How dose gauge (light vs heavy) and tension (low vs high) affect sustain?

[mastershake]

Which sustains the most?

[FunkMetalBass]

Assuming ideal conditions, I can't think of a physical reason why either of those would matter at all.

Three major things affect sustain:
1) Pickup strength. Stronger magnets are going to dampen strings faster.
2) Bass construction. Body and neck woods that do not resonate well and poor body-neck-string contact will dampen strings faster.
3) String construction. If the windings are loose, the windings and core will not oscillate in unison and this will dampen the strings faster.

[john grey]

This is a rather complex issue and although I generally agree with the above concepts the gentleman brought out (above) there are even more complexities. The strength of the magnets may dampen strings; however the closer to the bridge (i.e. StringRay placement) negates some of this issue.
"Nut to bridge" phenomena may impact as much as body/neck construction as the "plank of wood" thread pointed out. But the generalities still apply.

That all being said I think we come back to physics 101: "An object in motion"...... IF a heavier string and a lighter string are plucked with the same strength which one will continue?
If a block of wood and a block of lead are dropped from the same distance which one will hit the ground first?

BOTH will strike the ground at the same time!

It is the initiating physical force that determines the energy imparted into a solid object unless acted upon by external forces such as dampening elements: a feather and a coin will not fall at the same rate due to the feather's aerodynamics....NOT it's weight.

[Pilgrim]

I've never noticed any difference based on string gauge. Don't think it matters.

[FunkMetalBass]

Originally Posted by john grey

That all being said I think we come back to physics 101: "An object in motion"...... IF a heavier string and a lighter string are plucked with the same strength which one will continue?
If a block of wood and a block of lead are dropped from the same distance which one will hit the ground first?

BOTH will strike the ground at the same time!

It is the initiating physical force that determines the energy imparted into a solid object unless acted upon by external forces such as dampening elements: a feather and a coin will not fall at the same rate due to the feather's aerodynamics....NOT it's weight.

Not true. Classically speaking, Newton's laws of gravitation dictate that an object with more mass, even in a vacuum, will have greater force of gravity placed on it and thus will fall faster. However, at reasonably close distances (that is, up to the edge of Earth's atmosphere), the difference is negligible.

[251]

Originally Posted by FunkMetalBass

Not true. Classically speaking, Newton's laws of gravitation dictate that an object with more mass, even in a vacuum, will have greater force of gravity placed on it and thus will fall faster. However, at reasonably close distances (that is, up to the edge of Earth's atmosphere), the difference is negligible.

You have climbed onto the slippery slope. The greater force acts on a greater mass. In a vacuum, all objects, cannon ball or feather, paint chip or satellite, fall at the same rate.

Gravitation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[knuckle_head]

Other side of it . . .

A loose string has high amplitude because it moves more, and has a large dynamic range loud to quiet. If you turn down to make use of a hard-struck string it will seem as though volume decays faster.

A tight string won't be as loud, but at it's loudest is closer in amplitude to your softest notes - almost like having a compressor in the string. The tighter string will seem to sustain longer.

In truth each will vibrate about as long as the other - the difference is in the useable amplitude.

[FunkMetalBass]

Originally Posted by 251

You have climbed onto the slippery slope. The greater force acts on a greater mass. In a vacuum, all objects, cannon ball or feather, paint chip or satellite, fall at the same rate.

Gravitation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Of course, general relativity. Why didn't I think of that?!

[darkstorm]

For a few yrs I used 40-95 gauge rotosounds. I dont think they sustained any more or less then 45-105. I did a lot of ted nugent on bass type thing with the infinite sustain thru feedback and so on with the 40-95's and just regular held notes without feedback to. I'll agree with others who've said gauge doesn't affect sustain.

[mastershake]

As far as gauge goes would it be fair to make an analog to symbols? If I strike two symbols made of same material and made by same brand, say a 14" and a 16" crash, wouldn't the 16" ring out (sustain) longer? I'm not sure though if striking a cymbal is the same as stroking a string in terms of how it sustains.

[darkstorm]

Originally Posted by mastershake

As far as gauge goes would it be fair to make an analog to symbols? If I strike two symbols made of same material and made by same brand, say a 14" and a 16" crash, wouldn't the 16" ring out (sustain) longer? I'm not sure though if striking a cymbal is the same as stroking a string in terms of how it sustains.

I havent noticed larger cymbals sustaining longer then smaller ones. But vibration sound making method is also diff anyway. Cymbals, gongs, tubullar bells and tuning forks all ring in a similair way. But strings dont which allows them to produce diff pitch by holding string down at the various frets. You cant do that with the cymbals etc etc. Strings move in kinda a double S overlapping manner that creates waves. But really the answer to question is very easilly determined. Get a set of ultra to light gauge strings and a set of med to heavy gauge. When you put them on the bass you'll find they both sustain the same amount of time. If you have a guitar you can do the same experiment for sig less money. Since guitar strings cost about 1/4 the amount of bass strings. Lol.

[JustDavid]

1/ Grab your bass & tuner.
2/ Tune your A to C & your D to C.
3/ Strum them both.
4/ Let us know the results.

[mastershake]

Iv done a similar experiment already how dose sting tension affect tone. I figured it had more to do with tension although gauge does play a role in tension difference. in the experiment I couldn't definitively tell the difference in sustain, I did however notice a difference in tone but couldn't tell what contributed to this more-tension or gauge difference. I had made thread on it as well
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f16/do...mental-777062/

[MuzikMan]

Originally Posted by mastershake

Iv done a similar experiment already how dose sting tension affect tone. I figured it had more to do with tension although gauge does play a role in tension difference. in the experiment I couldn't definitively tell the difference in sustain, I did however notice a difference in tone but couldn't tell what contributed to this more-tension or gauge difference. I had made thread on it as well
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f16/do...mental-777062/

Well, if you change gauge you have to change tension so does it matter which one affects things?

[Epidrake]

Compared to a guitar, I have never had a problem with sustain on a bass. It always lasts as long as I need it, maybe longer.
But the same string on a hollow body vs. a solid body definitely has less sustain, or so it seems to me.

[mastershake]

Originally Posted by MuzikMan

Well, if you change gauge you have to change tension so does it matter which one affects things?

I'm sorry, I don't know if its just me but I don't know what exactly your making reference to nor do I complete understand what you mean. could you please clarify. I don't remember ever changing gauge in the experiment.

[mastershake]

If Im correct most flats are high tension and people say they sustain less than rounds. but Iv also heard the width of the ribbon might have something to do with it.

[Electricblue]

Originally Posted by 251

You have climbed onto the slippery slope. The greater force acts on a greater mass. In a vacuum, all objects, cannon ball or feather, paint chip or satellite, fall at the same rate.

Gravitation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I will challenge you on this. I will get two identical bottles, one empty, one full. I will throw them from my friend's top story flat. I will see which one lands first

[TimWilson]

An "all-about-strings" article in BP a few years ago made the point very nicely: "The heavier a string is, the more it acts like a metal bar clamped at either end."

That being said, I use the same brand roundwounds on all the ladies. I string my StingRays with extra-lights, but I keep regulars on my Fender P. All have maple necks & boards, but the Fender seems to sustain longer...

[ehque]

Originally Posted by Electricblue

I will challenge you on this. I will get two identical bottles, one empty, one full. I will throw them from my friend's top story flat. I will see which one lands first

Where does your friend live, that the atmospheric conditions are a vacuum? The moon?