Breedlove’s Atlas series contains a number of different basses, including the ABJ250/SM4, which is made with Breedlove’s jumbo body (seventeen-inch lower body, along with a five-inch body depth at the tail block and a four inch body depth at heel) with a smooth cut. The top is solid sitka spruce, while the sides and back are made of mahogany. The combination of sitka spruce and mahogany results in a deep and smooth sound.

Plus, this acoustic bass produces decent volume as a result of the large jumbo body (not to mention the JLD bridge truss system, one of the few acoustic basses with one installed from the factory). One of the biggest complaints about acoustic basses is that they lack the volume needed to play without an amp. The ABJ250/SM isn’t loud by any means, but the volume is enough to play unplugged along with maybe two or three other guitars/mandolins/banjos, but with more than that, the bass would be overpowered.

What I really like about this acoustic bass is its clear note separation. I even used a pick and did some bluegrass and while you might expect a wall of distorted bass, the notes came through cleanly.

ABJ250/SM4 Features [http://www.macnichol.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=MGAM&Product_Code=ABJ250_SM4&Category_Code=Jumbo] include a hardshell case, rosewood fingerboard and bridge, pearloid position inlays, satin finish, Tusq nut and saddle, JLD bridge shell, Fishman Classic IV pickup with bass-optimized EQ, chrome Grover tuners, satin finish, and an abalone rosette with black border.