Hello! I do have a question. Is there a specific amplifier for acoustic bass? I tried to plug my acoustic bass to my bass amplifier for electric bass guitar and I was causing feedback and all my strings vibrate ridiculously. And any recommendations to avoid that? I love playing with my acoustic bass more than the electric bass. But I can get it played on the Bass amplifier properly. Thank you in advance for answering question.
Hi Jonathan. I really do love playing my ABG, and I gig with it fairly regularly. I've spent a good amount of time trying to find the best solution for this. The main thing I'd recommend is getting a soundhole plug. Mine is a standard acoustic guitar size, and I bought it online very cheaply, but I'd think you'd have to measure up just in case. I also had to trim a couple of notches into mine to go around my thumb rest. Blocking the soundhole does kill the sustain a little bit, but IME it takes care of 80% of feedback issues. I also have a (constant Q) notch filter that I have designed. I use it at gigs that get a bit rowdy, like pubs etc. Depending on how close I am to my amp, I've found there's usually a note that takes off anywhere from upper A (2nd fret G/7th D) to about high C (17th fret G). A parametric EQ that sweeps this range would work for this. I usually only need 4-6dB of cut on the particular note for the response to still feel even. I am just redesigning this circuit at the moment, and may make a video and project for the channel. As for the amp, well I usually use my (small and light) bench amp for these gigs, it's an Ibanez Promethean. It's nice because it has a fairly hi-fi sort of sound, and a 5-band EQ. For speakers, well I use several different combos depending on the gig. Mostly though, I just use my Aguilar SL112 cab. I have also used a little PA wedge with a single 10 that I have under my bench for testing. It sounds really nice with the ABG, but is a little under powered for pub gigs etc. For some larger gigs, I add a 15 cab, just so I'm not thrashing the Agi too much. I also travel with an EQ pedal (8-band custom made), for when I have to plug in direct. Although TBH, the onboard Fishman pre has 4-bands that are pretty useful in these situations.
I watched this a couple of years ago in lockdown to do just this with my old acoustic bass, I watched it again today, I think its the best video on you tube, thank you very much for the effort and detail you went into.
@@RobMods Good afternoon Rob, I went back over your catalogue of videos, I will watch them for sure, but may I ask, did you ever do one on truss rod adjustment ? Happy Sunday sir and Kind Regards.
Recently I bought an Alvarez RB30C acoustic fretless bass guitar so I don't worry about fret work and I straightened out the neck and I checked the bracing and I can now play nicely
I have bought a fretless acoustic bass . I had brief experience of bass playing back in the '60s with a church group ("1 John 5" - yeah, I know, but there were 5 of us, and I was the only John! And it's also a deep and meaningful biblical reference) , but have hardly touched any instrument since. I had previously played violin at school to Grade 6, and was leader of the school orchestra. My classical music training made it easy to play from the dots, and I was briefly involved in renditions of e.g. Beatles songs in multi-instrument pseudo-classical arrangements (prog rock was just around the corner, in fact one of my collaborators back then was Kerry Minnear, later of Gentle Giant fame!}. Over the huge intervening period I have done singing with choral societies and other less formal outlets (I occasionally sing in a backing choir for Rick Wakeman!) on a regular basis, but have recently dug my fiddle out of mothballs to play with some other relatively inexperienced musicians - I even took a few lessons. The bass is for possible use in similar musical ensembles, or just for playing along with the bass/tenor parts in choral rehearsal at home. Whatever, I was astonished to see that your Cort SJB5S is virtually identical to mine (Gear4Music - cheapest on offer - £120), apart from the frets, it's only 4-string, and also no bridge pins (which save me from a heap of setting-up chores). Not much online about bass guitar as a classical instrument, and I haven't yet remembered what string is what - could I cello-tune it? This would at least help getting my head around the tuning, and give me a bit more lower range.
