Product: Alvarez RB-30C Acoustic Bass
Price Paid: US traded Fender P and $125?
Submitted
03/21/2005
at
01:32pm
by
Anonymous
Features
:
No Opinion
Sound
:
9
This is the best sounding acoustic bass I've come across.
The on board EQ is nice, I could get any tone I wanted with it via my fender 100w 1x15. When playing through headphone the electronics have some hiss, only if you turn the volume all the way up. If you turn the bass all the way up with the amp you will destroy the neighborhood with feedback.
As mentioned before, the onboard EQ is nice, it makes the bass very versitile. I used it live and for home recording.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
This bass is smooth, well built and well finished. My wife thinks it is very "pretty."
Reliability/Durability
:
9
Like any acoustic instrument this bass is susceptible to heat and humidity changes; I find it to be more delicate than an electric bass. I've had it for three years with no problems to speak of.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
n/a
Overall Rating
:
9
I really enjoy not having to plug in to play some bass.
Product: Alvarez RB-30C Acoustic Bass
Price Paid: US $700
Submitted
07/29/2004
at
11:38pm
by
Joe C
Features
:
10
made 2003 in China
34" scale fretted
cutaway/ jumbo body style
fishman pickups with volume, bass, and treble tone control
built in tuner
Mahogany body with rosewwod fretboard
natural finish, bone nut, chrome tuners
thin neck
came w/ hardshell (plush inside) case
Sound
:
9
The sound suits my style of playing acoustic or electric. I purchased the acoustic bass so I would not have to lug my 300 watt fender amp around just for backporch acoustic jams. I have played blues for only a few years and this bass can jam on 12 bar. You can also strum the bass and get a great sound. The low chords give a double bass sound and the highs can give a bright, clean sound. Pals of mine have also used the bass to play slap! and it can handle it...I did not believe my ears.
Note*
The only reason I give a 9 out of 10 is because if you play with just one guitar over the bass, you can hear it fine, but two guitars will drown out the sound of the bass if....I and I mean if your style of playing goes right along with the chords of the guitar. If you have a unique style that does not go directly with the guitar ( aka Jack Bruce, John Paul Jones, Billy Cox style)you will have no problem not being drowned out.
The only bass I can truely say that would have no problem not being drowned out is the 1970 Ernie Ball Earthwood acoustic bass; only made for one year, very hard to find, and very expensive. I have only seen pictures of the bass, but the thing is at least 2 ft in width (in which gives it the loud tone). A good example of an Earthwood in the studio is any Violent Femmes recording.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
Purchased brand new from a friend of mine who owns the shop.
The bass is still in mint condition w/ a warranty.
Reliability/Durability
:
10
I have never came upon any problems what so ever when it comes to playing live thru an amp or on the backporch. Everything on the bass (strap buttons, tuners, bridge, bone nut, pickups ..etc) is qaulity the only thing I have done to alter the bass is put on new strings. (which I did not even need to do that; I only did for expermentation purposes)
Customer Support
:
10
I have not had to deal with customer support.
There is a limited lifetime warranty.
Overall Rating
:
10
