LeftyBassist.com

OK so I'm considering getting an acoustic/electric bass. I've been kind of wanting one for sometime now. I currently own three electric bases. The main reason that I was looking for an acoustic was ease of use for playing it at home. My thought is that it would just be nice to pick it up and start playing without having to set up everything. I don't plan to play it out anywhere mainly just for home use.

I've started doing a little research on what's out there. Unfortunately I won't be able to put hands on one until I purchase one. Was hoping you guys might have some suggestions of what is good and what is not. Doesn't look like there's too many options out there. Would prefer to keep it $500 or less but I am open to all options.

If you guys can give me a reason why I should not do this I am completely open. Also open to reasons why it might be a good idea. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Matt.

I love my acoustic and I play it as much as my others put together. It's a Dean EABC strung with D'Addario chrome flats. If I had to pick my one sound, this would be it.

Like you say, it's great for picking up and playing any time. Kids in the tub: bring it to the bathroom. Kids watching a movie: it doesn't distract them. And I'm not trapped in a set of cans when I want to practice quietly. Family sleeping: doesn't wake them up. Play it on my balcony w/o bugging the neighbors. Learning a new song or mastering a new piece: my ears aren't assaulted with amplified mistakes. Bring it on vacation or even just weekend trips w/o dragging an amp along.

Here's one on eBay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dean-EABC-Lefty ... 2219897825

Mine needed a bit of touch up when it arrived, although not much. Had to take the saddle out to clean some gunk off the transducer that was making my string volume uneven when plugged in. That was a ten-minute fix. Had a luthier file down some sharp frets after the first New England winter with it. A tweak of the truss rod when I switched from the stock phosphor bronze to flats. That's about it, though.

I didn't get it for jamming. I've only played with others (guitars, uke) for one weekend and it definitely wasn't loud enough to keep up even with acoustic guitars. Amplified it could be nice, although you'd want some kind of preamp for an EABC like mine because the pickup is all passive--I've had luck with a SansAmp ParaDriver, but I barely use it. If you step up to the Dean Exotica, the electronics are supposed to be very nice. Pete here owns one and has it strung as a tenor bass, I believe.

There are a few different models to choose from in your price range. Here's what's at Adirondack Guitar, which is where I got mine:
https://www.adkguitar.com/collections/a ... eft-handed

If I ever get a mind to upgrade I would love to try a Boulder Creek, but I haven't seen a 4-string for sale in a long time. But those are more like $800 anyway.

Oh, and almost forgot, a few different companies, Dean included, make resonator models. Not sure I'm crazy about their sound, but I would love to try one in person one day. Here's a fun clip of one in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0fyYBXVaCU

I've also been eyeing a GoldTone MicroBass lately. Even more travel worthy, and sounds great plugged in. I think Matt R. here has one. RondoMusic has a knock-off version for $150, although it's out of stock now.

Yeah, I'll chime in briefly. I also have a Dean EABC, which Tim described perfectly. It's a good bass to decide whether or not
you'd like to have an AE bass without breaking the bank. It's well-made for what it is. I do also have an Exotica, which is
I play every day and love. Yes, it's strung as a piccolo bass, so it's not the same as playing a bass. I play it like a guitar.
But that's a great bass and also well made - for what it is. I know the guys at Dean and had them set up both basses for me,
so that was a plus. I recommend the Dean, but I also think most bassists should have at least one AE in their arsenal.

Good luck and keep us updated.

pete

I have an old p.o.s. Hohner. It was cheap. I have replaced all tuners after two stripped, and I have had the plug at the bottom fixed twice. Having said all that, it is great.

Don't worry too much about which is the best or even which brand it is. They are not loud enough on their own to be heard over an acoustic guitar - especially two - without turning electric. But they are really great to grab on the couch and start playing, or in my case, sitting on a pier over the water with no electricity with a really good singer/songwriter.

Plugged in, they really have a round sound - fat and full, quite unlike most solid-body basses. So many of them have onboard eq's and onboard tuners. Just find one that you like with the gadgets you want. I have never had any real problems with feedback, but you can get those hole "covers" to stop that if needed.

I use mine in church, in a bluegrass group, and... sitting on the couch. I agree, every bassist should have at least one. Very quick and easy to grab and play.

