B-30 -- What size group can you support?

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Hello, all:

I'm a new forum member with a B-30 Bass. It's a 1987 in pretty much "unplayed" condition.

Some time back I had a fellow Bassplayer use both his B-30 and my Tacoma Thunderchief unamplified, while I listened from 20ft away. The B-30 was the clear winner in terms of acoustic volume. Later, I came across the one I have now, though I haven't used it much.

I'm really an Upright Bass player, but do want frets when I'm doing a lot of lead singing.

My question to the B-30 & B-50 owners:
What size or type of group can you support playing unamplified? My guess is about 2 or 3 stringed instruments and no microphones, drums, or amps anywhere. Maybe playing with a PA if your sound hole is mic'd.

Amplified, there's probably an upper limit too. I'd be interested in hearing your experience.

Thanks....Lyle
 

fronobulax

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Welcome to LTG.

You want to wait until Smithfield Fair or Grot respond. They are both big fans of the B-50 but have done some a/b comparisons.

My sense is that the Guild acoustic basses are ranked B-50, B-30 and B-4 in order of loudness with the difference between the 50 and 30 being greater than that between 30 and the 4. My experience with the B-4 is that I can hold my own against a single Guild D-25 (which definitely puts out a lot of sound) but not much more. If I am next to the D-25 I can't hear myself all that well although the audience assures me that they can hear me. (We're still debating whether that is a good thing or not). If anybody is amplified, even the built in amp on some keyboards, then I give up and plug in.

I've never been in a situation where an amplified B-4 has been too loud but if I am expecting drums and amplified instruments I'm much more likely to have the Starfire than the B-4. Also, FWIW, the B-4 has a Fishman PU built in so I have no experience using a mic with it.

All that and I don't really answer the question, do I? :wink:
 

The Guilds of Grot

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fronobulax said:
You want to wait until Smithfield Fair or Grot respond.
Well Smithfield Fair probably plays out with his a lot more then I do. So he should have a beter answer. (Though I don't know if he plays pure acoustic.)

I've really only played my B-50 with two other guitars and since I'm behind the bass, I have no idea how loud it is.

Playing with a pick does help with the volume though.

Here's a clip of me playing the B-50 solo with some very old strings and recorded on a cheap "still" digital camera.

My bass has no electronics so I don't how they sound with a pick-up.
 
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