BrunoBass Posted January 25, 2017 Posted January 25, 2017 I recently saw an acrylic bodied bass on eBay which caught my eye, mainly for an upcoming photoshoot we've got planned. It got me wondering how it might sound though... I'm no expert but I'd expect solid acrylic to be dense (and heavy) and I'd imagine it to sound bright. Anyone got experience of such weirdness? Quote
yorks5stringer Posted January 25, 2017 Posted January 25, 2017 Been some threads on these if you do a search. Heavy is an understatement, seem to remember Andy Travis may have had one, you could PM him? Quote
BrunoBass Posted January 25, 2017 Author Posted January 25, 2017 [quote name='yorks5stringer' timestamp='1485356138' post='3223347'] Been some threads on these if you do a search. Heavy is an understatement, seem to remember Andy Travis may have had one, you could PM him? [/quote] I though there might have been, I searched for 'acrylic' but nothing relevant came up 😊 Quote
Westenra Posted January 25, 2017 Posted January 25, 2017 Try Dan Armstrong bass, pretty sure they are acrylic and well sort after. Quote
Paul S Posted January 25, 2017 Posted January 25, 2017 You could search under Lucite or Perspex, too. AFAIR they are extremely heavy but sound great. Quote
Lw. Posted January 25, 2017 Posted January 25, 2017 My old band used to quite regularly gig with a band whose guitarist had an acrylic/perspex BC Rich Mockingbird - it was heavier than any bass or guitar I've ever picked up but did sound decent enough, I'd even say it sounded exactly the same as his wooden one - though this was a metal band so a lot of the guitar tone was hidden behind distortion. Quote
MattM Posted January 25, 2017 Posted January 25, 2017 Try using plexi or plexiglass as search term. Pretty sure that as well as the Dan Armstrong one which was bespoke and probably the best known, there have been acrylic/plexi Precision variants also, Quote
James Nada Posted January 25, 2017 Posted January 25, 2017 The bloke from Death From Above 1979 talks Dan Armstrong plexiglass bass in this https://youtu.be/AFIt0pNPjmY Quote
prowla Posted January 25, 2017 Posted January 25, 2017 [quote name='Lw.' timestamp='1485360150' post='3223382'] My old band used to quite regularly gig with a band whose guitarist had an acrylic/perspex BC Rich Mockingbird - it was heavier than any bass or guitar I've ever picked up but did sound decent enough, I'd even say it sounded exactly the same as his wooden one - though this was a metal band so a lot of the guitar tone was hidden behind distortion. [/quote] Maybe he should've had a metal bodied one then? Quote
AndyTravis Posted January 25, 2017 Posted January 25, 2017 I had a p-bass (Axl player series) Changed everything out on it and had a fender neck on it. Was about 14/15lbs. Quote
Jimryan Posted January 25, 2017 Posted January 25, 2017 [quote name='AndyTravis' timestamp='1485374761' post='3223514'] I had a p-bass (Axl player series) Changed everything out on it and had a fender neck on it. Was about 14/15lbs. [/quote] I had one of those too. Kept it stock and it sounded brilliant. Really bright, really aggressive and looked amazing. Only downside was that mine weighed 9kgs. Quote
markstuk Posted January 25, 2017 Posted January 25, 2017 [quote name='Jimryan' timestamp='1485377655' post='3223563'] I had one of those too. Kept it stock and it sounded brilliant. Really bright, really aggressive and looked amazing. Only downside was that mine weighed 9kgs. [/quote] And people complain these days about a 4kg jazz '-) Quote
kodiakblair Posted January 25, 2017 Posted January 25, 2017 I had a Wesley 5 string. [attachment=236643:IMAG0232.jpg] Sounded and played great. Was kinda heavy being about 15lb but I didn't expect to play it all night. It stops being a talking point for the audience if they see it all night. Short bursts is good for them and your shoulder Quote
Bassassin Posted January 25, 2017 Posted January 25, 2017 [quote name='AndyTravis' timestamp='1485374761' post='3223514'] I had a p-bass (Axl player series) Changed everything out on it and had a fender neck on it. Was about 14/15lbs. [/quote] This is mine, also used to be an Axl: [sharedmedia=core:attachments:57742] [sharedmedia=core:attachments:57744] [sharedmedia=core:attachments:57743] [sharedmedia=core:attachments:57745] Looks awesome but weighs 13lbs meaning I've never gigged it. Also sadly the neck is junk, despite looking nice. Would make a great wallhanger but I wouldn't trust a guitar hanger - or my walls - to support it. Quote
prowla Posted January 26, 2017 Posted January 26, 2017 I think it's Wesley who do some; they have a small-bodied one, which could be less of a burden, so to speak. I've no idea what they play like (they are definitely at the budget end of the scale). Quote
BigRedX Posted January 26, 2017 Posted January 26, 2017 I had a Wesley 4-string as my first fretless bass. The acrylic body is more dense than most wooden bodies basses, but this one had a relatively small body so the overall weight was very similar. Was quite bright sounding, but nothing that couldn't be tamed by rolling the tone control off a little bit. IMO was vastly superior in sound, playability and looks to the Squier VMJ that I bought supposedly to replace it. Quote
markstuk Posted January 26, 2017 Posted January 26, 2017 I quite like this one :-) https://de.aliexpress.com/item/2017-new-arrival-4-strings-electric-guitar-bass-guitar-acrylic-guitar-bass-free-shipping-headless-guitar/32780041716.html Quote
BigRedX Posted January 26, 2017 Posted January 26, 2017 [quote name='markstuk' timestamp='1485434161' post='3223925'] I quite like this one :-) [url="https://de.aliexpress.com/item/2017-new-arrival-4-strings-electric-guitar-bass-guitar-acrylic-guitar-bass-free-shipping-headless-guitar/32780041716.html"]https://de.aliexpres...2780041716.html[/url] [/quote] That seems very expensive. My Wesley acrylic bass cost £60 second hand. Quote
markstuk Posted January 26, 2017 Posted January 26, 2017 [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1485434751' post='3223930'] That seems very expensive. My Wesley acrylic bass cost £60 second hand. [/quote] Sure.. Although it's not second hand and is a Steinberger clone to boot... :-) Quote
njr911 Posted January 26, 2017 Posted January 26, 2017 I'd love an Ampeg Dan Armstrong to get my Bill Wyman jam on! Quote
prowla Posted January 26, 2017 Posted January 26, 2017 [quote name='markstuk' timestamp='1485435161' post='3223936'] Sure.. Although it's not second hand and is a Steinberger clone to boot... :-) [/quote] I reckon it's worth £60 though... Quote
markstuk Posted January 26, 2017 Posted January 26, 2017 [quote name='prowla' timestamp='1485443167' post='3224008'] I reckon it's worth £60 though... [/quote] Then you probably won't be buying one... Quote
Bassassin Posted January 26, 2017 Posted January 26, 2017 [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1485434751' post='3223930'] That seems very expensive. My Wesley acrylic bass cost £60 second hand. [/quote] Mental inflation! When these first appeared on Chinese sites a few years ago they were about £70. Serioulsy considered buying 10 and selling them on at £150 a pop. Quote
AndyTravis Posted January 26, 2017 Posted January 26, 2017 [quote name='Bassassin' timestamp='1485387407' post='3223688'] This is mine, also used to be an Axl: Looks awesome but weighs 13lbs meaning I've never gigged it. Also sadly the neck is junk, despite looking nice. Would make a great wallhanger but I wouldn't trust a guitar hanger - or my walls - to support it. [/quote] Ah. Makes me want one again. Quote
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