Is your low F# clear and articulate?

[trb6pJM2]

Originally Posted by baalroo

remember that suspension bridge that collapsed last year?

35W wasn't a suspension bridge

It's already rebuilt btw, pretty amazing feat.

Now to add to the post, the only time mine was clear, was when I went to guitar center and played through a 410 with a 500 watt head, it's the magic formula.

[baalroo]

Originally Posted by trb6pJM2

35W wasn't a suspension bridge

It's already rebuilt btw, pretty amazing feat.

Now to add to the post, the only time mine was clear, was when I went to guitar center and played through a 410 with a 500 watt head, it's the magic formula.

--- <- my post

--- <- your head

[Honk'n_down-low]

Yeah - in all those tunes - I am always banging that low F# - people are just dieing to hear my deep articulation.

They say - was that a low F#? I say why yes, yes that was a low F#! You feeling me??

[bThumper38]

I've been thinking bout the C# lately, and i think getting a clean tone way down in that bottom end is all about how you touch the strings. meaning i've been working alot with the low strings just barely touching the strings and getting a really clean tone while grooving out. If I can ever get back to Chi-town I wanna check out one of your basses Jauqo=).

[EADG mx]

Originally Posted by baalroo

--- <- my post

--- <- your head

Your post


worn out joke



My only experience with an F# string in person is that I have tried a Warwick Dark Lord in a music store. I couldn't hear the fundamental pitches on the F# string lower than the 3rd fret (A).

I have listened to F# and C# strings on recordings, specifically the work of Garry Goodman, Jean Baudin, and Jauqo's "Low C# Theory". I also have trouble picking them out, especially on the Jauqo CD.

[Matt Till]

Since, in spite of my request for clear and articulate clips of the low F# I went seeking them out, and still haven't come up with anything. I checked out "The Low C# Theory" off CD baby, good stuff, great bass playing, but I certainly wouldn't use clear and articulate to describe the bass tone. It sounds muddy to me, I like mud, I play in a downtuned rock band and we downtune to achieve some muddiness. But I have still not heard any low low stuff with clarity.

EXCEPT in many electronica settings, but those aren't bass guitars.

[Nyarlathotep]

Originally Posted by EADG mx

My only experience with an F# string in person is that I have tried a Warwick Dark Lord in a music store. I couldn't hear the fundamental pitches on the F# string lower than the 3rd fret (A).

The one thing to keep in mind is the physics of speakers, and the range of human hearing. The A you speak of is 27.5Hz, which is what my low string is tuned to. I used to run it thru an 8" speaker, but now run it thru a 15" and the clarity is amazing. If I kick in my POG tho, that speaker is having to recreate a 13.75Hz tone, WELL below the average 20Hz min of human hearing. Im not sure of the Hz values of the F#, G, or G# but IIRC the F# is just below that 20Hz. The funny thing is that my amp DOES produce the 13.75 tone, but you can't hear it. You FEEL it. Which is exactly what I aim for when using the POG. I use it as a quake effect on the low strings. Having an F# or C# string would be nice in many ways, but the POG is prolly much cheaper than getting a bass set up for a string that low, never mind the cost of the string itself. Plus its nice to be able to just kick it in and not have to switch position on the neck, or really adjust my playing in any way.

BTW, im not saying the POGs tone is "clean" either, but blended in with the dry signal it goes from very digital sounding to more of a "natural" growl. At least on the low strings. It still sounds very digital on the higher ones. Think electronica key type stuff.

I have listened to F# and C# strings on recordings, specifically the work of Garry Goodman, Jean Baudin, and Jauqo's "Low C# Theory". I also have trouble picking them out, especially on the Jauqo CD.

Don't forget that Jauqo had a custom made bass, string, AND amplifier made to handle that string. Im surprised that they might even show up in a recording, as most digital stuff is cut off at 20 and 20K (IIRC).

[greenboy]

Originally Posted by Matt Till

Since, in spite of my request for clear and articulate clips of the low F# I went seeking them out, and still haven't come up with anything. I checked out "The Low C# Theory" off CD baby, good stuff, great bass playing, but I certainly wouldn't use clear and articulate to describe the bass tone. It sounds muddy to me, I like mud, I play in a downtuned rock band and we downtune to achieve some muddiness. But I have still not heard any low low stuff with clarity.

Yeah, I've done the low F#/E thing with several basses, preamped and passive, and several different strings - one of them that's an unreleased prototype that on my 34" scale basses puts the commercial choices to shame. With some massaging in the studio I'm sure they could sound a little more manicured but the best starting basis I've experienced has been with a 39.5" scale Knuckle QUAKE bass. It could actually make more of a clear balance of the string's natural overtone series at any fret and spoke with great authority even passively.

Size does make a difference.

