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Tetapu
Akahai
China
98 Posts |
 Posted - 03/14/2010 : 5:45:26 PM
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so is this the home-made kine bass or what?
i saw a nice acoustic bass Guitar, anyone have any experience playing with that?
i think it was a 4 string, nice full-size Guitar body, no-pick up though, what do u guys think about performing with that kind of bass?
i like it more than the electric bass, and its way more convenient than a stand-up bass
but i just got to play it in an exhibition hall, it was so noisy and big that i couldnt really hear it very well
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Na Ke Akua E Malama Kakou |
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slipry1
Ha`aha`a
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - 03/15/2010 : 07:26:30 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Tetapu
so is this the home-made kine bass or what?
i saw a nice acoustic bass Guitar, anyone have any experience playing with that?
i think it was a 4 string, nice full-size Guitar body, no-pick up though, what do u guys think about performing with that kind of bass?
i like it more than the electric bass, and its way more convenient than a stand-up bass
but i just got to play it in an exhibition hall, it was so noisy and big that i couldnt really hear it very well
There are several makers of "acoustic" bass guitars: Martin, Taylor, and others. Gary Aiko plays a Martin with an embedded pickup. He says he likes it because it's easier to lug around to and from gigs, and it sounds very much like a bass viol. |
keaka |
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Hookani
Lokahi
232 Posts |
Posted - 03/15/2010 : 09:31:40 AM
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| Without a pickup it would be very hard to gig with it. Would need to mic it and then you would need to stay right there at the mic and not move. Even with unplugged kanikapila, it might not be loud enough depending on the number of players and environment. Probably not worth it unless you install a pick up. |
Ke Kani Nahe
YouTube
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Tetapu
Akahai
China
98 Posts |
Posted - 03/16/2010 : 04:48:29 AM
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ya, thanks you guys, i kind of figured it would be a bit worthless without a pickup..
bass really needs good resonance tone.. electric basses can replace stand ups because they are always plugged in.. i didnt really see how an acoustic would fill in for either one ... but i imagine that with a pick up its probably alot better sounding bossanova / Hawaiian music than an electric bass. i would imagine its the next best thing to an upright when its amped |
Na Ke Akua E Malama Kakou |
Edited by - Tetapu on 03/16/2010 04:49:14 AM |
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rendesvous1840
Ha`aha`a
USA
1055 Posts |
Posted - 03/16/2010 : 07:56:28 AM
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There are pickups available which can be added to the instrument by a good luthier. Most bigger dealers here do such work. If the instrument sounds and plays well, and the price is right, lack of a pickup shouldn't be the deciding factor, unless you have another similar one in mind, and that's the largest difference between them. A lot of players have pickups added to guitars, violins, banjos, etc.
Unko Paul |
"A master banjo player isn't the person who can pick the most notes.It's the person who can touch the most hearts." Patrick Costello |
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Hookani
Lokahi
232 Posts |
Posted - 03/16/2010 : 11:06:50 AM
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| You can also look into an electric upright bass which emulates the feel and sound (some better than others) of an acoustic upright bass in a portable package. More and more hawaiian groups are getting into these as the sound is kinda in between and true acoustic and an electric bass and you don't need a truck to carry it around. I've been wanting one but nobody really carries them here in the islands. |
Ke Kani Nahe
YouTube
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Mark
Ha`aha`a
USA
1628 Posts |
Posted - 03/16/2010 : 11:21:37 AM
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Hi -
I've got a Tacoma Thunder Chief. Picked it up used on eBay. Great bass & even better plugged in. Cost me around 8 C notes.
I've seen a couple bass players in Hawaii using them---sorry, can't recall their names right off hand.
Many of the inexpensive acoustic bass guitars by Michael Kelly, Rogue, Dean etc etc. simply aren't worth the money. No tone, no bottom, lousy pickups.
Martins are nice, but more dough and, for my taste, not as good acoustically.
Or check out Kona Bob's Kona Walking Bass (is that right, Bob?) They are great-- lightweight, EZ to play, look cool, and sound huge.
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Tommy
Akahai
USA
72 Posts |
Posted - 03/16/2010 : 1:28:03 PM
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Aloha-
Just want to say that I love the Walking Bass. When I play it--people smile--no one more than me. One of the best purchases I've ever made!
Tommy |
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Admin
Pupule
USA
4551 Posts |
Posted - 03/16/2010 : 1:59:10 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Tommy
Aloha-
Just want to say that I love the Walking Bass. When I play it--people smile--no one more than me. One of the best purchases I've ever made!
