El Capitan; anyone ever play one of these?

[OldManC]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Gibson-Epiphone-Maple-Acoustic-Electric-Bass-in-Case_W0QQitemZ200218433801QQihZ010QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I'm wondering if this would be worth it. Any thoughts?

[Dave W]

I played an El Capitan 5 about 5 or 6 years ago. The top was so thick it had very little acoustic volume, only about as much as you'd expect from a semi-hollow. It probably was that thick so it could take the string tension of a long scale 5. Whatever the reason, it was pretty much useless as an acoustic. Can't remember what the piezo sounded like, but I do remember the bass seemed to be well made.

You can buy a new El Capitan 4 in sunburst for $329 from American Musical with free shipping, that's less than the starting bid on this one when you add shipping cost.

[OldManC]

You can buy a new El Capitan 4 in sunburst for $329 from American Musical with free shipping, that's less than the starting bid on this one when you add shipping cost.

Well that's good to know! Thanks, Dave. I guess I'll wait and see how it goes with the prototype SG auction.

[farmie]

I have one (paid a lot more in those days, did only the prices go down, or also the quality?). I'm very happy with it. Yes indeed, it's a bass you have to amplify, but that way, it does have a nice sound ! Something between my electric basses and my double bass.

[Dave W]

I have one (paid a lot more in those days, did only the prices go down, or also the quality?).

I haven't seen the recent ones, but they did lower prices on some lines when they moved production to China.

[ramone57]

I don't have an el capitan but I do have an inexpensive abg.  it's great for picking up and playing when amplification isn't feasible, like when everybody is sleeping or I'm outside grilling or watching tv.  the unplugged volume isn't nearly enough to play with other instruments but it's handy for those moments when I just want to play and don't want to disturb anybody else.  I guess it depends on what you want to do with it.  I've checked out other abg's but have been reluctant to spend the cash because none that I've tried seem to be very loud acoustically.  it's fun to play and dosen't sound too bad but it just doesn't cut it for a group setting without amplification.  it's great to be able play anytime and anywhere, but for me, that's the pretty much the extent of it.   yeah, I know some guys will disagree but that's my experience.

[uwe]

I once played a huge Ernie Ball acoustic bass guitar that approached a decent volume, but it would have had no chance against a strummed guitar.

My Martin all maho acoustic bass sounds beautiful and resonant (the top is like a cigar box in thickness, but vibrates nicely for it), much louder than my Washburn AB-20, but it has no chance against an acoustic guitar. Even a full size doublebass is outclassed in volume by a strummed acoustic with steel strings.

[Chris P.]

I have never seen the idea about those basses. They're acoustic, but they always have to be amplified to get them heared. So I prefer the semisolids, like Rivolis, EB2s, JCSs, et cetera. Great for playing alone at home, nice and acoustic sounding for acoustic gigs and also very great at normal gigs.

The sound of my Thunderbird fits very nice with the acoustic sounds of the acoustic Guild (Hummingbird/J45 type) (is that called dreadnought?) of our singer Loes. We played an acoustic gig some weeks ago and the cafeowner looked terrified when he saw me coming in with an Orange 200W head, a 4x10 and an enourmous T-bird:
'You know this is Acoustic Thursday, guys?'
'I thought it was Metal Friday' I answered funnilly?

At his faces turned white I told him the T-bird sounds very nice with acoustic guitars and that io hadn't had a small amp at that moment.

[Dave W]

If your goal is to be heard well by others without using amplification, these won't do. But they do sound different than the semi-solids you mention, and it's obvious that they do sell enough for manufacturers to keep offering them. Some people like the sound.

[nofi]

my tacoma thunderchief can easily keep up with a strummed guitar. all others, even the very expensive taylors and martins can't compete unplugged with it. plus the tacoma retains it's natural unplugged tone when amplified. the el capitan is built like a tank and comfortable to play but the unplugged volume is weak, imho. btw, to get any decent volume out of any abg you gotta' dig in and play hard. higher action will also increase unplugged volume as well as string choice, top bracing, wood selection etc. tacoma makes a solid mahogany thunderchief which is really supposed to be the bomb, volume wise.

[Chris P.]

Dave, you're right about the sound.

I like the design ot the Tacoma. really something else. A bit like this Warwick:

http://www.warwickbass.com/basses/alien.html