Acoustic Basses? What should I buy?

[mathewsanchez]

I'm gonna take up busking with a couple of mates and I need an acoustic bass. I've come across a few 'potentials' but i'm still unsure. The ones i'm currently looking at are the [url="http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/page/shop/flypage/product_id/24534"]Ibanez EWB20WNE-NT[/url], the [url="http://www.soundslive.co.uk/product.asp?id=6974"]Fender BG31[/url] or the [url="http://www.imusician.co.uk/musicstore/s93513/0/Guitars/EPIPHONE/Epiphone-El-Capitan-Electro-accoustic-Bass-in-Vintage-Sunburst/details.aspx"]Epiphone El Capitan[/url]. Does anyone have experience with any of these basses or any others they would recommend?

Cheers,


Mat

[TheRev]

I've got a Fender BG32 which is lovely, but finding decent strings (the Fender acoustic strings are sh1te) for the short scale length is a major pain.

If you're busking, you'll need as much volume as you can get in order to be heard over an acoustic six string, so I'd go for whichever one has the biggest body. Even then you'll probably still struggle....

The Epi looks nice though, doesn't it?

[Mickeyboro]

[quote name='Mickeyboro' post='232179' date='Jul 3 2008, 05:34 PM']Takamine EG512C has never let me down. It's big, but so am I![/quote]

[Soulfinger]

[quote name='TheRev' post='232175' date='Jul 3 2008, 06:29 PM']If you're busking, you'll need as much volume as you can get in order to be heard over an acoustic six string, so I'd go for whichever one has the biggest body. Even then you'll probably still struggle....[/quote]
+1

I predict you´ll still be needing an amp so I´d rather invest in something like the new [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/roland_micro_cube_bass_rx.htm"]Roland Micro Cube Bass[/url] - it´s small, lightweight, runs on batteries and is cheaper than a new bass.

TBH I can´t really see the point in acoustic bass guitars. Too big, too uncomfortable to play, too fragile, too quiet, too much feedback when plugged in...

[The Burpster]

Ovation Celebrity ('ard as nails!) and Micro Cube.

[Jobiebass]

Just bought a accoustic yesterday, gota sh*tty £60 thing off ebay, apart from the fact the frets arnt level and I had to adj the truss rod. its pretty loud, but im gonna struggle around a camp fire keeping up with guitards for noise at festivals.

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

I'd use an Ashbory and a battery amp - maybe something like this:

[url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_hbac30.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_hbac30.htm[/url]



I play with a light touch with flatwounds, so the volume I'd get from a non-amped acoustic would be inaudible and if an amp is needed, might as well use a smaller bass.

[kerley]

Acoustic basses are great for playing in the house (which is all I do). They are however very large which is why I recently bought one of these from eBay for £150.
[url="http://www.fizzypeach.co.uk/bass.html"]Hudson[/url]


Doesn't feel much more awkward to play than an electric, whereas my first acoustic was so big it was uncomfortable as soon as you started to play it.
I like the acoustic tone and if volume isn't needed then they really do the trick for me. No need for an amp, cables, messing around with settings etc,. Just concentrate on practising/playing.

[yorks5stringer]

I think you should bid for this: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=22695"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=22695[/url]

A really nice bass and worth a lot more than you could end up paying for it.

You'll need an amp mind as mentioned earlier, especially for busking!

[E_MaN]

[quote name='Soulfinger' post='232195' date='Jul 3 2008, 06:27 PM']+1

I predict you´ll still be needing an amp so I´d rather invest in something like the new [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/roland_micro_cube_bass_rx.htm"]Roland Micro Cube Bass[/url] - it´s small, lightweight, runs on batteries and is cheaper than a new bass.

TBH I can´t really see the point in acoustic bass guitars. Too big, too uncomfortable to play, too fragile, too quiet, too much feedback when plugged in...[/quote]

+ infinity

[Jonny Walker]

Have you ever played a Tacoma...