BanjoChris Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 Hi, I'm on the look out for a guitar shaped acoustic bass to be played in a Bluegrass band along with banjo, guitar and mandolin. I played a s/h Fender in Reileys Preston recently and I could hardly hear it whilst playing it alone never mind in contention with three other instruments being plucked/strummed to within an inch of their lives. Can anyone recommend a loud acoustic bass. Can't be expensive, we're talking bluegrass musicians here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charic Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 The kind hooked up to an amp? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CamdenRob Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 It's a bit of a flaw of acoustic basses that they are uselessly quiet... Get a double bass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lw. Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 The body on the Warwick Aliens basses looks huge which makes me think it would be loud (not actually played one though). I can just about keep up with an acoustic guitar that's really going for it on my Fender but that's really pushing it. Maybe get one of those really small amps to go with the acoustic bass, then you won't have to play as hard... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hubrad Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 [quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1405086864' post='2498744'] It's a bit of a flaw of acoustic basses that they are uselessly quiet... Get a double bass [/quote] Basically this, although we do have a particularly good (and loud) Czech handmade one in the shop.. http://www.themusicroom-online.co.uk/product_info.php/products_id/6747?mrSid=885e91b789229db84e55c91800f88d7e Double bass really [u]is[/u] the one for bluegrass, and looks the part as well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BanjoChris Posted July 11, 2014 Author Share Posted July 11, 2014 Lol. Can anyone recommend a LOUD portable battery bass amp? I think a nice real small scale cheap electric bass like a Squire Mustang matched with said amp may do the trick. It's for my wife anyhow who'll be a beginner, I'll be on 5 string banjo, and she'll never be able to pound out an acoustic loud enough. The kids take care of guitar and mando. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 "The LOUDEST guitar shaped ACOUSTIC BASS"....its an oxymoron, the qualities you ask for don't go hand in hand unless, as it has been said, you go to Double Bass size. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 I had a Roland Microbass but it did not keep up with amplified acoustic guitars or acoustic drums. There a fairly recent thread about this subject if you can bothered to search for it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CamdenRob Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 (edited) Liking the idea of a family bluegrass band... I'm going for a whizzy 10 and GB mb200 for an ultra portable rig to use with the acoustic set. I liked the look of those roland cubes... wasn't convinced I'd get any actual bass frequencies out of it though. Edited July 11, 2014 by CamdenRob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hubrad Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 If you go for an electric try a fretless.. especially with flats or nylon flats it'll give a vaguely DB tone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 I echo everything mentioned earlier. Acoustic basses ceased to have a point when the 90's unplugged craze wore off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
great harry Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 Why does it need to be a battery amp? Are you busking? If you were to put it through a proper amp a u bass might do the trick as it has a double bass kind of sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philw Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 (edited) The Tacoma CB10 always had a reputation for being a particularly loud acoustic bass (I've always fancied one too, but they don't come up very often and when they do they're expensive), but I'd agree with all the comments above. Acoustic basses are lovely things to have around the house and to mess about on, but without an amp they're only good for the quietest of ensemble playing. P PS. Of course the thing is, if you're doing gigs you can just DI into the PA just like the other "acoustic" instruments. Edited July 11, 2014 by philw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BanjoChris Posted July 11, 2014 Author Share Posted July 11, 2014 [quote name='great harry' timestamp='1405090221' post='2498777'] Why does it need to be a battery amp? Are you busking? If you were to put it through a proper amp a u bass might do the trick as it has a double bass kind of sound. [/quote] On a nice day like this we like to chuck a couple of cans in a cool bag and head down to the beach for a jam. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
great harry Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 Sounds nice. Can I come? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CamdenRob Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 Yeah I'm in too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 (edited) Sousaphone. Sorted. Edited March 5, 2015 by Dad3353 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Vader Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 get a guitarron, they are big and loud and low, and very very cool. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guitarr%C3%B3n_mexicano Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 [quote name='Dave Vader' timestamp='1405094144' post='2498822'] get a guitarron, they are big and loud and low, and[b] very very cool.[/b] [/quote] Who told you that and were they wearing socks with sandles??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 [quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1405089620' post='2498769'] I echo everything mentioned earlier. Acoustic basses ceased to have a point when the 90's unplugged craze wore off. [/quote] ..... but even then they were either mic'd or DI'd. In the absence of amplification of one sort or another, there are few instruments as unfit for purpose as an acoustic bass guitar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 [quote name='Beedster' timestamp='1405095300' post='2498832'] ..... but even then they were either mic'd or DI'd. In the absence of amplification of one sort or another, there are few instruments as unfit for purpose as an acoustic bass guitar. [/quote] Oh dear;( maybe I should offload this.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 [quote name='Beedster' timestamp='1405095300' post='2498832'] ..... but even then they were either mic'd or DI'd. In the absence of amplification of one sort or another, there are few instruments as unfit for purpose as an acoustic bass guitar. [/quote] Oh dear;( maybe I should offload this.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 I had a Fender Kingman bass. The reviews/reports said it was one of the loudest available on the market, yet in a big room, without amplification, it wouldn`t kepp up with an acoustic guitar. In a living room it would be fine but once the room gets bigger, amp needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 [quote name='RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE' timestamp='1405103970' post='2498911'] Oh dear;( maybe I should offload this.. [/quote] I like that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 (edited) http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/24/Octobasse.jpg [URL=http://s997.photobucket.com/user/stingraypete/media/Octobasse_zpsyxw3qhqi.jpg.html][IMG]http://i997.photobucket.com/albums/af100/stingraypete/Octobasse_zpsyxw3qhqi.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Edited July 11, 2014 by stingrayPete1977 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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