Oh man, I had no idea there were so many views on this. To be fair, it's one of the only ones on the market right now. I liked mine. I really want someone to make an 8-string reso bass with a biscuit cone and short scale. Sort of like a bajo quinto or sexto... but much louder.
I've had a lot of people ask me about resonator bass vs acoustic bass, and this seems like it would fare a bit better in a band. Looks like you still have to attack it pretty hard to get enough volume.
@stodd32 Yeap, I'm happy with it. I was worried it might be a bit too weak or un-interesting as far as tone goes, but it's just simply quite different from any other bass I've played. Like I said in the video, it's got a very big piano sort of tone when you let notes ring next to one another. For example I retuned it to DADF# (open D) and played a number of tunes on it capoing up the neck for different keys and that sounds really interesting.
Mine is ordered! Thanks for this most useful of reviews! 10,000 views! U should ask goldtone for a kickback. I would not have purchased without this review!
@MrTheHesus Hi there -- I don't have the bass anymore, but it certainly is fun. I couldn't get used to the P-bass neck -- I'm more of a short-scale, Mustang bass fella. RE your comments -- a low B wouldn't have very much volume, unfortunately, though you could definitely install one. Slapping on these basses is very effective, by the way. Quite loud. RE importer/exporters -- don't know. You may want to contact Gold Tone directly.
While you still had this bass, did you notice any problems from re-stringing under the tailpiece? I noticed the buzzing/slipping as well and just flipped mine today- works much better but obviously it puts a lot of upward pressure on the tailpiece. Thanks for the review- your sound here is more accurate than the video on the Gold Tone site to my ears.
I'm working on the design for one right now, basically just a solid P-bass body with a 30" scale and an 8.5" biscuit cone. It might be a while before I have it prototyped, though.
Great demo, really has me interested in getting one. I have an acoustic Epiphone El Capitan that is fantastic, this seems even louder. Thanks for posting!
How would this thing do with flats? That's how I would want to string it. I know you'd get less of that roundwound cut, but is that essential to how it is able to stick out in an acoustic setting?
That's a really nice sounding instrument, and a great review! I'm keen to get one, but I don't think they are readily available in my country. Can you please post a video of what it sounds like when its slapped? Do you think it would hold up to being fitted with a low B string? Can you by any chance link me to some good sites that sell them/export resonator basses? Thanks :)
was this recorded using a room mic only? i hate large acoustic basses but i want one for just kicking around with my friends at acoustic levels, will this thing stand up against instruments even without an amp?
pjmuck I don't know if it would have more thump, but the ringing sustain wouldn't be there. I run flat wounds on my Ibanez and round wounds on my Schecter and Warwick and they do have a more muted sound, but I would say my Warwick with normal strings has more punch. (Don't know if it's the strings, pickups or both.) Just ordered a Dean resonator and I can't wait to hear how it sounds. Little nervous about buying an instrument I've never held or played, but we'll see!
It took a little time to get used to it as the body is about three times as thick as any of my electrics, but I do like the sound. I will be checking around when it comes time to change the strings as I want a crisper tone out of it. I do need to tighten the screws for the pickup as it has developed an annoying buzz when I play. I am also having trouble finding a case for it as the head stock is a little large. (I may have to just go with one from Dean.) I sounds nice through an amp, but I've found I rarely play it that way. It has been on a couple of camping trips with me and is nice around the campfire! Have not played a Gold Tone yet, so I have no comparison it that respect, but I've heard they have a better tone (for a little bigger price). I got mine from Musician's Friend and it did arrive at my house in one piece and ready to play. The one bad thing I've noticed on mine is that it goes out of tune quickly. (Could be the strings are just stretching and that problem could go away with better strings.)
+jpatt1000 Cool, cool. Regular wood body acoustic guitars just arent loud enough for outdoor jamming like that. I was kinda wondering what kind of strings one would use for a resonator bass. Acoustic bass strings or electric bass strings. But the ones in this video appear to be electric. When I found that Dean resonator, I was excited that a prominent name guitar company made this instrument, but I was a little skeptical, as basses from Dean $500 or less tend to not be so good.
