What is the definitive acoustic bass?

Epsilon

We all know the iconic models of the guitar and electric bass world

Bass - Jazz, P, Stingray
Electric - LP, Tele, Strat
Acoustic six string - D-28, D-18, OMxx, J45

(List not exhaustive - don't take offence if I've missed your favourite model).

But what are the iconic or pre-eminent acoustic basses? This seems to get far less discussion. For myself I've owned a Breedlove 5 string Atlas series that was very nice, but a jumbo Guild acoustic bass has been what really stood out for me (although the pickup in the Breedlove was better). It seems to get a decent showing at MTV unplugged sessions, presumably for good reason. I wonder why there seems to be so little discussion on this, and indeed why major brands don't seem to be competing in this market niche more. Is there such a thing as an iconic acoustic bass?

UnclePsychosis

Being completely blunt, I think its because acoustic bass guitars are pretty much pointless for the vast majority of bassists. 

If you use them unplugged, they aren't loud enough to compete with anything else. An acoustic guitar will drown one out. 
If you amplify them, then you may as well just be using a solid body. 

I think that most people who want an "acoustic bass tone" probably want a double bass anyway. 

Funkfingers

My idea of the ultimate acoustic bass is Danny Thompson’s upright - ideally, played by DT himself.

monquixote

UnclePsychosis said:

Being completely blunt, I think its because acoustic bass guitars are pretty much pointless for the vast majority of bassists. 

If you use them unplugged, they aren't loud enough to compete with anything else. An acoustic guitar will drown one out. 
If you amplify them, then you may as well just be using a solid body. 

I think that most people who want an "acoustic bass tone" probably want a double bass anyway. 

This

I think they mostly exist so bass players don't look out of place at acoustic gigs.

bandmaster188

As above, so...
P bass with an f hole painted on it.

ICBM

Guild B-50.

(With the reservations already mentioned about all acoustic bass guitars - which for once is probably the right name...)

fretmeister

Double bass.

guitargeek62

Another vote for the Guild as its the only one I can recall being used anywhere, that said - Fretmeister’s right as usual: the correct answer is a double bass.

equalsql

What you need is a guitarron 

https://mariachinationals.com/soldemexicoonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Flores_Jorge.jpg

Kebabkid

I found the Taylor Baby one to be good fun to play and it had a nice amplified sound that sits better with acoustic guitars. However, the strings on that thing cost around £40 a set

mbe

equalsql said:

What you need is a guitarron 

https://mariachinationals.com/soldemexicoonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Flores_Jorge.jpg

Is the hat necessary for the full acoustic effect?

sticker

Kebabkid said:

I found the Taylor Baby one to be good fun to play and it had a nice amplified sound that sits better with acoustic guitars. However, the strings on that thing cost around £40 a set

Yep , The GS Mini is pretty versatile , can do "woody" double bass type tones to more of a Jazz Bass growl .

fretmeister

Kebabkid said:

I found the Taylor Baby one to be good fun to play and it had a nice amplified sound that sits better with acoustic guitars. However, the strings on that thing cost around £40 a set

You don’t normally buy Flatwound bass strings, do you?!

JezWynd

monquixote said:

UnclePsychosis said:

Being completely blunt, I think its because acoustic bass guitars are pretty much pointless for the vast majority of bassists. 

If you use them unplugged, they aren't loud enough to compete with anything else. An acoustic guitar will drown one out. 
If you amplify them, then you may as well just be using a solid body. 

I think that most people who want an "acoustic bass tone" probably want a double bass anyway. 

This

I think they mostly exist so bass players don't look out of place at acoustic gigs.

on MTV Unplugged.

Bridgehouse

My shuker fretless has under saddle piezos and sounds as “acoustic” as a bass probably can... it however really doesn’t look acoustic in the slightest....