Acoustic Bass Pros & Cons
The acoustic bass was introduced in the 1950s by the Kay musical instrument company. Acoustic bass guitars are not as popular as the electric bass or the traditional upright bass, but they do have their place. The band the Violent Femmes incorporated the acoustic bass in its rock songs.
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Size
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An acoustic bass is more or less the same size as acoustic guitar. This means it takes up much less room than an upright, it is easier to travel with, and it can be carried on a plane. On the other hand, it has a smaller scale fretboard than the upright and the smaller size obviously cannot produce the same tone as a full upright.
Amplification
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The lack of amplification gives the acoustic bass player some versatility. The instrument can be taken to small jam events or outdoor gatherings, and practicing at home won't raise any noise issues with the neighbors. On the other hand, a disadvantage of the low volume level means the bass can be easily drowned out by other instruments. An upright bass projects a lot of volume and can easily hold its own among numerous and competing instruments.
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Miking problems
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While an electric bass can be balanced in a sound mix, an acoustic bass in a live performance needs to be miked or amplified with a pickup to be sufficiently heard. Miking or amplifying any acoustic instrument is difficult. Feedback is always an issue, and it the miking set-up has to be done in a precise way to highlight any natural acoustic tone.
Playing Style
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The string of the acoustic bass can be played with a guitar pick or with the fingers. Upright basses are always plucked with the fingers or bowed. On the one hand, this makes it easier for a guitar player to play the bass without learning a new technique. On the other hand, playing bass with a guitar pick produces a certain kind of sound that works well for certain styles of music. Many rock bass players prefer to play with a pick.
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