They may lack volume when compared to an upright but there is no other ABG I've come across that comes close in volume. The tone is also unmatched.
I've played a lot of ABGs and newer ones have a lot more usable room at the 12th fret and they are smaller bodied making them more comfortable to hold but when in comes to unplugged sound, there is nothing like an Earthwood.
I also have an Olympia (Korean Tacoma) which is great for plugged in and pretty good unplugged. It is a plywood bass and it lacks the resonance of the solid wood original Tacoma , but bang for the buck, it can't be beat.
The only other ABGs out there that produce a really good volume and tone unplugged IMO are the Tacoma and the old Guilds (which suffer the same size and playability issues of the Earthwood).
Earthwoods are something special in spite of their issues
Rick