mrcrow Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 (edited) how many are familiar with acoustics and if so what kind of volume and tone do they have without using any onboard electrics and preamps recommendations would be fine in the mid price category and do they need bronze strings?? thanks Edited February 8, 2009 by mrcrow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemmywinks Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 [quote name='mrcrow' post='403423' date='Feb 8 2009, 04:05 PM']how many are familiar with acoustics and if so what kind of volume and tone do they have without using any onboard electrics and preamps recommendations would be fine in the mid price category and do they need bronze strings?? thanks[/quote] Most of the cheaper to mid priced ones lack a lot of bass on the low E, purely due to the physics of producing that low end. I've got an old cheapy (£160 ten years ago!) and it sounds pretty decent with bronze strings. Always fancied the Michael Kelly ones. There was a Takamine for sale here not so long ago, don't think it sold and it was a bargain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrcrow Posted February 8, 2009 Author Share Posted February 8, 2009 [quote name='lemmywinks' post='403428' date='Feb 8 2009, 03:10 PM']Most of the cheaper to mid priced ones lack a lot of bass on the low E, purely due to the physics of producing that low end. I've got an old cheapy (£160 ten years ago!) and it sounds pretty decent with bronze strings. Always fancied the Michael Kelly ones. There was a Takamine for sale here not so long ago, don't think it sold and it was a bargain[/quote] thanks lemmywinks i am wondering if an acoustic would suit a small group situation...low E wouldnt be a problem so long as fretted F was sound i will research the takamine you mentioned.. cheers geof Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Burpster Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 Accoustic basses tend to lack sufficient volume to cut it with other accoustic instruments, hence the prevelance of electro accoustics. You dont need a huge amp to drive the sound but anything like 1/2 decent accoustic 6 strings will drown an un amplified bass unless it is an upright. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrcrow Posted February 8, 2009 Author Share Posted February 8, 2009 [quote name='The Burpster' post='403443' date='Feb 8 2009, 03:26 PM']Accoustic basses tend to lack sufficient volume to cut it with other accoustic instruments, hence the prevelance of electro accoustics. You dont need a huge amp to drive the sound but anything like 1/2 decent accoustic 6 strings will drown an un amplified bass unless it is an upright. [/quote] thats all i need to know...needing an amp will mean to me to stick with the electric basses...it was a thought albeit a bit naff thanks a lot for the insight cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agroupuk Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 Theres one acoustic bass I am aware of thats loud and thats the Tacoma thunderchief. It's very expensive tho. I nearly bought one but relented at the end and spent a bit less on the top of the range Tanglewood acoustic. Its loud enough against a single guitar if I pick it rather than fingers, but amped up its sweet! It has rotosound flats on and sound like an upright bass. I was playing it amped at a local open mic night doing Knocking on Heavens door and the amount of comments I got afterwards abut how nice it sounded made buying it worthwhile. Keep thinking about one - they make sense for practicing anywhere in the house and they are such a unique sound when amped. Anyway - have fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrcrow Posted February 8, 2009 Author Share Posted February 8, 2009 (edited) [quote name='agroupuk' post='403489' date='Feb 8 2009, 04:18 PM']Theres one acoustic bass I am aware of thats loud and thats the Tacoma thunderchief. It's very expensive tho. I nearly bought one but relented at the end and spent a bit less on the top of the range Tanglewood acoustic. Its loud enough against a single guitar if I pick it rather than fingers, but amped up its sweet! It has rotosound flats on and sound like an upright bass. I was playing it amped at a local open mic night doing Knocking on Heavens door and the amount of comments I got afterwards abut how nice it sounded made buying it worthwhile. Keep thinking about one - they make sense for practicing anywhere in the house and they are such a unique sound when amped. Anyway - have fun![/quote] thats a cool bass...at 799 its a bit off my budget [url="http://www.themusicgallery.co.uk/proddetail.php?prod=CB10C"]http://www.themusicgallery.co.uk/proddetail.php?prod=CB10C[/url] ps..your