I have the ibanez and its the ideal sofa or garden bass. No faffing with cables and short enough that you can sit next to someone whilst playing, plus loud enough to jam with acoustics in the garden without annoying the neighbours or wildlife.
Lol that's literally why I got it, to just play when I'm laying on the couch or in bed. And because i live in an apartment and just dont wanna be a noisey dick lol It's my first bass so I just wanted to have something to mess around with as I've always been curious about the bass but mostly play the ukulele 😅 this is a super fun instrument though I wish I would have grabbed one much sooner
The Gold Tone really comes from the direction of being a bass UKULELE. It's tone is intended to work best with other ukuleles, I have used it with a regular band.
The Gold Tone Micro Bass comes in three types, either fretted, or fretless: the 25 (not shown here) has a standard Sratocaster/acoustic scale length of 25 1/2 inches, about 5 inches longer that a typical 'bass uke', and the 23, which can be either acoustic (the one in this clip) with a piezo pickup (like the 25), or solid body electric. Also, three types of strings are available: the standard polymer strings come installed, but you can order round wound "Silver Backs", which are nylon core, metal wrapped, similar to classical guitar strings, or lighter gauge flat wound nickel/steel strings that are suitable only for the fretless models, due to intonation differences. No affiliation with Gold Tone, just a satisfied customer.
These are definitely niche products. They’re meant to play along with other travel acoustic instruments. As a bassist I always felt left out when a jam session would break out at a party or the beach campfire. When I did buy one, I would lug my acoustic bass, hard case and all, to the beach or on the trail with the risk that we wouldn’t play. One of these would’ve helped a lot.
I just bought the Ibanez used w/case for $179. I plan to use it as an acoustic bass to play with recorded music as to practice playing along without needing to fuss with an amp. I also think electrically it sounded incredible and will for sure be recording with it. It appears to have a very sharp dynamic signature which I also like. Money well spent. Thanks for the demos guys!
for campfire situations, I bring a mini bass (Ohana OBU, it's great), and a battery powered speaker. Acoustically, little basses just can't cut it against more than one guitar, if that. Upright bass bodies are big for a reason! Full size ABG's have a chance, but still generally so much better plugged in.
These don't look that small. You might have overlooked quite a few of them. Cordoba, Redlands, Ibanez, Yamaha, Taylor and there are more. They all do travel basses.
Nice intro jam, guys! Worm String - sounds like the name of a character from Lord of the Rings. The Ibanez gets my vote for best unplugged sound. Plugged in, the Gold Tone sounds the most bass-y, less buzzy than the Taylor or Ibie.
Funny how the American $1000 Taylor has an issue out of the box that just needs a little bit of adjustment, but if a Squier came that way, you'd dismiss it as "well, this is what you get from Asian factories."
I just purchased a Gold Tone M-Bass. That's how I got here. I have a Kala U-Bass but the balance between the strings doesn't match. The two outside strings are softer than the middle 2 strings. These types of basses have their own sound and I like it. Not like an upright nor an electric. I use the Kala in a bluegrass band when we play on crowded platforms that are sometimes difficult to get 5 people on much less with an upright. It work great and the look is exactly the opposite of an upright.
Could have done your research better. The Ibanez, like the Guild Jumbo Junior Bass, uses exactly the same nylon-core D’Addario strings as the Taylor. Also, if you lighten up your attack and let the amp do the work, you get a much better, woody tone.
I find you have to turn the tone right down on those rubber string mini basses/uke basses, to eliminate the harshness and make them sound exactly like an upright
just buy a cordoba minibass 2 and call it a day. these are super cool and sound awesome but are as everyone is pointing out niche instruments, so unless you have a very particular usage/intentions for one of these, your GAS would probably be better satiated with something else. me on the other hand, do love what these things do and are for! i imagine someday i will buy a more expensive mini like a ukulele-toned GT, but for now and for the use 150 dollars for an ultra small scale acoustic electric bass cant really be beat by anything showcased in this video imo (although i hear the ibanez is great!). dont let GAS get you!
£919 for that Taylor is a joke, who on earth in their right mind would go for that? This is at best your 3rd choice bass that you only use for rehearsals round someone’s house. Crazy
I'd love it of someone could make an acoustic bass that doesn't need to be amplified in an acoustic setting. As soon as an acoustic guitar or singer join in, the bass gets completely lost.
Unfortunately, it’s just not possible to get sufficient volume in those low frequencies. I’d say finding a smallish amplifying setup is the best compromise.
