Let’s Go Acoustic – Some Things to Consider Before Buying an Acoustic Bass…

So you’ve decided to pick up an acoustic bass, whether it’s to have that instrument that you can play anywhere, or your looking to change your tone. There are some things however you need to know before you ditch the jazz bass.

First of all, care and maintenance will be part of your daily routine; a big hollow body will need humidity. I keep my bass room at around 45 -50 % at all times. Another thing to keep in mind as well is how loud acoustically your bass needs to be. Physics will play a major factor in the volume of your instrument (size/depth of the body, length of the scale 33,34,35,36″). If you are looking for that deep rich tone or lightening up that load on your back these are factors to consider.

Things to consider while looking for the right ABG:

• Humidifiers – You’re going to need one (it’s worth the investment so get a good one).
• Gig bags – One off the shelf will probably not fit your bass (www.probagg.com) these guys will make a bag to your basses specs.
• String length is key -If you’ve ever had a long scale bass you know it’s hard to find strings that fit. (You will need an extra long scale string… I have found that GHS and La’Bella are the most accessible.)
• The right strap – A bigger body needs a longer strap. You may want to consider a wider strap as well. (Gruv Gear has been the best strap that I have come across for this so far.)
• Recommended but not a requirement, Fret Wrap and Fump –  I use these when I am in a loud environment and the bass will feedback.
• Studio Foam – For under the bridge, this is a must have. The better the bass is acoustically the more feedback will be an issue.