The acoustic bass is an instrument with some similarities to the double bass and, like the electric bass, it generally has four strings – E, A, D, and G. Its sound is deep, which is why it is usually used in the rhythm section. For this reason, it is rarely used to create harmonies, as the plucking of one note at a time is preferred.

The History of the Acoustic Bass

The earliest ancestors of the bass can be considered the lute, molo, khalam, and gembri. These instruments, differing in the number of strings, were used in traditional African and Eastern music, which later traveled to the West. They were modified over the centuries and evolved into today’s acoustic and electric basses.
The most direct predecessor of the bass, as one might expect, is the double bass.

The 1930s

The need to create the bass arose in the United States during the 1930s, a time when swing and jazz were very popular and frequently performed live, thanks in part to the proliferation of dance halls. Musicians of that era were in high demand and often had to travel from city to city for numerous concerts. This became a problem for double bass players, as their instrument was very large and inconvenient to transport. The inspiration for the acoustic bass came from this need: to make the double bass playable horizontally.
At the same time, Les Paul’s innovative electric guitar had just entered the music scene, overpowering other instruments, especially the double bass, with its volume. A smaller, more portable, and more powerful instrument was needed.
In reality, the first acoustic bass, Gibson’s Mando Bass, was created years earlier in 1910. It lacked an amplifier and could not produce a loud enough sound within an orchestra.

The Electric Bass Before the Acoustic Bass

As a result, and to compete with the electric guitar, the first electric bass, the Model 736 Bass Fiddle by American Paul Tutmarc, was built in 1933 in a limited series. The instrument had the shape of a cello, a diapason, an electromagnetic microphone, and could be connected to an amplifier. Tutmarc later designed a subsequent model that could be played horizontally, was guitar-sized, and had frets on the neck, making it much more convenient than its predecessor. Meanwhile, competitors Gibson and Rickenbacker were working on creating an electric double bass. None of these instruments achieved the desired success, but they all stimulated manufacturers’ interest in improving bass characteristics.

The Precision Bass and Jazz Bass by Leo Fender

In 1951, the first solid-body electric bass, the Precision Bass by Leo Fender, made its debut in the music world. This instrument featured frets and a pickup located between the neck and the bridge. It was an immediate success, also due to the shift in music’s role in general culture, and was particularly used in soul music for its much-admired groove.
In 1960, Leo Fender introduced a new model: the Jazz Bass, which featured two pickups and a thinner neck than its predecessor. The Jazz Bass immediately gained immense popularity and was used by legendary bassists such as Jaco Pastorius and Marcus Miller. A few years later, a preamp was added to the instrument to enhance the highs and lows.
During the same period, other major musical instrument manufacturers (such as MusicMan, Ibanez, Warwick, and Cort) began producing electric basses, which quickly flooded the market.
Thanks to their sound and features, electric basses overshadowed double basses, aided by the evolution of music with new genres requiring more power: pop, rock, hard rock, and metal.

We recommend also reading this article on the electric bass to learn about its evolution and features.

The Acoustic Bass at Last

With the consolidation and spread of new musical genres, the use of the acoustic guitar also came back into vogue. Many bands began experimenting with softer, different sounds, incorporating acoustic pieces and famous ballads into their repertoire. In this context, the acoustic bass blended better than the electric bass, whose strong sound risked disrupting the atmosphere of the songs.
For this reason, in the 1970s in California, Ernie Ball developed the first modern acoustic bass, stating, “If there are electric basses to accompany electric guitars, then there should be acoustic basses to accompany acoustic guitars.”
The acoustic bass remained in the shadows until the late 1980s, when it regained some popularity due to its use on MTV’s Unplugged show, which featured musicians performing live acoustically.
Despite this, the instrument never became essential and was often regarded merely as a complement. However, the unique sounds achievable with the acoustic bass make it an instrument every bassist should eventually add to their collection.

Features of the Acoustic Bass, Functionality, and Differences from the Electric Bass

The acoustic bass is played just like the electric bass, by plucking the strings with the index and middle fingers – and sometimes the ring finger in the three-finger technique. It can also be played with a pick, though slap technique is not very suitable for this instrument.
Unlike the electric bass, the acoustic bass – like the acoustic guitar – has a hollow wooden body. This means it features a round soundhole that acts as a resonance chamber. Many instruments in this category are fretted, though fretless or semi-fretted models, while rare, also exist.
As previously mentioned, the bass – both acoustic and electric – usually has four strings, tuned E, A, D, and G, one octave lower than the lowest four guitar strings. There are five- or six-string versions, but these are uncommon in the acoustic version: the body of the acoustic bass is often too small to resonate adequately at the lower pitches of the B string. The fifth string is positioned above the E string and has a deeper sound.
The acoustic bass can be amplified using pickups and can also be miked for live performances.

Acoustic Bass Variants

• Semi-acoustic bass: It comes with built-in pickups, can be connected to an amplifier, and produces a unique sound similar to semi-acoustic guitars. Some models, when amplified, sound similar to a double bass and are used in recordings to emulate its sound.

• Mexican bass: In traditional Mexican music, there are various types of acoustic basses. For instance, the guitarrón is a large six-string instrument with a deep body. The bajo sexto, on the other hand, features six pairs of strings like a twelve-string guitar but tuned an octave lower. It is commonly used in place of the piano in local folk music.

• Bordonua: Like the guitarrón, it is large with a deep body. It originates from Puerto Rico and comes in various shapes and sizes. The most common shape is slender and narrows at the top, often featuring three soundholes.

Acoustic Bass Prices

As with any instrument, the price varies based on the quality of components, the type of wood used in its construction, and the possibility of connecting it to an external amplifier. Entry-level models can be found for around €200, while professional-grade instruments can exceed €2000.
A great model, without spending a fortune, is the Cort AB850F. It is a four-string electrified bass – meaning it can be connected to an amplifier. Its price is just over €300 and is available in two colors: natural and black.

Before purchasing, it is always better to have an idea of the different models, your budget, and your needs: there is no point in spending excessively if you only intend to use the bass at home for practice.

A very important tip is to always try the instrument before buying it. Any reputable music store will offer this option without obligation, and it is crucial to find the bass that truly suits you to perform at your best.

We also recommend acoustic basses from Ibanez for their excellent quality-to-price ratio.