Acoustic Bass

About Acoustic Bass

Although the first acoustic bass guitar was introduced in the mid-50s by Kay of Chicago, it wasn't until the instrument was re-introduced by Ernie Ball that it really started to gain a little more acceptance in the music world. In 1972, Ernie Ball teamed up with George Fullerton to create the Earthwood acoustic bass guitar. The large and deep construction of the Earthwood gave it more volume, especially in the low end. Production of the Earthwood acoustic bass came to a halt in 1985 – although it grew a bit in popularity during that time thanks to musical performances on MTV's "Unplugged". Notable acoustic bassists in the 70s and 80s included English musician Mile Oldfield and Brian Ritchie of Violent Femmes.

With a similar (but somewhat larger) body shape to an acoustic steel-string guitar, the acoustic bass is ideal in settings with other acoustic instruments. Their resonant hollow bodies allow their sound to be heard over instruments without the need of an amplifier. With that being said, most acoustic basses today are acoustic-electric models that need to be amplified, so they contain a built-in pickup/active preamp system with EQ and volume control. Many models even include extra features like a built-in chromatic tuner. While most acoustic bass guitars are fretted, models are available for musicians who prefer the smoother feel of a fretless board. Bass players have more than enough high-quality acoustic basses to choose from on today's market; popular brands include Ibanez, Dean, Breedlove, and Fender.