Looking for a good acoustic electric bass

[leftybassatl]

These things are impossible to find. If you have one you want to get rid of, let me know. Or if you have any suggestions for what to get. I'm clueless and these things are very rare. Thanks.

[Matt R.]

In my experience if you really are looking for an acoustic tone, get a Hofner if you can. I have owned a million ABG's and while they sound and play great, just don't sound acoustic enough. Good luck!

[Jeroen]

How about a Michael Kelly? They seem well-made, they sound more than OK, they look good (although I don't like the models with all the fancy fingerboard inlays) and they're affordable too.

[Matt R.]

Yes the Michael Kelly's are really nice instruments

[fivebass52]

I had a Michael Kelly for awhile, and it was a beautiful bass. It was the Dragonfly model with quilted maple top. I got more compliments for its looks, but the was OK, because most of the complimenters were women!

That being said, the only thing I found fault with was the neck was a bit "spongy". I was tempted to put some flatwounds on it, but was concerned that the neck action would become too high. I had the trussrod tightened to the max, and it still was just a bit high even with a light gauge set of bronzes on it. It was one of the first generation models though, so I don't know if the new ones have stiffer necks now.

I would think for the price of a new Micheal Kelly, you could find a much better model used for the same price.

[leftybassatl]

yes, the Michael Kelly basses are the easy choice. They're the only ones you see with any regularity. You guys don't sound too excited about them though...how did it sound plugged in?
Adirondack guitar has a takamine a/e bass. Anyone have any experience with those?
http://www.adirondackguitar.com/lefty/t ... 5_bass.htm

[Jeroen]

If you can find one, try a Cort NTL-B. The body is not very big (it is deep, but it has a moderate 'mini jumbo' body size with a fairly slender waist) so when played acoustic they're not very loud, but plugged in they sound very very good. They have a solid Engelmann spruce top, beautiful laminated rosewood back and sides and a 34" scale mahogany neck with rosewood board, they're very well-made and they play smoothly. I got mine on eBay from France for only 300 euros (they're almost 1000 new).

The other Corts (the SJB-series acoustic basses, also available lefthanded) are good too, but they don't compare to the NTL-series.

This is my NTL-B FL:

[AzWhoFan]

Holy cow, Englemann spruce?!!!?? Cort seems to have come a long way. The last time I looked, which I must admit was many years ago, Cort were literally POS instruments that you had no problem doing your favorite Pete Townshend imitations on

[Jeroen]

Yes, they certainly have come a long way. Their mid- and upper range electric instruments are very good too, and they have a nice range of lefthanded electric basses. I especially like the Artisan B4 and B5, with light ash body and wenge neck and fingerboard and Bartolini MK1 pickups and preamp. Cort also manufacture most Ibanez instruments nowadays, both in South-Korea and Indonesia, Lakland Skyline and the Sterling by MusicMan instruments, for example. I believe their Indonesian facility also produces the G&L Tribute instruments. All are great instruments at very good prices.

[phunku]

I acutally have a Tanglewood Lefty Acoustic Electric, that i never use! ill find it if your interested?

[pjmuck]

If you're on a tight budget, I would suggest trying to find an Olympia OB3CE. There were lefties made, though I don't know if they're still available or not. They're a much cheaper version of the Tacoma Thunderchief, which is one of only a handful of acoustic basses I found to put out reasonable volume unplugged.

https://www.kennellykeysmusic.com/olymp ... uitar.html

[andrew]

I wish someone would make an affordable Earthwood clone. Those sound great!

[pjmuck]

I wish someone would make an affordable Earthwood clone. Those sound great!

+1. I was going to suggest that and possibly just flip it over, but I don't know how simple that would be and these are getting really valuable and expensive now. I'm reconsidering my Olympia suggestion, as a lefty might be very hard to find (I have seen at least one though). Still, the Earthwood's just about the only AEB worth owning, IMO. Simple physics: Anything else simply can't push enough air to put out enough volume unplugged.

[andrew]

I only ever got to play an Earthwood bass once, and a one off Earthwood clone someone had made once, but both times it was a real joy, even upside down. Rich, big tone!

[leftybassatl]

I acutally have a Tanglewood Lefty Acoustic Electric, that i never use! ill find it if your interested?

Phunku- which model do you have? Where are you located? PM me if you like.

[slybass3000]

These things are impossible to find. If you have one you want to get rid of, let me know. Or if you have any suggestions for what to get. I'm clueless and these things are very rare. Thanks.

Check out Adirondack Guitars.

I've found a great Martin there. They have a bunch of ABG from cheap to expensive.

Sly

[rcubed]

These things are impossible to find. If you have one you want to get rid of, let me know. Or if you have any suggestions for what to get. I'm clueless and these things are very rare. Thanks.

Check out Adirondack Guitars.

I've found a great Martin there. They have a bunch of ABG from cheap to expensive.

Sly

I bought that black Takamine from them. It's the only ABG I've ever played so I can't comment on how it compares to others. It sounds good to me.

[slybass3000]

These things are impossible to find. If you have one you want to get rid of, let me know. Or if you have any suggestions for what to get. I'm clueless and these things are very rare. Thanks.

Check out Adirondack Guitars.

I've found a great Martin there. They have a bunch of ABG from cheap to expensive.

Sly

I bought that black Takamine from them. It's the only ABG I've ever played so I can't comment on how it compares to others. It sounds good to me.

Did you buy it this fall? I think I tried it went I bought my Martin there.

Sly

BTW I don't really recommend a MK 5 strings. it is too narrow for my taste. Sold mine , couldn't play with it.