Another Growl Question

[ncpilot2]

Isn't growl kind of like the sound a cello makes on the real low notes? You know, the sound when the bow just starts to pull across the strings

[Kronos]

Kind of, but not necessarily so with an electric. I get a growl just by turning up the preamp and digging in.

[astronauts_suck]

Originally Posted by Kronos

Kind of, but not necessarily so with an electric. I get a growl just by turning up the preamp and digging in.

I think that's called overdrive, not growl. I'd say Pilot's decription is pretty close to what would be "growl" in my book.

[ncpilot2]

Thanks for the reponses. I guess there are still widely varying opinions - growl means something different to each of us.

[Son of Magni]

Originally Posted by ncpilot2

Thanks for the reponses. I guess there are still widely varying opinions - growl means something different to each of us.

Agreed, I used to think growl meant the same thing as mwah. But I guess that's not correct. It seems that growl refers to that hollow mid-rangy sound that is sort of the classic jazz bass bridge pickup sound. Mwah is more the fretless sound of the string vibrating against the neck like an upright.

And to get more detailed about mwah. The vibration of the string is a side to side motion. But in what direction? What actually seems to happen is that there's a low frequency shift between vibrating in a plane parallel to the fingerboard, and vibrating in a plane intersecting with the fingerboard. The change in timbre that this causes, and the degree that in can be heard, is refered to as mwah.

That's my theory, and it's mine

[AmPb100]

Boost around 120-160Hz and use some compression if it's available. Be careful in that freq range though cause too much = pure mud.

[Pan]

'mwah' has been well described and sounds as it's pronounced.
'growl' to me is harder to describe and differs a lot. To me, it's the aggressive attack of a Warwick or Stingray 5 which Fenders don't have. My Fodera doesn't quite growl but goes have an agressive edge to it which again the Fenders don't have. Maybe that's a 'hi-fi' sound?
Someone in the 60's told me a Fender Jazz had a 'click' sound to it. Not sure I ever completely understood that one but the Jazz does have something of character the Precision doesn't.
How is that described?

[adrian garcia]

my definiton of growl:
go to www.celinder.com
go to references, then click on nikolai storr's video. listen with good speakers or headphones =

GROWL.

[FaithNoMan]

Originally Posted by Pan

'mwah' has been well described and sounds as it's pronounced.
'growl' to me is harder to describe and differs a lot. To me, it's the aggressive attack of a Warwick or Stingray 5 which Fenders don't have. My Fodera doesn't quite growl but goes have an agressive edge to it which again the Fenders don't have. Maybe that's a 'hi-fi' sound?
Someone in the 60's told me a Fender Jazz had a 'click' sound to it. Not sure I ever completely understood that one but the Jazz does have something of character the Precision doesn't.
How is that described?

Jazz basses are known for their bridge growl, as are Stingrays and Warwicks

Originally Posted by Pan

"the aggressive attack of a Warwick or Stingray 5 which Fenders don't have"

Listen to the intro to "The Wall" by Pink Floyd.....

A mapleboard Fender P or J sounds way more aggressive to me than a Warwick.... everytime I hear a band that plays 'Wicks, they sound really fat and round, not aggressive...although I always liked the tones Alex Katunich(Dirk Lance) came up with...

[embellisher]

Originally Posted by adrian garcia

my definiton of growl:
go to www.celinder.com
go to references, then click on nikolai storr's video. listen with good speakers or headphones =

GROWL.

Yep. If the Encyclopedia Galactica had a sound file for growl, it would sound like that clip, when he goes down into the low register.

Pan, have you never heard a Jazz bass before?