Tommy
Hi Tommy,
I didn't get a chance to tell how great you sounded on the walking stick bass the last two times that I've seen you!!! |
Andy |
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LikaNui
Aloha
40 Posts |
Posted - 03/16/2010 : 6:11:04 PM
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"You can also look into an electric upright bass which emulates the feel and sound (some better than others) of an acoustic upright bass in a portable package. More and more hawaiian groups are getting into these as the sound is kinda in between and true acoustic and an electric bass and you don't need a truck to carry it around. I've been wanting one but nobody really carries them here in the islands."
Au contraire, amigo. Well, maybe can't find one right now, but. I bought an Azola Bugbass ( http://www.azola.com/sys-tmpl/bugbass/ ) several years ago from Harry's Music in Kaimuki. Went in to buy strings for my electric 5-string, saw the Azola, salesman saw me looking and forced me to try it out, I stepped outside for a smoke before deciding to spend over a thousand bucks, walked back in and the salesman was already writing up the invoice.  Great bass for travelling interisland to the slack key festivals and other gigs -- flight attendants usually thought it was so pretty that they'd store it in their own closet inside the cabin.
The Caz saw it at one gig. Roland loved it but Robert didn't; he said he would never ever switch from his traditional upright. Heh.
I enjoyed the bass for a couple of years until Milan Bertosa made me an offer I couldn't refuse. Wanna guess who bought it from Milan? Yep. Robert Cazimero.
That's the same bass that Wayne Harada mentioned in the Caz review that was posted here on TP a couple of days ago.
Oh, and someone mentioned having problems finding the right spots on a fretless. The Azola had no markings at all, so I put single drops of WhiteOut on the side of the neck in the appropriate places, and I could feel the bumps without looking. Worked great. |
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Konabob
`Olu`olu
USA
928 Posts |
Posted - 03/16/2010 : 8:14:23 PM
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I am no longer using the word "stick" as part of the name... thanks to lawyers. The Kona Walkingbass is a three string EUB that is tuned to an open G. Most bass players can't wrap their heads around that, but folks like Tommy, or Maggie Matoba - who start fresh - figure it out really quickly. I just finished 10 new koa and 2 new mango Kona Walkingbasses. I will try to get some pictures together in the next few days. If you would like a preview emailed to you, let me know.
Aloha,
-Konabob |
Konabob's Walkingbass - http://www.konawalkingbass.com
Taropatch Steel - http://www.konaweb.com/konabob/
YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=&search_query=Konabob2+Walkingbass |
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Tetapu
Akahai
China
98 Posts |
Posted - 03/17/2010 : 03:33:39 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Konabob
I am no longer using the word "stick" as part of the name... thanks to lawyers. The Kona Walkingbass is a three string EUB that is tuned to an open G. Most bass players can't wrap their heads around that, but folks like Tommy, or Maggie Matoba - who start fresh - figure it out really quickly. I just finished 10 new koa and 2 new mango Kona Walkingbasses. I will try to get some pictures together in the next few days. If you would like a preview emailed to you, let me know.
Aloha,
-Konabob
hey, that is very cool, it sounds really great too... but still need electricity..
what about if you put some kind of like round drum on the bottom, with a puka in it, or some kind of like uke-sized body at the bottom, just for back up use if there is no electricity?
would a little drum thing at the bottom behind the strings make any sort of sound for just regular use?
something like a washtub bass kind of thing
anyway, it sounds great plugged in, very nice
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Retro
Ahonui
USA
2368 Posts |
Posted - 03/17/2010 : 06:32:20 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Konabob
The Kona Walkingbass is a three string EUB that is tuned to an open G. Most bass players can't wrap their heads around that, but folks like Tommy, or Maggie Matoba - who start fresh - figure it out really quickly.
Bob - I am SO glad you said that! As a bass player, I did have trouble with the one I got to try out, and I figured it was just my own lack of experience. It is tough to adjust in a short period of time, though I suspect given enough practice, it would work for me.
It's a beautiful instrument, however, with a lovely feel/look/sound, and the non-bassists I know who have played it generally rave about how easy it is for them to learn. |
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Konabob
`Olu`olu
USA
928 Posts |
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slipry1
Ha`aha`a
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - 03/17/2010 : 08:57:32 AM
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| Maggie Matoba, down in Eugene, has one and plays it well. It sounds great, tho an amp IS required. KonaBob - If you ever want to make a 4 string version again, I'll buy one. |
keaka |
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Hookani
Lokahi
232 Posts |
Posted - 03/17/2010 : 09:54:33 AM
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| if no mo electricity, get planny battery powered amps now a days. |
Ke Kani Nahe
YouTube
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Topic |
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Hawaiian Kine Bass
