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Acoustic Upright Bass
The acoustic bass isn’t really popular among guitar players because the sound isn’t loud enough, and if you’re playing with drums, you will just get drowned in the mix. Musicians in the past used to have instruments with large resonating chambers in order to make sure that the bass was audible when there were other instruments with higher pitches. The upright acoustic bass is one of those instruments that are pretty large, and it’s also the lowest-pitched in an orchestra. You could play on the lower strings with a heavy grip and it would produce a darker melancholy sound. Playing lightly will give a mellow sound. These techniques are called fortissimo and pianissimo respectively and are widely used. For a beginner, this does take some getting used to.
The acoustic upright bass is also called a double bass, which can be confusing to some- and like most string instruments, it’s either bowed with a bow or plucked by fretting the fretless fingerboard. You may think that it’s only used in classical music but it’s actually widely used in jazz, rock, metal, and even EDM. You can find the upright acoustic bass in many sizes but 6ft is the standard. If you want a smaller upright acoustic bass, you can opt for a 1/2 or 3/4 size- the latter is what most players prefer. There’s also this one other confusion- an acoustic bass resembles an acoustic guitar but has four strings- while an upright acoustic bass is a different beast altogether- it looks like a cello and is often bowed. The 1/2 size doesn’t mean the upright acoustic bass is half in size either- it’s just a bit smaller. Double basses can be found in two distinct flavors- you have the viola de gamba variety and the violin form. These look quite similar, and both have a curved wooden bridge that holds the strings in place. The intonation on the instrument can be fixed by making adjustments to the bridge. The most common wood for the fingerboard is ebony, which is also popular for guitars and viola, and for the top, you would find tonewoods like Spruce. This also depends on what’s available, so makers might take liberties in tone woods. Upright basses made out of exotic woods tend to be more expensive, and if you’re a beginner, it’s fine stick to one in your budget. The uncanny resemblance to violin can be seen in the upright acoustic bass’s construction as well. You’ve got two F-holes which let the sound into the resonating chamber, there’s a wooden bridge for the strings to sit on, a tailpiece, a beautiful scroll on the head, and on the inside, there’s a sound post which is there to support the top of the instrument. It also helps transmit the sounds from the top to the bottom of the instrument. Violins are usually placed on the shoulder and the chin rests on the instrument- so this instrument also needs a chin-rest which you would obviously not find on upright acoustic bass. It’s also very common to find upright acoustic bass in jazz ensembles, and the bassists pluck the root notes with a swing feel or provide accompaniment to the lead instrument. While you could certainly try playing percussion on the upright acoustic bass by slapping the top, doing so is generally frowned upon in classical communities- mainly because upright acoustic basses are expensive, and hitting the instrument repeatedly would cause wear and tear and damage it in the long run.Electric Upright Bass
While acoustic upright bass certainly has a decent projection and a fantastic tone for the low-end, the bulky form is something a player could do without. The upright electric bass is just a slimmed-down version of the acoustic upright bass that connects to an amplifier and the signal is then passed to a speaker or an interface for recording. If you can already play acoustic upright bass, the switch would be super easy for you. If you play around with the controls, you will find that you can also tap more easily on the Electric Upright Bass because of the gain controls.
You don’t really need speakers to hear how your electric upright bass sounds- you can hook up your headphones to the output of your amp if there’s one, and you can practice bass without disturbing anybody late at night as well. Electric Upright Basses (EUB) came to be known in the era when electric guitars were still being developed, and because the technology then wasn’t good enough to amplify the low-ends that well, EUBs weren’t really used by many players. Much like an acoustic-electric guitar which can produce sound both amplified or unamplified, the EUB also comes in two flavors- we’ve got the solid EUBs which do not have a hollow resonating chamber, so the resulting sound is quiet. If you would like to be able to play the EUB without amplification, you can opt for the hollow-body which does have a resonating chamber, so it can produce sound for you to play or practice. A hollow-body electric upright bass won’t produce loud sounds adequate for ensembles but it does work well for personal enjoyment. 
