Author Topic: Martin Acoustic Bass... (Read 327 times)

glocke · « **on:** February 22, 2015, 02:02:34 AM »

Posted this over on TB but have not gotten any responses. Does anyone have one of these?

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/bass/martin-performing-artist-series-bcpa4-4-string-acoustic-electric-bass-guitar

I tried one in GC the other week...Was pleasently surprised as it was the first AB I've picked up that I thought had a good tone unplugged, projected well (though it still probably wouldn't compete very well with a D28), and also sounded fairly decent plugged in.

spose · « **Reply #1 on:** February 22, 2015, 04:37:02 AM »

Hi there!
I haven't tried the performing artist series model but have played the standard model. Ive also owned a guild B 30, an epi el capatain, takamine eg512.

my take, the martin has the best neck, fretwork..very accurate. The guild had the BEST projection and tone by far(huge body, arch back). the epi....eh.
the takamine is a decent workingmans bass, a nice compromise of all the above

cozmik_cowboy · « **Reply #2 on:** February 22, 2015, 11:41:16 AM »

I played one in a store a while back. It was the best ABG I ever played - then I picked up the cedar-topped Breedlove sitting next to it; WOW!! When I get around to filling the acoustic bass slot in my pile, it'll be Breedlove, no question (unless, of course, I manage to get my hands on the newish Santa Cruz model & it meets my expectations of their work)

Peter

spose · « **Reply #3 on:** February 22, 2015, 11:49:16 AM »

I always wanted to get my meat paws on one of these..
never seen one...I think Lesh maybe has one?

http://www.maizeguitars.com

pauldo · « **Reply #4 on:** February 23, 2015, 04:36:13 AM »

Looks like Dave Maize is on hiatus.

I really like the look of the Breedlove 'Solo' series basses.
That side sound hole is brilliant!

I could use something like that on my upright bass. . . . maybe I'll take a hole saw to the left side upper shoulder. :-0

dadabass2001 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 23, 2015, 11:44:22 AM »

I bought a Breedlove Atlas 4 string at GC this last May (2014). So far I've only used it for a demo recording and some parties and practices, not gigging as much as I used to....
Mike

bigredbass · « **Reply #6 on:** February 23, 2015, 09:40:33 PM »

Santa Cruz?

Here: http://www.santacruzguitar.com/instruments/true-acoustic-bass/

Joey

glocke · « **Reply #7 on:** February 24, 2015, 01:26:09 AM »

Sadly some of the alternatives (Sant Cruz, DM) are going to be beyond what I am willing (and probably able to spend).

Breedlove looks to be sub 1k so is probably worth checking out.

Another issue for me is that some of the ones mentioned simply are not stocked in the stores that are local to me. Not buying anymore instruments without playing them first lol..

edwardofhuncote · « **Reply #8 on:** February 24, 2015, 05:27:52 AM »

Just played a used Martin 15 Series cutaway bass in my local music store yesterday. It was okay just for a sitting in the unplugged circle jam, but plugged into an acoustic amp, it sounded fantastic. Coulda' used a good set up and some strings, but for $1000 it was darn nice.

*disclaimer - I'm a huge fan of C.F. Martin & Co. and in many ways I see Alembic as sort of an inside look at the very early days when C.F. Martin Sr. was building and developing his destined-for-greatness guitars in the back of a music store in New York. Almost 200 years later, his guitar-making company survives, flourishing, and still run by his descendants.

What will an Alembic Series 5 or 6 look like in 2169? Who knows, but I'll lay odds it'll happen.

Sorry for the derail... carry on.

lbpesq · « **Reply #9 on:** February 24, 2015, 08:28:46 AM »

What will an Alembic Series 5 or 6 look like in 2169?

I don't now, but imagine the price! lol!

Bill, tgo

lbpesq · « **Reply #10 on:** February 24, 2015, 09:30:57 AM »

Oops! I meant I don't know

hammer · « **Reply #11 on:** February 25, 2015, 07:05:13 PM »

Got lots of valuable feedback from members of this board when I was considering the purchase of an acoustic bass a few months ago. Everyone told me that unless I was playing at home in studio or backing up someone with an acoustic that didn't project well I'd need to amp it and that this would lead to feedback. I played a lot of different acoustic basses trying to figure out if the guys were just missing something but the advice was right on. Even the best ABG I played would not be sufficient for what I had in mind (use in a bluegrass band). I ended up purchasing a used Rob Allen fretless and LOVE IT. It sounds enough like an acoustic that with two acoustic guitars, a banjo, mandolin, and fiddle going even my band mates can't tell the difference between my electric fretless and what the guy before me played - an ABG. The one distinction I've been told is that I'm not producing feedback 50% of the time. To be honest after playing everything from Breedlove's to Guilds, Santa Cruz' to Martins, the ABG sound I liked the most came from a pretty beat up $400 Tacoma Thunderchief. I told the guy I'd think about it and it was unfortunately gone the next day.

glocke · « **Reply #12 on:** February 26, 2015, 03:07:10 AM »

hammer
Senior Member
Username: hammer

Post Number: 666
Registered: 9-2009
Posted on Wednesday, February 25, 2015 - 7:05 pm: Edit Post
Got lots of valuable feedback from members of this board when I was considering the purchase of an acoustic bass a few months ago. Everyone told me that unless I was playing at home in studio or backing up someone with an acoustic that didn't project well I'd need to amp it and that this would lead to feedback. I played a lot of different acoustic basses trying to figure out if the guys were just missing something but the advice was right on. Even the best ABG I played would not be sufficient for what I had in mind (use in a bluegrass band). I ended up purchasing a used Rob Allen fretless and LOVE IT. It sounds enough like an acoustic that with two acoustic guitars, a banjo, mandolin, and fiddle going even my band mates can't tell the difference between my electric fretless and what the guy before me played - an ABG. The one distinction I've been told is that I'm not producing feedback 50% of the time. To be honest after playing everything from Breedlove's to Guilds, Santa Cruz' to Martins, the ABG sound I liked the most came from a pretty beat up $400 Tacoma Thunderchief. I told the guy I'd think about it and it was unfortunately gone the next day.

Yeah....I get all that..for me though most of that is irrelevant.
I really don't see myself using one of these in any other way than just kicking back and noodling on my sofa or outside...

There is probably the various acoustic gig I might use it on, but there would be drumz there anyway so I'd need amplification regardless.

5a_quilt_top · « **Reply #13 on:** February 26, 2015, 07:51:36 AM »

+ 1 on Rob Allen. Really sits nicely in the mix with acoustic guitars, mandolins, etc.

Correct - no feedback from the RA and no clack, pop or finger squeaks - unlike traditional acoustic guitar-styled acoustic basses that can deliver a lot of unwanted extraneous noise when amplified.

One downside to RA is it's not quite loud enough in a group setting unless it's amplified.

I also played a Thunderchief a few years ago - the guitar store where I work on Saturdays was a Tacoma dealer til Fender discontinued the brand - and agree that it is very nice and good value for the $$.