I've owned three cheap acoustic basses now and fiddled around with them to get to play better but it's been mostly trial and error and most of the tutorials are about acoustic six string guitars so yours is the first I've found expressly for acoustic bass guitars. And I particularly liked the idea of adding a thumb rest! Definitely going to try that (initially with tape). Thanks
Cheers Andy. This bass is a few years old now, but I still love playing it. In fact, it is my main bass for home, espicially in spring and summer, because I sit on my balcony for these practise sessions.
Awesome video mate I just bought my first acoustic bass - a 1980's Eston bass (one of the Lamberti Brothers lines of instruments) and it is awesome. I only paid $280 for it and I bought it off the original owner who has only ever used it for studio recordings so its in great condition. Liked and Subscribed.
Thanks for your video. I just bought the cheapest of the cheap bases. And if it needs any work it was great to see tools and techniques that you used in your video in hopes of making it play as best it can. All the best Neal Southwest Florida
Ha ha. Thanks... I think. I recently uploaded a 2-part set up and repair video for a nice vintage P bass. It is mostly without voice over or music. You might like that one... Cheers!
What a great video and a huge help. Just bought a Guild acoustic bass that needed some TLC. This video helped me adjust the neck relief, bridge saddle and i even was able to level a high fret, which I'd never done before. Now my action is great thanks to Rob Mods :)
I did really enjoy watching this video! Very impressive and very helpful. Thank you for being succinct. I can only hope to get to the point where I can make a fraction of those helpful adjustments.
I just wanted the measurements for the string height and the relief so I could measure with my tools as there is no information on the Internet anywhere for acoustic bass. Coincidentally I have the same model of Cort and while I admire the complexity of this overhaul it is way over the top from what I need -and yet I’m very impressed with your fine craftsmanship. Google led me here and still I am frustrated with the lack knowledge on acoustic bass parameters and basic set ups.
I agree, there's little out there. I used to work in a guitar factory and literally set up acoustics all day, one after the other. Before that, and since then, I've mostly worked on electric basses, so I've kind of adapted and combined my experience. Really, the relief should be about the same or just a hair more than a typical fender bass, around 10-15 thou. And I set the action a touch higher than my electrics. This is because any string noise and fret slap sounds can be really strident with the piezo pickup. Also, where I live the weather changes constantly and makes the face swell and shrink back, which makes the action go up and down slightly. I love this instrument, and it is still my most played bass, since I use it daily for practice and learning band rep. In summer I practise on my balcony and have to compete with passing buses and the noise of the world. It's great for your technique too, since you really have to pull the tone from the instrument and also cope with its ergonomic and sonic quirks. Cheers!
Hi everybody!! (Dr Nick voice) Hey, if you enjoyed this video, especially if you tried some of the tips on your axe, please consider donating to my channel via the "THANKS" button. It is a great help and I really appreciate the support. Cheers! Rob.
REALLY helpful video, thank you. Gave me the confidence to tackle some fret dressing / nut slot / saddle / tuner adjustments on my own recently-bought electro-acoustic bass. Chears mate!
That's a cool gigs you play. I wonder if i could watch the full song you played. Have you ever post it on youtube? I wanna watch it. Thanks dude. It's pleasure to watch this video. I have a custom ABG to work with. And this video helps a lot...
Very cool, thanks a lot. I've again got.some additional Informations which were very helpful. BtW, I also like your Finger Rest and the Live Performance 👍🙂
I loved watching this! I love your level of nerdiness about the work :-) I have a cheap acoustic bass and the action is way too high. I could never do this work but I have learnt a lot from watching this. I now know I can also get a thumb rest fitted. Thanks!
Great video! Thanks for sharing. Your playing is impeccable. If you ever found the time to upload a video on adjusting the intonation of an acoustic bass by filing the bridge saddle, that would be greatly appreciated! I recently bought my first acoustic bass, and I love it, but the intonation definitely could use some attention. Thanks, and take care.
