Acoustic bass question

[Superman]

For the volume level you would need, your guitar practice amps would suffice. But.....a lap-sized acoustic bass will not keep up with acoustic guitars. An electric bass would work. Any of those. An acoustic bass with a pickup might be ideal. You could play it by itself and have fun, or plug it in for jamming.

Lull is here in Seattle. I have half a mind to take a bass or two there, for setup. His luthier skills are unsurpassed.

[Superman]

I have always liked Takamines. They can be had for cheap.

[Rapewta]

The Pignose was great at the time. Times have changed.
Just six AA batteries and the Cube will do a whole gig easily.
The Pig... no way. The advent of modern battery usage has turned a lot of stuff that had a real short life into long lasting playing. It is not so much as the technical progress in batteries but however the engineers have done it, they can produce the same product with less power requirements.
How the Micro Cube can punch out loud audio for five hours on six AA batteries is beyound me. But I dig it. I hope that makes sense.

Originally Posted by Superman

Lull is here in Seattle. I have half a mind to take a bass or two there, for setup. His luthier skills are unsurpassed.

Indeed. He set up both my Strat and my Taylor, evening the frets out with a Pleck machine, which I had never heard of.

Alas, my playing did not commensurately improve. He said that costs extra.

Terry

[Superman]

Apparently the Plek process (fancy fret-dressing procedure) costs $250. I might pass on that. My playing would similarly not improve commensurately. Besides.....I kinda think that might be more important for six-string than for bass. Plek dresses frets to within .001".

Originally Posted by Superman

Apparently the Plek process (fancy fret-dressing procedure) costs $250. I might pass on that. My playing would similarly not improve commensurately. Besides.....I kinda think that might be more important for six-string than for bass. Plek dresses frets to within .001".

Yes, that's what Mike explained to me. Both the Taylor and Strat had some buzzes in the upper registers. They are all gone now.

Now I just need to learn how to play. Oh well, I've only been at it 40 years. Still beginner.

Terry

[VaSteve]

Same here. I thought I knew how to play like I thought I knew how to drive. Once I slow down, break it down and learn it, I'm much better. Just like driving.

As I recall, Steve, you were a pretty fine driver even 5 years ago when I was out there.

Terry

Score! I dropped by Guitar Center (just slumming), and lo and behold, there was a used Michael Kelly acoustic bass just like the one on the left in targa's photo. Gorgeous, and virtually flawless. $350.

Here's something weird, though: although I bought it today, I have to wait until February 17 to pick it up. It came in on January 17, and under WA state law, they have to hold instruments for a month before reselling them in case they are stolen. Sure hope it's legit.

Terry

[targa911S]

Wow it was yer lucky day. So you got the natural one. A 4 or a 5? I am looking forward to pics of this new girl. good for you. i'm sure it will be alright. $350 is a great price. I paid that for my natural maple one as well, the fretless one. You will see that the inlays are different on all models. The 4 is different than the 5 and fretted is different than fretless. Have a good set up done when you get it. I put a set of Thomastik flat wounds on the fretless one. They sound great plugged and unplugged. Good find buddy good find. Is there a case?

[craigster59]

Usually if you find a good deal on used equipment at GC you'll always have to wait. Has happened to me a couple times, never had a deal fall through. Congratulations on the score!

[targa911S]

shall I craft you a thumb rest like mine?

Originally Posted by targa911S

Wow it was yer lucky day. So you got the natural one. A 4 or a 5? I am looking forward to pics of this new girl. good for you. i'm sure it will be alright. $350 is a great price. I paid that for my natural maple one as well, the fretless one. You will see that the inlays are different on all models. The 4 is different than the 5 and fretted is different than fretless. Have a good set up done when you get it. I put a set of Thomastik flat wounds on the fretless one. They sound great plugged and unplugged. Good find buddy good find. Is there a case?

Thanks. I was thrilled. It's a four, and fretted. I would be hopelessly lost on a fretless one.

Mike Lull is in the area--If need be, I'll have him set it up. But bear in mind, I claim in no way, shape or form to be a bass player. I just got it so my son would let me back in the band!

