Possible new project...possibly need acoustic bass

[hammer]

I've been asked to take part in a new project that involves a band which plays a blend of folk and bluegrass. The group leaders like my playing but insist on use of a acoustic bass (not a double bass but an acoustic bass guitar) even though it will need a pick up or a mike. I know absolutely nothing about these types of basses. Any suggestions on a high quality instrument that I might be able to pick used.
 
P.S. I'm only looking for something other than an Alembic because they don't make one.

[sonicus]

The Guild B-50 is fun !  
http://www.bassplayer.com/basses/1165/retro-rama--1976-guild-b-50/26271
 
Jack Casady had one that he let me check out once many years ago .

[edwin]

How about one of those ukelele basses? I've heard them in person and plugged in they sound great (although intonation can get challenging up the neck). What would the bandleader think about a Starfire?

[cozmik_cowboy]

Check out the Gold Tone Micro-Bass.  
 
I have no connection to this product other thinking it sounds cool on the vids, and failing to win when they gave one away.
 
Peter

[jacko]

Brian, I have a Kelly dragonfly fretless 5 strung with LaBella 'deep talkin' flats and it sounds superb played acoustically. The low B is a bit lacking through the Piezo bridge though. Had it sent over here from your side of the pond so I reckon you could pick one up fairly easily.
 
Graeme

[rustyg61]

I have a Dean Performer Bass that plays very well & sounds good both acoustically & plugged into an amp. http://www.deanguitars.com/content/imagelib/basses/acousticbass/index.htm

[StephenR]

I love my Turner Renaissance five-string. Haven't played a Michael Kelly but that seems like another popular choice. Neither of these basses will be prone to feedback and if you can play fretless they sound even better as a sub for an upright. Michael Kelly recently teamed up with Rick Turner and is making a production model version of the Renaissance bass for him. Should be cheaper than the original.
 
IMO stay away from dreadnought style acoustic basses if you are going to play at any kind of volume level. My experience with them is that even for an acoustic jam you need to plug them in to be heard and if you play them in a band situation they are prone to feed back easily.

[pauldo]

Stephen for clarification; you are saying that anything with a dreadnought style body (hole in the middle) does not project enough and obviously has feedback issues when plugged in. The Turner you have (with no hole) projects well acoustically?
 
Back in the 80's there was a GIANT acoustic bass made by Earth something . . . seems like a body that big would project rather nicely.

[Glynn]

The venture into (Electro)Acoustic Bass Guitar world is an interesting one.  Apart from my Alembic and Jaydee solids, I have Fender BG-29 and Fender Victor Bailey Acoustic Bass guitars.  Both are lovely but neither made anymore.  I have used the BG- 29 extensively to play for Appalachian, Morris dance sides and Folk sessions but have ALWAYS used a small amp.  In my case, a Harley Benton rechargeable (like the Crate Taxi) but that is not made any more either!!
There are other amps out there if you need to be portable like Phil Jones and to be honest you shouldn't need a lot of volume if you are doing folk/bluegrass sessions.  
I think Acoustic Bass Guitars need trying in the shop and don't expect too much unplugged or from bottom E string if going through a small amp.
Also, as stated above, feedback is a massive problem so careful use of EQ and gain and master is needed.  But it is worth it.
I wondered only this week about Ukulele basses like Ortega and Kala.  They seem like a good idea but what I keep reading is that the poly strings take some keeping in tune.  Apparently, some players choose the fretless option to cope with tuning issues to correct more quickly.
I have had great fun with my Acoustics and a final tip - don't change the strings too often.  This develops a nice double bass sound.  And also play fingerstyle.
Enjoy, Glynn

[StephenR]

The Turner Renaissance bass has no sound hole but is hollow and has a definite warm acoustic sound, it can't be played without an amp. You would not mistake the sound of a Renaissance bass for the sound of a solid body or hollow body bass like the Cassady Signature, Guild Starfire etc. especially if you stick with the TI Acousticore strings they come with. It is a unique sounding instrument. The Kelly basses are similar and some prefer those.
 
The dreadnought style basses I have played all needed to be plugged in even when jamming with acoustic guitars and percussion and were prone to feedback at fairly low volumes. I figured that if I had to plug in anyway I was better off with the Renaissance which not only doesn't feed back but is more comfortable to play, the body is thin and they weigh next to nothing.
 
I had a chance to play my Renaissance bass through a Meyer Sound rig one time. I got right up inches away from the cabinet during sound check and tried to get the bass to feed back. At loud volumes I did manage to get a high pitched squeal but it wasn't easy, there was no low frequency feedback at all and who plays facing and up against an amp anyway.
 
The giant dreadnought basses like the Ernie Ball Earthwood bass have more volume played acoustically but are bulky and unwieldy and as far as I know they don't make them anymore. The Taylor AB-1 is another huge hollow body acoustic bass that is supposed to be nice but it is expensive and looks like it would be uncomfortable to play due to the size of the body. Have no idea if it is prone to feedback plugged in but it might provide enough volume to play an acoustic jam.

[hammer]

Hey Everyone:
 
Thanks for the input.
 
The Kelly basses seem interesting especially the one he's making for Turner. His regular basses also seem VERY reasonably priced 2nd-hand. Because this group is just being put together I'm a little reluctant to invest too much in an acoustic given that everything else I do is electric and I'm unsure as to how far this thing going to go.

[5a_quilt_top]

Rob Allen - either 4 or 5 string:
 

 
This is an MB2 model.
 
Uses LaBella tape wound strings.
 
Sounds close to an upright, but with better note definition.
 
I have not experienced any feedback issues at stage volume.

[bigredbass]

I've often thought about an ABG (acoustic bass guitar), to have something to just grab without plugging anything up when the notion strikes me.
 
Since I only play fives, it's somewhat pointless, inasmuch as it's a lot to get anything approaching bass tone out of a jumbo guitar body with four strings, much less trying to coax low C's and D's out of one.  Oh well . . . .
 
I've tried several in only the most casual manner and haven't yet found anything affordable that hit me.  I tell myself I'll grab a Michael Kelly on EBay cheap sometime, but haven't gotten around to it yet.
 
Here in Nashville, I did try a Ribbecke Hafling that wandered through Geore Gruhn's, and I must admit it was fabulous:  It also cost as much as a used Alembic, so it was a non-starter.  If you can afford that amount of $$$, I can heartily recommend it, a LOT of amazing design going on in that box.
 
I would definitely recommend the same warning that applies to most lesser piezo-equipped guitars:  The output generally overwhelms most conventional guitar and bass amps, so you really need a baby mixer or something like this terrific BOSS acoustic processor
 
http://www.bossus.com/gear/productdetails.php?ProductId=570&ParentId=259
 
. . . . in line between you and an amp, to settle down the high output (in some cases 3 or 4 volts (!) and very high impedance.  That's how cheap or older piezo guitars can sound clavinet-like.  Newer and better guitars are buffered, but you need to know if the guitar in question is one or the other.
 
The TI ABG strings are also very interesting.  Turner realized that piezo bridges have no real need for a ferrous core as it's vibration that creates the tiny voltages.  So they have a nylon core with metal wraps, a concept he worked with TI to create, and these are the OEM strings on Renaissance basses.  Of course they work on any piezo ABG.
 
And, a LOT of guys use the Rob Allens in studios and roadwork out of Nashville, very well regarded.
 
J o e y

[hammer]

Wow! A LOT more to think about than I initially thought.  Again, thank you to everyone for the valuable input.

[pace]

A Tacoma Thunderchief is worth a mention if a used one pops up in your quest.....