[WI_Newbie]

So in our church I play bass and acoustic.

My acoustic 6 string is an Ibanez AEF30 that I absolutely love. And while I have been playing my 78 Fender Musicmaster bass, I just recently picked up an acoustic bass. It's a Fender BG-29 knockoff, made by AXL (I know, you get what you pay for). Same specs and all as the Fender, a short scale acoustic bass, just cost a lot less.

The problem is this. When I play the Ibanez it is all good and I can fiddle with sounds and volumes no problem. But when I plugged in the acoustic bass I got feedback, a couple times even when playing. I have a feedback buster in both acoustics, same monitor setup.

So am I correct in assuming that the cheaper electronics in the bass are the cause of the feedback? Just wondering cuz it was pretty frustrating.

[TwistedLefty]

the hollow body is causing the feedback.

[Dewy]

I probably have that same axl bass... and its the preset filter thats causing the feedback. When the electronics are made they are set to have a certain sound... and then you adjust that with the variables on the electronics face.

You didn't mention what your playing through... is it a P.A. system or some sort of Amp?

That bass is weak, but if you set down and mess with it you can find a decent sound that won't feedback.

I use mine through my Berhinger v-Amp to record with... and when out camping our Bass player plugs it into his Honda Element's "CD-input".

[TwistedLefty]

what Dewy says is true,
but live performing uses higher volumes then recording or playing at a small gathering, and this is where acoustic instruments run into problems.

http://www.guitarsite.com/newsletters/011001/7.shtml
"Acoustic feedback also occurs easily on hollow bodied instruments where the body is tuned. Acoustic guitars for example feedaback at bass frequencies. That is why many 'acoustic' amplifiers incorporate 'anti-feedback' devices like tuned notch filters." http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache...&cd=10 &gl=us
"to reduce the chance for feedback when amplifying your acoustic guitar: don’t point speakers at your guitar, try to keep the overall volume of all the instruments from being too loud, use the volume and tone controls on your pre-amp to your advantage, make sure your guitar is set up properly and the pickup installed correctly, and, if necessary, cover the soundhole."

there are several simple things you can do to cut down on feedback from acoustic instruments.
1. stand farther away from the amp.
2. try not to point the openings of the guitar at the amp.
3. fill the soundhole(s) with pieces of foam rubber or cover with tape.
more expensive alternatives
1. noise gates sometimes work such as a Boss Noise Suppressor
2. parametric EQ , or feedback eliminator ,

all of my acoustic electric guitars and amps have "notch filters" built in to the electronics. this is really the only "carefree" way to eliminate the problem associated with higher volume feedback in acoustic instruments.
in the past i have had success taping over the soundholes, this changed the sound the least and i did not have to be nearly as careful about pointing the guitar in the wrong direction.
live performing is going to give you the most problems because of the increased volume used.
i would look into some sort of EQ or notch filter, also you can also experiment with the polarity of the signal. Flipping the polarity of that bass signal somewhere (just reverse pins 2 and 3 on an XLR cable) can at least move the feedback to points that are easier to get to with EQ.
Your stage monitors can also contribute to triggering feedback.

hope some of this helps

[WI_Newbie]

Thanx for all the info guys.

I did leave out that the feedback issue occurred in our church set up where I am only plugged into the PA, and at our band practice where there was my amp and PA.

I guess the first step is to try the presence as Dewey suggested.

I realize that the low cost on that thing probably means that the electronics won't shield as well as the Ibanez, but thought I'd ask.