Actually, we do a lot of stuff like REM, Tom Petty, and AIC where the bass line is especially distinctive. Plus, he needs his beginner's tendency to speed up as he goes along to be balanced out by my natural slow clumsiness. I'm also trying to get him to learn to listen to other instruments playing with him--which was really the key to learning to love ensemble playing for me.

craig, the whole waiting period was new to me, since I have bought all of my guitars either privately or new. I was bummed, but I'm glad. If anyone stole my Taylor I would be distraught; it's nice to know that there would be even a slight chance of getting it back.

Terry

Originally Posted by targa911S

shall I craft you a thumb rest like mine?

That's a wonderful offer, but I think I'll be playing mostly with my thumb initially.

Thanks, though. You are very kind.

Terry

[targa911S]

Thumb? We gotta talk.

Well, it could be worse--a pick.

But I'll take any and all advice.

Terry

[VaSteve]

Updates on this? I was thinking about (again) an acoustic bass as a gift for Christmas. Guitar Center had 4... A $199 Ibanez that buzzed like a bee until they tweaked the truss rod for me, a monster sized Dean with nickle strings (I didn't like it). A $1400 Martin or Taylor and $399 Fender T bucket. The fender was a smaller body than the others but it had a bit more punch for some reason.

Stopped by a smaller shop and they don't sell any. They cited the same reasons as above...most people can't use them without an amp to jam with others. I have plenty of amps. But it sort of has me rethinking it. I have an electric bass already. How do these things sound plugged into a PA? I have a little PA at home...makes the acoustic guitar sound good, I wonder about this or if I should scrap the idea.

[targa911S]

Most acoustic /electrics won't keep up with an acoustic guitar. A small amp will be needed. I have two Michael Kelly basses a fretted and a fretless and I love them. High quality workmanship. Quilted maple body mahogany necks, LOTS of pearl and abalone inlays. The fretted I bought new for $500 and the fretless used for $375. I tested a bunch before I bought. The Ibanez is OK, the Fender sounds like a cigar box guitar and the Deans are just crap. My Kellys have a fishman in them and they have a nice warm sound to them. We are pushing an upcoming acoustic release by the band and so we are doing acoustic shows. It keeps up with everybody and still sounds like an acoustis bass to some degree, but has a lot of settings to play with. You can only buy Kellys online from their distributors. These are the Dragonfly models.

The Kellys:

Originally Posted by VaSteve

Updates on this? I was thinking about (again) an acoustic bass as a gift for Christmas. Guitar Center had 4... A $199 Ibanez that buzzed like a bee until they tweaked the truss rod for me, a monster sized Dean with nickle strings (I didn't like it). A $1400 Martin or Taylor and $399 Fender T bucket. The fender was a smaller body than the others but it had a bit more punch for some reason.

Stopped by a smaller shop and they don't sell any. They cited the same reasons as above...most people can't use them without an amp to jam with others. I have plenty of amps. But it sort of has me rethinking it. I have an electric bass already. How do these things sound plugged into a PA? I have a little PA at home...makes the acoustic guitar sound good, I wonder about this or if I should scrap the idea.

I bought a Kelly that is identical to targa's except it has frets. It has Fishman electronics. It sounds great, but cannot keep up with even my son's Taylor acoustic without amplification. I have a home PA too, and that works fine.

After several months of playing, I've had several revelations:
1. A bass is not a guitar. the frets are way further apart
2. It's every bit as hard for me to play crappy bass as crappy guitar
3. I wish I'd started any years ago (not that it would make much difference)
4. It's a blast (though a quiet one)

What car are you tracking these days, Steve?

Terry

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by madcorgi

After several months of playing, I've had several revelations:
1. A bass is not a guitar. the frets are way further apart
2. It's every bit as hard for me to play crappy bass as crappy guitar
3. I wish I'd started any years ago (not that it would make much difference)
4. It's a blast (though a quiet one)

Terry

First, you lucky dog on finding that bass! I'm so jealous!

Second, LOL at number 1. above.

Third, I played bass in a garage band for a decade but dropped out when I realized my friends were all insane (I am too but that is another thread). The guitar player in that garage band switched to bass, he is a very good guitar player and musician... but whenever I would hear him play I would pull him aside and tell him... dude, you are playing guitar on bass... STOP IT! As a matter of fact when he recorded his originals songs at home he would call me to come over and lay down the bass track (even though I suck) because his bass tracks sounded like dooky.

Forth, Be prepared to restrain yourself at parties when someone says "it is only four stings, how hard can it be?"