Why do they call it a "piano-like tone"?

[KingRazor]

I have a bass with D'Addario ProSteels, which aren't necessarily the brighest strings ever, but they're pretty darn bright. The description says they have a "piano tone".

I listen to a lot of piano and these strings don't make my bass sound anything like a piano. The strings sound like pieces of metal.

This has always bugged me.

[810wmb]

Originally Posted by KingRazor

I listen to a lot of piano and these strings don't make my bass sound anything like a piano. The strings sound like pieces of metal.

oh, that is because they are talking about a metal piano

[KingRazor]

Originally Posted by 810wmb

oh, that is because they are talking about a metal piano

and that'd be the best piano for metal?

[LaklandBass]

Im pretty sure theyre describing that big, round, ballsy, clear, bouncing, tone. ya know.... like hammering out some lower notes on a grand piano

[JTE]

If you listen to the sound up close of a real live acoustic grand piano and HIT the low notes, they've got this sound that's very similar to an electric bass with bright rounds. The first time we heard Chris Squire on "Roundabout", everyone in town was trying to figure out how to get "that piano sound" out of an electric bass. In '72 there just wasn't much information available...

John

[FunkMetalBass]

The way I think about it is, how do the chords sound in the lower registers? On a piano, you can play a basic triad on any section of keys, and it will ring out very clear. The concept is the same for the bass. How clear and open do the strings sound on any fret? Chords?

[810wmb]

Originally Posted by KingRazor

and that'd be the best piano for metal?

[giacomini]

Originally Posted by KingRazor

and that'd be the best piano for metal?

Maybe this?

[elgecko]

Strings are only one part of the equation. My guess is your bass doesn't sound very piano-like to start with.

[KingRazor]

Originally Posted by elgecko

Strings are only one part of the equation. My guess is your bass doesn't sound very piano-like to start with.

That could be true, but it is a solid-body electric instrument. Plus I'm talking about the tone I hear both through the amp and unplugged. The tone is bright and clangy, but not very "piano like" in my opinion.

[elgecko]

Originally Posted by KingRazor

That could be true, but it is a solid-body electric instrument. Plus I'm talking about the tone I hear both through the amp and unplugged. The tone is bright and clangy, but not very "piano like" in my opinion.

My Modulus Q5 is extremely piano-like. What makes it sound that way isn't the "treble". There's a treble component to it but what makes it piano-like is an abundance of harmonics across the ENTIRE spectrum...an "unmuffled" quality that drips in shimmering overtones.

EDIT: It sounds like this with roundwounds that most would consider dead...far from new.

[darkstorm]

I disagree with their difinition. Piano like tone to me is much more a product of hifi sounding pups with no mud nor boomyness. And preamps tone tweak from lowZ conversion. A little boost in the 6khz range can benefit this tone and is the most useful treble tone center to me. Rather then the other more popular treble control centers above or below 6khz. Of course very good lowest bass articualtion is required to. The latter as well as overall tone is also affected by the basses construction qaulity. It can be bolt on, set, or neckthru so long as its qaulity neck joint. Part of a real pianos tone is from its very solid construction.

Strings effect on piano tone? Which brand of piano strings are you going for similar tone to? Most piano strings have a fairly even tone without extra spikes in part of the tone range. Some have darker, more midrange accent, or treblier voice then others. Useing a pick better gives piano tone to me then do fingers. Simply cause even if felt wrapped hammers, pick does strike effect better then fingers in most cases. Finger style to me just gives a sound of overly padded piano hammer to me. A regular pick or even felt coated pick works better to me.

My fave strings for "piano tone" bass guitar voices would be rotosound swing 66 and DR neon. same as for other type bass voices. I like pianos with nice full dark roundwound metallic tone. I'm not into nylon or flat wound piano strings. Though some may like those.

[KingRazor]

I'm not really looking for a piano tone actually. I just always wondered why people claim that bright stainless strings have a more piano-like tone when IME, that has never been the case.

Personally I don't want my bass guitar to sound like a piano, or like an electric guitar, or like an upright. I want it to sound like a bass guitar.

[JTE]

And, there's a characteristic sound from Rotosound RS-66s that (while I don't care for that set for several reasons) is very much like the bottom end of a grand piano. Not just twangy or bright, but a ring if you will that emulates that sound.

John

[darkstorm]

Originally Posted by KingRazor

I'm not really looking for a piano tone actually....

Personally I don't want my bass guitar to sound like a piano, or like an electric guitar, or like an upright. I want it to sound like a bass guitar.

Same here. Now a piano run thru massive overdrive, bit of reverb and or echo and perhaps some other effects, played by kewl furry monsters useing little metal hammers on the strings, maybe that kind of piano like tone now and then. Lol. The reason I esp like that 6khz area with the rest of treble bassically flat is cause thats treble area that to me becomes less annoying when boosted or cut for the center freq for clank control etc. Lol

[ibnzneksrul]

Originally Posted by JTE

If you listen to the sound up close of a real live acoustic grand piano and HIT the low notes, they've got this sound that's very similar to an electric bass with bright rounds.
John

This. Pickups come into play as well of course, the more "hi-fi" the pickup, the more the piano like sound comes through. To my ears Prosteels can sound quite "piano-like."

[Rockmusician]

I have heard basses that have a piano like sound to them. It all depends on your bass, your amp and how you use your eq.

[mccartneyman]

Pluck an undampened piano E string with a pick. You'll understand.

[SGD Lutherie]

Originally Posted by KingRazor

I listen to a lot of piano and these strings don't make my bass sound anything like a piano. The strings sound like pieces of metal.

Piano strings are metal also. And round wound. So it sounds like the low notes on a piano.

Actually a Hohner clavinet sounds like an electric bass.

A lot of that depends on your bass and your pickups. But some basses do sound like pianos.

[cassius987]

Rics and to a less extent Thunderbirds really seem to sound like a low-register piano sometimes. It's amazing the chords you can get away with on a bass with that sort of clarity.