bumfrog Posted June 8, 2010 Share Posted June 8, 2010 ow do just a quickie. Starting to play a lot more acousticy stuff. Whilst I'm aware that an acoustic bass is never going to be particularly loud, I just wondered if anybody had come across any particular make/model that was noticably louder than others. Reason being is I'm starting to play a lot of acoustic nights and I can't be arsed to lug down my bass and the little roland, so ideally would just like something I can whip out and play. It's not too bad as I'm not playing against a guitar, it's actually a baritone uke and a madolin ta in advance peeps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gareth Hughes Posted June 8, 2010 Share Posted June 8, 2010 None that will match a baritone uke and a mandolin sadly. As small as they may be, those high frequencies are just tough to get heard over - as an acoustic bass guitar simply doesn't have the body size to move the amount of air required to generate the volume you need. That's why an upright bass is the size it is. Apologies if that comes across as a smart a$$ answer. Believe me, I wish there was an answer that would work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisnameistaken Posted June 8, 2010 Share Posted June 8, 2010 I bought a double bass and grew muscles for precisely this kind of scenario. And I still want more volume... Acoustic bass guitars simply don't produce enough bass in my experience, they just sound like folk guitars tuned lower. Maybe a [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guitarr%C3%B3n_mexicano"]guitarron[/url] might be worth a look! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeavyJay Posted June 8, 2010 Share Posted June 8, 2010 (edited) I've got one of these for that reason: [url="http://www.deanguitars.com/acoustic_basses.php#eabc"]http://www.deanguitars.com/acoustic_basses.php#eabc[/url] I like the bridge shape! It's fairly loud but like gareth hughes said it won't really be a match without an amp but it is serviceable for jamming [i]in an acoustic setting[/i] with others if you use a pick and dig in a bit. Edited to add: [i]in an acoustic setting[/i] Edited June 8, 2010 by HeavyJay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bumfrog Posted June 8, 2010 Author Share Posted June 8, 2010 It's not been too bad acoustically as both the other players are quite quiet. I've definitely noticed a difference between the two acoustic basses we already have in the house, hence me asking if anybody knew of any particular model that was noted for being a bit louder. I'll have to have a butchers at those dean basses - cheers heavy jay. I'd love a guitarron though - would be awesome just to have people ask if I'm little or far away might have to get me a roadie to carry the roland then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
razze06 Posted June 8, 2010 Share Posted June 8, 2010 Ever thought of a resonator bass? There is one for sale in an edinburgh shop. I played it some days ago, and it is quite loud, i suppose... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doddy Posted June 8, 2010 Share Posted June 8, 2010 I'll have to agree with everyone else. Acoustic bass guitars will always struggle next to a higher frequency instrument. To get anywhere near the desirable volume,you really need an upright-a bass guitar body isn't large enough to produce the volume at that frequency. The only one I've heard that was even half close to competing with an acoustic guitar is the Taylor acoustic bass,and even then it was struggling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGit Posted June 8, 2010 Share Posted June 8, 2010 [quote name='razze06' post='860992' date='Jun 8 2010, 01:58 PM']Ever thought of a resonator bass? There is one for sale in an edinburgh shop. I played it some days ago, and it is quite loud, i suppose...[/quote] I got one for something similar. Not that much louder and very twangy. great plugged in though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardH Posted June 8, 2010 Share Posted June 8, 2010 The one that does get mentioned as being louder than most is the [url="http://www.tacomaguitars.com/products/search.php?partno=0381200721"]Tacoma Thunderchief[/url]. There was a cheaper version called an Olympia OB3CE - but that seems to not be available any more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bumfrog Posted June 8, 2010 Author Share Posted June 8, 2010 [quote name='razze06' post='860992' date='Jun 8 2010, 01:58 PM']Ever thought of a resonator bass? There is one for sale in an edinburgh shop. I played it some days ago, and it is quite loud, i suppose...[/quote] ooooooooooooooooo feeling gas coming on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
razze06 Posted June 8, 2010 Share Posted June 8, 2010 The shop is called scayles music, see [url="http://www.scayles.co.uk/resonator_guitars.html"]here for contact details[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bumfrog Posted June 8, 2010 Author Share Posted June 8, 2010 [quote name='razze06' post='861029' date='Jun 8 2010, 02:31 PM']The shop is called scayles music, see [url="http://www.scayles.co.uk/resonator_guitars.html"]here for contact details[/url][/quote] cheers, and I'll be up in edinburger soon as well...... arrghhhh bank account Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemmywinks Posted June 8, 2010 Share Posted June 8, 2010 The Washburn ones are very loud for an acoustic bass and not too pricey. Quite a bit of low end too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dom in Dorset Posted June 8, 2010 Share Posted June 8, 2010 I used to have a budget short scale acoustic that was louder than my Ibanez. the downside was unneven tone and response when plugged in. It had a clanky acoustic sound that could cut through anything. The best good tone/good volume acoustic bass that I've tried is an Eko: www.nevadamusic.co.uk/.../sc1111.aspx a natural finish version of the one on this page. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bumfrog Posted June 8, 2010 Author Share Posted June 8, 2010 awesome stuff people, many thanks. Interestingly enough, similar to dom - there's quite a nice ibanez acoustic in the house, but it's the cheap crappy stagg that's way louder and punchy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earbrass Posted June 8, 2010 Share Posted June 8, 2010 [quote name='bumfrog' post='860952' date='Jun 8 2010, 01:19 PM']It's not too bad as I'm not playing against a guitar[/quote] In an ideal world, of course, one would play bass [b]with[/b] a guitar rather than [b]against[/b] it, but how often do things work out that way? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted June 8, 2010 Share Posted June 8, 2010 I've got one of these (Tanglewood Rosewood Reserve) and it's the loudest ABG I've ever played. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted June 8, 2010 Share Posted June 8, 2010 The old Ernie Ball Earthwood acoustic bass is a huge great monster of an instrument & is very loud. I'd love to get my hands on one. The guy from The Violent Femmes uses one (his name escapes me for the moment but he's a great player). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tino Posted June 8, 2010 Share Posted June 8, 2010 [quote name='bumfrog' post='860952' date='Jun 8 2010, 01:19 PM']ow do just a quickie. Starting to play a lot more acousticy stuff. Whilst I'm aware that an acoustic bass is never going to be particularly loud, I just wondered if anybody had come across any particular make/model that was noticably louder than others. Reason being is I'm starting to play a lot of acoustic nights and I can't be arsed to lug down my bass and the little roland, so ideally would just like something I can whip out and play. It's not too bad as I'm not playing against a guitar, it's actually a baritone uke and a madolin ta in advance peeps.[/quote] Regal Dobro Resonator Bass.....thats about as loud as it gets and it projects well....and could work well with the Mando & Uke....... Im selling my Mando if yer player fancys a 55 Gibson A40 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted June 8, 2010 Share Posted June 8, 2010 You could go really retro (c1924) and opt for a Gibson 'mando-bass'. Not exactly portable though, I'll admit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BottomEndian Posted June 8, 2010 Share Posted June 8, 2010 [quote name='Gibson' date='c1924']May be used in any combination of four or more instruments.[/quote] Try playing it in a power trio and Orville Gibson'll come and rip you a new one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykesbass Posted June 8, 2010 Share Posted June 8, 2010 [quote name='OldGit' post='861003' date='Jun 8 2010, 02:04 PM']I got one for something similar. Not that much louder and very twangy. great plugged in though [/quote] Which one did you get OG - the Ozark I had when I had my shop was way louder than any of the others - extremely heavy though - wouldn't want to even try and play it standing up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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