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Hi, my knowing friends in the PG World,
I want to buy an acoustic bass as a substitute for an upright bass for jazz playing.
So a fretless acoustic comes to my mind. Just didn`t have the opportunity to test a fretless.
Question:
Is it easier or harder to play than a fretted one, in the sense of pressure (Not the missing fret position information)? Do I have to press harder?
Is it possible that the strings are rattling, though there are no frets?
I don`t want electric basses for jazz, so what would you suggest? Also thought about electric uprights which are very slim and good to carry around, but too hard to learn. I am a guitarist, with "walking bassline" knowledge. Just want to play bass on the sessions once in a while.
Thanks for your inputs,
Sandra
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With a small amount of practice, I don't find the fretless to be a problem as to buzzes and whatnot. Pressure is about the same as with fretted bass guitars. One might also use string gauges for a certain amount of fingering advantage if necessary, too.
What I don't like about the acoustic bass guitars is that they often don't sound anything like a string bass fiddle, an anomaly that is exacerbated when they are plugged in and amplified. I think a large part of that may have to do with the rather inexpensive pickup methods used, undersaddle piezo pickups in the bridge are the rule.
I have worked with some few bass players that can make a standard Fenderbass of either variety, solid body, sound a LOT like an acoustic bass. Fretted or fretless. I think their talent lies in the same place as guitarists who can get an "archtop" sound out of solid body guitars, like Pat Martino can. He used to make a Les Paul sound very much like an L5CES or perhaps an ES 175 with 'buckers. Articulation details and timing is my guess.
--Mac
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Just me, but I wouldn't touch an acoustic-guitar bass with your ten foot pole. Just can't stand the sound or the lousy amp problems....and, with the proper acoustic acoutraments, you can make the solid-body bass guitar sound as good or better than what your after. For instance I love to use my ol' LR Baggs Para Acoustic DI for both my guitars and basses when I want that "acoustic-jazz" feel....I can get it with Baggs even playing a solid piece of wood thru the direct out, and even add some wierd additional effects (Like Lexicons) into the "acoustic stream"! I have a Squier Jazz Bass (Fretless) and an Ibanez RD-GR (fretted), both for just a handful of $'s, new, but very well made for "starters". I love the action of the fretless, meaning if you're already "conditioned" to a guitar fretboard and it's own fret spacings....then the increased spacings (and proper landing spots) for a clear tone on either a fretted or fretless Bass Guitar will easily come to you...but it's so much cooler in using chromaticism and slides with the fretless...for sure more fun for a electric acoustic guitarist. Have you seen this....I'm looking for one for Bass Guitar: http://visualguitar.com/index.php 
Yamaha...Motif ES-8, Motif Rack, CS6X
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A guitar bass tends to be easier to play than an upright because the strings are not as taut. Has to do with the physics of pitch and string length.
A fretless requires increased accuracy in machining the fingerboard to the required tolerances. Frets can be adjusted to make up for such deficiencies. A fretless fingerboard has to be right on its own. Given that the fingerboard is accurate, the neck is adjusted properly, and the string gauge is properly matched to the instrument, there should be no problem with buzzing or rattling. You do want to hear that hornlike "mwah" sound which gives the fretless souind some of its unique character. You should be able to hear this with or without an amp.
Dean Guitars has an electric upright which retails for $500 USD. It sounds decent, though cannot be played with a bow.
Hope this helps. Good luck in your efforts.
R.
"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
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@Mac
I tested (fretted) acoustic basses and I wasn`t very happy with the electric sound when plugged in too. The acoustic sound seemed to be ok, though, at least with the more expensive models. You are definately right with the fingering technique stuff. A good player can make everything sound fine and the way he wants it. Unfortunately I`m not a good bass player.
@GDaddy
what are the "lousy Amp problems" you`re talking about? I use a AER Compact 60 acoustic amp for my jazz guitars and it sounds great. It is an insider tip her in Yrp for Jazz Guitarists and I had bass players (e-Basses) playing over it too. It has a 8" full range speaker and for home practising and little venues it seems to be ok for bass too. I don`t want to buy a bass amp and I want to hear the bass unplugged when I do some practising or jamming around with friends. So do you think this setup would be ok for my purpose?
@Richard
I wanted the upright first too, but I think it`s too much effort to learn. And I think they`re not loud enough unplugged, are they? Aren`t they solidbody? Never seen any f-holes on an electric double bass.
Thank you,
Sandra
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Yamaha...Motif ES-8, Motif Rack, CS6X
Korg...Karma,Triton Classic, PA-80, M-1+
AkaiSampler-S5000, Roland.. X5080 Rack/G-1000 Arranger
Various Guitars/Basses Amps Pedals Rec.Equip.
