The acoustic bass guitar is one of the “not-so” popular acoustic guitars but produces a very unique sound.
This guitar is sometimes shortened called an acoustic bass or initialized as ABG.
It is a brass instrument with a hollow wooden body similar to a steel-string acoustic guitar. In this post, we’re going to show you the best acoustic guitars in 2024.
Shall we get started, then?
Contents
Here are the best acoustic bass guitars in 2024
- Takamine GB30CE Acoustic-Electric Bass
- Martin BCPA4 Electro-Acoustic Bass
- Taylor GS Mini-e Acoustic-Electric Bass
- Fender Kingman Bass SCE Acoustic-Electric Bass
- Gold-Tone M-Bass 25 Fretless MicroBass
Runner Up | Editor's Choice | Also Great |
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Takamine GB30CE Acoustic-Electric Bass
While they might not be the most refined or best looking acoustic-electric bass, this musical instrument can still satisfy what you want. Takamine GB30CE looks fairly basic but it is actually made up of Solid Spruce on top and Mahogany Indian on back and sides.
The neck of this acoustic-electric bass is pretty smooth and very playable. And when it comes to the build quality, fit, durability, and finish, GB30CE proves why Takamine is a specialist in this industry. With its TK40B preamp along with its transducer pickup and three-band EQ as well as the gain knob, mid-shift, and bass boost, it really kills the perfect bass sound.
- good for beginners
- durable and fit
- produces good sound
- very simple
Martin BCPA4 Electro-Acoustic Bass
The top of this acoustic bass guitar is made up of solid Sitka spruce while the whole construction is Mortise and Tenon Neck Joint. The sound produced thoroughly impresses both plugged in and acoustically, melting together the tones of an upright and electric bass into one instrument.
Aside from that, the headstock of the BCPA4 guitar is fitted with four Gotoh black sealed tuners. The neck joins the body at the 17th fret and features a solid ebony fretboard with a nut width of 1.58” and a total of 23 frets. This acoustic guitar is more advisable for regular performers and professionals alike since the powerful high-end feel and tone of it will be very difficult to pass up.
- acoustic-electric
- acoustic-electric
- smooth finish and feel
- not advisable for beginners
- expensive
Taylor GS Mini-e Acoustic-Electric Bass
Unlike the other acoustic-electric bass, this Taylor GS Mini-e is scaled-down in size. But don’t get it wrong. Even it is smaller than usual, playing just a few notes with this bass guitar will reveal the impressive sound of a full-size instrument.
We all know that Taylor is one of the best guitar companies that produce very well-made musical instruments. The design of the GS mini-e is very simple, unlike the other modern acoustic-electric bass. And when it comes to hardware, it is very usual. Actually, it doesn’t sound all that great considering its price, but all of that changes once you start handling it.
- good for beginners
- durable
- made from legend company
- not eye-catchy
- very simple
Fender Kingman Bass SCE Acoustic-Electric Bass
This Fender-made musical instrument is one of the well-known acoustic bass guitars that has an iconic design. Those who are coming from Jazz and Precision will surely love this model. Its top is made up of solid spruce while the back and sides are made of mahogany.
The trebles of Kingman Bass SCE are sharp, clear, and defined, which is really a big advantage. That mahogany combined with solid spruce adds a classic vibe to the whole package but also works great with this particular build. Projection is there and so is the volume that makes it sounds very authentic.
- overall awesome bass
- Fishman’s Presys system
- authentic sound
- awkward size
- fret size problem
Gold-Tone M-Bass 25 Fretless MicroBass
The body of this micro bass guitar is made up of mahogany with stiff and solid tonewood being used for both back, sides and the top gives Mbass25 a very unique sound form. In terms of body shape and materials, Gold Tone M-Bass has a dreadnought body, which gives this bass a very wholesome tone.
This short scale bass produces a very good performance that can be used in just about any situation. Since this is fretless, this will come thin waist, meaning that you get plenty of wide mids with no real loss to lows. Despite its short scale, a bass section of the frequency range really comes through.
- unique
- nice design
- solid sound
- fretless
- short scale
A bass guitar comes in two variants
- solid-body electric bass guitar
- hollow-body acoustic bass guitar.
