Verbally describing tone

Youngspanion · #1 03-01-2013, 02:25 PM

I watched Jeff Beck on Palladia the other night with Tal Wilkenfeld and I immediately liked her tone. So I did a bunch of searches about her, her tone and whatever.

So What I was thinking is that there must be a way to describe tone here on Talkbass by pointing to examples that can be found on Youtube or on recordings. Like you could point to this or that youtube or recording and say the tone of the bass is "Scooped" or Fat and thick or Modern. You know, things like this are said all the time by a lot of us and personally, I don't even know what I'm saying.

So would you say that Tal's tone on most of her recordings is Scooped or Fat? Modern?
You see where I'm going here?

RickenBoogie · #2 03-01-2013, 03:03 PM

It's impossible to convey with words something as subjective as a sound. Aside from loud, which we all understand, the subtlties of "tone" are far too complicated, and everyone's ears are different. Can't be done with any certainty.

Youngspanion · #3 03-01-2013, 03:05 PM

But we try all the time here. I read post after post of how this is Fat. This is grind. This is Modern and this is....whatever. So I think that It could be attempted.

**Ric5** · #4 03-01-2013, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Youngspanion

I watched Jeff Beck on Palladia the other night with Tal Wilkenfeld and I immediately liked her tone. So I did a bunch of searches about her, her tone and whatever.

So What I was thinking is that there must be a way to describe tone here on Talkbass by pointing to examples that can be found on Youtube or on recordings. Like you could point to this or that youtube or recording and say the tone of the bass is "Scooped" or Fat and thick or Modern. You know, things like this are said all the time by a lot of us and personally, I don't even know what I'm saying.

So would you say that Tal's tone on most of her recordings is Scooped or Fat? Modern?
You see where I'm going here?

smooth and jazzy

Bob C · #5 03-01-2013, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

It's impossible to convey with words something as subjective as a sound. Aside from loud, which we all understand, the subtlties of "tone" are far too complicated, and everyone's ears are different. Can't be done with any certainty.

I have to agree and disagree equally. No one can know if I see the same "red" as you. And quite possibly, your "growly" may be my "crunchy".

However, the idea of pointing out that string noise lies in the 2K range, punch is around 125 (or whatever it may be) and so on is valid, practical and useful.

Furthermore, to layout examples such as "Squire has an aggressive tone, Jamerson's is muddier", etc is a common practice for good reason.

I'm sure there is a thread, site, book or blog somewhere which gives examples of crispy", "tinny", "modern", "woody", boomy and on and on. Again, these words don't mean exactly the same thing to two different people. They are adjectives used to help describe what we hear.

tylerwylie · #6 03-01-2013, 03:37 PM

Her tone is fat, warm, modern, grindy, scooped, thick, meaty, anemic, growly, aggressive, smooth, and warm(twice!).

giorob815 · #7 03-01-2013, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob C

I'm sure there is a thread, site, book or blog somewhere which gives examples of crispy", "tinny", "modern", "woody", boomy and on and on...

Try the TalkBass Tone Glossary.

I think they've done quite an admirable job of describing the various 'flavours' we give to our instrument. Links can be found in the Pickup Forum or the Wiki.

Rob

Art Araya · #8 03-01-2013, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by giorob815

Try the TalkBass Tone Glossary.

I think they've done quite an admirable job of describing the various 'flavours' we give to our instrument. Links can be found in the Pickup Forum or the Wiki.

Rob

Bingo! I just stumbled upon this yesterday and was thrilled to see it existed and how well done and thorough it was.