I was a double bassist first, thought, i can play this massive thing, let's downsize to a bass guitar, im sure its the same. Boy was I wrong, both the fingering and even just the plucking techniques are so different and I just wasn't expecting it to be like learning a new instrument, the only thing they have in common is the same strings!
@@garethstroud5586 Yeah it is quite different. I played double bass and acoustic guitar beforehand, so when someone asked me if I could play the bass guitar I just said "yeah", and kinda worked it out. It's basically half way between the two.
I'm a noob, learning on an Ibanez acoustic bass. I like that it's light and quiet, so I can just sit on the couch and practice and not worry about bothering anyone. I also like that it shows no mercy when my fretting hand isn't in proper position.
I love my acoustic bass. I play it every day. You can just pick it up and play, no cables, amps, cabinets to deal with. And it sounds great with the proper strings playing acoustically with acoustic guitars if you’re in a small setting. It was the best bass purchase of my life and a guitar I will never part with because it’s my main source of practice.
What strings would you recommend for an acoustic bass? I got my acoustic recently, the strings seemed too tight while tuning, the 1st and 2 nd strings actually snapped. Thanks
Okay I've owned 3 acoustic basses over the years and here is my two cents about it. It really depends on your what you intend to play and the style of music. I actually LOVE acoustic basses and think they are simply great live and in the studio. I like playing them with a pick and actually, they really complement an acoustic guitar, provided you use a mic/ amp it up. You might say, "they're quiet unplugged and if you plug them in you might as well go for an electric". No. Plugged in, many acoustics like some Ibanez and Fenders have a unique boxy tone to them which personally suits what I like to play and great for some genres. The problem I find with videos about "should I get an acoustic bass" are that they assume ALL bassists play the same way, and want to use an acoustic the same way as an electric. You wouldn't expect a metal shredder to expect the same out of a Elvis Fender Kingman acoustic would you? Same applies to acoustic basses. I stand by them, great instruments
Yeah, I totally agree with you. I bought a Sigma acoustic a few years ago and did a lot of research b4 hand. I Luv this bass. Great sound and don't need an amp to practice. I've played with friends playing acoustic guitars, fingerstyle and the bass is still heard. If they use plectrums and attack the strings, then it's hard to hear. I've plugged into an amp in that case and same for electric guitars. My bass sounds just as good when plugged in which I was surprised just how good it was. Again depends what you you want to play and even better if you can have an acoustic and an electric. Cheers
I am considering an acoustic bass but I wonder whether it can be plugged into an acoustic amp. Is there a special acoustic bass amp? Can I use same amp to plug the guitar and the bass at a same time and have a decent quality sound?
I've had an acoustic bass for about 10 years now, and I basically agree with everything you are saying here. However, I do enjoy playing mine quite a bit. The main purpose for mine though is simply like you were saying, a quick hassle-free way to pick up the instrument and practice.
I'm considering to get one just by practicing easier than setting up all my stuff for electric bass, your comment motivates me to give a try on an acoustic one :)
I didn't even watch this video, here's the answer, if your a bass player on the go or a bass player who likes folk/country/blues the answer is yes, hell I'm a bass player who likes rap and metal and I have an acoustic bass, believe it or not, I actually end up docking more hours on it than my 72 precision (non re issue)
I pretty much stopped picking up my electric bass when I bought my first acoustic one. I now have both a fretted and a fretless acoustic and aside from just personally enjoying them more the amount of percussive things you can do on the body is insane when compared to an electric bass. Look up Dmitry Lisenko using an acoustic bass on TH-cam. That is the reason to own one. Also an acoustic bass is way louder than you present in your comparison. You are strumming fairly hardcore on the unplugged electric and barely plucking the acoustic. To do a real comparison play the same thing in the same way. What I am getting at is DON'T let this video scare you off of getting an AGB. They are great fun in the right hands. To find out if those hands are yours get down to your local music shop and try one out.
I have one of these and have come to appreciate it more as I've practiced with it. The action is a bit high, but I use that to help me develop better note articulation. I get really good sound when I pick or pluck the strings closer to the bridge, and I mix my output so I have as much acoustic sound as I can get, but mix in a little bit of wired-amp sound to get the volume where it needs to be in an ensemble. A bass has a job to do, but too much amp overpowers other instruments. The sound has a woody, natural quality. Feedback can be an issue if you turn it too loud. For the price, its a useful and fun bass to play. I'm going to see how flatwounds sound on it. String noise when moving up and down the frets takes a light touch to minimize, but for me, this bass is a keeper.
Andrew Pincock I find them to be acceptable for beginners who are specifically interested in acoustic bass. In that scenario, it's best to go head first into the trials and tribulations of acoustic basses so that you begin to develop techniques to work around. Some people specifically want acoustic for their aesthetic qualities and percussive effects, and may not plan on owning multiple instruments.
Comparing playing softly with fingers on bronze strings to aggressive playing with a pick on nickles? You glad you made your artificial point buddy? I got one of these and put nickles on it, it's plenty loud enough to play with an acoustic guitar.
Yeah, that's not a direct comparison. That it's even remotely close is pretty telling though. However, I've gotten enough feedback like yours to make me really want to measure the difference. I have a video in the works that will more scientifically evaluate the loudness factor.
The Mexican Guitarron is the solution. It has the face of a big guitar, but the body stretches deep behind it and then actually bulbs out, like face of a cello. It is a standard instrument for a Mariachi quartet and is generally recognizeable by people in that context. Its a huge, fat instrument; akin to holding a giant baby in the arms. The reason the guitarron is the ONLY solution to an acoustic bass guitar is because only the guitarron is loud enough to actually compete the other instruments in a live performance. But there is a catch. Although it is type of 6-string acoustic guitar, is has it's own learning curve. The strings are tuned in a special way that allows for TWO bass notes to be plucked at one time. And both duplicate notes must be played at the same time to keep the volume level high, but also to keep a consistent coloring to the bass line. The guitarron has a unique sound very unlike an acoustic bass guitar, due to it's huge structure, the doubling of any single played note, and because it incorporates nylon strings for the upper (higher) strings. It sounds very "acoustic" and can add a lot of character to the music. It is more edgy and present than the smooth sound of the Classical upright bass. // And, as far as regular acoustic bass guitar, I would ONLY buy one if you intend to use it for recording, or for personal solo enjoyment. It's a wonderful, "acostickee" warm tone when picked up by a microphone. And it's healing to physically absorb bass notes, because of it's deep penetration. (Wink-wink) // Even though I use synthesizers, I'm one of those Classical purists who only believes in ONLY acoustic instruments in a group setting. (How extremest of me). Sadly, the guitarron is not used much outside of Mariaci music. Because if it's huge size, it is not as easy to carry around from gig to gig. Add the traveling issue to the completely different tuning AND plucking approach, the instrument as become marginalized into Marachi folk music. There is no acoustic bass guitar that can compete with the guitarron in a live setting, and really, it's a giant, fertile, bulbous gem just WAITING to be plucked . . . - This has been a message from your friendly neighborhood - _Acoustic Rabbit Hole_
I’ve gotten a lot of comments about acoustic basses in this style of music and you’re right in that they function great for that music. However, the acoustic bass I’m using in the video is a different instrument from what is traditionally used in those styles and would not perform nearly as well.
I also strongly disagree. 1) Don't pluck on the sound hole. Pluck on the end of the fret board (similar to an upright bass); you immediately get a more comfortable right arm/hand position. Thumb rests on the fret board edge and makes life TONS easier. 2) If you play play a FRETLESS BASS(that has fret markers like a DEAN EAB) with flatwound strings, you get a MUCH more comfortable fretting hand/left arm position that's easier on the fingers. 3) The low volume argument is a flat out lie (when playing with other acoustic instruments). You do have to pluck harder than an electric bass to play along with other guitars, pianos. ukes, etc but I can hear it just fine in the recording. I will post a video to prove it. 3a) Fretted Acoustic Basses have HORRIBLE fret buzz. The worst I've ever seen. And maybe that's why you can't pluck as hard as you'd like to get a louder sound on some of the more cheap ones because you are trying to avoid that horrible buzz. Answer: GET A FRETLESS (With fret markers). www.guitarcenter.com/Dean/EAB-Fretless-Acoustic-Electric-Bass-Gloss-Natural-1284134930916.gc If you are into the world of acoustics, or are just trying to campfire jam with friends, don't be put off. I got the bass posted in the link a few months ago and it is one of the best decisions I've made.