Personally, I find EUBs fascinating- these have got pickups, tone, and volume controls and I can imagine that some manufacturer out there is producing headless upright basses in the electric variety. You can try looking for options, and you will be amazed by how far the instruments have come from the past times. Since acoustic basses are mostly found with only 4 strings, electric basses have tried experimenting with as many as 8 strings for extra notes. Bowing those strings without touching each other would be a pain for sure, but the possibilities are endless. If you are thinking of learning on an Electric Upright Bass, you can also learn on a fretted bass- but I would suggest sticking to the fretless bass because most basses out there don’t have frets and if you learn on a 30″ fretless bass, you will find transitioning to other fretless instruments fairly easy. The materials used in the construction of electric upright basses can differ- you would find either wood or metal or carbon fiber being used- the latter has become popular thanks to the durability aspect. Similarly, you can also choose between piezoelectric pickups or Neodymium magnet pickups like you would find on electric guitars. Personally, I like piezo amplification but you can try out both and figure out which ones you like better.Why Choose An Acoustic Upright Bass?
You may be tempted to go with the electric cousin of the upright bass but hear me out first- not only does acoustic bass look beautiful- it also offers a warmer organic sound that the electric upright bass fails to replicate. You also don’t need any amplification or fancy effects to make it sound good which is also great for a beginner. Sometimes, you may run into signal issues or mixing issues if you are using an electric upright bass. Not having to amplify your instrument or not having to carry an amplifier everywhere you go is a great thing. You do need to worry about the bulky form of the acoustic upright bass but you won’t need to get extra accessories to get the EUB sounding good. It’s however, not for somebody on a tight budget. Acoustic Upright Basses can cost thousands of dollars- and even then, the maintenance can get costly. For guitarists seeking a blend of organic tone and amplified versatility, exploring acoustic-electric guitar options can offer a compelling alternative.Why Choose An Upright Electric Bass?
Though I just said that an acoustic-electric bass is hard to beat in terms of the quality of the sound- an upright electric bass is certainly more portable and less of a pain to carry around. It fits anywhere, and if you look around- you will easily find much slimmer versions of the EUB that will make carrying the instrument with you a lot easier and less intimidating. You can use the extra space you save for transporting mini amps and pedal effects. The other important reason why getting a EUB might be worth it- is because of the versatility. Imagine being able to play any genre from classical to jazz to fusion EDM on a single instrument, and you also get the option to alter your sound as much as you want. Being electric also means the instrument can now be amplified and is louder as a result- which can help it cut through the mix a lot better. if you’ve struggled with inaudible bass tracks in the past, getting a EUB will certainly fix that issue. Not just louder- you also have the freedom to practice quietly if you’ve got picky neighbors- get an amp with a headphone-out, and you’re all set to practice in the dead of the night without anybody complaining. I know of many players who have successfully amplified their good old acoustic upright basses, but you have to admit- the low-end isn’t as fat as the ones produced by EUBs.Final Thoughts
Acoustic and electric upright bass are two different instruments and which one you should get is a personal choice you will need to make. Just like the tone differences between a classical and an electric guitar, you will find that the bass instruments share many resemblances while having striking dissimilarities. If you are mostly into classical music and won’t need to play at louder volumes, you will find the acoustic-electric bass a fantastic choice. However, if you find yourself playing blues and fusion often, and could do with a more personal voice, you would be happier with electric acoustic bass. You also get tons of ways to customize your tone and the flavor, so that would be great. For an ensemble or an orchestra, an acoustic upright bass would be the way to go. If you are interested in an acoustic upright bass, the Cecilio CDB 4/4 size double bass is a great choice. As for an electric bass, the Barcelona 3/4 Size Electric Bass. The latter is also good if you are in a space where going loud is not a choice. You should also consider the fact that these instruments are designed in different ways so are suited to different styles of playing- the EUB is much better suited to pizzicato as the body isn’t curved.Frequently Asked Questions
Is acoustic bass the same as an upright bass?
Nope. The upright bass is a much larger instrument that produces much lower bass notes while an acoustic bass is just like a fatter acoustic guitar. The upright bass is more popular than the acoustic bass.Is upright bass harder than bass guitar?
Most upright basses are fretless, and as a result- can take some time to get used to. Bass guitars, on the other hand- are usually fretted, so a beginner bassist will have a much easier time learning the bass guitar than the acoustic upright bass.Choosing the Best Acoustic Bass Guitar
For those interested in the acoustic bass that resembles a fatter acoustic guitar, distinct from the upright acoustic bass discussed earlier, choosing the right model is key. These instruments offer portability and a unique tonal quality, perfect for unplugged sessions or practice without an amplifier. Many players seek beginner-friendly options that provide a warm, organic sound. When considering an acoustic bass guitar, factors like tonewoods, playability, and budget are important. Reputable brands offer versatile models that can serve as excellent entry points for new players looking to explore bass guitar without the need for additional amplification. Understanding the nuances of different models helps in making an informed purchase.