I can’t get excited about any of these - if you want to play traditional bass in a bluegrass etc setting - get an upright bass. Otherwise there is no shame in a standard electric bass - I have an old P bass that I throw a fretless neck on for those gigs.
Jamez Blackjack and Luke tuke it’s important to know how to play bass with fingers, pick, slap style, it’s needed to to get the sounds needed for some sounds, I do play an acoustic bass and mine works fine
So we're paying over $900 for what's regarded as cheap import junk now? (That's roughly the price I saw when I looked this up) No thanks. lol I've played much bigger places then 'local jams' and never paid close to that much for a guitar. It would have to be quite impressive indeed.
Oh man, I had no idea there were so many views on this. To be fair, it's one of the only ones on the market right now. I liked mine. I really want someone to make an 8-string reso bass with a biscuit cone and short scale. Sort of like a bajo quinto or sexto... but much louder.
"cutting through banjos" - don't give me any ideas! :) Nice instrument.
I get that it is meant for bluegrass/ folk etc, but i would love to hear what funk sounds like on it.
Oh lisson to the Les Claypool duo de twang
Sounds awesome!
@@redneckhousebros8140he also uses it on Primus and the chocolate factory and while it isn't funk it still sounds epic
I've had a lot of people ask me about resonator bass vs acoustic bass, and this seems like it would fare a bit better in a band. Looks like you still have to attack it pretty hard to get enough volume.
@stodd32 Yeap, I'm happy with it. I was worried it might be a bit too weak or un-interesting as far as tone goes, but it's just simply quite different from any other bass I've played. Like I said in the video, it's got a very big piano sort of tone when you let notes ring next to one another. For example I retuned it to DADF# (open D) and played a number of tunes on it capoing up the neck for different keys and that sounds really interesting.
Would have liked to hear it amped as well.
Nice! It would sound great in music that calls for a double bass and baritone guitar playing the bass line in unison.
Thank you for this review, in a similar situation and been weighing my options
That bass is great for Folk Punk too.
Wish I had one!
Mine is ordered! Thanks for this most useful of reviews! 10,000 views! U should ask goldtone for a kickback. I would not have purchased without this review!
@MrTheHesus Hi there -- I don't have the bass anymore, but it certainly is fun. I couldn't get used to the P-bass neck -- I'm more of a short-scale, Mustang bass fella. RE your comments -- a low B wouldn't have very much volume, unfortunately, though you could definitely install one. Slapping on these basses is very effective, by the way. Quite loud. RE importer/exporters -- don't know. You may want to contact Gold Tone directly.
While you still had this bass, did you notice any problems from re-stringing under the tailpiece? I noticed the buzzing/slipping as well and just flipped mine today- works much better but obviously it puts a lot of upward pressure on the tailpiece. Thanks for the review- your sound here is more accurate than the video on the Gold Tone site to my ears.
I'm working on the design for one right now, basically just a solid P-bass body with a 30" scale and an 8.5" biscuit cone. It might be a while before I have it prototyped, though.
Great demo, really has me interested in getting one. I have an acoustic Epiphone El Capitan that is fantastic, this seems even louder. Thanks for posting!
sounds pretty nice
How would this thing do with flats? That's how I would want to string it. I know you'd get less of that roundwound cut, but is that essential to how it is able to stick out in an acoustic setting?
Nice kitchen !
You can also use a Pick to strike the strings.
I want one!!!
That's a really nice sounding instrument, and a great review! I'm keen to get one, but I don't think they are readily available in my country. Can you please post a video of what it sounds like when its slapped? Do you think it would hold up to being fitted with a low B string? Can you by any chance link me to some good sites that sell them/export resonator basses? Thanks :)
I've died and gone to blue heaven , sick jazz bass
Never knew these existed 😮
The stranglers called it a chainsaw bass sound
I want one.
I love your kitchen
was this recorded using a room mic only? i hate large acoustic basses but i want one for just kicking around with my friends at acoustic levels, will this thing stand up against instruments even without an amp?
