acoustic bass

[jubjub721]

hi everybody
i know that i have been gone for some time, i have good reason.
i broke my arm!
well so i killed my arm and have was out of the bass game for 5 weeks. i have been back into it these past two weeks and have my muscle strength back where i was when the acident happened.

so heres my new delima
i am looking for an acoustic bass thats not that thick and has a curve to the back.
my budget is 500. i have been looking for an acoustic so i can play unplugged at school and church camp and such with out having to carry my rig.

i was thinkin micheal kelly.
what is the best acoustic bass under 500
(acoustic not upright)

 

[whamonkey]

I'm getting my MK Dragonfly 5'er tomorrow(Trans Amber)....I'll let you know if it's worth the scratch by tomorrow night. I wanted a somewhat cheap AE to fool around with, Bass Player raved about the MK line and hey, I got mine brand new wid' a gig bag and shipped for less than $600.

 

[jubjub721]

hopflly i can get a 4 for less then 500

im thinking pheonix

i like the flames better than flowers

 

[AnthonyD]

Not too thick with a rounded back? Sounds like an Applause by Ovation would fit your needs and probably your budget too.

I haven't seen a Michael Kelly bass up close, but I have read good things about them, especially value for the dollar. They sure do look beautiful - I look forward to the Whamonkey review!

I was in the market for an ABG myself, and in your same price range a few years back. Something to play "unplugged" in the living room and the coffee-house type setting. My local GC had a bunch in stock - I specifically remember trying Fender, Epiphone, Ibanez and Ovation models, and I am sure there were one or two more.

The salesman suggested I try the Tacoma - I said no, it was twice my price range. "Just check it out for comparison" he said...

I did... Nothing in that room came anywhere near the unplugged volume and tone of the Tacoma. I bought it on the spot.

 

[shaver]

get a stand up. amazing thing it is

 

[midopa]

Welcome back, JubJub. Sad to hear you've gone through that. Good to hear you're through that!

 

[whamonkey]

hopflly i can get a 4 for less then 500

im thinking pheonix

i like the flames better than flowers

I too liked the look of the Phoenix, I just felt the vine inlay work on the Dragonfly was really cool. I wouldn't consider an inlay like this for a fretless...too many odd spots.

 

[MingusBASS]

get a stand up. amazing thing it is

He doesn't want an upright. He wants it to be portable. A double bass is hardly portable.

The biggest knock I've heard about MK's is that they are very quiet when not plugged in...

Andrew

 

[jubjub721]

im definatly feeling this ovation

http://www.worldmusicsupply.com/bass-guitars/acoustic-basses/Ovation/CC074-4.asp

i like the color better than the natural finish. what do you guys think. if i where in a bigger city i would go and try it out before i bought it. but wichita has nothing but cheap music stores that dont keep this kind of stuff in stock. i mught get one in kansas city, i have a sister that lives up there and they have a much better selection of music stores.

still comments on the ovation would be greatly apreciated.

and does anyone know if this bass comes with a case?
if not i will need to buy a 100 dollar hardshell case down the road.

ps. i would buy an upright, but it would be me spending money on an instrument i dont know how to play. and since i cant read music to save my life, looks like it wont be till i have a job and exspendibale cash before i sink 1500 dollars in a good upright.

 

[jubjub721]

or this
http://www.music123.com/Applause-by-Ovation-AE140-i67892.music

 

[Mobay45]

I had a Dean Performer acoustic bass for a while. I sold it because I never used it, but it did sound pretty good when it was plugged in. I didn't have any volume when it was unplugged though.

 

[AnthonyD]

...i have been looking for an acoustic so i can play unplugged at school and church camp and such with out having to carry my rig...

I would strongly recommend not buying without trying, especially since you're hoping to play acoustically. You'll need to hear them for yourself.

A large majority of ABG's sound great plugged in, but don't have much projection unplugged.

 

[jubjub721]

soooooo

what is the best ABG for projection under 500

 

[whamonkey]

Update!
I received the MK Dragonfly 5 this afternoon. Some initial thoughts:

The color is nice althought it's a little yellower than amber, maybe it'll darken over time. Fretwork is pretty darn good for a $500 bass. The nut is a tad sloppy (Plastic shavings) and it's slightly stained (minor detail) One small speck of black under the finish on the side. I may sound nitpicky but after opening a SR5 straight from factory to Bass Central to me.....well, the experience is totally unreal. I highly recommend it. Back to the Dragonfly. The flame top and back are very nice and the neck inlay work is excellent. Overall, I give the bass a 8.5 out of 10 for quality out of the box.

To playability:
I tuned it up as it shipped from the factory down about 2 steps. I had heard complaints about buzzing or sloppiness; that is not the case with this particular bass. I hate the strings it ships with, some generic phosphor bronze brand. I will be putting flats on here as I want to get a smoother more upright tone. That being said the bass plays well. Intonation is almost perfect and there don't seem to be any pronounced dead spots on the neck. It's a bit "zingy" with the PB strings....even so it still plays well. Nice easy neck, comparable to the 'ray in width. It's not booming unplugged but it does project nicely with a more pronounced attack. Two acoustics would be about the limit unplugged, one would be ideal. ( I will compare it side by side with my friend's Tacoma Thundercheif.......results to be posted later.) Plugged in it has a fat tone, but with these strings it's hard to say if it is mellow or what. I'm telling you, they suck. Plenty of volume anyway, there will be no problem getting enough signal from the onboard Fishman classic 4 preamp.


Summary:
For now I will say that for the money, it's a terrific value although I'm interested to see about it's reliability and actual use during a gig. Fun to play around with, it will never replace my 'Ray, but for a quick practice session or (hopefully) an upright style sound on some mellower songs, it's a winner.

 

[midopa]

I suggest an Earthwood ABG! That ain't made no mo', but this is an EB forum, y'know.

 

[AnthonyD]

Cool - thanks for sharing. Sounds like the MK is a great value.

I'd be curious to here about the side by side with the ThunderChief (just like mine!). I often play with two acoustic guitar players and it's no joke - the projection on this bass surprises everyone.

I use Elixirs on mine - these were the stock brand that shipped with the bass. Polyweb/nanoweb something-or-other coated. I've been very pleased with them on this particular bass.

jubjub721: Sounds like the MK might be right in your sweet-spot!

 

[shaver]

i kno i kno, i just got an upright a few months ago and its one of the most amazing things ever

 

[midopa]

You did?! You lucky so-and-so! Words so am jealous come I correct my not of out mouth!!!

 

[shaver]

yeh, my old bass teacher puts them together, so i got a good deal on one. I gota learn it, to much jazz hah

 

[jubjub721]

well i will probably make a trip up to kansas city this summer
i think ill get a new bass for my 16th birthday
if i dont get an acoustic i might get a pimp tight digital camera
or maybe a traben