Honestly, I prefer acoustic basses to electric basses in most scenarios. They're really fantastic for my style which incorporates a lot of flamenco guitar strumming/finger style, with punchy slapping. They're kinda shit when it comes to tapping though.
I have the exact same acoustic bass you have in this video. I love my acoustic bass. Now, I play bass with a pick, so I guess it's easier for me. Plus, most of your points were kinda correct. However, I absolutely love the acoustic bass I have, and I got it for about $250. Pretty good deal if you ask me
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Thanks for reminding of the feelings that I had when playing acoustic basses.
Acoustic basses are the handiest thing in the world for practicing on. When I giggled I used my Mexican deluxe jazz but when I practiced at home I always grabbed the acoustic bass. Just so easy to pick up play for a few mins and put back down. No faffing with wires etc.
I am a little late but I do wish people would not get so mad when you pretense this as your opinion and also give very valid points anyhow. I am actually planning on getting the exact bass showcased in this video as I do love the idea of the instrument. It was a bit of a downer to know that they are not very loud, as that was my initial reason for wanting one, and I saw your vid with the bass teacher and how a double bass is as loud as loud gets. However, after many weeks of consideration, I have weighed all of the pros, and all of the many cons, and I think I would definitely benefit from using an acoustic traversal and have fun taking advantage of its quirks.
I agree with the entirety of your statement. I didn't get the impression he was trashing them per se, simply letting individuals know this is what it is. The beauty of music is simply going to create for your purpose, need, desire, vision, etc. Have fun with the bass. Would live to hear your thoughts.
you are sooooo right, the entomology of the acoustic bass is wrong, - double bass - electric bass - acoustic bass , it was some dude in a guitar factory said "why don't we just put the long neck on the acoustic body " with out playing it, or listening to it or thinking why is double bass so big? I will address this problem and fix it as an engineer and a physicist! the string has the energy?
Tbh the fact that an unpluged electric bass played with a pick is louder than an accustic one tells me everything I need to know. Because all that loudness is just percusion from the strings hitting the fretboard rather than the actual tone resonating. So if he were to dig into the accustic one the result would probably be the same. Just a bunch of string sounds while the the actual tone being played getting buried under it. I've tried a few acustics. And I have to agree, they are big, impractical, not very loud and cost a lot. More often than not they require an amp to actually be heared. And despite it's unique sound (only thing really going for it) I'd rather just stick to playing my Precision bass if I need to plug in anyway. At least the precision is way more comfortable to play. For campfires I've got my accustic guitar. I prefer the bass. It will always be the cooler instrument to me, however until they invent an acustic version of it that is actually practical, I'll stick to the guitar when I'm outsides with friends
I've been playing electric bass for a little over a year, I recently bought an acoustic electric bass (around 4/5 days ago) and I have to agree, it is pretty quiet fingerstyle, however if you want a loud sound you should be playing with a pick on acoustic bass. I only play fingerstyle on electric. I do find that I still get drowned out by an acoustic guitar in some cases but most of the time if I'm using a pick it's fine.
I'd say a benefit to own one is if you live in an apartment. I live in one and what I can say is it is really convenient cause it doesn't wake anyone up and it's not a hassle to carry around. Get an acoustic bass if you really are in a situation where you live in an apartment or just want to practice in your room any time!
My brother began playing bass with a Sigma acoustic bass and I have to say it's thinner and louder than my acoustic guitar. probably the quality of woods etc. It should also be noted that the acoustic sound is great for blues and jazz
I’m gonna be honestly I bought this bass for my first one because it was affordable. I learned pretty much all the songs I could and wanted to learn... even learned how to slap on it. And when I switched to electric It was like butter. Not sayin you should get it for a first one. But it def made a difference for me
Yes, I was urged by several bass players to get an acoustic first to build finger strength. I got a Fender BG29 on CL for $150 and when my skills increase and if I stick with it, I'm going to buy a J-bass.
I would probably prefer a smaller scale acoustic bass, they tend to be less stiff when it comes to plucking. And while they may have less of a range to them because of a smaller fretboard, they produce a beautiful tone. Definitely good for outdoor 2-person acoustic performances.
Use lighter strings on a longer scale bass and you get the same effect of being less stiff. Use a shorter scale if you want a shorter scale. Either way, get the strings to suit the instrument, not vice-versa.
my only note on this video: "there's no thumb rest" -- when I was first learning on electric, resting my thumb became a crutch trying to play the higher strings; when I got my first acoustic, I trained myself to play without resting my thumb, and suddenly moving to the higher strings wasn't such an issue. my hand was free to roam wherever I needed. aside from that, I'm agreeing with just about everything else you've said so far. working around that big body & getting decent volume without a mic or an amp is a pain in the ass
But your thumb, or something, should be muting lower strings you are not playing to stop unwanted resonance. That's the point. The drawback is only you can't use the standard position to play the E string, everything else stays the same, probably even more important on an acoustic bass than an electric as the hollow body will promote resonance even more
@@DevinJuularValentine I didn't word that correctly. I still muted lower strings with the side of my thumb, but I didn't rest the pad of my thumb on the string the way people would generally rest it on the pickup.
i'm a beginner with a $60 cheep BC acoustic Bass and a $600 Ibanez electric Bass and i find my self picking up the acoustic bass more than my electric its easier its quiet and i don't bother the family with NOSE... i think that a acoustic bass is good for beginners... just find myself picking it up more and for $60 you cant beat it....
I feel like an acoustic bass would be better for beginners because you don't need to have an amp, because it's acoustic. You also don't need to spend extra money on something that you don't even know if you'll be good at.
I played an acoustic bass in the acoustic room at guitar center, i found i was able to play chords way easier without getting that distortion sound you get when you try to play some chords on electric, also i was playing with 2 other acoustic guitarists in the room and my instrument was about just as loud, so i dont get why everyone says its so quiet, we did an acoustic jam easily, the bass is usually comparatively quieter in a real band than when i played the acoustic bass with these guys. you dont strum the strings hard enough, not everyone even likes to do shows, and its not as quiet as you think it is, the strings barely move when you strum them look at you yuh fool. "its harder to play" isnt a valid reason either. "its hard to play" its a fancy defensive way of saying "i cant do it" and finally that acoustic bass looks cheap as hell.
Agree with your assessment. Every so often I will do a search for one to see if there's instruments out there that can project well or some new product that's miraculously conquered the issue, and I'm always left underwhelmed. I know the old Erne Ball Earthwards are well regarded, but even they sound a bit thin to my ears (Violent Femmes bassist uses one). I believe a Mexican guitarron projects better, but it's not really the same instrument as the neck's much smaller/6 string. And then there's the balalaika bass, but you're not going to be bringing that to a campfire anytime soon. Other than that, I once saw a Rockabilly band that had a bassist with a 1/4 upright bass strapped on, and that sounded pretty good.
I just built an acoustic bass, from scratch, and other than being big and bulky, it addresses all of the other complaints you have. Most production acoustic basses are built as acoustic/electric. I guess they assume that if it's not loud enough, you can just plug it in. Mine was built as an acoustic bass in mind. It's loud, it has awesome tone, lots of timbre, etc. Very excited about it. I'll be doing a video review and side show of it soon.
I am not a bass player, but I did buy an acoustic bass at the on line Goodwill shop. I’m having a ball with it. I got for like nothing, and a it’s a load of fun to just noodle on. I agree that it lacks volume, but if you play with a pick you can make yourself heard. My main instrument is a 6 string dreadnaut, so flat picking is how I play it. Should you? Yes, absolutely. If nothing else it will make you appreciate bass players a lot more. Big surprise: It’s not nearly as easy as you think it is.
I have an acoustic bass and it sounds loud enough like an acoustic guitar, I think it depends on the material your bass acoustic has and the way you play it, if you don't have enough power to picking with finger, then use pick for picking it. It feels same like acoustic guitar and electric guitar. You need more power to play with acoustic guitar than electric guitar, same as acoustic bass
Bro but in regional Mexican we use acoustic bass and we use a technique named chiqotear that is plucking the strings and it's one of the signature sounds of a song cuase unlike normal base you can actually hear it
Holy fuckin shit... I can't believe what I just watched... I was questioning if maybe he was just trolling?? Can this guy really be serious? Acoustic bass is powerful! Cool as fuck! You can feel the vibrations, it's really cool. I understand if you don't like Cheap Trick, but please listen to their first album and tell me that that's not a cool fucking instrument. One thing further, if the strings feel tight, you can loosen them up. Most acoustics feel tight to me, so I like to tune to C# feels good man
One of my favorite instruments that I ever played was a Tacoma CB10 Thunderchief. I've been in love with a romantic, idealized vision of acoustic bass guitars ever since. And I still can't find any fault at all in your reasoning. Good video, señor. It's worth noting that a pick would be much louder, but in my daydream I'm a finger-player.