While the electric bass guitar is always amplified outside of personal practice environments, confusingly, ABG can also be amplified electronically via pickups, normally in performance settings. The acoustic bass guitar is “acoustic” because its main amplification is its resonant, hollow body.
There are also semi-acoustic models, fitted with pickups, for use with an amplifier. The soundbox of these instruments is not large enough to amplify the sound. Instead, it produces a distinctive tone when amplified, similarly to acoustic-electric guitars.
The Role of Bass Guitar
The bass guitar enables a variety of approaches to performance: from “walking” bass lines derived from jazz; playing countermelodies or imitating the bass drum and snare parts of the drum set; to fully soloistic lines imitating or doubling saxophone or guitar lines; to “lead” bass guitar parts that at once solo and lay down a groove; to bass solos leading into doubling the guitar part, but an octave lower; to providing coloristic and percussive effects; and much else besides.
Paul McCartney, Tony Levin, Mike Watt, and Chris Squire are just some of the most well-known artists who plays acoustic bass guitar. This instrument is very rare and not usually seen in a band. But this doesn’t mean that it is not needed because the fact is, the sound from it is important.
The majority of acoustic basses are fretted, but a significant number are fretless instead. See below how you can use bass guitars.
Nowadays, it is rare to find a performing band without a bass player. As a young and aspiring bassist of a group, you should be happy to know there is always a high demand for bassists, especially good ones. Traditionally, the acoustic bass guitar performs two basic and essential roles within a band, these are:
- Bass provides the rhythmic foundation
- Bass provides the harmonic foundation
Rhythmic Foundation from Bass
The word rhythm means the flow or stream of a certain sound. It is simply about when notes, chords, and other musical sounds begin and end. It is also related to the timing.
Rhythm is the most important element in music. You can mix together any sounds you want, but if there is no underlying rhythm to the sounds, there is no music. And since this factor is produced by a bass, it indicates that the musical instrument is also essential.
The main role of the band’s bassist is to support the group by providing a good-feeling, steady pulse or “beat.” Most music that is well received has a steady rhythm, or beat, to it. This is the duty and priority of the bassist. He should create the pulse of the sound.
Harmonic Foundation from Bass
In music, harmony is the process by which the composition of individual sounds, or superpositions of sounds. The bass plays a powerful role in how we hear beat as well as harmonies. When we hear several notes played at the same time, we hear them all relative to the lowest sounding pitch — the bass note.
Aside from giving the rhythm, the bass player’s second major responsibility is to properly define the harmony by supplying the correct foundational notes. Meaning, the stress, and tension of the song should be given by the bass instrument.
Bass Strings
Most bass guitars have four strings and new players should probably start with this. Four-string based guitars are perfectly adequate for most musical styles, meaning almost any genre.
Five-string basses add a lower B string, giving the instrument a deeper range. It is very rare and not that easy to use since it is wider compared to the regular bass guitars.
Aside from the 4 and 5 string bass guitars, there are also 6-string basses that have even more extended range due to their low B string and high C string. They have a wider neck yet, which can be difficult for many players to handle – well unless you are a real pro. Though challenging, they’re ideal for bass players who do a lot of soloing as they widen the range and provide room for greater creativity.
Also Read: 10 Best Bass Guitars in 2024 (Reviews): Great for All Styles & Budget
What Bass Amp Should I Get?
I totally understand your concern. I mean, how can you play a bass guitar without an amp, right? If you’re looking for a high-quality yet cheap bass amp, we recommend getting the Hartke HD25 Bass Combo. positive reviews from verified owners here. You don’t have to take our word for it, but there have been a lot of. Or you can check out our full list of best practice bass amps here.
Also Read:
- 7 Best Bass Guitars under $200
- 7 Best Bass Guitars under $500
- 5 Best Bass Guitars for Beginners
- 10 Best Short Scale Bass Guitars
- 7 Best Bass Guitars under $300
Editor’s Choice
Takamine GB30CE is the best acoustic bass guitar. With so many positive comments and review about it, this acoustic bass guitar will probably give what you want to hear. Aside from that, its price is just right for the vibe it can bring to the band or even solo performers.