Good question! I use a soundhole plug. This bass has a standard sized hole, and I was able to buy a basic silicone plug for very little on-line. I had to cut a couple of notches in its rim to fit around my thumbrest though. And to feed it in and get it in place, I have to slacked the G string. It does kill the tone of the bass slightly, but it works well, and greatly limits the chance of feedback. For some gigs, (louder, small stage stuff), I also use a notch filter as well. When I'm right in front of my amp, there's usually a particular note that takes off. It varies from gig to gig, though and is usually between high F (10th fret G string) and high C (17th fret). So finding this and notching it out a little works well. The filter is one I designed, based on a "state variable filter" topology, but there's bound to be something on the market that does this.
Thanks mate. Actually this piece is by Stolzel, but yes a beautiful aria. (And thought to be by Bach until recently.) Hey check out my arrangement of the cello suite 1 prelude. th-cam.com/video/4_ZxV9RHF_E/w-d-xo.html
Hello again - can you tell me a little;e about the way you use on the fingerboard? I'm assuming that it's not available in the USA, but is it anything like Briwax? I've only ever oils for fingerboards, but the idea of using something a little more durable is very appealing to me. Thank you!
If a board is really dry, then I use oil first, and see if it needs wax. The wax I use is hard carnauba wax polish. It is food grade, tinted brown, and mixed with orange oil. It can be used as a floor polish, so it does offer a little protection. It buffs to a slight lustre, and smells really nice. You don't need much. The brown colour is important for boards that have open pores or other dips and marks. A white wax would leave streaks in such places.
Awesome video and advice, Rob! There is, relatively, so little information on tweaking an acoustic bass, so thanks for this. Would you care to share what you think optimum string action is, or a general variant? I will also use this video to see if I can fix the slight volume imbalance I have on my new (but old) Godin Acoustibass.
Looking for the same info regarding the action. I just got an Ibanez ABG and i find the string action very high at 4.5mm at the 12th fret. I have my regular bass, a jazz bass, setup at 2.5mm. Would really like to know what is the best or most recommended action for ABGs.
I sold all my electrics recently and I'm left with my acoustic stuff. My Denver DB44 is very similar to this. Debating string choices. I use magnetic pickups on 2 of my guitars with appropriate gauge NYXL.. But I still have the stock strings on my bass. I don't like the piezo and I'm planning on using my magnetic - Mic blend pickup.. Half Round 50-105 D'addario are my current leaders.. Wondering your thoughts. Oh man I like the chamferred binding. I thought the soft piezo were preferred. Idk. I don't like them but plan on using magnetic primarily. Potentially going to permanently secure a pickup across the soundhole. Aesthetically I like the Dano Tubes but my head says rail humbucker... I also have a brass nut already and wonder if brass pins would have value. They seem difficult to find for ABG
Hi David, I'm glad you like my (old!) video. Lately I've been rocking Rotosound Bronze Bass 44's. They are 45 to 105 and have a nice dark tone, but I'd like to try the 40 to 100 set and see if they free up the top a little. The piezo I put in is hotter than the original and can peak the preamp when I dig in. It's a pretty nasty "clack" sort of sound. So I keep the onboard vol at 60% and there's no problem. It's still hotter than all of my electrics, plus I use a vol pedal anyway because those little sliders are quite fiddly to adjust on the fly. I did design a sweep constant Q notch filter for feedback control, and it works well, but lately I've just been using a soundhole plug, and I hate to admit it, but it works even better. I had to cut a couple of grooves to clear the thumbrest though. I'm planning to design a new preamp and it will probably have a magnetic pickup and blend as well. I really like your idea of using a lipstick tube in the sound hole. That would look great... I like brass nuts just because they last forever and the grooves don't wear down. As for brass bridge pins, I'm really not sure. I used to work for an Acoustic guitar company, and the custom shop guy was usually trying to reduce the mass around the bridge and bridge plate, actually. But that was 6-strings of course. So yeah, if you can find them, or have them machined, go for it! Actually, you can 3D print with metal these days...
