos , plays a tiny semi acoustic bass in sessions with a diddly squat amp underneath the table, it makes a great contribution to the music without taking up much space (only just bigger than a mandolin), thinking on, it would have been made by either Dave Gregory or Ralph Bown who are both in Los Yobos. |
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Subject: RE: Non-electric bass guitars? From: Pete_Standing Date: 27 Jul 07 - 07:03 AM I've been playing acoustic bass guitars for 10 years - well not strictly speaking 10 years, I have slept as well. My current bass is an Ashbury 5 string in walnut and spruce. It has a bridge pickup and graphic EQ and cost about £300 a few years back. In the context of a ceilidh band, it gets put through a PA and I have no problems with feedback, but then we don't play at ear-splitting levels, but in any case, a decent notch filter should sort out any problems. My perception is that it sounds different to a solid electric bass and one big advantage is that it is much lighter than my electric bass so is not so tiring to play. It is not loud enough to play in sessions or clubs without an amp. There are some luthiers who make large bodied acosutic bass guitars which apparently can be heard in the context of a session without an amp. |
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Subject: RE: Non-electric bass guitars? From: stallion Date: 27 Jul 07 - 02:46 PM Ashbury - thta is what Mike has! |
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Subject: RE: Non-electric bass guitars? From: wilco Date: 27 Jul 07 - 05:54 PM I Have a small acoustic music store in East Tennessee USA. I stock several of these acoustic basses. I sell them with a portable, battery operated Pignose bass amp. Many of the people who buy these eventually trade them back in for upright basses. Look at the Epiphone El Segundo 4 string fretted basses and the Michael kelly five string feetless. Both can be bought as seconds on the net for around $300.00 and $400.00 respectively. Steve Daugherty |
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Subject: RE: Non-electric bass guitars? From: Sorcha Date: 27 Jul 07 - 06:02 PM An old friend of mine, Quentin Roberts, has made a couple. He made one for his (now deceased wife) Wanda out of all mahogany. The biggest problem I see with them is lack of volume. In a trio, or quartet they may be fine but in our gang with 2 fiddles, 2 banjos, 2 mandos, whistle, 2 'lead' guitars, etc, they just can't be heard. Or felt, for that matter. For us, the stand up or gut bucket works much better. |
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