All About Acoustic Basses

The acoustic guitar is a popular musical instrument among both beginners and professional musicians.... Thanks to its design, it provides a traditional deep sound and is suitable for playing guitar in a small auditorium. Acoustic bass guitar has become especially popular, with the help of which you can achieve the desired atmosphere when playing live against the background of other musical instruments.

Acoustic guitar as a whole is a stringed plucked instrument whose melody is created by strings whose vibrations resonate within a hollow body. The peculiarities of the acoustic bass lie in the very design of the instrument, thanks to which, when played on it, a deep sound in the bass range is obtained. Typically, bass guitar sounds one octave lower than the classic version.

The acoustic bass guitar was invented relatively recently. At the beginning of the last century, the bass range in music was created by playing the double bass. However, such a musical instrument was too bulky and inconvenient to transport, for example, on tour.

The most successful in this business was Leo Fender - the owner of an electronic workshop. In 1951, he invented and mass-produced the four-string bass guitar, which immediately attracted the attention of many professional musicians. The first guitar was electric, and only later a simplified version of it appeared - an acoustic one.The benchmark is the first solid-body Fender Precision Bass, originally released by Fender.

Its design has become the basic template by which many modern bass guitars, including acoustic ones, are embodied. Bass guitars are often used within a band to provide rhythmic support and smooth transitions in parts. Less commonly, it can be found as the main solo musical instrument. Acoustic models are usually used to create music in more relaxed genres, such as folk, jazz or country.

An acoustic type guitar must combine the basic characteristics of a bass guitar in order to sound right and unleash its musical potential when played against the background of other musical instruments. Its sound is mainly due to its design. Consider the distinctive design of an acoustic bass versus a classic.

• Reduced number of strings. The original version of the bass guitar contains only 4 strings, but there are also modern modification versions for 5 or 6 strings. The strings should be fairly thick to create deep low-pitched sounds.
• Large dimensions. Quality bass is created by prolonged resonance of the vibration of sound waves inside a hollow, one-piece structure, so the cabinet area must be sufficient to ensure quality sound in the party. The shape should be round and the body should be heavy when compared to a regular guitar.
• Increased scale. In the classic bass version, it reaches 864 mm.

The design of the acoustic guitar also features a narrow neck with a truss rod to protect it from the pull on thick strings, and a plastic fretboard that protects the body from scratches (which can be caused by a pick).

• Handcrafted acoustic instruments are popular. This method provides a strong and precise structural grip and high-quality sound. Such bass can be found among the assortment of popular brands Yamaha and Art & Lutherie.

• The models of the Ibanez brand can boast of the most stylish in appearance, creating an informal mood, and the models of the South Korean manufacturer are among the most reliable professionals. Crafter.

When choosing a bass guitar, you need to pay attention to the material from which it is made. Instruments created from a single solid wood structure have a brighter and clearer sound. Experts recommend paying attention to tools made of maple, poplar, ash and linden. When choosing an instrument, it is worth paying attention to the type of neck attachment to the guitar, since it is the most important part of the bass guitar. The through neck is structurally a single irreplaceable part of the entire body and increases the strength of the instrument. A glue-mounted neck is considered the most unreliable option. If the neck breaks, it will be impossible to replace it. The best option is a bolt-on neck. It is quite durable, and at the same time it is easy to replace if necessary.

There are acoustic versions of the bass with sound amplifiers. When playing for a small audience, the regular version is suitable, and in the case of playing for a large noisy audience, the demand will be for a guitar with a special addition to the design - a sound amplifier that will allow you to use a plug to connect your guitar to the speakers.