@@RobMods Thanks for the reply. Honestly for the piezo tone I've been seeing Tomastik and La Bella have nylon core which would take the piezo and make playability softer.. Not for me. I've got a UBass for that. Sounds like we agree on the magnetic Mic blend idea and lipstick aesthetic. My Denver was the biggest bodied and tallest neck.. Forward shifted bridge 24 frets and that seems to have paid off with acoustic tone. It's a big dog. I have brass pins on my Takamine and also use nickel wound on it and yeah. Totally new guitar since. A boundary condenser really changes everything but feedback can kill. Try the half rounds perhaps I'm gonna have to just try it since I haven't found anybody who has.. Compressor pedals always with bass. The suck less pedal. ;)
Hi Rob, what do you set your action to above the 12th fret. I have one of these acoustic bass on my bench and the saddle is pretty high. The action at the 12th currently is 4mm.
Playing with a pick you can compete in a lounge room jam or song writing session with a couple of acoustics, but I mostly play this at home alone for practise or plugged in at pub acoustic duo gigs, like in the video. These days I use a soundhole plug and I can crank my amp for a rowdy pub, and standing right in front of it with no feedback issues. Soundwise, it fits in perfectly on these gigs. Also, I find practising on this instrument is really great for my technique.
I have a question for you. Roughly, what do you consider good, playable action height to be for an acoustic bass? A 12th or 15th fret reference would really help me. Thanks.
Hi James. It's important to get the relief and nut slots correct first, but then I'd say a medium-low action is just under 2mm at the G on the 10th fret and gradually increasing to just over 2mm on the E. This works for me, but all players are different. I have a friend who plays mostly upright, and he finds my basses way too low for him. Also, bear in mind that the spruce faces of acoustic instruments go up and down with humidity changes. Up with damp air, down with dry. And this shifts the action up and down. When I get to a gig, I'm never quite sure exactly where the action is gonna be! But that's all part of the fun I guess... :) Thanks for subscribing too!
I can't say i understand why you would choose to replace the end-pin jack it had and drill another hole, is this a matter of subjective preference, or is there some manner of benefit you're after here? Edit: very nice work otherwise, great video
It was to install straplock buttons. I have these on all my instruments and straps. (An added benefit is that barrel jacks are notoriously unreliable.) Thanks for your comments!
Why is it surprising? Cort and Samick make more guitars and basses than all others manufactures combined. They make instruments for many other manufacturers under contract. Don't fall into the headstock snob trap.
It will struggle to compete unless you use a pick and depending, ask the guitarist to play a bit softer. ABG'S are great for practice, especially if your travelling or camping etc. Depending on the quality of the Bass, they can sound fantastic plugged in as well. I have an acoustic and an electric, but mainly practice on my acoustic. Cheers
Hello! I do have a question. Is there a specific amplifier for acoustic bass? I tried to plug my acoustic bass to my bass amplifier for electric bass guitar and I was causing feedback and all my strings vibrate ridiculously. And any recommendations to avoid that? I love playing with my acoustic bass more than the electric bass. But I can get it played on the Bass amplifier properly. Thank you in advance for answering question.
Hi Jonathan. I really do love playing my ABG, and I gig with it fairly regularly. I've spent a good amount of time trying to find the best solution for this. The main thing I'd recommend is getting a soundhole plug. Mine is a standard acoustic guitar size, and I bought it online very cheaply, but I'd think you'd have to measure up just in case. I also had to trim a couple of notches into mine to go around my thumb rest. Blocking the soundhole does kill the sustain a little bit, but IME it takes care of 80% of feedback issues.
I also have a (constant Q) notch filter that I have designed. I use it at gigs that get a bit rowdy, like pubs etc. Depending on how close I am to my amp, I've found there's usually a note that takes off anywhere from upper A (2nd fret G/7th D) to about high C (17th fret G). A parametric EQ that sweeps this range would work for this. I usually only need 4-6dB of cut on the particular note for the response to still feel even. I am just redesigning this circuit at the moment, and may make a video and project for the channel.