[my second comment here, not quite replacing my first one] Soon after writing my first comment here, I bought another acoustic bass guitar, a low-end Fender with a piezo pick-up. However, I also ordered a set of flatwound strings with it. Replacing the roundwound strings with the flatwound had me search for things to replace the bridge pins, as these would be pulled out by the strings (at least the E-string). I was eventually helped out by a bicycle shop (I'm in the Netherlands...) with apparently end pieces from motorcycle Bowden cables. To my taste, this acoustic Fender with flatwound strings has a sound that is both acoustic and sustaining. As close to the sound of an upright bass as I'll be able to come. When amplified, the sound is adjustable through the built-in electronics. (And I could still mount a magnetic pick-up in the sound hole.) Off-topic: I am so fond of the change in strings, that I bought a cheap Western guitar just for fitting it with flatwounds. (No problems with the bridge pins here.) This will be my acoustic guitar of choice for jazz (and other styles requiring sliding up and down).
I have an acoustic bass guitar and I like it because of it's sound. Even if it is a cheap shitty benton and I used it for like one project. I just happened to dig it out of the attic after few years of not being used. The H string's machine broke and I never got around to fixing it, until now. (The H-string was the reason I got it, because it was cheaper to buy the 5 string *electric* acoustic than even rent a 5 string electric,l or god forbid 5 string Contrabass for the time we needed.) I basically played it like I'd play a small upright bass. Body between my legs and neck next to my head. Oh also... it is fretless. Before you ask... When I first got a bass, I got this 4 string fretless for like 40€. So I started with a fretless, and I took some lessons from a Contrabass player. Strangle I feel like I can't play fretted basses at all. Then again I am not a bass player, I just happen to play some bass. my primary instruments are French horn and Tuba. I wouldn't recommend anyone to get it, unless you want a practice bass that you can play in a tiny flat and not disturb anyone, like was my case at one point. Then again cheap ass electric bass set is cheaper than a cheap acoustic bass. Also here is another thing I did. I'm a sheet metal fabricator as a job. I took some aluminium and made a rest near the hole that floated on top of the body. It was supported by the side like a violin's brace. I'm actually fairly proud of that thing, I think I still got it somewhere. I'm thinking about getting 5 string electric contrabass once I got enough extra money to spend.
I bought a Dean EAB to start with. Though I’d played guitar for 30+ years, I still had to adapt to this new axe. I love it, and the tone it generates, both electric, and acoustic. When compared to the Rouge I received as a gift the very same week, the Dean’s harder to play, but I really love the acoustic tone. Neither bass has been giged yet outside my den.
Totally agree with this. An upright is the only acoustic bass loud enough. I had a Takamine acoustic bass and even though I'm a hard picker, I got buried. Whenever there's an acoustic show, I use my electric.
I kind of wish you'd had a pros list at the end. Like, I understand your reasoning and I agree with you, but the special place in my heart for acoustics would have been thrilled to see nice things written down in a little list lmao. That's not to say you didn't say nice things! You said plenty. Thanks for the informative video! I know I'm going to remember this when I someday get my own bass.
I have to agree with your video. I used to want an acoustic bass but after trying several I found them too quiet & not very pleasant sounding. They seem very pointless, unless your playing on your own without an amp, but then I'd sooner just use my unplugged electric bass than spending my money on an impractical bass.
Don't know if you still check comments on old videos, but thanks for this one. You may talked me out of an acoustic bass, or as I like to think about, saved me a couple of hundred quid :)
Es el mejor video que he visto sobre ese tema, tiempo atrás tuve un bajo electroacústico concluí lo mismo, quizás al tocarlo con slap suene mas fuerte pero sigue siendo una opción poco versatil. It's the best video I've seen on that topic. Some time ago, I had an electroacoustic bass and came to the same conclusion. Perhaps playing it with slap might make it sound louder, but it still remains a somewhat limited option in terms of versatility.
I’ll bet that bass would sound just fine played through my battery powered Roland cube street., small as a milk crate, perfect for acoustic jams indoors or out., and I could have that instrument set up and playing nice and easy in an hour or less, as long as there’s no build issues.
While I do understand this is for beginners. I find the point of the redundancy of amplifying the bass to be arguable. Most guitar players I see gigging amplify their guitars with a mic or soundhole pickup, rather than using the piezo, while I do see you are right in the lack of versatility compared to a Jazz or P bass. I own an acoustic bass guitar and I do find nylon tapewounds would sound good if you were wanting to approach an upright sound, not necessarily volume without wanting to invest time or money to upright upright.
I wish I knew that in 2011... I have a Fender Acoustic Bass Guitar, I wanted it so much because I didn't know much about bass guitars back then. It's so annoying that anyone talking in the audience can render it silent. I'm looking forward to sell it for a good enough price to buy a jazz bass now.
So... Half Rounds and a magnetic - Mic pickup. But also playing in your bedroom and recording. If you buy a Jumbo bodied like my DB44 Denver.. It barks. The real downside to ABG is the piezo. Interestingly enough I use my Bluetooth speaker as my amp when I'm out and it has 2 2" speakers and it really does make all the difference to being heard. And a compression pedal in between really pushes it all forward.
The reason why it’s quiet is because you’re using methods used for the electric bass, which amplifies the sound, meaning you don’t have to pluck or strum as hard to get the sound you need. Acoustic requires a little bit more work to get the right volume
You need a different picking technique, rather double bass style. Then it will be louder and sound better - but it's exhausting and much slower. Especially using flatwounds which sound really better. Expensive models like the Czech Furch and especially the German Stoll are loud enough to compete with the 6string acoustic at the campfire. But you do not want to bring a >3000$ guitar to a campfire. So, the only reason I kept mine: I just take it from the wall and play a quick tune. No pluggin in of cables, no warmin up the amp's tubes. Perfectly loud when you are alone at home. And of course it has a unique sound.
I just bought that bass today. You said EXACTLY what is true about an acoustic bass. I bought it for those reasons. AN Acoustic bass in not possible as you state. I play a fretless. I bought it today for $110 free shipping. I live down the street from Taylor Guitars, even that acoustic bass is lifeless. The Mexicans have a big body bass but NO neck to speak of. Scheesh
To sound professional they are almost impossible to play without a great deal of effort. Not only that they don't really sound that good under a microphone. There's a lot of treble in them. Also the shorter scale means low E string is going to be too unbalanced with respect to the rest of the strings. It is far better to get a decent bass and a decent bass amp maybe active pickups in a normal scale Bass. You can get great tones from a good set of pickups that is far better than anything I've heard in an in an acoustic. The micro bass woth rubber strings might be a good alternative. I haven't heard enough of them to know about them.
Everything you say is true. I'd actually say it's worth buying a cheapo acoustic bass and DIY-ing some of the features that luthiers have been putting into their 6 strings recently - angles and soundholes on the top to make it more comfortable and project more 'body' to the player, and angled cutaways to maximise the available body volume for that extra little bit of tone. I use flatwound strings on my Aria fretless and I think it sounds great in the room and looks good with its wood finish and f-holes. I'm actually planning to put an extending end pin on it so I can play it upright for pose value.
A double bass player would probably not be scared off by the price of the Takamine TB10 - Fretless, F-holes, nice curves, extending endpin for upright playing, acclaimed pickup system, curved fretboard for bowing and DB technique mmmmmm!
Thanks for putting your opinion out there - I just found a fretless acoustic 5 string for cheaps, but I had the same reservation: If I'm going to plug it in, I might as well just stick with electric.
he's right on all points. Except when you don't exclude playing with a plec. I like the rough sound you can get. But you have to make sure to bring feedback busters etc.
Don't let this video put you off. I have an Ibanez acoustic/electric and use it acoustically 100% of the time. It's plenty loud, easy to play, and really convenient when you want to jam without having to plug in.
With good strings a proper acoustic bass sounds really loud and is good for acoustic rehearsals too... With an amp they sound nice too. So I would recommend to start with it.