tanglewood experience intrigues me..i will check that out...with amp it could be what i want thanks [url="http://www.soundslive.co.uk/product.asp?id=5795"]http://www.soundslive.co.uk/product.asp?id=5795[/url] was it this tanglewood bass you got Edited February 8, 2009 by mrcrow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemmywinks Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 Try a semi acoustic bass? Tanglewood do a version of their Warrior, Ibanez do one as do Yamaha and Aria (arabassist had a nice one for sale for a little over £100 a while ago). The one that struck me was the Dean Rhapsody (think that's what it was called...), they also do a fretless version too. [url="http://www.deanguitars.com/home-dean-basses.php"]http://www.deanguitars.com/home-dean-basses.php[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hubrad Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 The shop where I work (1 mile from M62) sells acoustic basses.. I'd go along with the lack of acoustic power in general. Double basses are big for a reason. We do have an ex-demo half decent Crafter [url="http://www.themusicroom-online.co.uk/product_info.php/products_id/4385"]http://www.themusicroom-online.co.uk/produ...roducts_id/4385[/url] which is one of the better ones I've played, being slightly larger in the body and having Rosewood back and sides. Before I got into double, I had a similar one - from the same place but before I worked there - slightly bigger again. It was ok for acoustic sessions with a pick, a bit of a pain with fingers as you had to play flat out all the time. Having put that Crafter on the website, I then found that we have two the same. Folk festivals, huh! HUGH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agroupuk Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 (edited) [quote name='mrcrow' post='403499' date='Feb 8 2009, 04:29 PM']thats a cool bass...at 799 its a bit off my budget [url="http://www.themusicgallery.co.uk/proddetail.php?prod=CB10C"]http://www.themusicgallery.co.uk/proddetail.php?prod=CB10C[/url] ps..your tanglewood experience intrigues me..i will check that out...with amp it could be what i want thanks [url="http://www.soundslive.co.uk/product.asp?id=5795"]http://www.soundslive.co.uk/product.asp?id=5795[/url] was it this tanglewood bass you got[/quote] Yup - thats the one Its got a nice features in that it mutes the lineout when you switch on the built in tuner. (handy when realising your out of tune and have already stepped up to the stage hehe) I dont think I paid that much for mine - and I bought it from SoundsLive about 9 months ago. Thats the credit crunch for you! Any more info needed? Edd BTW its big, about 5 - 6 " deep at its deepest and at least 4 foot, maybe 4' 2" long. Edited February 8, 2009 by agroupuk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrcrow Posted February 9, 2009 Author Share Posted February 9, 2009 [quote name='agroupuk' post='403711' date='Feb 8 2009, 07:58 PM']Yup - thats the one Its got a nice features in that it mutes the lineout when you switch on the built in tuner. (handy when realising your out of tune and have already stepped up to the stage hehe) I dont think I paid that much for mine - and I bought it from SoundsLive about 9 months ago. Thats the credit crunch for you! Any more info needed? Edd BTW its big, about 5 - 6 " deep at its deepest and at least 4 foot, maybe 4' 2" long.[/quote] thats plenty info and many thanks from sunny manchester cheers geof Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lozbass Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 Hi - I played and bought my first one last Friday and I'm really impressed and enjoying it! Mine's a Wechter (bought here on BC!) and it's pretty loud even with TI Jazz flats - I think phosphor bronze strings would be even brighter and have more attack. It's a bit difficult to judge the volume and projection when you're playing the bass (your sat behind it) - it's probably better to stand in front and listen to somebody else playing. The bass is big but surprisingly easy to play - I was told that the action was as low as a lot of electric basses and - amazingly - it is! It's good to have a bass that you can play anywhere (no need to mess about with cables etc.) I haven't tried it against an acoustic guitar but suspect it could just about hold its own. As for using it against amplified instruments...I doubt it could cope (unless amplified itself - it has a Fishman fitted). As ever, my advice would be try a few - the Gallery in London has a really good stock of ABGs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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