As for the amp, well I usually use my (small and light) bench amp for these gigs, it's an Ibanez Promethean. It's nice because it has a fairly hi-fi sort of sound, and a 5-band EQ. For speakers, well I use several different combos depending on the gig. Mostly though, I just use my Aguilar SL112 cab. I have also used a little PA wedge with a single 10 that I have under my bench for testing. It sounds really nice with the ABG, but is a little under powered for pub gigs etc. For some larger gigs, I add a 15 cab, just so I'm not thrashing the Agi too much.
I also travel with an EQ pedal (8-band custom made), for when I have to plug in direct. Although TBH, the onboard Fishman pre has 4-bands that are pretty useful in these situations.
Amazing glimpse into the skill and experience needed to be an artist at effectively prepping these incredible musical instruments!
Thanks mate. I still play this bass all the time, although I don't gig with it as much these days.
Great masterclass - and all for free - fantastic, just acquired a cheap short scale bass which will surely benefit from your advice.
I watched this a couple of years ago in lockdown to do just this with my old acoustic bass, I watched it again today, I think its the best video on you tube, thank you very much for the effort and detail you went into.
Thanks mate. I'm glad you like this video. An early one for my channel. I still love this bass and play it daily.
@@RobMods Good afternoon Rob, I went back over your catalogue of videos, I will watch them for sure, but may I ask, did you ever do one on truss rod adjustment ? Happy Sunday sir and Kind Regards.
Recently I bought an Alvarez RB30C acoustic fretless bass guitar so I don't worry about fret work and I straightened out the neck and I checked the bracing and I can now play nicely
Nice one. I've been keeping an eye out for another cort with a view to defretting it...
I have bought a fretless acoustic bass . I had brief experience of bass playing back in the '60s with a church group ("1 John 5" - yeah, I know, but there were 5 of us, and I was the only John! And it's also a deep and meaningful biblical reference) , but have hardly touched any instrument since. I had previously played violin at school to Grade 6, and was leader of the school orchestra. My classical music training made it easy to play from the dots, and I was briefly involved in renditions of e.g. Beatles songs in multi-instrument pseudo-classical arrangements (prog rock was just around the corner, in fact one of my collaborators back then was Kerry Minnear, later of Gentle Giant fame!}. Over the huge intervening period I have done singing with choral societies and other less formal outlets (I occasionally sing in a backing choir for Rick Wakeman!) on a regular basis, but have recently dug my fiddle out of mothballs to play with some other relatively inexperienced musicians - I even took a few lessons. The bass is for possible use in similar musical ensembles, or just for playing along with the bass/tenor parts in choral rehearsal at home. Whatever, I was astonished to see that your Cort SJB5S is virtually identical to mine (Gear4Music - cheapest on offer - £120), apart from the frets, it's only 4-string, and also no bridge pins (which save me from a heap of setting-up chores). Not much online about bass guitar as a classical instrument, and I haven't yet remembered what string is what - could I cello-tune it? This would at least help getting my head around the tuning, and give me a bit more lower range.
This was a pleasure to watch and listen to. Thank you!
A lot of really useful information in this video that would be of interest to anyone trying to set up an acoustic guitar or bass. Thanks for posting
I've owned three cheap acoustic basses now and fiddled around with them to get to play better but it's been mostly trial and error and most of the tutorials are about acoustic six string guitars so yours is the first I've found expressly for acoustic bass guitars. And I particularly liked the idea of adding a thumb rest! Definitely going to try that (initially with tape). Thanks
Cheers Andy. This bass is a few years old now, but I still love playing it. In fact, it is my main bass for home, espicially in spring and summer, because I sit on my balcony for these practise sessions.
That jack tool is awesome! You should patent it and market it!
You the man. Just picked up a cheap bass to learn how to do set ups.
Awesome video mate I just bought my first acoustic bass - a 1980's Eston bass (one of the Lamberti Brothers lines of instruments) and it is awesome. I only paid $280 for it and I bought it off the original owner who has only ever used it for studio recordings so its in great condition. Liked and Subscribed.