@@marcinjulius The only two compelling reasons to have an acoustic bass are to have the specific tone of an acoustic, or to play acoustically. If you're just going to plug it into an amp, you subvert half of the reasons for having it which just means you want the specific sound of an acoustic bass. That's fine, but for every other reason, electric basses are just better.
@@ampthebassplayer I agree that acoustic basses are specific instruments, but I disagree in that they are only useful when you plug them into an amplifier. The cheaper ones are not loud enough, that`s true, but if you buy a Furch, Warwick or even a better Crafter you can be easily heard in acoustic rehearsals. A lot depends on the strings too. So I would highly recommend such an instrument for an acoustic or folk project. Anyway, it`s the same with all other acoustic instruments, cheap ones are useless, but with a cheap acoustic guitar you can still play loud, not with a cheap acoustic bass ( on your video you used a fairly cheap one and you are right, that`s not the deal... ) . So, if you need the sound and the ability to play acoustically, buy something from a higher price range.
Yes! I agree I thought getting an electric acoustic bass might be great for playing on the pontoon boat but there is just not enough sound and it does not have that bottom solid bass feel.I totally agree with all your points. I began playing bass a year ago and was taking some lessons at a store and the owner tried selling me a Dean electric acoustic but even as a novice I just plain didnt like the feel or the sound. You are doing a service with this video. I know people who have purchased these and play them but the sound isn't there.
Strings and volume shouldn't be an issue like in this case...Those strings were either dead or flatwoubd. Get a set of light Elixir bass strings, or even just use electric bass strings, they work just fine too. Once that's done, you'll have much more volume and tone to work with...
+Steven Shockley They are roundwounds. Not new, but even brand new strings aren't going to compete with acoustic guitars. Free your mind and accept the truth! And the truth will set you free!
Great points, the Gold Tone Micro is the only acoustic I'd consider but haven't played one in person to see if it's loud enough. For the fireside or whatever I'd probably go with a regular cheapo electric and a small battery amp like the Blackstar Bass Fly, instead of a useless acoustic bass sitting around drying out. I love acoustic stuff but my area is so dry I can't be bothered with humidifiers constantly.
I like to think of my acoustic as a different instrument. The electric is better as a multipurpose, many genre, workhorse and it's obviously my first choice. The acoustic is just a different animal. I have mine with a fretless fingerboard so I don't have to worry about not being able to easily adjust intonation or action with perfect precision. I also have it strung with flatwounds. Bronze strings just make these sound bad unless they're nylon core and those get expensive. I also mainly use mine for jazz and some blues and it gives me more attack and brightness than an upright in those settings. I would suggest playing around with strings, technique, going for fretless, and sticking to jazzier sounds if you want to get the most out of yours, but these are definitely more fun than you give them credit. They just aren't as similar to electrics as guitars are so you can't go into them thinking they're the same. (also, with your comment about the pickups being pointless, I suppose you've never seen people like willie nelson use their acoustic with a pickup to get a different tone from electric.)
Although every thing you say might have sense, acoustic sounds are always special when it’s a thing that you are really into it. It’s a matter of taste sort of speaking
There are thinner acoustic bass although electric ones really are more comfortable. when you're jamming with someone whose playing acoustic guitar unplugged it's awesome, although you do have to pluck those strings harder to be audible. so you end up plugging both guitars on amplifiers anyway which beats the purpose. Your review is totally accurate.
I own several. Michael Taylor fretless has great standup like tone but yes not load enough in a an acoustic setting. My fretted Furch is loud enough in acoustic setting. I use a rubber f hole blocker for amplified performance to block feedback….. of course I own 8 basses and my options are many.
Playing with a pick helps with 'volume'. Also, tapewounds aren't as tinny sounding. I love mine (Fender) but as you say, I play alone. Also, I wanted to focus on learning to play well articulated notes and technique. Not focus on the technical part until I master the more practical.
I find you can get a better Warmer acoustic sound from a Hofner ignition. I just wish they weren’t so “Beatle” looking. If they looked more like an EB1, I think they’d be less stigma.
I have both an electric bass guitar and an acoustic one. I find the sound of the acoustic one nice, but it can't really support a band like a double bass can. [matter of opinion] So I have a magnetic pick-up in the hole and an acoustic pick-up on the body - copied from double bass players in jazz. That does the trick in my eyes (ears!), but it requires two mixer inputs. The electric one sounds great, but rather electric, great for sustaining the musical parts by electric instruments. Or for loosely imitating a brass bass.
I agree with you on the point that it does not serve the purpose of not having an amplifier; I am contemplating on buying one so that I could practice acoustically with my band mates. This would probably mean I would have to glue my ears to the body; however, are there any other acoustic basses that may have a higher sound frequency ?? or even the type of strings that may emit higher sound ???
Opinion from a double bass Player. When I first picked one of These up: Woah man! Those strings are soo soft! This is fucking heaven! So small too!
Nobody Never Yeah, I think the same
i am a double bass player too, do you think it is easy to learn acoustic bass guitar?😄
I was a double bassist first, thought, i can play this massive thing, let's downsize to a bass guitar, im sure its the same. Boy was I wrong, both the fingering and even just the plucking techniques are so different and I just wasn't expecting it to be like learning a new instrument, the only thing they have in common is the same strings!
@@garethstroud5586 Yeah it is quite different. I played double bass and acoustic guitar beforehand, so when someone asked me if I could play the bass guitar I just said "yeah", and kinda worked it out. It's basically half way between the two.
I love my nylon tapewounds. Even softer and no friction. Fingers slide like they're on glass
The Mexican way to play it is to pluck the string and provides a really good bass noise 👍🏿
Yeah it’s called chicotiar
That's how you play a guitaron
@@chasesamuel9923 yes sir
Talking bout a bajoloche 🤣
Slap that shit
I'm a noob, learning on an Ibanez acoustic bass. I like that it's light and quiet, so I can just sit on the couch and practice and not worry about bothering anyone. I also like that it shows no mercy when my fretting hand isn't in proper position.
same here.
I love my acoustic bass. I play it every day. You can just pick it up and play, no cables, amps, cabinets to deal with. And it sounds great with the proper strings playing acoustically with acoustic guitars if you’re in a small setting. It was the best bass purchase of my life and a guitar I will never part with because it’s my main source of practice.
I bought one but I think Iam gana change the strings on it in the future just don’t know how to I’ve changed my yamaha fGX series strings 2s
What strings would you recommend for an acoustic bass? I got my acoustic recently, the strings seemed too tight while tuning, the 1st and 2 nd strings actually snapped. Thanks
@@nelsie036 dadarios
And also it's softer and lighter than an electric bas
A bassist complaining his instrument is too quiet? I've never heard of such a thing
Bass isnt quiet?
@@selfactualizer2099 but they are low sounding
You've been listening to the wrong music
Minimal Red puros corridos tumbados cuh
Wat a load of bullshit man
Okay I've owned 3 acoustic basses over the years and here is my two cents about it. It really depends on your what you intend to play and the style of music. I actually LOVE acoustic basses and think they are simply great live and in the studio. I like playing them with a pick and actually, they really complement an acoustic guitar, provided you use a mic/ amp it up. You might say, "they're quiet unplugged and if you plug them in you might as well go for an electric". No. Plugged in, many acoustics like some Ibanez and Fenders have a unique boxy tone to them which personally suits what I like to play and great for some genres. The problem I find with videos about "should I get an acoustic bass" are that they assume ALL bassists play the same way, and want to use an acoustic the same way as an electric. You wouldn't expect a metal shredder to expect the same out of a Elvis Fender Kingman acoustic would you? Same applies to acoustic basses. I stand by them, great instruments
Dude what kind of music do you play
Same.
Country
Yeah, I totally agree with you. I bought a Sigma acoustic a few years ago and did a lot of research b4 hand. I Luv this bass.
Great sound and don't need an amp to practice. I've played with friends playing acoustic guitars, fingerstyle and the bass is still heard. If they use plectrums and attack the strings, then it's hard to hear.
I've plugged into an amp in that case and same for electric guitars. My bass sounds just as good when plugged in which I was surprised just how good it was.
Again depends what you you want to play and even better if you can have an acoustic and an electric. Cheers
I am considering an acoustic bass but I wonder whether it can be plugged into an acoustic amp. Is there a special acoustic bass amp? Can I use same amp to plug the guitar and the bass at a same time and have a decent quality sound?
