Acoustic Vs Electric Basses for Country

[rockum]

I want to pick up a bass for recording country tracks. I would love to get an acoustic so that I could take it out and play acoustic gigs too but I am wondering...

Can I make an acoustic sound like an electric in the recordings?

I want the bass to sound "normal" for country recordings.

Advice appreciated,

Thanks

 

[Dom Franco]

NOPE.....

They are two different instruments, and two different sounds...


Buy a Fender (or Squier) Precision bass for a basic country sound.
Dom

 

[rockum]

Thanks should have figured it was as different as acoustic and electric guitar...

 

[dwillis45]

There are two kinds of "acoustic" bass. The upright or standup bass and the acoustic bass guitar (ABG). The upright is generally large, expensive and difficult to transport. It's a traditional instrument used for older country styles like bluegrass. The ABG is really a modified acoustic guitar with a longer scale and larger body. You can find numerous cheap ABG's on the market as well as an expensive model made by Taylor. In the middle, you have the Martin B series and the Tacoma Thunderchief. The ABG is an odd instrument. It really does not have the body size/depth to compete with a standup bass and you often need a pickup if you are playing with louder instruments. It works well in a studio setting, but it really has it's own tone somewhere between upright and electric bass. It's harder on the fingers than an electric but sounds great in a small combo with an acoustic guitar and a small drum kit with brushes--If you are looking for that Violent Femmes sound!

 

[adam]

you can also try a semi-hollow electric. Something like the rob allen's, godin acoustibass, a-4 (i have a frettless version that has great tones and can dabble in both the acoustic and electric lands), guild starfires, gretsches, hofners, etc. I find these types of basses to be surpsingly versatile.