A terrible review of a good instrument, the Gold Tone micro bass. Lee decides to play it as though he's hitting a jazz with roundwounds - totally incorrect and ending up with a misleading review, which could leave many folks doubting its use. Ive played for over 40 years, I have one of these in my collection and it is great for certain situations, is well made and well priced. Lee should consider a second review.
Same with the GoldTone. The secret to the U-bass strings is don't press down right behind the fret like you would on an electric. Press in the middle between the frets and you get less buzz (that seemed to work with the Kala U-bass anyway). Plucking takes more control as well. I see why Nathan held back on that on, it takes some getting used to!
Thank you guys, its inspiring. I had one 3-4 years ago, a lot of fun! And tomorrow my Harley Benton B-35NT will arrive. Cant wait. Some my old video with HB hbb40ce - ruclips.net/video/dBoVj5_mZG8/видео.html
You absolutely do get drowned out by an acoustic guitar. It's why I got rid of mine. It's passable at the kitchen table, with one guitar only. Outdoors, it's much worse. If by the campfire, you'll blister yourself trying to keep up with 2 guitars, or get an awful tone with a pick. People shouldn't expect to be able to perform with an acoustic bass not plugged in.
100% this. I don't know how they've got the cheek to say, "They don't need to be plugged in to sound good!" Of course they do. There's so little volume, especially but not only on the low E string. There's a reason why a double bass is the size it is.
A double bass is still much bigger and in most cases expensive than a small amp and an acoustic bass. And it also requires a very different technique... as for travel id take a ubass and a mini amp... enough for a small campfire gig...
The U-bass strings really take some getting used to to get them to sound good (no disrespect to Lee who is a fantastic bassist!!) but they are a different animal. It's worth checking out Julia Hofer's demo if you are considering one...ruclips.net/video/f1eunn_7rfc/видео.html.
Playing lightly is the key. Also seems you get less buzz by fingering more in the middle between the frets rather than close to the fret like you would with standard strings.
I’ve been looking for something like this for a long time. Just the convenience of having something small and comfortable to play is what I’m looking for. Larger scale acoustic bases are so lame and huge that’s why you never see is playing them lol
With these things you need a proper preamp and under saddle transducer pickups to sound good. Otherwise it's just for the couch or micd up for recording.
Mic'd YT demos are out there. and some sound pretty good. The 23" Gold Tone doesn't sound half as good as the 25" scale Gold Tone. The Ibanez is a 25" scale also. I belive for a good acoustic sound, the bass needs to be 25" scale.
I had the Ibanez parlor bass. It was ok for sitting on the sofa and messing around but that's it. It couldn't keep up with an acoustic guitar and I never liked the sound of it plugged in. I sold it in the end. Waste of time and money lol
@@gazfunk I play in a band with two other acoustic players. They hear me just fine. It's your head that's in your ass if you can't hear your self. Good luck pulling it out with those weak hands of yours.
@@ooktar You seem to be obsessed with my hands. I can assure you they are just fine but thanks for your concern. There is no way a parlor bass can keep up with two acoustics unless its plugged in to an amp.
I have never understood the point of an acoustic bass and I never will. Virtually none of them are loud enough to hear unplugged in a band setting, and when they're plugged in they either have that crappy piezo sound or a sound not that dissimilar from an electric bass anyway, so why bother? Play a P bass and be done with it. I will say that the basses that use the silicone strings (Kala, Goldtone, or the original Ashbory) are at least unique in that they do have their own sound plugged in (a huge fat tone at that too), but again, you could never play one unplugged and be heard. The only "true" acoustic bass you can play unplugged and be heard on in a band setting that gives you enough low end is an upright.
Aesthetics... sound is debatable too... ubass and mini amp for portability... there's the issue of feedback... idk. Volumewise... maybe perhaps for a chill two piece?
Bass is an instrument you always need to be plugged in to play. It's a hassle as for learning and practicing. These small scale bass formats make it feasible for bass players to just be able to grab a bass on impulse like you would an acoustic guitar and play it. You clowns can't seem to wrap your heads around that concept...what blockheads!
@@annode Yes, let's resort to the name calling when we have no intelligent stance to back up our asinine comments: "Bass is an instrument you always need to be plugged in to play". No you don't. Ever heard of a double bass, genius? That's the ONLY acoustic bass capable of keeping up with a band unless you're plugging one of these toys in, and if you have to bring an amp to a campfire just to hear it when jamming with your friends, then you're not really all that portable anymore. So bring an electric bass (Um, they do make short scale basses too, you know). "Hassle"? Maybe to a talentless hack like you. "Acoustic guitar is played on impulse"? Hello! You can actually hear an acoustic guitar! Keep going, you're batting 1000. You want to play one, go right ahead, but I stated why I don't see the point. No "concept" to wrap our heads around. The product serves zero purpose or interest to me.