Might help if your strings weren't installed about six decades ago. You'll find the volume will be more if you change strings regularly.
Do you think replacing the strings with tape wound or round wound strings would improve or amplify the sound?
Improve? Definitely? Amplify? Probably not.
Half Rounds.
@StevieEthereal 966 One time I didn't change guitar strings for 6 years and they were very dull sounding
@@SunnyD420 Man, check out Jamerson's Motown tracks. Now *them* strings are dead. Or "broken in".
I have one and I play it often I'm a truck driver so it works fine for me in my truck
Yo pay attention to the road lol
Sounds like a good life shawn
@@FireLordJD this comment is god tier
I've had an acoustic bass for about 10 years now, and I basically agree with everything you are saying here. However, I do enjoy playing mine quite a bit. The main purpose for mine though is simply like you were saying, a quick hassle-free way to pick up the instrument and practice.
I'm considering to get one just by practicing easier than setting up all my stuff for electric bass, your comment motivates me to give a try on an acoustic one :)
This bass is good for corridos tumbados and regional Mexican music
me watching this video as I do an assignment on Ranchera: 👁👄👁
Da bajoloche
Si no hay guitarron no hay mariachi
I didn't even watch this video, here's the answer, if your a bass player on the go or a bass player who likes folk/country/blues the answer is yes, hell I'm a bass player who likes rap and metal and I have an acoustic bass, believe it or not, I actually end up docking more hours on it than my 72 precision (non re issue)
I pretty much stopped picking up my electric bass when I bought my first acoustic one. I now have both a fretted and a fretless acoustic and aside from just personally enjoying them more the amount of percussive things you can do on the body is insane when compared to an electric bass.
Look up Dmitry Lisenko using an acoustic bass on TH-cam. That is the reason to own one.
Also an acoustic bass is way louder than you present in your comparison. You are strumming fairly hardcore on the unplugged electric and barely plucking the acoustic. To do a real comparison play the same thing in the same way.
What I am getting at is DON'T let this video scare you off of getting an AGB. They are great fun in the right hands. To find out if those hands are yours get down to your local music shop and try one out.
Also, look up Chris Dismuke on TH-cam. Amazing things on the acoustic bass guitar that would not sound as good on an electric.
+Harry Collier th-cam.com/video/cGQhtYc9dW4/w-d-xo.html
Davie504 use an acoustic bass sometimes
I have one of these and have come to appreciate it more as I've practiced with it. The action is a bit high, but I use that to help me develop better note articulation. I get really good sound when I pick or pluck the strings closer to the bridge, and I mix my output so I have as much acoustic sound as I can get, but mix in a little bit of wired-amp sound to get the volume where it needs to be in an ensemble. A bass has a job to do, but too much amp overpowers other instruments. The sound has a woody, natural quality. Feedback can be an issue if you turn it too loud. For the price, its a useful and fun bass to play. I'm going to see how flatwounds sound on it. String noise when moving up and down the frets takes a light touch to minimize, but for me, this bass is a keeper.
You guys realize this video is more aimed at beginners who are thinking about buying one of these for their first bass, right?
Andrew Pincock I find them to be acceptable for beginners who are specifically interested in acoustic bass. In that scenario, it's best to go head first into the trials and tribulations of acoustic basses so that you begin to develop techniques to work around.
Some people specifically want acoustic for their aesthetic qualities and percussive effects, and may not plan on owning multiple instruments.
Would you recommend getting it as a first bass guitar if somebody has contrabass experience?
you never ssaid this in the video...
Yeah but what sort of advanced acoustic bass playing god clicks on a video called “Should I buy an acoustic bass?”
good point but there is this little green spot between pro and beginners
Comparing playing softly with fingers on bronze strings to aggressive playing with a pick on nickles? You glad you made your artificial point buddy? I got one of these and put nickles on it, it's plenty loud enough to play with an acoustic guitar.
Yeah, that's not a direct comparison. That it's even remotely close is pretty telling though. However, I've gotten enough feedback like yours to make me really want to measure the difference. I have a video in the works that will more scientifically evaluate the loudness factor.
Hi, Andrew, nice play. What`s brand of da bass?
I play fretless Godin A4. What`s your opinion about Godin brand?
+Sankt Nicolaus Don't know much about Godin. This one is an Ibanez.
Andrew Pincock
Ty.
Here's the video if you want to continue arguing with me: th-cam.com/video/cGQhtYc9dW4/w-d-xo.html
The Mexican Guitarron is the solution. It has the face of a big guitar, but the body stretches deep behind it and then actually bulbs out, like face of a cello. It is a standard instrument for a Mariachi quartet and is generally recognizeable by people in that context. Its a huge, fat instrument; akin to holding a giant baby in the arms. The reason the guitarron is the ONLY solution to an acoustic bass guitar is because only the guitarron is loud enough to actually compete the other instruments in a live performance.
But there is a catch. Although it is type of 6-string acoustic guitar, is has it's own learning curve. The strings are tuned in a special way that allows for TWO bass notes to be plucked at one time. And both duplicate notes must be played at the same time to keep the volume level high, but also to keep a consistent coloring to the bass line.
The guitarron has a unique sound very unlike an acoustic bass guitar, due to it's huge structure, the doubling of any single played note, and because it incorporates nylon strings for the upper (higher) strings. It sounds very "acoustic" and can add a lot of character to the music. It is more edgy and present than the smooth sound of the Classical upright bass. // And, as far as regular acoustic bass guitar, I would ONLY buy one if you intend to use it for recording, or for personal solo enjoyment. It's a wonderful, "acostickee" warm tone when picked up by a microphone. And it's healing to physically absorb bass notes, because of it's deep penetration. (Wink-wink) // Even though I use synthesizers, I'm one of those Classical purists who only believes in ONLY acoustic instruments in a group setting. (How extremest of me).
Sadly, the guitarron is not used much outside of Mariaci music. Because if it's huge size, it is not as easy to carry around from gig to gig. Add the traveling issue to the completely different tuning AND plucking approach, the instrument as become marginalized into Marachi folk music.
There is no acoustic bass guitar that can compete with the guitarron in a live setting, and really, it's a giant, fertile, bulbous gem just WAITING to be plucked . . .
- This has been a message from your friendly neighborhood - _Acoustic Rabbit Hole_
This acoustic bass is the most powerful in regio mexican corridos cause the quality of the strings allows you to slap the strings
I’ve gotten a lot of comments about acoustic basses in this style of music and you’re right in that they function great for that music. However, the acoustic bass I’m using in the video is a different instrument from what is traditionally used in those styles and would not perform nearly as well.
@@ampthebassplayer nope man its an acoustic bass works just aswell its what most regional mexican bassist use
this video is saying if you only had the option of either, get an electric. it's not that cryptic
I agree that they don’t work as acoustic instruments, but they have a certain feel and sound and they are lighter to carry than most electrics.
I can see having one of these for practicing on a whim or in a car or out in nature especially if you're a singing bass player or composer.
I also strongly disagree.
1) Don't pluck on the sound hole. Pluck on the end of the fret board (similar to an upright bass); you immediately get a more comfortable right arm/hand position. Thumb rests on the fret board edge and makes life TONS easier.
2) If you play play a FRETLESS BASS(that has fret markers like a DEAN EAB) with flatwound strings, you get a MUCH more comfortable fretting hand/left arm position that's easier on the fingers.
3) The low volume argument is a flat out lie (when playing with other acoustic instruments). You do have to pluck harder than an electric bass to play along with other guitars, pianos. ukes, etc but I can hear it just fine in the recording. I will post a video to prove it.
3a) Fretted Acoustic Basses have HORRIBLE fret buzz. The worst I've ever seen. And maybe that's why you can't pluck as hard as you'd like to get a louder sound on some of the more cheap ones because you are trying to avoid that horrible buzz. Answer: GET A FRETLESS (With fret markers). www.guitarcenter.com/Dean/EAB-Fretless-Acoustic-Electric-Bass-Gloss-Natural-1284134930916.gc
If you are into the world of acoustics, or are just trying to campfire jam with friends, don't be put off. I got the bass posted in the link a few months ago and it is one of the best decisions I've made.
Still waiting on the video to prove point 3
Honestly, I prefer acoustic basses to electric basses in most scenarios. They're really fantastic for my style which incorporates a lot of flamenco guitar strumming/finger style, with punchy slapping. They're kinda shit when it comes to tapping though.
