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10-06-2010, 12:28 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2010 Location: Tallahassee, FL | | | (Musically) Skeptical Bassists Club!!!
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I was reading a thread about boutique cables and came across this quote: Quote: |
The ability to happily accept that a previously held-to theory is incorrect when new evidence presents itself is tough thing to do, and the basis of all good science.
| And it got me wondering...how many skeptical bassists do we have here on Talkbass?
What is your favorite bass related myth and what bass / rig do you play?
I tend to love (to hate) the boutique cable woo. But there are so many to choose from!
If you are a fan of science and or skepticism, be heard! |
10-06-2010, 12:39 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Minneapolis, MN | | | I'm a big fan of science and skepticism. In fact, whenever anybody tells me anything, I usually scowl at them until they can bring me some empirical evidence that what they're saying is true.
Here are a couple of statements that immediately make me scowl in skeptical delight:
1) I can easily hear the difference between a [jazz bass, p bass, MM, etc] and a cheap copy in the mix
2) A 4x10 speaker cab can't get the same low frequencies as a 1x15
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10-06-2010, 12:42 PM
|  | Evil Alien | | Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Sacramento, CA | | | Seems like the wrong forum for this topic... But which one will this get moved to?
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Hollowbody Bass Club #121, Hondo Club #002, Official Short Scale Bass Club #018, Short-Scale Six-String Bass Club #001, Epiphone Club #010, can't recall what other clubs I'm a member of here...
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10-06-2010, 12:47 PM
|  | Eat at Joe's | | Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: J-Actionville, NC | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Reynoldbot  Here are a couple of statements that immediately make me scowl in skeptical delight:
1) I can easily hear the difference between a [jazz bass, p bass, MM, etc] and a cheap copy in the mix
2) A 4x10 speaker cab can't get the same low frequencies as a 1x15 | Agreed. I am also skeptical that fretboard wood makes any quantifiable difference in tone. Body wood I am more inclined to believe, but not tothe extent many espouse, at least in solid body electric instruments.
Once skepticism is replaced by dogmatic acceptance of a hypothesis, science falls flat on its ass, and any possibility of new understanding with it. I am not sure how this ties into bass playing, but WTH, I like this club.
__________________ Quote:
Originally Posted by jive1 .....It's sorta like a man complaining that a tampon doesn't fit him. | |
10-06-2010, 12:50 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2010 Location: Tallahassee, FL | | | hahah nice!
Sometimes it's hard being a skeptic and getting the reputation as the nay-sayer and killjoy.
It can be hard to listen to someone tell their personal ghost story or repeat something they heard like it is a well known fact--when you KNOW it is just some trite urban legend or a trick or the brain.
I know bass players run the gambit of personalities, but somehow I feel like bass players tend towards natural skepticism.
In the thread I wrote about the first post, the original poster SWORE he could hear a difference in cables. After a careful analysis, the op saw that it was only his imagination. The brain is a powerful trickster. You cant believe your own eyes...that certianly extends to your ears!
Last edited by Bryan R. Tyler : 10-06-2010 at 03:19 PM.
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10-06-2010, 12:52 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2010 Location: Tallahassee, FL | | | Would it help keep it here if people posted pic of their skeptical basses?
Last edited by Aaron_D : 10-06-2010 at 12:56 PM.
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10-06-2010, 12:59 PM
|  | Expendable | | Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Shreveport, Louisiana | | Could this be.............HOME?
I'm so skeptical my friends say I'm a nihilist.  I don't think so, though, since I believe in abstract things like emotions and aesthetics.
Skepticism has saved me a lot of money that would have otherwise been spent on "snakeoil" products. Like engine oil additives, miracle herbal supplements, or BBE sonic maximizers. |
10-06-2010, 01:00 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2010 Location: Tallahassee, FL | | | |
10-06-2010, 01:01 PM
| | | | I'm generally skeptical, and am a scientist and engineer by training (mechanical engineering and earth sciences/oceanography). But I use "high end" cables, actually the middle tier, Monster cables, and like them. The difference for me was subtle, but I could "feel" it on the bandstand. That said I would gladly participate in a double-blind study comparing 20' Monster cables against comparable length Whirlwind or Belden (Belkin?) cables, but it would have to be playing with a band to be accurate. Solo playing would not tell the whole story. I also did an A/B test, in a dark room, solo, and felt that the Monster cable was bit louder and fuller than a similar Whirlwind. While I wouldn't mind being proven wrong, I also can easily imagine that better materials and more careful construction could make a better cable, and furthermore, I've already traded my main Monster leads in for replacements on the original purchase, so even if there is no difference I'm ahead of where I'd have been with a Whirlwind. Oh, the Monsters also lasted longer before replacement than my previous experience with Whirlwind/Belkin. So even without a sonic improvement, I feel happy with the other material improvements. |
10-06-2010, 01:02 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Milwaukee, WI | | I'm the most skeptical amongst my friends and it usually pisses people off (especially when my skepticism eventually presents the correct method to something). I'm not always right, but I can call my bull****. 