@@annode When you resort to name calling if you disagree with an opinion you don't happen to agree with, you lose any credibility. I give you an "F" too for f*&k off.
Girls love with when you bust out a 10-minute acoustic bass solo around the campfire
The campfire sounds will be louder than this bases... plug them better in...
Girls, orchestral musicians, punks, Taliban... They will all be asking for an encore..... Acoustic bass brings people together ;-)
Is there a better campfire singalong than Floyd’s “One Of These Days”?
They have to lean in closer to hear, lol
@@MichaelEdelman1954 hahahahaahahahah Nice one
I have the ibanez and its the ideal sofa or garden bass. No faffing with cables and short enough that you can sit next to someone whilst playing, plus loud enough to jam with acoustics in the garden without annoying the neighbours or wildlife.
Lol that's literally why I got it, to just play when I'm laying on the couch or in bed. And because i live in an apartment and just dont wanna be a noisey dick lol It's my first bass so I just wanted to have something to mess around with as I've always been curious about the bass but mostly play the ukulele 😅 this is a super fun instrument though I wish I would have grabbed one much sooner
The Gold Tone really comes from the direction of being a bass UKULELE. It's tone is intended to work best with other ukuleles, I have used it with a regular band.
The Gold Tone Micro Bass comes in three types, either fretted, or fretless: the 25 (not shown here) has a standard Sratocaster/acoustic scale length of 25 1/2 inches, about 5 inches longer that a typical 'bass uke', and the 23, which can be either acoustic (the one in this clip) with a piezo pickup (like the 25), or solid body electric. Also, three types of strings are available: the standard polymer strings come installed, but you can order round wound "Silver Backs", which are nylon core, metal wrapped, similar to classical guitar strings, or lighter gauge flat wound nickel/steel strings that are suitable only for the fretless models, due to intonation differences. No affiliation with Gold Tone, just a satisfied customer.
These are definitely niche products. They’re meant to play along with other travel acoustic instruments. As a bassist I always felt left out when a jam session would break out at a party or the beach campfire. When I did buy one, I would lug my acoustic bass, hard case and all, to the beach or on the trail with the risk that we wouldn’t play. One of these would’ve helped a lot.
Played onthe Taylor today in my local shop........the finest acoustic bass i can get around me.....the action was superb and that neck is butter
Awesome presentation bredren 👍🏾
Picked up the Ibanez
Looking forward to enjoying it
Thanks for sharing
Around 0:42 cheeky spongebob riff haha
I just bought the Ibanez used w/case for $179. I plan to use it as an acoustic bass to play with recorded music as to practice playing along without needing to fuss with an amp. I also think electrically it sounded incredible and will for sure be recording with it. It appears to have a very sharp dynamic signature which I also like. Money well spent. Thanks for the demos guys!
for campfire situations, I bring a mini bass (Ohana OBU, it's great), and a battery powered speaker. Acoustically, little basses just can't cut it against more than one guitar, if that. Upright bass bodies are big for a reason! Full size ABG's have a chance, but still generally so much better plugged in.
These don't look that small. You might have overlooked quite a few of them. Cordoba, Redlands, Ibanez, Yamaha, Taylor and there are more. They all do travel basses.
Nice intro jam, guys! Worm String - sounds like the name of a character from Lord of the Rings. The Ibanez gets my vote for best unplugged sound. Plugged in, the Gold Tone sounds the most bass-y, less buzzy than the Taylor or Ibie.
Ever had one of those nightmares where you realise you don't have any trousers on ... and you're being filmed for an Andertons video?
Funny how the American $1000 Taylor has an issue out of the box that just needs a little bit of adjustment, but if a Squier came that way, you'd dismiss it as "well, this is what you get from Asian factories."
I love watching my two favorite Bass Nuts groovin' to... what else? New Basses! So cool guys.
I just purchased a Gold Tone M-Bass. That's how I got here. I have a Kala U-Bass but the balance between the strings doesn't match. The two outside strings are softer than the middle 2 strings. These types of basses have their own sound and I like it. Not like an upright nor an electric. I use the Kala in a bluegrass band when we play on crowded platforms that are sometimes difficult to get 5 people on much less with an upright. It work great and the look is exactly the opposite of an upright.
Could have done your research better. The Ibanez, like the Guild Jumbo Junior Bass, uses exactly the same nylon-core D’Addario strings as the Taylor. Also, if you lighten up your attack and let the amp do the work, you get a much better, woody tone.
I wouldn’t have done this video in shorts - but it’s great
those are some little shorts
His legs must be leaving you moist with wanting.