I have the exact same acoustic bass you have in this video. I love my acoustic bass. Now, I play bass with a pick, so I guess it's easier for me. Plus, most of your points were kinda correct. However, I absolutely love the acoustic bass I have, and I got it for about $250. Pretty good deal if you ask me
Thanks for reminding of the feelings that I had when playing acoustic basses.
Ian hecox? Is that you?
Acoustic basses are the handiest thing in the world for practicing on. When I giggled I used my Mexican deluxe jazz but when I practiced at home I always grabbed the acoustic bass. Just so easy to pick up play for a few mins and put back down. No faffing with wires etc.
I don't know about anybody else but I play with my hand unsupported. also I like a really big neck but that's just me
The Ghost of the Flying Dutchman me too
I am a little late but I do wish people would not get so mad when you pretense this as your opinion and also give very valid points anyhow. I am actually planning on getting the exact bass showcased in this video as I do love the idea of the instrument. It was a bit of a downer to know that they are not very loud, as that was my initial reason for wanting one, and I saw your vid with the bass teacher and how a double bass is as loud as loud gets. However, after many weeks of consideration, I have weighed all of the pros, and all of the many cons, and I think I would definitely benefit from using an acoustic traversal and have fun taking advantage of its quirks.
That's awesome! I hope you have a lot of fun with it.
I agree with the entirety of your statement. I didn't get the impression he was trashing them per se, simply letting individuals know this is what it is. The beauty of music is simply going to create for your purpose, need, desire, vision, etc. Have fun with the bass. Would live to hear your thoughts.
you are sooooo right, the entomology of the acoustic bass is wrong, - double bass - electric bass - acoustic bass , it was some dude in a guitar factory said "why don't we just put the long neck on the acoustic body " with out playing it, or listening to it or thinking why is double bass so big? I will address this problem and fix it as an engineer and a physicist! the string has the energy?
I got the Fender FA 450 CE and really love this acoustic Bass.
When you compare the loudness of the two types of basses, why did you use a pick on the electric bass but not use one on the acoustic?
Here's a more "scientific" comparison: th-cam.com/video/cGQhtYc9dW4/w-d-xo.html
Tbh the fact that an unpluged electric bass played with a pick is louder than an accustic one tells me everything I need to know. Because all that loudness is just percusion from the strings hitting the fretboard rather than the actual tone resonating. So if he were to dig into the accustic one the result would probably be the same. Just a bunch of string sounds while the the actual tone being played getting buried under it. I've tried a few acustics. And I have to agree, they are big, impractical, not very loud and cost a lot. More often than not they require an amp to actually be heared. And despite it's unique sound (only thing really going for it) I'd rather just stick to playing my Precision bass if I need to plug in anyway. At least the precision is way more comfortable to play. For campfires I've got my accustic guitar. I prefer the bass. It will always be the cooler instrument to me, however until they invent an acustic version of it that is actually practical, I'll stick to the guitar when I'm outsides with friends
@@tomebasic2843 You could try a resonator bass, they are supposed to be louder but probably just as big and inconvenient to carry around.
I've been playing electric bass for a little over a year, I recently bought an acoustic electric bass (around 4/5 days ago) and I have to agree, it is pretty quiet fingerstyle, however if you want a loud sound you should be playing with a pick on acoustic bass. I only play fingerstyle on electric. I do find that I still get drowned out by an acoustic guitar in some cases but most of the time if I'm using a pick it's fine.
If only that were true: th-cam.com/video/sOtU4Zg9jKI/w-d-xo.html
I'd say a benefit to own one is if you live in an apartment. I live in one and what I can say is it is really convenient cause it doesn't wake anyone up and it's not a hassle to carry around. Get an acoustic bass if you really are in a situation where you live in an apartment or just want to practice in your room any time!
I too live in an apartment. I would not use my acoustic bass guitar there for practising, but rather my electric one and headphones.
So you get an electric bass 🙄
My brother began playing bass with a Sigma acoustic bass and I have to say it's thinner and louder than my acoustic guitar. probably the quality of woods etc.
It should also be noted that the acoustic sound is great for blues and jazz
Love My acoustic bass guitar. After I buy this bass I practise now everyday on it 👍
I’m gonna be honestly I bought this bass for my first one because it was affordable. I learned pretty much all the songs I could and wanted to learn... even learned how to slap on it. And when I switched to electric It was like butter. Not sayin you should get it for a first one. But it def made a difference for me
Yes, I was urged by several bass players to get an acoustic first to build finger strength. I got a Fender BG29 on CL for $150 and when my skills increase and if I stick with it, I'm going to buy a J-bass.
@@pleromicpastry5445 yes a fender j bass is sooooooooooooo nice trust me your ganna love it
I was thinking about whether to buy one or not and after your explanation... I'll buy it! Thank you!
I would probably prefer a smaller scale acoustic bass, they tend to be less stiff when it comes to plucking. And while they may have less of a range to them because of a smaller fretboard, they produce a beautiful tone. Definitely good for outdoor 2-person acoustic performances.
Use lighter strings on a longer scale bass and you get the same effect of being less stiff. Use a shorter scale if you want a shorter scale. Either way, get the strings to suit the instrument, not vice-versa.
I play electric bass guitar and was lookin to get an acoustic bass just for portability and for when I’m on road trips etc
my only note on this video: "there's no thumb rest" -- when I was first learning on electric, resting my thumb became a crutch trying to play the higher strings; when I got my first acoustic, I trained myself to play without resting my thumb, and suddenly moving to the higher strings wasn't such an issue. my hand was free to roam wherever I needed.
aside from that, I'm agreeing with just about everything else you've said so far. working around that big body & getting decent volume without a mic or an amp is a pain in the ass
But your thumb, or something, should be muting lower strings you are not playing to stop unwanted resonance. That's the point. The drawback is only you can't use the standard position to play the E string, everything else stays the same, probably even more important on an acoustic bass than an electric as the hollow body will promote resonance even more
@@DevinJuularValentine I didn't word that correctly. I still muted lower strings with the side of my thumb, but I didn't rest the pad of my thumb on the string the way people would generally rest it on the pickup.
Oh yes I see what you mean, I think that's called "floating thumb", I do that with my 5 string. Sorry if I came across as rude at all!
@@DevinJuularValentine no worries, dude. That's what I called it too, perfect way to describe it
I've been thinking about buying one of these for a while, thanks for helping me make my decision!
i'm a beginner with a $60 cheep BC acoustic Bass and a $600 Ibanez electric Bass and i find my self picking up the acoustic bass more than my electric its easier its quiet and i don't bother the family with NOSE... i think that a acoustic bass is good for beginners... just find myself picking it up more and for $60 you cant beat it....
1:18 of course the pick makes it louder probably if you use the pick for the acoustic it might make it louder.
I feel like an acoustic bass would be better for beginners because you don't need to have an amp, because it's acoustic. You also don't need to spend extra money on something that you don't even know if you'll be good at.
I played an acoustic bass in the acoustic room at guitar center, i found i was able to play chords way easier without getting that distortion sound you get when you try to play some chords on electric, also i was playing with 2 other acoustic guitarists in the room and my instrument was about just as loud, so i dont get why everyone says its so quiet, we did an acoustic jam easily, the bass is usually comparatively quieter in a real band than when i played the acoustic bass with these guys.
you dont strum the strings hard enough, not everyone even likes to do shows, and its not as quiet as you think it is, the strings barely move when you strum them look at you yuh fool. "its harder to play" isnt a valid reason either.
"its hard to play" its a fancy defensive way of saying "i cant do it"
and finally that acoustic bass looks cheap as hell.
Agree with your assessment. Every so often I will do a search for one to see if there's instruments out there that can project well or some new product that's miraculously conquered the issue, and I'm always left underwhelmed. I know the old Erne Ball Earthwards are well regarded, but even they sound a bit thin to my ears (Violent Femmes bassist uses one). I believe a Mexican guitarron projects better, but it's not really the same instrument as the neck's much smaller/6 string. And then there's the balalaika bass, but you're not going to be bringing that to a campfire anytime soon. Other than that, I once saw a Rockabilly band that had a bassist with a 1/4 upright bass strapped on, and that sounded pretty good.
I just built an acoustic bass, from scratch, and other than being big and bulky, it addresses all of the other complaints you have. Most production acoustic basses are built as acoustic/electric. I guess they assume that if it's not loud enough, you can just plug it in. Mine was built as an acoustic bass in mind. It's loud, it has awesome tone, lots of timbre, etc. Very excited about it. I'll be doing a video review and side show of it soon.
