pjmuck wrote:
velalv wrote:
Hi guys:
A hollowbody bass and an acoustic/electric bass are two different animals. One is an electric bass with on board PUPs and tone/vol., while the vast majority of acoustic/electric basses usually have some sort of piezo (Fishman Prefix, etc). They may have on board vol./EQ settings as well, but once you use any on board electronics the tones are very different than their unplugged acoustic sounds, putting you more in the realm of an electric anyway. (With rare exception. Esperanza Spalding's acoustic bass sounds fantastic, IMO, not dissimilar to an upright; I forget the brand). So the differences in tone are largely magnetic PUPs vs. piezo at that point. Most acoustic basses I've seen/heard do not put out enough volume un-amplified (The Ernie Ball Earthwood notwithstanding), since a bass needs a large enough body to push enough air to project (which is why a double bass is so huge). Simple physics. The result is a fairly thin sounding instrument. I own the Ibanez Artcore, and while it's a very nice instrument that can do the classic tubby hollowbody tone with the tone rolled back, the PUPs are fairly hot and bright so it will do a more modern take with better treble/clarity as well. Regardless, either a hollow body electric or an acoustic bass can be EQ'ed on your amp to produce or output enough volume or treble/bass tone.
PJ, as always, thank you for the thoughtful insight. For what it's worth, Esperanza Spaulding's acoustic bass is a Warwick Alien. Adirondack has it lefty for somewhere in the neighborhood of $2000...way more than I care to spend. I am trying to figure out how to round out my bass collection in the medium term, and the wife has made it clear that I cannot have more than 3 basses hanging out around the house. My jazz deluxe is not going anywhere., and I have a Squire P-. Question for me is what will the third bass bass. If I bought a better p, I would get rid of the Squire.
The acoustic bass caught my attention for three reasons. First, I was hoping to be able to play it at some small group meetings of my church (which consist of 8-10 people, at most) where I would be accompanied by one guy on one of those six stringed thingies, and not bring an amp. Second, during our praise and worship time we have been moving toward an occasional all acoustic set (congo, six stinger, and myself on the bass. My j bass was too hi fi, the p-bass is better, but not exactly like a hollow bass and someone had suggested that a hollowbody or acousticc ould do the trick (plus they do look cool). a