I'm also skeptical about the whole "I can identify the [insert bass here] vs. cheap bass in the mix" comment.
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10-06-2010, 01:03 PM
| | Expendable | | Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Shreveport, Louisiana | | Quote:
Originally Posted by lousybassplayer THe bottom line is believing and regurgitating "common knowledge" is often a way get played for a sucker and often look like an idiot. | +1 |
10-06-2010, 01:03 PM
| | Eat at Joe's | | Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: J-Actionville, NC | | Bloodhammer, are you saying that Richard Petty has been lying to me for all these years? I'll question anything, but not the King. There is healthy skepticism, and then there is just plain wrong 
__________________ Quote:
Originally Posted by jive1 .....It's sorta like a man complaining that a tampon doesn't fit him. | |
10-06-2010, 01:05 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Atlanta, GA | | | Join.
So how many tb skeptic members do we need to get before the yawning chasm of nihilism opens? |
10-06-2010, 01:07 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2010 Location: Tallahassee, FL | | Quote: |
I would gladly participate in a double-blind study comparing 20' Monster cables against comparable length Whirlwind or Belden (Belkin?) cables
| And that's what makes you a good skeptic. If the test showed you something that went against your previously held notions...changing your mind based on hard evidence. Quote: |
So how many tb skeptic members do we need to get before the yawning chasm of nihilism opens?
| Nihilism and skepticism could not be more different.
Last edited by Aaron_D : 10-06-2010 at 01:09 PM.
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10-06-2010, 01:07 PM
| | Banned | | Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Bismarck | | | That bassists are smart |
10-06-2010, 01:08 PM
| | Expendable | | Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Shreveport, Louisiana | | Quote:
Originally Posted by HolmeBass I'm generally skeptical, and am a scientist and engineer by training (mechanical engineering and earth sciences/oceanography). But I use "high end" cables, actually the middle tier, Monster cables, and like them. | Regardless of any possible sound difference, lifetime warranties are good things to have. To me, a cable crapping out is a matter of when - not if. |
10-06-2010, 01:11 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2010 Location: Tallahassee, FL | | Quote: |
lifetime warranties are good things to have
| That is a perfectly good reason to choose any cable. Woo-woo magic metal plating and ulta high quality shielding aren't. |
10-06-2010, 01:13 PM
| | Expendable | | Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Shreveport, Louisiana | | Quote:
Originally Posted by lousybassplayer Bloodhammer, are you saying that Richard Petty has been lying to me for all these years? I'll question anything, but not the King. There is healthy skepticism, and then there is just plain wrong | lol I'm afraid I'm not familiar with what he's said, but I tend to be the same way with George Carlin. |
10-06-2010, 01:16 PM
| | Eat at Joe's | | Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: J-Actionville, NC | | | The cable thing to me is like guys putting premium gas into an escort with a fart can. If you are having problems with your equipment, perhaps the peripheral accessories are not the source. IF you are not having problems with it, why spend extra money on gizmos of doubtful quality?
BH, the King told me if I put STP in my car it would turn into a NASCAR speck Dodge. So far I have yet to turn a 41second 1.5 mile lap in my sliverado, but I think I may just be adding it wrong. There is no way he would deceive me.
__________________ Quote:
Originally Posted by jive1 .....It's sorta like a man complaining that a tampon doesn't fit him. |
Last edited by lousybassplayer : 10-06-2010 at 01:19 PM.
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10-06-2010, 01:17 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cleveland, OH | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Aaron_D hahah nice!
Sometimes it's hard being a skeptic and getting the reputation as the nay-sayer and killjoy.
It can be hard to listen to someone tell their personal ghost story or repeat something they heard like it is a well known fact--when you KNOW it is just some trite urban legend or a trick or the brain.
I know bass players run the gambit of personalities, but somehow I feel like bass players tend towards natural skepticism.
In the thread I wrote about the first post, the original poster SWORE he could hear a difference in cables. After a careful analysis, the op saw that it was only his imagination. The brain is a powerful trickster. You cant believe your own eyes...that certianly extends to your ears! | I loved that thread about the cables. I really appreciated his time in doing that.
But definitely my favorite myth is the "I can tell the cheap copy in the mix" one. Sure, I believe some people can but even among players... probably not as many as would claim.
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...oh, how He loves us so...
Last edited by Bryan R. Tyler : 10-06-2010 at 03:20 PM.
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