[greenboy]

Actually I did have two other positive experiences, and that was detuning fatter B strings on a 34" scale Basslab V-bow, which due I think to its composite design and build was capable of wringing the best theoretically possible out such a combination. Great clarity even before considering the scale length and the fact that it was only a tapercore SS .130 (or was it .135?)

The other was an earlier Dingwall Afterburner Five whose scale was 37" at that point. This really helps make the best of strings at lower pitches, and the bass construction itself probably didn't hurt.

[JAUQO III-X]

Originally Posted by Matt Till

Since, in spite of my request for clear and articulate clips of the low F# I went seeking them out, and still haven't come up with anything. I checked out "The Low C# Theory" off CD baby, good stuff, great bass playing, but I certainly wouldn't use clear and articulate to describe the bass tone. It sounds muddy to me, I like mud, I play in a downtuned rock band and we downtune to achieve some muddiness. But I have still not heard any low low stuff with clarity.

EXCEPT in many electronica settings, but those aren't bass guitars.

Thanks Matt.

Matt what type of speakers were you listening to at the time?

[Matt Till]

Originally Posted by JAUQO III-X

Thanks Matt.

Matt what type of speakers were you listening to at the time?

Some pretty solid headphones, they aren't top of the line, but they have a pretty good sound to them.

I don't know, when I think of bass clarity, I think a more crisp sound that has a lot of definition in the upper mids. Honestly, once again, I prefer the type of tone you have, it's an old school type of tone that I try to go for myself. And I love what you are doing with it, but being such a low tuning, I don't see it as an example of super low tuning sounding clear.

[JAUQO III-X]

Originally Posted by Matt Till

Some pretty solid headphones, they aren't top of the line, but they have a pretty good sound to them.

I don't know, when I think of bass clarity, I think a more crisp sound that has a lot of definition in the upper mids. Honestly, once again, I prefer the type of tone you have, it's an old school type of tone that I try to go for myself. And I love what you are doing with it, but being such a low tuning, I don't see it as an example of super low tuning sounding clear.

Give it a listen in a context other than a set of headphones.


I understand what you mean when you say you associate clear with with being crisp with a lot of definition in the upper mids.

The tone that I'm getting on that recording is very clear but it doesn't have that crisp bright presence that you are referring to but it does have nice even clear upper mid growl. Especially coming through what the two guitarist are doing?

[JAUQO III-X]

Originally Posted by bThumper38

If I can ever get back to Chi-town I wanna check out one of your basses Jauqo=).

No problem Brian.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by JAUQO III-X

The tone that I'm getting on that recording is very clear but it doesn't have that crisp bright presence that you are referring to but it does have nice even clear upper mid growl. Especially coming through what the two guitarist are doing?

Your guitarist pal with the difficult name I can't remember has enough crisp bright presence for 4 bass players! You're right in the mix where you need to be. A brighter presence would ruin it IMHO. Upper mids are enough. Who the heck wants clarity?

I'm no expert on this stuff by any means, but I have tuned my 5 down to G on occasion. I did it on a few different amps and I've always liked how it sounded no matter what amp. I even liked the floppiness of the too-small string. But touch made all the difference in whether it sounded good or doofy.

[JAUQO III-X]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Your guitarist pal with the difficult name I can't remember has enough crisp bright presence for 4 bass players! You're right in the mix where you need to be. A brighter presence would ruin it IMHO. Upper mids are enough. Who the heck wants clarity?

That would be Kudzai Kasambira and I totally agree. His tone is his and if I wanted to have crispy highs on my bass it would have been a sonic mess for sure. One vital aspect of that recording was all about the tone of the two guitars and how my low frequency complimented them and every body had their own individual sonic space(including the drummer).

Originally Posted by JimmyM

But touch made all the difference in whether it sounded good or doofy.

Yes it will.

[knuckle_head]

Originally Posted by JAUQO III-X

For those who are using basses with a Low F# string what are your hands on experience like?

My personal 4 is dedicated to octave E tuning, and I am finding that I want more range. I think there is a 6 string in my future with the 20 Hz E on bottom.

Is the low F# clear and articulate?

It is indeed.

Are you lugging around a cab that can't fit through the door of the venue?

I don't gig, but I do loan/rent my stuff. I have found that if a player is happy with their existing rig and it is to any degree competent down to 40 Hz or so then that is all that's truly necessary. Presenting anything lower than the cabinets are capable of is covered by a good DI signal.

What do you think contributes to that F# being just right for you?

I can play my lowest string with the same technique as any other string on my bass and have it sound very cohesive with the balance of my string set.

[knuckle_head]

Originally Posted by Matt Till

Since, in spite of my request for clear and articulate clips of the low F# I went seeking them out, and still haven't come up with anything.

Hello Karma has a couple of tracks. 'No One Likes a Fool' is 20 Hz E, and I believe 'The Slow Vibration' is F#.

EDIT - Yves Carbonne - I'm awfully distracted and forgot...