+EatPezzzz Cool. You're the exception.
I am not a bass player, but I did buy an acoustic bass at the on line Goodwill shop. I’m having a ball with it. I got for like nothing, and a it’s a load of fun to just noodle on. I agree that it lacks volume, but if you play with a pick you can make yourself heard. My main instrument is a 6 string dreadnaut, so flat picking is how I play it. Should you? Yes, absolutely. If nothing else it will make you appreciate bass players a lot more. Big surprise: It’s not nearly as easy as you think it is.
I have an acoustic bass and it sounds loud enough like an acoustic guitar, I think it depends on the material your bass acoustic has and the way you play it, if you don't have enough power to picking with finger, then use pick for picking it. It feels same like acoustic guitar and electric guitar. You need more power to play with acoustic guitar than electric guitar, same as acoustic bass
Bro but in regional Mexican we use acoustic bass and we use a technique named chiqotear that is plucking the strings and it's one of the signature sounds of a song cuase unlike normal base you can actually hear it
Holy fuckin shit... I can't believe what I just watched... I was questioning if maybe he was just trolling?? Can this guy really be serious? Acoustic bass is powerful! Cool as fuck! You can feel the vibrations, it's really cool. I understand if you don't like Cheap Trick, but please listen to their first album and tell me that that's not a cool fucking instrument. One thing further, if the strings feel tight, you can loosen them up. Most acoustics feel tight to me, so I like to tune to C# feels good man
These acoustic electric bass guitars are very popular right now I bought one and I have no amp yet but they are getting more popular then before
One of my favorite instruments that I ever played was a Tacoma CB10 Thunderchief. I've been in love with a romantic, idealized vision of acoustic bass guitars ever since. And I still can't find any fault at all in your reasoning. Good video, señor.
It's worth noting that a pick would be much louder, but in my daydream I'm a finger-player.
[my second comment here, not quite replacing my first one] Soon after writing my first comment here, I bought another acoustic bass guitar, a low-end Fender with a piezo pick-up. However, I also ordered a set of flatwound strings with it. Replacing the roundwound strings with the flatwound had me search for things to replace the bridge pins, as these would be pulled out by the strings (at least the E-string). I was eventually helped out by a bicycle shop (I'm in the Netherlands...) with apparently end pieces from motorcycle Bowden cables.
To my taste, this acoustic Fender with flatwound strings has a sound that is both acoustic and sustaining. As close to the sound of an upright bass as I'll be able to come. When amplified, the sound is adjustable through the built-in electronics. (And I could still mount a magnetic pick-up in the sound hole.)
Off-topic: I am so fond of the change in strings, that I bought a cheap Western guitar just for fitting it with flatwounds. (No problems with the bridge pins here.) This will be my acoustic guitar of choice for jazz (and other styles requiring sliding up and down).
I disagree . I cant put mine down. Its just so much fun to play.
I have an acoustic bass guitar and I like it because of it's sound. Even if it is a cheap shitty benton and I used it for like one project. I just happened to dig it out of the attic after few years of not being used. The H string's machine broke and I never got around to fixing it, until now. (The H-string was the reason I got it, because it was cheaper to buy the 5 string *electric* acoustic than even rent a 5 string electric,l or god forbid 5 string Contrabass for the time we needed.)
I basically played it like I'd play a small upright bass. Body between my legs and neck next to my head. Oh also... it is fretless.
Before you ask... When I first got a bass, I got this 4 string fretless for like 40€. So I started with a fretless, and I took some lessons from a Contrabass player. Strangle I feel like I can't play fretted basses at all.
Then again I am not a bass player, I just happen to play some bass. my primary instruments are French horn and Tuba.
I wouldn't recommend anyone to get it, unless you want a practice bass that you can play in a tiny flat and not disturb anyone, like was my case at one point. Then again cheap ass electric bass set is cheaper than a cheap acoustic bass.
Also here is another thing I did. I'm a sheet metal fabricator as a job. I took some aluminium and made a rest near the hole that floated on top of the body. It was supported by the side like a violin's brace. I'm actually fairly proud of that thing, I think I still got it somewhere.
I'm thinking about getting 5 string electric contrabass once I got enough extra money to spend.
I bought a Dean EAB to start with. Though I’d played guitar for 30+ years, I still had to adapt to this new axe. I love it, and the tone it generates, both electric, and acoustic. When compared to the Rouge I received as a gift the very same week, the Dean’s harder to play, but I really love the acoustic tone. Neither bass has been giged yet outside my den.
Love my acoustic bass. Use it with amp and live. So fun to play with.
Totally agree with this. An upright is the only acoustic bass loud enough. I had a Takamine acoustic bass and even though I'm a hard picker, I got buried. Whenever there's an acoustic show, I use my electric.
I played that one in guitar center and it was pretty nice. Thinking of buying it
I kind of wish you'd had a pros list at the end. Like, I understand your reasoning and I agree with you, but the special place in my heart for acoustics would have been thrilled to see nice things written down in a little list lmao. That's not to say you didn't say nice things! You said plenty. Thanks for the informative video! I know I'm going to remember this when I someday get my own bass.
I have to agree with your video. I used to want an acoustic bass but after trying several I found them too quiet & not very pleasant sounding. They seem very pointless, unless your playing on your own without an amp, but then I'd sooner just use my unplugged electric bass than spending my money on an impractical bass.
And the Ubass is a good alternative.
Thanks man this was really helpful
+Fretliner Glad to hear!
Agreed! Helps make my choice easier.
Don't know if you still check comments on old videos, but thanks for this one. You may talked me out of an acoustic bass, or as I like to think about, saved me a couple of hundred quid :)
Es el mejor video que he visto sobre ese tema, tiempo atrás tuve un bajo electroacústico concluí lo mismo, quizás al tocarlo con slap suene mas fuerte pero sigue siendo una opción poco versatil.
It's the best video I've seen on that topic. Some time ago, I had an electroacoustic bass and came to the same conclusion. Perhaps playing it with slap might make it sound louder, but it still remains a somewhat limited option in terms of versatility.
I’ll bet that bass would sound just fine played through my battery powered Roland cube street., small as a milk crate, perfect for acoustic jams indoors or out., and I could have that instrument set up and playing nice and easy in an hour or less, as long as there’s no build issues.
While I do understand this is for beginners. I find the point of the redundancy of amplifying the bass to be arguable. Most guitar players I see gigging amplify their guitars with a mic or soundhole pickup, rather than using the piezo, while I do see you are right in the lack of versatility compared to a Jazz or P bass. I own an acoustic bass guitar and I do find nylon tapewounds would sound good if you were wanting to approach an upright sound, not necessarily volume without wanting to invest time or money to upright upright.
I wish I knew that in 2011... I have a Fender Acoustic Bass Guitar, I wanted it so much because I didn't know much about bass guitars back then. It's so annoying that anyone talking in the audience can render it silent. I'm looking forward to sell it for a good enough price to buy a jazz bass now.
So... Half Rounds and a magnetic - Mic pickup. But also playing in your bedroom and recording. If you buy a Jumbo bodied like my DB44 Denver.. It barks. The real downside to ABG is the piezo. Interestingly enough I use my Bluetooth speaker as my amp when I'm out and it has 2 2" speakers and it really does make all the difference to being heard. And a compression pedal in between really pushes it all forward.
The reason why it’s quiet is because you’re using methods used for the electric bass, which amplifies the sound, meaning you don’t have to pluck or strum as hard to get the sound you need. Acoustic requires a little bit more work to get the right volume
bought my acoustic bass guitar for £32 from Thomann. Harley Benton fretless, great fun to pickup and noodle on.
+Andrew Kerensky 👍🏻
You need a different picking technique, rather double bass style. Then it will be louder and sound better - but it's exhausting and much slower. Especially using flatwounds which sound really better.
Expensive models like the Czech Furch and especially the German Stoll are loud enough to compete with the 6string acoustic at the campfire. But you do not want to bring a >3000$ guitar to a campfire.
So, the only reason I kept mine: I just take it from the wall and play a quick tune. No pluggin in of cables, no warmin up the amp's tubes. Perfectly loud when you are alone at home. And of course it has a unique sound.
