Quote:
Originally Posted by Skip Ellis
What's the word on acoustic bass guitars? I'm thinking of picking one up to try to teach my wife how to play bass on some old-time country and Doc Watson/Merle Travis type tunes...I might be better off just getting a used short-scale electric bass and a small amp and going with that. Any experience with the acoustics?
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I've owned two good ABG's - both Guilds (B-50SB acoustic - which I sold - and B4E-AMB all-hog acoustic-electric) - been a bass player for 40+ years, and when it comes to tone and ease of handling I'll take the electric/amp option every time. As a matter of simple physics, you need a large sounding board/tone chamber to reproduce low frequencies (down to 40 Hz on the low-E string), and unless you're playing a
guitarron-sized instrument you're not going to be heard in an unplugged setting; truth be told, even the B-50 - at 18"x22"x7" definitely in
guitarron territory - was useful only with a couple of fingerpicked/lightly-strummed guitars, and the only reason I still keep the 16"x20"x3" B4E around (interestingly enough, it puts out as much volume - and almost as much low end - as the B-50) is for those occasional gigs where the acoustic "look" is more important than tone (caught crap from a group of hidebound folkies about my Pedulla being "too loud" - no issues with the Guild
at the exact same volume 
)...
If you're looking at ABG's I assume you're after something that resembles upright-bass tone to a greater or lesser degree, and while I'm also quite impressed with the new generation of "bass ukuleles" (which actually have their roots in the solid-body Ashbory mini-bass of the 1980's) the non-metallic "rubber" strings can be a turnoff to some players; that said, a used Hofner Ignition Beatle/Club Bass or Epiphone Viola/Allen Woody, new Rogue (GC/MF house brand) VB-100, or new Epiphone EB-0, can be had in the $150-200 range if you shop around or hit a "Coupon Sale" day. With a set of flatwound or tapewound strings - you don't want that piercing, metallic roundwound high end for the type of music she'll be playing - you can get a near-upright tone without the bulk of a larger instrument; my own wife sometimes doubles on bass, and although her Hofner 5000/1 Deluxe is well out of your price range I'd recommend a similarly compact/lightweight/easy-fingering package - especially if she's a beginner...
You'll have to shop around for an appropriate bass amp though; while you can find used bargains in the $100 price bracket I'd recommend something in the 40-50 watt range to start (it's about clean power and headroom rather than sheer volume) and a 12" speaker minimum if you expect to reproduce those bottom notes satisfactorily. I've seen used '70s/80s Peavey, Kustom, Randall, and Univox combos - some of which have 15" speakers and 100+ watts power BTW (which will bring you even closer to upright tone) - as well as similar late-model Acoustic and Fender combos routinely going for $100-150, and if you're lucky you might find the occasional Ampeg BA-Series for comparable money...
My thoughts: don't jump into this too quickly - save up a few more bucks and do it right the first time, especially if your better half is going to be playing out with you anytime soon; it'll be well worth the investment...
