Acoustic vs. Electric Bass

An electric bass has different elements than an acoustic bass.

The bass instrument usually acts as the pulse of a band. In contrast to a six string guitar, a four string bass does not have the B and high E strings. Besides the upright bass, the most common basses are the acoustic and electric. Although the fret board layout of these varieties is the same, there are several differences as well.

Picking Style

The electric bass player has the option of playing with or without a pick. This is often determined by the style of music and preference. Generally, fast paced genres such as heavy metal call for a pick. On the other hand, playing without a pick provides a much smoother sound and is more common with blues and jazz players. However, if the bass isn't an acoustic electric, it is absolutely necessary to use a pick. Because there isn't any amplification, picking with the fingers will not produce a loud enough sound.

Action

The action is the height of the strings on the neck. The action of an acoustic bass is much higher than that on an electric bass. The fingers do not have to press down as hard on an electric bass because of the amplification. This is why new bass players usually learn on an acoustic bass then transition to an electric. It is less painful to the fingers because the tips will already have calluses.

Sound Variation

Any fan of funk music will notice the tones of the electric bass are not standard. Depending on the type of genre, a bassist can add distortion, phaser, delay and much more. In contrast, the twang sound is most desired on an acoustic. Although the electric bass can produce just about every sound that you can dream of, fans of the "unplugged" sound will always prefer the acoustic variety.

Price

Prices of acoustic bass guitars are much higher than electric basses. It is much easier to produce a low-end electric bass than a low-end acoustic bass. Acoustics are also hand crafted out of different kinds of wood while electrics can be made out of cheaper plastic and metal pieces.

String Gauges

The string gauge is the thickness of the bass string. Stronger string gauges result in a fuller tone, while thinner gauge strings are easier to bend, hammer and perform pull-offs with. Bass strings come in light and heavy or a hybrid of the two. It is also possible to use nylon strings to produce a classical sound. Price wise, acoustic strings are much cheaper than electric strings because the thickness is lower.

References

• Bass Player: Electric and Acoustic Bass Gear, Lessons, and More
• Tune my Bass: Bass Guitar Buying Guide