Thanks for your video. I just bought the cheapest of the cheap bases. And if it needs any work it was great to see tools and techniques that you used in your video in hopes of making it play as best it can.
All the best Neal Southwest Florida
I don't know if you have ever considered doing ASMR, but your voice is super soothing and the people would loooooooooove it. Myself included :)
Ha ha. Thanks... I think. I recently uploaded a 2-part set up and repair video for a nice vintage P bass. It is mostly without voice over or music. You might like that one... Cheers!
What a great video and a huge help. Just bought a Guild acoustic bass that needed some TLC. This video helped me adjust the neck relief, bridge saddle and i even was able to level a high fret, which I'd never done before. Now my action is great thanks to Rob Mods :)
Nice one. Thanks mate. I'm glad you like the video. I still love my Cort acoustic, and I gig with her quite often...
I did really enjoy watching this video! Very impressive and very helpful. Thank you for being succinct. I can only hope to get to the point where I can make a fraction of those helpful adjustments.
I just wanted the measurements for the string height and the relief so I could measure with my tools as there is no information on the Internet anywhere for acoustic bass. Coincidentally I have the same model of Cort and while I admire the complexity of this overhaul it is way over the top from what I need -and yet I’m very impressed with your fine craftsmanship. Google led me here and still I am frustrated with the lack knowledge on acoustic bass parameters and basic set ups.
I agree, there's little out there. I used to work in a guitar factory and literally set up acoustics all day, one after the other. Before that, and since then, I've mostly worked on electric basses, so I've kind of adapted and combined my experience. Really, the relief should be about the same or just a hair more than a typical fender bass, around 10-15 thou. And I set the action a touch higher than my electrics. This is because any string noise and fret slap sounds can be really strident with the piezo pickup. Also, where I live the weather changes constantly and makes the face swell and shrink back, which makes the action go up and down slightly.
I love this instrument, and it is still my most played bass, since I use it daily for practice and learning band rep. In summer I practise on my balcony and have to compete with passing buses and the noise of the world. It's great for your technique too, since you really have to pull the tone from the instrument and also cope with its ergonomic and sonic quirks. Cheers!
Hi everybody!! (Dr Nick voice) Hey, if you enjoyed this video, especially if you tried some of the tips on your axe, please consider donating to my channel via the "THANKS" button. It is a great help and I really appreciate the support. Cheers! Rob.
REALLY helpful video, thank you. Gave me the confidence to tackle some fret dressing / nut slot / saddle / tuner adjustments on my own recently-bought electro-acoustic bass. Chears mate!
Great playing too!
I'd love to see you do more of this on other brands of ABG's that may have some 'issues'.
That's a cool gigs you play. I wonder if i could watch the full song you played.
Have you ever post it on youtube? I wanna watch it.
Thanks dude. It's pleasure to watch this video. I have a custom ABG to work with.
And this video helps a lot...
Very cool, thanks a lot. I've again got.some additional Informations which were very helpful. BtW, I also like your Finger Rest and the Live Performance 👍🙂
Nice one. Glad you liked my video Stephan.
Good vid!
It would have been great to show how you removed the frets though. I always envision the fretboard getting torn up when frets are removed.
I loved watching this! I love your level of nerdiness about the work :-)
I have a cheap acoustic bass and the action is way too high. I could never do this work but I have learnt a lot from watching this. I now know I can also get a thumb rest fitted. Thanks!
Amazing playing!
Terrific video Rob. So full of really valuable information. Thanks for taking the time to post this!
Great video! Thanks for sharing. Your playing is impeccable. If you ever found the time to upload a video on adjusting the intonation of an acoustic bass by filing the bridge saddle, that would be greatly appreciated! I recently bought my first acoustic bass, and I love it, but the intonation definitely could use some attention. Thanks, and take care.