Plus, BIAB 2015 and Sonar Platinum 2015 Upgrade from Cakewalk's Sonar X-3
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@GDaddy, Hmmm, what excatly are you talking about???   LOL, Sorry, but I didn`t quite understand your last post. Sade, urgh, sorry, but I`m a hardcore Hard / Bebopper, Cooljazz and recently I play Sinti Gypsy Jazz too. What "Ax" are you meaning? The one Richard talked about? And unfortunately I can`t sing except I sing my along with my solos...though they say I have agood voice, very low for a woman Thanks for the compliment, though, I am definately not as pretty as Sade! Sandra
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You play cool bebop like this???? Bet you can hit lower vocal notes than these guys...why do they make so much Damn Moola, while the jazzers suffer big time! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYGmX85sB4c&feature=relatedSorry... Don't mean to offend again...just kiddin' as I always do. I was talkin' bout the Stagg number. Very cool!! I'm probably older, much older than your father, and ahh, well....with my dimentia coming on What WAS your question, anyway????? Sing along with your solos.... I'll bet you sound just like "Mumbles"......... (Clark Terry) Sorry, again...mia culpa and all that jazz..... Oh, and by the way, I went thru Austria in a six foot snow storm - I think it was Bern...or is that in Switzerland....oh, on second thought it was Vienna, Germany, right???? Oh God, save us from the Euro taking over the greenback!!!
Yamaha...Motif ES-8, Motif Rack, CS6X
Korg...Karma,Triton Classic, PA-80, M-1+
AkaiSampler-S5000, Roland.. X5080 Rack/G-1000 Arranger
Various Guitars/Basses Amps Pedals Rec.Equip.
Plus, BIAB 2015 and Sonar Platinum 2015 Upgrade from Cakewalk's Sonar X-3
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You don`t offend me, no problem. Just don`t quite get what you`re meaning, weird language, LOL...
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Sandra, I too would steer away from an acoustic guitar-style bass. There's quite a bit of tension needed for the box of the bass to handle and I have yet to hear one that I liked either the acoustic sound or the amplified sound (piezo providing too much 'plastic' sound in every case). I think what might be an ideal setup for you would be a fretless electric mated with a Behringer Bass V-Amp simulator. I don't know if you can buy these in Austria, but the SX line of basses from www.rondomusic.net offers high value for the performance and quality. With the Behringer Bass V-Amp, you should be able to dial in a jazzy tone, with the fretless providing the kind of hand-movement voicing that would be more suited to your style than a fretted bass. I don't know if SX are sold in Austria. The parent company in China that makes these guitars is called Team International Corporation. Perhaps they can tell you an Austrian dealer. In the US, the Precision bass copy that they sell starts at about $130. http://www.teamintlco.com/They say on their website that they distribute to Austria, but no dealers are given. In the US, their products are exclusively distributed through www.rondomusic.netOn that site, this is the bass I would recommend to you: http://www.rondomusic.com/spb62fretls3ts.html $110 - can you believe it for a solid alder bodied bass! They also make one with a maple fretboard. The fretlines are merely painted in for reference. Probably could be sanded off if that looks bad to you. Also, you can get a model with both a precision type split pickup, and a fender jazz single coil type pickup in the tail pup position. It's not for sale right now because Rondo just lists what they have in stock. Contact Kurt at Rondo and he can tell you when they might be getting in a 'custom' P-bass fretless. Make sure to check out the other basses there. I own a fretted custom P-bass copy from there and have been delighted with it as have many friends who have borrowed it over the past couple years. With the Bass V-Amp Pro, you have a huge assortment of amp simulators that will help you dial in the tone you are looking for. Don't want to bother the neighbors, plug in some in-ear monitor headphones into the front panel and jam away. Preset 1E is an acoustic bass simulation. I would find a dealer that carries this or the lesser priced Bass V-Amp and give it a try with an electric bass. I think you would be much much happier with the sound and comfort of playing than with an acoustic bass.
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Hi Sandra, I haven’t heard a lot of acoustic bass guitars but this this Dean sounded very good, both with and without a bass amp. If possible you may want to check it out. It sells for around $400 USD. Good luck.
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Thank you for your information folks.
I`ll sleep over it now and rethink it. Some good points made here. Thank you rockstar for your detailed information. Thank you Mario, I`ll check out the Dean.
Good night (it`s 2am here)
Sandra
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Hi Sandra,
Before you make up your mind, try out an electric upright. After playing the guitar for nearly 40 years, I decided I wanted to play the bass as well and went and bought an acoustic upright, approx full scale (42.5"), 3/4 size it's a bit of a mismatch but I love it. After a couple of weeks of practicing, the positions were easily visualized just by thinking about the guitar in an upright position and referencing the Internet for correct left and right hand techniques. The stretches involved with the left hand were accomplished without too much difficulty.
Add to that the fact that a lot of modern upright electrics are short scale (35-37") and it shouldn't be too difficult a transition. They have no acoustic volume but the amplified sound and sheer fun of playing I think, are far superior.
See if you can get your hands on one for a few hours and try it out.
Steve
BIAB 2019
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