Thinking of bass might bring to your mind the mind melting electronic medleys that make you want to plug into whatever plug will allow the music to flow straight through your veins. I am with you but I will also tell you that you don’t need to plug into anything to feel the funk flow through you. The acoustic bass guitar is perfect for that purpose, making each and every note resonate through your body in a powerful wave that feels like the bass is somehow transferred and said through the entirety of your body, not sonically, but biologically. I don’t know how it works either, but trust me, when the funk gets going and you feel the rhythm running the beat of your heart, fingers and feet, you will know what I am talking about. Or maybe you won’t, it’s entirely up to you and there is no shame in feeling the word bass course through you. Especially, since you know, that is an exaggerated way to say that hey, the acoustic bass is really fun to play and feels kind of neat when you get to feel the notes reverberated through you. The thing with the acoustic bass is that it takes getting used to, just like the electric bass takes learning. The acoustic body of the guitar might feel a little unwieldy to newcomers, but the best acoustic bass guitars negate that discomfort. The real fun with the bass guitar comes when you finally get to pull it out in front of a wowed crowd and teach them why bass players are superior.
Top 5 Best Acoustic Bass Guitars
| Image | Bass Model | ||
|---|---|---|---|
 | Ibanez PCBE12MHOPN |  (4.9 / 5) | Check on Amazon |
 | Taylor GS Mini-e Acoustic-Electric Bass | (4.9 / 5) | Check on Amazon |
 | Fender FA-450CE Acoustic Bass |  (4.8 / 5) | Check on Amazon |
 | Dean EAB FL Acoustic-Electric Bass | (4.8 / 5) | Check on Amazon |
 | Washburn Acoustic Basses AB5K |  (4.7 / 5) | Check on Amazon |
Ibanez PCBE12MHOPN
It is with pride and care that Ibanez likes to make its instruments, whether they be as famous as their electric guitars, or slightly on the less in demand like the acoustic bass guitar. To them, the only thing that matters and quality and it shows. Even in an affordable acoustic bass guitar what they look for is to make a good instrument, one that will impress both the player and the audience. The Ibanez PCBE12MHOPN is quite the instrument, with quite the mouthful of a name. With a full mahogany make, this acoustic guitar is dedicated to bringing some of the deepest sounds and emotions that an acoustic bass guitar is capable of bringing out. It is comfortable to play and will be useful to anyone looking to get into the acoustic bass guitar world. The look of the guitar is sophisticated, with the dark of the mahogany emphasizing the dark and deep that comes with an acoustic bass guitar.
Pros:
- Thick Tones
- Powerful Projection
- Rustic Look
Cons:
- Cheap Nut
- Tuning Stability Issues
Taylor GS Mini-e Acoustic-Electric Bass
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Are you looking for a smaller acoustic-electric bass that you’ll be able to take anywhere? The chances are, you don’t want to compromise sonic qualities to the reduced size. If that’s the case, then Taylor has heard all your prayers and has manufactured a beautiful, shorter scale acoustic bass guitar. GS Mini-E has a scale length of 23.5”, which makes it significantly smaller compared to traditional models. But the brand still managed to deliver a powerful tone and they did so by putting together high quality components. Layered sapele back and sides are topped with a Sitka spruce, the latter being protected with a tortoise pickguard. GS Mini with Relief Rout bracing makes sure the sound is full-bodied and rich. The electronics are decent, as well, with ES-B preamp/pickup combo and an on-board tuner. The distinguishing features are the strings, which were custom made by D’Addario exclusively for bass. These are nylon-core strings with phosphor bronze wire, which are soft and easy to play, while giving off beautiful sound. The downside to such strings is that GS Mini-E can’t be hooked up with different strings, as it won’t yield the same results. Regardless, it’s still one of the best acoustic electric bass guitars!
Pros:
- Unique tone compared to other acoustic basses
- Full-bodied sound regardless of size
- Soft, distinctive strings
Cons:
- It’s not recommended to use other strings other than included ones
Fender FA-450CE Acoustic Bass
There are many guitars out there that we can’t talk about without mentioning Fender somewhere along the line. Basses seem to be the same. We can’t really discuss a bass guitar without giving its share of appraisal to this brand. Now we’re looking at their acoustic-electric bass guitar, namely FA-450CE. Though rather typical, it still looks really beautiful and appealing. It has mahogany back and sides, while the flame maple top features three shade sunburst finish. This simple, yet attractive design certainly works its magic quite well, as it has managed to captivate the eyes of many players out there (prior to their hearts). Nato neck and Laurel fretboard are smooth to the touch. Transitioning between chords and frets is a piece of cake here, as you’ll be able to move your fingers like a true virtuoso. FA-450CE has Fishman electronics, to make sure it has all the needed power while amplified. Daring to go for an acoustic-electric bass guitar isn’t an easy step to take, but if you do, this model will guide your way.