Can you record a song for us with this bass?
@jakewildwood Thank you :)
What is the scale length? The most important dimension.
Awesome
It looks like a magnetic pickup near the neck. If it is, it should sound good, plugged in.
I'd be curious to hear whether or not it would have more thump if it had flat wounds on it.
pjmuck I don't know if it would have more thump, but the ringing sustain wouldn't be there. I run flat wounds on my Ibanez and round wounds on my Schecter and Warwick and they do have a more muted sound, but I would say my Warwick with normal strings has more punch. (Don't know if it's the strings, pickups or both.) Just ordered a Dean resonator and I can't wait to hear how it sounds. Little nervous about buying an instrument I've never held or played, but we'll see!
+jpatt1000 how is your dean resonator bass?
It took a little time to get used to it as the body is about three times as thick as any of my electrics, but I do like the sound. I will be checking around when it comes time to change the strings as I want a crisper tone out of it. I do need to tighten the screws for the pickup as it has developed an annoying buzz when I play. I am also having trouble finding a case for it as the head stock is a little large. (I may have to just go with one from Dean.) I sounds nice through an amp, but I've found I rarely play it that way. It has been on a couple of camping trips with me and is nice around the campfire! Have not played a Gold Tone yet, so I have no comparison it that respect, but I've heard they have a better tone (for a little bigger price). I got mine from Musician's Friend and it did arrive at my house in one piece and ready to play. The one bad thing I've noticed on mine is that it goes out of tune quickly. (Could be the strings are just stretching and that problem could go away with better strings.)
+jpatt1000 Cool, cool. Regular wood body acoustic guitars just arent loud enough for outdoor jamming like that. I was kinda wondering what kind of strings one would use for a resonator bass. Acoustic bass strings or electric bass strings. But the ones in this video appear to be electric. When I found that Dean resonator, I was excited that a prominent name guitar company made this instrument, but I was a little skeptical, as basses from Dean $500 or less tend to not be so good.
Post a video of it jamming in a bluegrass group unplugged.... that will tell the whole story.
I wonder how flat woven strings would carry. Perhaps muffled.
It looks like it might be neck heavy. Is it?
Finger picks !!!
Would rotosound bass strings with well with the reno bass?
You neglected to mention that this bass is 32"-scale.
Do you think that re-routing the strings for the reasons that you stated, that you lost some of the 'Resonator" sound and character?
How does this sound pluged in.
@achickensandwich That's the way it goes... :D
(still waiting for mine)
too funny, i watched this long before we met
I think these are assembled in the USA???
they are this time
@UKISOCIETY Heh heh :D
They’re now $1,300 US$ (new) in 2024
What kind, or brand, of pick up is that?
can you put a pickup[ on one of these
It already has one.
Can it cut through acoustic guitars?
That can do so
Stating that you hate acoustic Basses is very inapropiated
I can’t get excited about any of these - if you want to play traditional bass in a bluegrass etc setting - get an upright bass. Otherwise there is no shame in a standard electric bass - I have an old P bass that I throw a fretless neck on for those gigs.
Tioga Fretworks acoustic/resonator is for if you want to go somewhere easily
Not even a point to playing an acoustic bass?Comming from a guy with a pick in his hand,,,that's a bass not a guitar.
People play bass with picks.
Jamez Blackjack and Luke tuke it’s important to know how to play bass with fingers, pick, slap style, it’s needed to to get the sounds needed for some sounds, I do play an acoustic bass and mine works fine
@@luketuke02 people might, but bassists don't.
@@jordanroark1552 Pretentious crap. I know Bassists that could smoke you with a pick.
So we're paying over $900 for what's regarded as cheap import junk now? (That's roughly the price I saw when I looked this up) No thanks. lol
I've played much bigger places then 'local jams' and never paid close to that much for a guitar. It would have to be quite impressive indeed.
U broke boi
Blah Blah Blah
Go kick the dog.
You couldn't plug it in ? Sounds horrible thumbs down