Very cool. Nice video
Top tips, and great playing! 🍻👍
Thank you for all the knowledge and advice! I've got some work to do.
Great job! I watched the other videos! Waiting for more. Cheers.
Great video, one question. How do you keep the acoustic from feeding back on stage?
Good question! I use a soundhole plug. This bass has a standard sized hole, and I was able to buy a basic silicone plug for very little on-line. I had to cut a couple of notches in its rim to fit around my thumbrest though. And to feed it in and get it in place, I have to slacked the G string. It does kill the tone of the bass slightly, but it works well, and greatly limits the chance of feedback. For some gigs, (louder, small stage stuff), I also use a notch filter as well. When I'm right in front of my amp, there's usually a particular note that takes off. It varies from gig to gig, though and is usually between high F (10th fret G string) and high C (17th fret). So finding this and notching it out a little works well. The filter is one I designed, based on a "state variable filter" topology, but there's bound to be something on the market that does this.
Thanks for Bach... after all these years still the best.
Thanks mate. Actually this piece is by Stolzel, but yes a beautiful aria. (And thought to be by Bach until recently.) Hey check out my arrangement of the cello suite 1 prelude. th-cam.com/video/4_ZxV9RHF_E/w-d-xo.html
Wonderful job!
Hello again - can you tell me a little;e about the way you use on the fingerboard? I'm assuming that it's not available in the USA, but is it anything like Briwax? I've only ever oils for fingerboards, but the idea of using something a little more durable is very appealing to me. Thank you!
If a board is really dry, then I use oil first, and see if it needs wax. The wax I use is hard carnauba wax polish. It is food grade, tinted brown, and mixed with orange oil. It can be used as a floor polish, so it does offer a little protection. It buffs to a slight lustre, and smells really nice. You don't need much. The brown colour is important for boards that have open pores or other dips and marks. A white wax would leave streaks in such places.
Awesome video and advice, Rob! There is, relatively, so little information on tweaking an acoustic bass, so thanks for this. Would you care to share what you think optimum string action is, or a general variant? I will also use this video to see if I can fix the slight volume imbalance I have on my new (but old) Godin Acoustibass.
Looking for the same info regarding the action. I just got an Ibanez ABG and i find the string action very high at 4.5mm at the 12th fret. I have my regular bass, a jazz bass, setup at 2.5mm. Would really like to know what is the best or most recommended action for ABGs.
+1 for high saddle adjustment too!
I have an acoustic bass with flat intonation starting around the 5th fret up. Suggestions how to correct?
I may be stupid but how would you adjust the string action at the bridge?
Great video man!
I sold all my electrics recently and I'm left with my acoustic stuff. My Denver DB44 is very similar to this. Debating string choices. I use magnetic pickups on 2 of my guitars with appropriate gauge NYXL.. But I still have the stock strings on my bass. I don't like the piezo and I'm planning on using my magnetic - Mic blend pickup..
Half Round 50-105 D'addario are my current leaders.. Wondering your thoughts.
Oh man I like the chamferred binding.
I thought the soft piezo were preferred. Idk. I don't like them but plan on using magnetic primarily.
Potentially going to permanently secure a pickup across the soundhole. Aesthetically I like the Dano Tubes but my head says rail humbucker...
I also have a brass nut already and wonder if brass pins would have value. They seem difficult to find for ABG
Hi David, I'm glad you like my (old!) video. Lately I've been rocking Rotosound Bronze Bass 44's. They are 45 to 105 and have a nice dark tone, but I'd like to try the 40 to 100 set and see if they free up the top a little.
The piezo I put in is hotter than the original and can peak the preamp when I dig in. It's a pretty nasty "clack" sort of sound. So I keep the onboard vol at 60% and there's no problem. It's still hotter than all of my electrics, plus I use a vol pedal anyway because those little sliders are quite fiddly to adjust on the fly.
I did design a sweep constant Q notch filter for feedback control, and it works well, but lately I've just been using a soundhole plug, and I hate to admit it, but it works even better. I had to cut a couple of grooves to clear the thumbrest though.