Keep us in the loop.

Ah, that's right, piccolo bass. So what's the tuning then? An octave up on each string? What gauges do you use?

I just noticed that the specs are wrong on the eBay listing I provided. The main thing is that it's a 34" scale, and feels it. it's quite large (although very light). But its size is part of the reason for its great sound.

It's tuned normal - EAGD - an octave above a bass and one below a guitar. The gauges are .20 .32 .42 .52 - the G string is not round-wound and
it took some time to get to that. Not to mention, my fingers hurt from extended periods of playing...

pete

Very cool. Thanks!

Im currently pondering an acoustic micro bass and GoldTone do lefty versions of all their models. I think they sound great and are of course, super-portable.

So if you options that are out there. Most of them seem to be short scale. I have never played a short scale bass, will I notice a difference? Checked out that Dean and a few others but really I am not sure about any of them. Can anyone else give me some more experience reviews? Would like to make the best informed decision if I'm going to pull the trigger on this. Most of them seem to be short scale, am I correct in noticing this? Or does it really matter?

I have to point this out because it's a common misconception. Standard EADG 4 string bass tuning is only 1 octave below the open (low)EADG strings of a guitar. The electronics, EQ and the tonality of bass strings makes them sound deeper than a guitar but it's only 1 octave difference. In other words, if you play EADG on the octave of your bass strings, you are playing the same notes as the open EADG guitar strings.

So piccolo bass strings tuned EADG an octave above a bass are exactly the same pitch as the open(low) EADG strings on a guitar. The difference is all in the tone and timbre.

In other words, everything sounds better on the bass

I personally prefer a 34" scale, but it's been decades since I've played anything else for longer than a minute, so my preference could be entirely superstition at this point.

I think the prevalence of short-scale acoustics is due to mounting the bridge in the middle of the body. Shortening the string length keeps the overall length down. The Dean EABC, being 34" scale, is quite large, but that's where its wonderful sound comes from.

As for whether you will notice a difference in scale length, I think the shape matters more. The relative distance between those last couple frets probably won't make as big a difference as the change in distance from your shoulder to the first fret.

Another wonderful thing about acoustics is feeling the vibration against your chest. It's like snuggling a purring tiger.

Scale length in my experience is purely personal preference, but a shorty will generally feel less tense, but not to the point of being floppy or anything. They are a joy to play.

I've owned 3 acoustic basses along the road, an Oscar Schmidt that i picked up at Adirondack Guitars when i was working nearby, a Dean from CL and a Fender converted from the local store. Also an acoustic guitar butchered and converted into a lefty acoustic bass
I liked them all but now if i ever had to get one this would be it:

http://www.thomann.de/intl/warwick_alie ... _335753_95

Mine would be the Taylor AB, but they never did a lefty (heck, even the righty is rare!). They sound incredible, and they're LOUD. It was a collaboration design with Steve Klein, and it's absolutely brilliant.

Tacoma Thunderchief for me. Again, never offered in lefty, though.

All right so I made it out to the music shop today. Got to play two different lefty acoustics. Played a Dean that was pretty nice but not very loud at all. The other that I played was in Alvarez. And that one was awesome! It was loud and very easy to play. Both of these are acoustic/electric. The Dean was 34 inch scale. The Alvarez was 32 inch. When I get used to a shorter skill base is it going to be hard for me to transition back to my 34 inch electric?

As it stands right now I am leaning heavily towards the Alvarez. Mostly because I was able to find one to put my hands on and the fact that it sounded great! Don't have much to compare it to but I was fortunate enough to have a team to play side-by-side. Plus the fact that my local music shop had a few left hand base guitars in stock was a huge plus! They had about 15 left-handed electrics or so. Think I'm going to support them and get one of these.

My biggest concern is transitioning from a shorter scale to a longer scale and vice versa. Don't want it to become an issue down the road.

Super cheap acoustic alert: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dean-EABCL-Acou ... 2159339562

Dean EABC bidding at $130 with a BIN of $160.

I like Alvarez too, I got a lefty acoustic baritone a little while ago that's really nice. Almost 28" scale, huge body and still quite comfortable to play. Big sound, loud and deep with good articulation. And excellent value to boot. That bass sounds like a great choice too!