I just bought that bass today. You said EXACTLY what is true about an acoustic bass. I bought it for those reasons. AN Acoustic bass in not possible as you state. I play a fretless. I bought it today for $110 free shipping. I live down the street from Taylor Guitars, even that acoustic bass is lifeless. The Mexicans have a big body bass but NO neck to speak of. Scheesh
To sound professional they are almost impossible to play without a great deal of effort. Not only that they don't really sound that good under a microphone. There's a lot of treble in them. Also the shorter scale means low E string is going to be too unbalanced with respect to the rest of the strings.
It is far better to get a decent bass and a decent bass amp maybe active pickups in a normal scale Bass. You can get great tones from a good set of pickups that is far better than anything I've heard in an in an acoustic.
The micro bass woth rubber strings might be a good alternative. I haven't heard enough of them to know about them.
experienced bassist and found this helpful, thank you.
Acoustic basses tend to be used in jazz if flatwounds are used. Oh yeah you'll definitely need an some sort of pa
Everything you say is true. I'd actually say it's worth buying a cheapo acoustic bass and DIY-ing some of the features that luthiers have been putting into their 6 strings recently - angles and soundholes on the top to make it more comfortable and project more 'body' to the player, and angled cutaways to maximise the available body volume for that extra little bit of tone. I use flatwound strings on my Aria fretless and I think it sounds great in the room and looks good with its wood finish and f-holes. I'm actually planning to put an extending end pin on it so I can play it upright for pose value.
Camp fire? Me? Wiv one of my guitars? Yer 'avin' a larf mate!
A double bass player would probably not be scared off by the price of the Takamine TB10 - Fretless, F-holes, nice curves, extending endpin for upright playing, acclaimed pickup system, curved fretboard for bowing and DB technique mmmmmm!
Thanks for putting your opinion out there - I just found a fretless acoustic 5 string for cheaps, but I had the same reservation: If I'm going to plug it in, I might as well just stick with electric.
Why compare a player playing gently on an acoustic bass with fingers to aggressive playing with a pick? ..
he's right on all points.
Except when you don't exclude playing with a plec. I like the rough sound you can get. But you have to make sure to bring feedback busters etc.
Honestly, I wanted an acoustic bass because of Mike Starr's acoustic bass tone from Alice in chains on MTV Unplugged
Mike Inez
well damn, that was pretty clear cut. i was thinking about getting one but now i wont, thanks :)
Don't let this video put you off. I have an Ibanez acoustic/electric and use it acoustically 100% of the time. It's plenty loud, easy to play, and really convenient when you want to jam without having to plug in.
+Kzoo Detector Only if you like being inaudible amongst your friends.
+Kzoo Detector th-cam.com/video/cGQhtYc9dW4/w-d-xo.html
Andrew Pincock Nigga please,
burnzy3210 Still gettin' one. Lots of experience, and I like the sound, and convenience of acoustic basses.
With good strings a proper acoustic bass sounds really loud and is good for acoustic rehearsals too... With an amp they sound nice too. So I would recommend to start with it.
The strings on this bass were definitely a problem, but as I say in my video, if you're going to plug it in, what's the point?
@@ampthebassplayer what's the point to plug in a acoustic guitar? I think both of us knows the answer.
@@marcinjulius The only two compelling reasons to have an acoustic bass are to have the specific tone of an acoustic, or to play acoustically. If you're just going to plug it into an amp, you subvert half of the reasons for having it which just means you want the specific sound of an acoustic bass. That's fine, but for every other reason, electric basses are just better.
@@ampthebassplayer I agree that acoustic basses are specific instruments, but I disagree in that they are only useful when you plug them into an amplifier. The cheaper ones are not loud enough, that`s true, but if you buy a Furch, Warwick or even a better Crafter you can be easily heard in acoustic rehearsals. A lot depends on the strings too. So I would highly recommend such an instrument for an acoustic or folk project. Anyway, it`s the same with all other acoustic instruments, cheap ones are useless, but with a cheap acoustic guitar you can still play loud, not with a cheap acoustic bass ( on your video you used a fairly cheap one and you are right, that`s not the deal... ) . So, if you need the sound and the ability to play acoustically, buy something from a higher price range.
Yes! I agree I thought getting an electric acoustic bass might be great for playing on the pontoon boat but there is just not enough sound and it does not have that bottom solid bass feel.I totally agree with all your points. I began playing bass a year ago and was taking some lessons at a store and the owner tried selling me a Dean electric acoustic but even as a novice I just plain didnt like the feel or the sound. You are doing a service with this video. I know people who have purchased these and play them but the sound isn't there.
Strings and volume shouldn't be an issue like in this case...Those strings were either dead or flatwoubd. Get a set of light Elixir bass strings, or even just use electric bass strings, they work just fine too. Once that's done, you'll have much more volume and tone to work with...
+Steven Shockley They are roundwounds. Not new, but even brand new strings aren't going to compete with acoustic guitars. Free your mind and accept the truth! And the truth will set you free!
I have tried both acoustic and electric basses I feel that acoustic basses are easier too play the action is in my opinion much nicer
+Zwolfblade22 To each their own.
Madman...
Great points, the Gold Tone Micro is the only acoustic I'd consider but haven't played one in person to see if it's loud enough. For the fireside or whatever I'd probably go with a regular cheapo electric and a small battery amp like the Blackstar Bass Fly, instead of a useless acoustic bass sitting around drying out. I love acoustic stuff but my area is so dry I can't be bothered with humidifiers constantly.
You were good in Smosh.
I like to think of my acoustic as a different instrument. The electric is better as a multipurpose, many genre, workhorse and it's obviously my first choice. The acoustic is just a different animal. I have mine with a fretless fingerboard so I don't have to worry about not being able to easily adjust intonation or action with perfect precision. I also have it strung with flatwounds. Bronze strings just make these sound bad unless they're nylon core and those get expensive. I also mainly use mine for jazz and some blues and it gives me more attack and brightness than an upright in those settings. I would suggest playing around with strings, technique, going for fretless, and sticking to jazzier sounds if you want to get the most out of yours, but these are definitely more fun than you give them credit. They just aren't as similar to electrics as guitars are so you can't go into them thinking they're the same. (also, with your comment about the pickups being pointless, I suppose you've never seen people like willie nelson use their acoustic with a pickup to get a different tone from electric.)
Although every thing you say might have sense, acoustic sounds are always special when it’s a thing that you are really into it. It’s a matter of taste sort of speaking
i play it for money in a acoustic duo, super sound and it presents as a novelty as i get questions all the time, thanks.
There are thinner acoustic bass although electric ones really are more comfortable. when you're jamming with someone whose playing acoustic guitar unplugged it's awesome, although you do have to pluck those strings harder to be audible. so you end up plugging both guitars on amplifiers anyway which beats the purpose. Your review is totally accurate.
I own several. Michael Taylor fretless has great standup like tone but yes not load enough in a an acoustic setting. My fretted Furch is loud enough in acoustic setting. I use a rubber f hole blocker for amplified performance to block feedback….. of course I own 8 basses and my options are many.
I didn't know Ian from Smosh could play bass
Playing with a pick helps with 'volume'. Also, tapewounds aren't as tinny sounding. I love mine (Fender) but as you say, I play alone. Also, I wanted to focus on learning to play well articulated notes and technique. Not focus on the technical part until I master the more practical.
I find you can get a better Warmer acoustic sound from a Hofner ignition. I just wish they weren’t so “Beatle” looking. If they looked more like an EB1, I think they’d be less stigma.
Been planning to get one, than i realize it doesnt mix well with regular 6 string acoustic..too quiet
I have both an electric bass guitar and an acoustic one. I find the sound of the acoustic one nice, but it can't really support a band like a double bass can. [matter of opinion] So I have a magnetic pick-up in the hole and an acoustic pick-up on the body - copied from double bass players in jazz. That does the trick in my eyes (ears!), but it requires two mixer inputs. The electric one sounds great, but rather electric, great for sustaining the musical parts by electric instruments. Or for loosely imitating a brass bass.
That’s meant to be slapped 🥱
I don't think I should be limited to just one style of attack because the instrument sucks. #allstylesmatter
AMP haha Ik I was just making a joke 😹😹
I agree with you on the point that it does not serve the purpose of not having an amplifier; I am contemplating on buying one so that I could practice acoustically with my band mates. This would probably mean I would have to glue my ears to the body; however, are there any other acoustic basses that may have a higher sound frequency ?? or even the type of strings that may emit higher sound ???