Just occurred to me to wonder how many of us have Martins. B1, B40, B65, plus the newer BCPA 4.
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I have a B-65 (flame maple back / sides). Acoustically, it's the deepest and best sounding of the many ABG's that I've tried. Electronically and ergonomically it's just ok... especially the neck dive... aesthetics are a bit weird, it's so obviously a jumbo guitar body with a bass neck substituted. Then again, it was made in the 80's and there has been a lot of progress in ABG land since that time.
B1 is identical, except it has mahogany back and sides. Since I came to bass via acoustic guitars the ergonomics seem fine to me. Have a look at the critter on the left in my pic. 6 deep, 19 wide, 5 long. Most abgs are, I think, more or less guitar bodies with bass necks anyway...just a question of how big. As far as that goes...when that guy made an electric bass he pretty much put a longer neck on an electric guitar.
Really surprised more haven't posted their C.F. Martin ABG's here.
Acquired this on December 2, 2020 Martin B-1E 1993. It's all @mikeoso 's fault
Acquired this on December 2, 2020 Martin B-1E 1993. It's all @mikeoso 's fault
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Happy to take the blame on that.Really surprised more haven't posted their C.F. Martin ABG's here.
Acquired this on December 2, 2020 Martin B-1E 1993. It's all @mikeoso 's fault
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Martin BC-40 that I've had for a few years, next to my newly-acquired Taylor AB-3...
Just bumping this thread to get it back in visibiity. Still thumping my Martn, plus other ABGs.
This is probably the wrong way to help you re-start a Martin ABG thread, but my heart stops every time I see a picture of an AB-3.
I wish that Taylor had pumped out more of those before they abandoned the program. I've never gotten to see one in the flesh, so for me they're just a pleasant dream...
Nice BC-40, BTW. And I'm still fascinated by your big-boy ABG. It looks like a more nimble version of a Guitarron.
I recently purchased a new Martin BCP4A that had been hanging on the wall of a store for a long time and was in need of a setup and new strings. After replacing the factory strings with TI Acousticores, I'm very happy with this instrument:
I've had the Breedlove pictured next to it for two years, and it's a very nice bass for the price point. The Martin was significantly more expensive but it really is of much higher quality. Unplugged, they're about equal in volume and both sound great amplified but the Martin's overall tone is superior (as it should be). I mostly use these basses to play ceili band tunes (reels, jigs, hornpipes, etc.), accompanying my wife on her octave mandolin at home and at a weekly group session at a local pub. I'd sold my upright a few years back and wanted something acoustic for variety (I gig electric basses, my main instrument) and playing traditional Gaelic melodies on the acoustic bass guitar has worked out great for me. So far, I'm very happy to own a Martin bass guitar.
I've had the Breedlove pictured next to it for two years, and it's a very nice bass for the price point. The Martin was significantly more expensive but it really is of much higher quality. Unplugged, they're about equal in volume and both sound great amplified but the Martin's overall tone is superior (as it should be). I mostly use these basses to play ceili band tunes (reels, jigs, hornpipes, etc.), accompanying my wife on her octave mandolin at home and at a weekly group session at a local pub. I'd sold my upright a few years back and wanted something acoustic for variety (I gig electric basses, my main instrument) and playing traditional Gaelic melodies on the acoustic bass guitar has worked out great for me. So far, I'm very happy to own a Martin bass guitar.
Since you’re playing reels, jigs, hornpipes, etc. are you using different tunings since trad Irish folk music and other Celtic music isn’t usually in standard tuning?
I've only played them using standard tuning and am admittedly a newbie in trad Irish folk music. I've transcribed the music my wife has for her mando (this is her area of musical interest more than mine) into bass clef as even though I was a good piano player once upon a time, I suck at reading treble clef while playing a bass.
The challenge in performance for me has been the fact that on the roughly 70 tunes I've transcribed, the few keys they insist on using means playing a lot of tunes based around the 10th fret in order to make the fingering work at speed, in standard tuning at least, which isn't the ideal register particularly for fretless. Dropping the E string down to D (or just tuning all four down a whole step) would be one solution and while I do use a drop D extender on several of my electrics and am quite comfortable playing like that, I haven't bothered trying any of this on the acoustics. Sometimes when transcribing, I'll rearrange a few notes to facilitate playing in a lower register if it doesn't muck things up too much. Since this is all for fun and began as a response to being stuck at home with the missus during the pandemic, I haven't gotten to serious (yet) about it all.
The challenge in performance for me has been the fact that on the roughly 70 tunes I've transcribed, the few keys they insist on using means playing a lot of tunes based around the 10th fret in order to make the fingering work at speed, in standard tuning at least, which isn't the ideal register particularly for fretless. Dropping the E string down to D (or just tuning all four down a whole step) would be one solution and while I do use a drop D extender on several of my electrics and am quite comfortable playing like that, I haven't bothered trying any of this on the acoustics. Sometimes when transcribing, I'll rearrange a few notes to facilitate playing in a lower register if it doesn't muck things up too much. Since this is all for fun and began as a response to being stuck at home with the missus during the pandemic, I haven't gotten to serious (yet) about it all.
My playing is a weekly Old Time Fiddle circle and a biweekly blues get-together. The big Mota-bass is the weapon of choice for the Old Time...lots of volume and tone close to an upright. For the blues jam I use the Martin...sounds SO mellow and right.
Question...how many of you are running tapes on your Martins?
Question...how many of you are running tapes on your Martins?
spec sheet from MartinReally surprised more haven't posted their C.F. Martin ABG's here.
Acquired this on December 2, 2020 Martin B-1E 1993. It's all @mikeoso 's fault
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Woot! Wudja get?? Pics! Reviews!I am joining the Martin Acoustic bass gang!