Pros:
- Suitable for many different genres and techniques
- Great value for money
- Comfortable to hold and play
Cons:
- Wide tuning pegs are hard to fit in the gig bags
Dean EAB FL Acoustic-Electric Bass
Not all of us are ready or willing to drop a small fortune, or even more than 200 bucks, on an instrument that we are not sure whether we will enjoy or not. I mean, how do you even know you are going to enjoy playing the instrument before you get it? What if you don’t and end up wasting the money you could’ve used for something productive, like 200 rubber ducks? FYI don’t buy 200 rubber ducks, it’s just a bad idea. The good idea in this situation is to find a good quality acoustic bass guitar that is affordable, such as the DEAN EAB FL Acoustic-Electric bass guitar. This versatile instrument offers you the option to try out the acoustic bass guitar, while not having to spend half your savings and getting the option to keep playing the electric side of the bass guitar. The electric of this bass is slightly different from the usual electric bass guitars, so expect a different sound.
Pros:
- Preamp System
- Well Rounded Sound
- Incredibly Affordable
Cons:
- Tuning Stability Issues
- Cheap Nut
Washburn Acoustic Basses AB5K
Gran onto your pants because I’m about to tell you something you won’t hear often. The truth about acoustic bass guitars is that they are not all too rare, but they are much harder to make than average acoustic guitars. Which is why lists like these are important, and which is why this guitar is also one of the best options you can have for picking up your first or second acoustic bass guitar. It is made with quality and sound in mind, so that you will never have the problem of it getting old and losing its unique sound. The mahogany back and sides add the little bit of depth to the tones that feels pleasant, while the spruce top of the guitar provides the emphasis required for the upper register sounds. Washburn AB5k is the best acoustic bass guitar to consider buying when going for your first, since its affordable price and specific easy to play design will help you achieve the mastery you desire.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Interesting Sound
Cons:
- Tuning Stability Issues
- Cheap Nut
Contrary to your initial instinct, the history of the acoustic bass guitar does not begin ages ago. The instrument began its life as a novelty in the 1950s, when the Kay musical company decided to find a new and innovative way to get people interested in music. The design did not end up being too successful at the time so no many copies of the instrument were sold, and the acoustic bass guitar seemed to fizzle out of existence for a little while. In the 1970s, as the resurgence of folk and country music came into full swing, the instrument started to make a comeback with the help of Emile Ball. According to the man he wanted to give the bass race (creative name right?) an option of moving from electric to acoustic, a way for these people to have an easy time to work with the acoustic guitars. The acoustic bass guitar became more popular this time around and the production went into overdrive. More and more popular musicians started using the instrument, popularizing to the point that even today the acoustic bass guitar holds a special place in the hearts of folk musicians. Fortunately the instrument is not limited in folk and has found use in a wide range of genres, just like any instrument with a versatile sound and playability does.
Conclusion
I don’t have too many friends that have played the acoustic bass guitar, neither have I played the acoustic bass guitars myself too much. Whether its for the better or for worse, I do not know, but I assume it is for the worse. The instrument has been a lot of fun when I have played it and it never felt like purely a novelty thing. The bass could have applications in acoustic bands, maybe acoustic rock and roll. The unique resonance of the acoustic bass can also easily be used by country and bluegrass musicians to enhance their sound and keep it more acoustic, without having to venture into the electric world. Through it might be hard to correctly sound and mic up the acoustic bass guitar, the result is often very satisfying. The best acoustic bass guitar players produce the same crisp, vibrant sound that is so coveted among bass players, whether playing acoustic or when mic’d up. Maybe if I buy one, I too will be able to impress people around a bonfire with my acoustic bass skills as my friend performs his weak chords on the guitar, next to me on the ground. Or maybe that is not the point of the acoustic bass, maybe the point of the acoustic bass is to be able to enjoy yourself as you play the music you enjoy so much. The versatility of the acoustic bass guitar is unquestionable, exemplified by the fact that it is used in so many genres. So grab yourself one and enjoy the hours of playing that comes with the pleasure of an acoustic bass guitar. Good luck!
