tom1946 Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 Looking for a good not too expensive electro acoustic bass. Anyone recommend any particular one or ones to avoid please? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek99 Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 I liked a short scale “spider” bass, very loud for its size Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek99 Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 1 minute ago, Geek99 said: I liked a short scale “spider” bass, very loud for its size https://reverb.com/uk/item/28913650-secondhand-spider-electro-acoustic-bass-natural Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itu Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 What are you after? Loud they aren't, but bulky, yes. The best sound I got from a Ferrington was with piccolo strings. I am no g-word player, so I sold it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bolo Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 If you stumble across a Dean stylist, they're amazing, just really solid sounding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cato Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 (edited) My brother in law has a bog standard Harley Benton acoustic bass which is a lot more fun to play than it should be for £130 One of these I think https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_hbb30nt_akustikbass.htm Edited February 4 by Cato 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulThePlug Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 (edited) Loves my Harley Benton HBO-850 (34") https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_hbo_850_bass_black.htm and don't forget the HB Flats for that Warm and Earthy Upright-esq Tone... and gets rid of the Squeaky-Mouse of the Phosphor Bronze https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_hqs_bass_45_100_flatwound.htm Edited February 4 by PaulThePlug 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 I’ve got the Lindo ldg, it’s got a nice sound acoustically and plugged in but I find the body a bit big, it’s the main reason I don’t really use it , I would definitely have a different one but I would want the slimline type, something worth thinking about Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 I have a Tanglewood DBT AB BW which was an impulse buy - I think I've played it for about 10mins - just taking up room in an already cramped rack. I'd have no problem parting with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LowB_FTW Posted February 5 Share Posted February 5 There's a Washburn AB-35 going on eBay at the moment. I have one of these (I have no affiliation to this seller) and I love it. If my house was on fire and I could only save one of my basses, this would be the one. It doesn't appear to have met reserve yet, so I've no idea if it'll fall within whatever budget you may have, but it's absolutely worth a punt I'd say. These don't come up that often, and AFAIC, there's good reason for this. Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casapete Posted February 5 Share Posted February 5 I have an Ibanez PNB14E which is a small (parlour sized) body, 24” scale and uses the special nylon core round wounds originally designed for the Taylor GS Mini bass. It’s an amazing little thing, used it on hundreds of gigs and new are only around £240. The Taylors are great things but expensive IMHO (£750 +), as are the Martin DJR range. For a more traditional sized bass the Ibanez PCBE14MH are nice instruments, again around £240 new. I’ve also tried the Guilds like the B240E which seem really nice medium scale basses. As ever, it’s probably a question of trying a few out to find your fit, although not many shops seem to carry many in stock. I’ve used my Washburn AB20 on gigs for 30 years and loved it, but since getting the short scale Ibanez it’s unfortunately become redundant. May be selling it on here soon. 😉 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom1946 Posted February 5 Author Share Posted February 5 Thanks for the input guys, there's a lot to think about here so I'll look through all the suggestions and make a decision. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeftyJ Posted February 5 Share Posted February 5 I second the recommendations for the Washburn AB series. They were great basses, and were used by many pro's at the time (they can be seen prominently in many MTV Unplugged shows of the 1990s). I would like to add the Cort NTL-B to the list. They can be found used at good prices, and were Cort's top of the line with solid Engelmann spruce top and beautiful laminated rosewood sides. I own a fretless lefty model which is lovely. They have a mini jumbo-sized body which has a fairly big belly but a narrow waist which sits comfortably on your leg when playing seated. Acoustic tone is not loud enough to compete with acoustic guitars without amplification, but the electronics (high-level Fishman Prefix Plus with very useful EQ bands and a notch filter to fight feedback) are great. I do recommend using a soundhole cover when playing in high-volume situations like amplified rehearsals or gigs because it WILL feedback especially on the E-string. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
synthaside Posted February 5 Share Posted February 5 (edited) If you can find an old Aria AMB-50B on eBay or similar that will do you great, I picked up one for £70 or so years back it is an ovation abs back knock off. Surprisingly loud unplugged too, strung with black nylons its what I play at home 99% of the time. Edited February 5 by synthaside Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jd56hawk Posted February 5 Share Posted February 5 (edited) Dean Exotica, the older model with the Aphex System electronics, Aural Exciter and Big-Bottom Sound. Wouldn't trade my for a Tacoma Thunderchief, an Earthwood, Guild, etc, etc, etc. I believe in the MTV Unplugged school of thought...plug in! It's all about tone. Edited February 5 by jd56hawk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
binky_bass Posted February 7 Share Posted February 7 @tom1946 - Crafter BA400EQ are great basses, often can be found for £150-£200ish second hand. I've owned probably 4 or 5 of these at least over the years, all really well built, all do a fine job of being an acoustic bass! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LowB_FTW Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 On 05/02/2024 at 01:35, LowB_FTW said: There's a Washburn AB-35 going on eBay at the moment. I have one of these (I have no affiliation to this seller) and I love it. If my house was on fire and I could only save one of my basses, this would be the one. It doesn't appear to have met reserve yet, so I've no idea if it'll fall within whatever budget you may have, but it's absolutely worth a punt I'd say. These don't come up that often, and AFAIC, there's good reason for this. Mark So the one I linked to above sold for £370. I got mine at the beginning of Dec., 2021 for £141, and mine's better looking. Just an indication of how prices are going up across the board. @tom1946 did you get anywhere with your search yet? Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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