I'm planning to design a new preamp and it will probably have a magnetic pickup and blend as well. I really like your idea of using a lipstick tube in the sound hole. That would look great...
I like brass nuts just because they last forever and the grooves don't wear down. As for brass bridge pins, I'm really not sure. I used to work for an Acoustic guitar company, and the custom shop guy was usually trying to reduce the mass around the bridge and bridge plate, actually. But that was 6-strings of course. So yeah, if you can find them, or have them machined, go for it! Actually, you can 3D print with metal these days...
@@RobMods Thanks for the reply. Honestly for the piezo tone I've been seeing Tomastik and La Bella have nylon core which would take the piezo and make playability softer.. Not for me. I've got a UBass for that. Sounds like we agree on the magnetic Mic blend idea and lipstick aesthetic. My Denver was the biggest bodied and tallest neck.. Forward shifted bridge 24 frets and that seems to have paid off with acoustic tone. It's a big dog. I have brass pins on my Takamine and also use nickel wound on it and yeah. Totally new guitar since. A boundary condenser really changes everything but feedback can kill. Try the half rounds perhaps I'm gonna have to just try it since I haven't found anybody who has..
Compressor pedals always with bass. The suck less pedal. ;)
Hi Rob, what do you set your action to above the 12th fret. I have one of these acoustic bass on my bench and the saddle is pretty high. The action at the 12th currently is 4mm.
Very nice work,where did you find the thumb rest?Did you glue it on?
How loud is this ? Can it literally make you feel the bass in an acoustic/unplugged set up with 2 or 3 guitars?
Playing with a pick you can compete in a lounge room jam or song writing session with a couple of acoustics, but I mostly play this at home alone for practise or plugged in at pub acoustic duo gigs, like in the video. These days I use a soundhole plug and I can crank my amp for a rowdy pub, and standing right in front of it with no feedback issues. Soundwise, it fits in perfectly on these gigs. Also, I find practising on this instrument is really great for my technique.
I have a question for you. Roughly, what do you consider good, playable action height to be for an acoustic bass? A 12th or 15th fret reference would really help me. Thanks.
Hi James. It's important to get the relief and nut slots correct first, but then I'd say a medium-low action is just under 2mm at the G on the 10th fret and gradually increasing to just over 2mm on the E. This works for me, but all players are different. I have a friend who plays mostly upright, and he finds my basses way too low for him. Also, bear in mind that the spruce faces of acoustic instruments go up and down with humidity changes. Up with damp air, down with dry. And this shifts the action up and down. When I get to a gig, I'm never quite sure exactly where the action is gonna be! But that's all part of the fun I guess... :)
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@@RobModsthanks. What about the low E string action/? And the relief please?
I wish I had the tools to do this 😞
Don't suppose your in Melbourne? I'd prefer to pay you to set my acoustic bass up. Great video, cheers.
I can't say i understand why you would choose to replace the end-pin jack it had and drill another hole, is this a matter of subjective preference, or is there some manner of benefit you're after here?
Edit: very nice work otherwise, great video
It was to install straplock buttons. I have these on all my instruments and straps. (An added benefit is that barrel jacks are notoriously unreliable.) Thanks for your comments!
Why is it surprising? Cort and Samick make more guitars and basses than all others manufactures combined. They make instruments for many other manufacturers under contract. Don't fall into the headstock snob trap.
Will it sound good if played along with acoustic guitar without any amp..
Sorry for my English..
It will struggle to compete unless you use a pick and depending, ask the guitarist to play a bit softer.
ABG'S are great for practice, especially if your travelling or camping etc.
Depending on the quality of the Bass, they can sound fantastic plugged in as well.
I have an acoustic and an electric, but mainly practice on my acoustic. Cheers
Smart ass :) What an intelligent video.
As a pick player I cringe at the glued on thumb rest. Makes it really ugly and less desirable to purchase if you'd sell it.
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