I find you have to turn the tone right down on those rubber string mini basses/uke basses, to eliminate the harshness and make them sound exactly like an upright
Aye! Lovely
just buy a cordoba minibass 2 and call it a day. these are super cool and sound awesome but are as everyone is pointing out niche instruments, so unless you have a very particular usage/intentions for one of these, your GAS would probably be better satiated with something else.
me on the other hand, do love what these things do and are for! i imagine someday i will buy a more expensive mini like a ukulele-toned GT, but for now and for the use 150 dollars for an ultra small scale acoustic electric bass cant really be beat by anything showcased in this video imo (although i hear the ibanez is great!). dont let GAS get you!
firewood, I think he has something there 🙂
Should've included a Bass Ukulele in the shootout.
Have considered to try yjose accoustic basses... accoustic ? I don't care if it have open gears, I want to know the sound of it unplugged !
£919 for that Taylor is a joke, who on earth in their right mind would go for that? This is at best your 3rd choice bass that you only use for rehearsals round someone’s house. Crazy
@huwgriffin5332 I've seen Beck record using, I believe the Ibanez. The Ibanez sounded to me as a bass well worth recording.
Do people actually basses around a campfire? Or any instrument?
Reviewing an acoustic bass and not demo it unplugged… 😓
What about the Martin DJR-10E.?
I wonder if I could convert one of my cheaper acoustic guitars into a bass? It's an Epiphone AJ-220
I love my gold tone fretless micro bass. Sounds and feels so good. Plugging it in tho is 💩. I’d much rather mic it up
Would love to see something on the Kala U-Bass
Y'all did the M-Bass super dirty. The piezo sounds really misadjusted - they definitely do not always clip like that.
Or you can just make a fretless acoustic U-bass. Speaking of which, anyone want to buy one?
Kind of like listening to bass on an iPhone. My Ibanez was worthless unless plugged in (kind of defeating the point). Sold it.
the gold tone sounds beautiful and you somehow made it sound like ass
I'd love it of someone could make an acoustic bass that doesn't need to be amplified in an acoustic setting. As soon as an acoustic guitar or singer join in, the bass gets completely lost.
Unfortunately, it’s just not possible to get sufficient volume in those low frequencies. I’d say finding a smallish amplifying setup is the best compromise.
Physics... they can't be circumvented on this issue... low frequencies require more power to be heard by us humans...
Upright bass 🤣
A terrible review of a good instrument, the Gold Tone micro bass. Lee decides to play it as though he's hitting a jazz with roundwounds - totally incorrect and ending up with a misleading review, which could leave many folks doubting its use. Ive played for over 40 years, I have one of these in my collection and it is great for certain situations, is well made and well priced. Lee should consider a second review.
That guitar track really snuck in a SpongeBob lick
acoustic and they both plugged into an amp.
What are you doing in a video in your underware?
If played correctly you can play the Taylor so it doesn’t twang
Same with the GoldTone. The secret to the U-bass strings is don't press down right behind the fret like you would on an electric. Press in the middle between the frets and you get less buzz (that seemed to work with the Kala U-bass anyway). Plucking takes more control as well. I see why Nathan held back on that on, it takes some getting used to!
Thank you guys, its inspiring. I had one 3-4 years ago, a lot of fun! And tomorrow my Harley Benton B-35NT will arrive. Cant wait. Some my old video with HB hbb40ce - ruclips.net/video/dBoVj5_mZG8/видео.html
Now your hands are the same colour as your legs mate!😊🇫🇴
You absolutely do get drowned out by an acoustic guitar. It's why I got rid of mine. It's passable at the kitchen table, with one guitar only. Outdoors, it's much worse. If by the campfire, you'll blister yourself trying to keep up with 2 guitars, or get an awful tone with a pick. People shouldn't expect to be able to perform with an acoustic bass not plugged in.
100% this. I don't know how they've got the cheek to say, "They don't need to be plugged in to sound good!" Of course they do. There's so little volume, especially but not only on the low E string. There's a reason why a double bass is the size it is.
@@derekdavisson8995 Such a killer tone in that performance
A double bass is still much bigger and in most cases expensive than a small amp and an acoustic bass. And it also requires a very different technique... as for travel id take a ubass and a mini amp... enough for a small campfire gig...
Love a good acoustic bass, own several....still have yet to hear one that sounds good plugged in. These ones included. They sound terrible plugged in.
I heard the spongebob theme tune
The U-bass strings really take some getting used to to get them to sound good (no disrespect to Lee who is a fantastic bassist!!) but they are a different animal. It's worth checking out Julia Hofer's demo if you are considering one...ruclips.net/video/f1eunn_7rfc/видео.html.
