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John Myung Bongo 4

I realize this is a forum hosted by Ernie Ball and B.P.....

T-bone

T-bone

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 12, 2005
Messages
1,274
But since you all have such impeccable taste in your instruments, I thought I'd seek your opinions. Is there an "Ernie Ball" of acoustic basses?

Thanks......tbone
 
If you have the money you could look for a second hand EB EarthWood Bass. I've never seen one for sale though.

Colin
 
There really isn't so I opt for the cheapest "Ho-bag" I can get my mitts on and do all sorts of twisted things to my Kramer Ferrington that I paid $75 for...the singlemost longest bass I've owned and with the most playing time on...


Ferrington2a.jpg
 
If you pick up an acoustic, I'd suggest trying them out before buying one. I ordered 2 that I had to have sent back, cuz - well basically they sucked. They were both Michael Kellys and I'm not sure if their quality control has changed but there were BAD buzzes in the neck, sharp frets, bruises on the wood beneath the finish. I own an MK fretless that I bought several years back and it's flawless - but 2 recent ones I ordered were bad news.

While at NAMM I shopped around for an acoustic. Played just about every single cheapo in the place and realized most of the korean $100 to $200 ones weren't worth it if they were $50. I did however get a Carlo Robelli about 7 years ago that was worth it's weight in Gold. Cost $150. Actually I won it, I'd have never bought a Carlo Robelli. The tag on it was $150.

At NAMM the last day I found a beautiful 5 string, nice frets, good sound acoustically and plugged in - listed for about $600, I picked it up for $180. Still waiting for it to be shipped.

What's my point? I don't know. I'd suggest shopping around and playing them till you find one you like. Also there does seem to be a considerable difference between the cheapos and the expensive ones. I used to argue about that cuz I thought (still think) my carlo robelli was a lot louder acoustically than any other one I ever played. Plugged in is a whole nuther story though, and while it's loud, it still has that cheapo sound to it. I'm rambling. I'm done.
 
Joe Nerve said:
If you pick up an acoustic, I'd suggest trying them out before buying one. I ordered 2 that I had to have sent back, cuz - well basically they sucked.
Click to expand...

+ 1

Sorry, but I question the whole concept of the ABG (for me, that is!) I've never played one that had a good acoustic tone (not that they are not out there, its just that I've never seen one).

And, as for plugging them in, well, I seem to have this perfectly excellent ELECTRIC BASS here in the corner ;)

"Tits on a bull" as they say (IMHO, YMMV, caveat emptor, dont' shoot the paino player, don't hate me because I'm beautiful, etc, etc)
 
Steve Dude Barr said:
There really isn't so I opt for the cheapest "Ho-bag" I can get my mitts on and do all sorts of twisted things to my Kramer Ferrington that I paid $75 for...the singlemost longest bass I've owned and with the most playing time on...


Ferrington2a.jpg
Click to expand...

I Have the same Garage Door, Kool
 
Steve Dude Barr said:
There really isn't so I opt for the cheapest "Ho-bag" I can get my mitts on and do all sorts of twisted things to my Kramer Ferrington that I paid $75 for...the singlemost longest bass I've owned and with the most playing time on...


Ferrington2a.jpg
Click to expand...


I spy a hockey stick!



Wow, I'd dig an EarthWood bass that's for sure....

Unless I'm mistaken about my company history, Ernie created the acoustic bass by looking at mariachi guitars, which means basically everyone else is trying to be the "Ernie Ball" of acoustic basses by default.
 
Steve Dude Barr said:
There really isn't so I opt for the cheapest "Ho-bag" I can get my mitts on and do all sorts of twisted things to my Kramer Ferrington that I paid $75 for...the singlemost longest bass I've owned and with the most playing time on...
Ferrington2a.jpg
Click to expand...
But since Ferringtons are not all that commonly available, probably cuz no one bothers selling them cuz they get very little for their effort [I traded mine], I guess the one that turns up fairly often and has general approval for it's plugged in tone is the Washburn AB20. Now, if you are concerned with UNplugged tone on any ABG, well, my apologies to the innocent electrons I've already wasted, and I now bow out of this.
 
basserfire17 said:
what is an EarthWood bass????

and what about piexos, dont those sound acoustic?

-mike
Click to expand...
An Earthwood is an extremely rare and precious EB product of long ago, almost nonexistant. It's easier to find bigfoot.

As to piezos, my general finding is that metal piezo bridge systems like the Sterling or any of the other brands using FishMan or similar metal bridges, are basses with added sonic dimension, but not even "semi-acoustic" in their voicing.

OTOH, non-acoustic wooden basses with wooden "acoustic style" bridges with piezo ribbon transducers can sound very acoustic, especially if they are chambered, or are fretless, or have the right strings, and a few other contributing factors.

If you want the "Ernie Ball grade" product from this catagory, I'd look at the Rick Turner ElectroLine, which breaks the rule and sounds acoustic even with a metal bridge cuz RT is the piezo genius of the planet and makes his own piezo systems. Electrolines have solid ash bodies with any combination of single or dual mag PU's with or without piezo PU's. RT also winds his own PU's. These things cost about 60% above an EB bass, and are not found at big box stores. There are *very* few dealers. The two most popular dealers are also EB dealers, and are located at opposite corners of the USA, but I shall not name them here.

For a chambered or semihollow "EB grade" piezo ax RT offers the Renaissance series, with traditional wooden acoustic bridge and RT's special non-ribbon transducer. Some folks prefer the Rob Allen over the Ren. But you can get a Ren [or Electroline] from "The Dude", so you won't have strayed too far from the EB clan.
 
Wow Dude, you're not even looking at the frets when you play. I;m impressed. Or is that just your promo pic?
 
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