Playing lightly is the key. Also seems you get less buzz by fingering more in the middle between the frets rather than close to the fret like you would with standard strings.
Even though Nathan and Lee can usually be relied on to make even the cheapest plank sound spectacular... I thought all of these sounded awful
I can't disagree with you..... 🤣
@@nathanking1970 What was wrong with the Ibanez?
Those legs aren't getting any browner Lee not even any rust 😊🇫🇴
Everyone gave up on producing a decent acoustic bass and started making toys.
In a few more weeks every bass in Andertons will be played by Nathan and Lee.
Well, we need video for each one:-)
I’ve been looking for something like this for a long time. Just the convenience of having something small and comfortable to play is what I’m looking for. Larger scale acoustic bases are so lame and huge that’s why you never see is playing them lol
With these things you need a proper preamp and under saddle transducer pickups to sound good. Otherwise it's just for the couch or micd up for recording.
Is mayonnaise an instrument
No, Patrick. Mayonnaise is not an instrument.
Play it without amps for the real sound
Yup I don't understand why acoustic reviews spend so much time with amps. The whole point is to play without an amp.
I'm not impressed until I hear an acoustic bass guitar that sounds good unplugged.
Put a mike to the thing.
Mic'd YT demos are out there. and some sound pretty good. The 23" Gold Tone doesn't sound half as good as the 25" scale Gold Tone. The Ibanez is a 25" scale also. I belive for a good acoustic sound, the bass needs to be 25" scale.
I had the Ibanez parlor bass. It was ok for sitting on the sofa and messing around but that's it. It couldn't keep up with an acoustic guitar and I never liked the sound of it plugged in. I sold it in the end. Waste of time and money lol
I got the parlor bass and if you can't keep up with an acoustic guitar then your playing it wrong. Work out those limp wrists and fingers of yours.
@@ooktar playing it wrong? Lol Right ok 👍 You just haven’t realized no one can hear you. Try taking your head out of your arse.
@@gazfunk I play in a band with two other acoustic players. They hear me just fine. It's your head that's in your ass if you can't hear your self. Good luck pulling it out with those weak hands of yours.
@@ooktar You seem to be obsessed with my hands. I can assure you they are just fine but thanks for your concern. There is no way a parlor bass can keep up with two acoustics unless its plugged in to an amp.
Why did he do this video in his boxers?
The golden tone bass guitar is made of NATO wood? Putin doesn't like that at all...😘
I have never understood the point of an acoustic bass and I never will. Virtually none of them are loud enough to hear unplugged in a band setting, and when they're plugged in they either have that crappy piezo sound or a sound not that dissimilar from an electric bass anyway, so why bother? Play a P bass and be done with it. I will say that the basses that use the silicone strings (Kala, Goldtone, or the original Ashbory) are at least unique in that they do have their own sound plugged in (a huge fat tone at that too), but again, you could never play one unplugged and be heard. The only "true" acoustic bass you can play unplugged and be heard on in a band setting that gives you enough low end is an upright.
Aesthetics... sound is debatable too... ubass and mini amp for portability... there's the issue of feedback... idk. Volumewise... maybe perhaps for a chill two piece?
Bass is an instrument you always need to be plugged in to play. It's a hassle as for learning and practicing. These small scale bass formats make it feasible for bass players to just be able to grab a bass on impulse like you would an acoustic guitar and play it. You clowns can't seem to wrap your heads around that concept...what blockheads!
@@annode Yes, let's resort to the name calling when we have no intelligent stance to back up our asinine comments: "Bass is an instrument you always need to be plugged in to play". No you don't. Ever heard of a double bass, genius? That's the ONLY acoustic bass capable of keeping up with a band unless you're plugging one of these toys in, and if you have to bring an amp to a campfire just to hear it when jamming with your friends, then you're not really all that portable anymore. So bring an electric bass (Um, they do make short scale basses too, you know). "Hassle"? Maybe to a talentless hack like you. "Acoustic guitar is played on impulse"? Hello! You can actually hear an acoustic guitar! Keep going, you're batting 1000. You want to play one, go right ahead, but I stated why I don't see the point. No "concept" to wrap our heads around. The product serves zero purpose or interest to me.
@@pjmuck I give you an 'F' for reading comprehension.
@@annode When you resort to name calling if you disagree with an opinion you don't happen to agree with, you lose any credibility. I give you an "F" too for f*&k off.
Spongebob Squarepants
These are some of the fartiest sounding basses ever. It’s like a Family Guy episode.
Horrible sound, nice demo.