Villex tone question

[Gab124]

Hello all, quick question for you. I have read many great reviews and threads for this brand of pickup, and most have stated some kind of love for them reproducing fundamentals so well. This kind of made me think of what everyone really means when using that descriptive term - or maybe just if I know what it means . So, what is meant by fundamental?
Thanks to all.

[Gab124]

I just read in tone glossary "The lowest frequency that is present in the sounding of a pitch".
Any elaborations on that?

[bongomania]

I don't know what "everyone really means" when they use the term, but the fundamental is the single frequency that identifies each note, both "on paper" and in our ears. Actual notes from a bass include the fundamental plus many, many upper harmonic frequencies which may be at a wide range of "loudness" or audibility. The proportional relationship of "loudness" between the fundamental and its harmonics has a huge impact on the tone, on the technical requirements of the equipment used to reproduce the signal, and on the way we have to adjust everything so we or the audience hear the "best" version of that tone/signal.

My guess is that when people say it reproduces the fundamentals well, what they mean is that the lowest notes have a depth and clarity that they do not hear from say a typical P bass pickup. Whether or not it's actually because of the fundamentals is a matter for an acoustic scientist.

[nutcracker]

That is correct. "Fundamental is the lowest frequency that is present in the sounding of a pitch".
The problem is - magnetic pickups tent to roll off lower frequencies so the balance
of fundamental and overtones ( x 2 harmonics above fundamental) changes to be unfavourable to
fundamentals. Attempts to improve that balance leads to loss of higher harmonics and makes sound
"darker". Villex doesn't have that problem and can go below 20 Hz and still have all highs that naturally
present in particular strings.

[fullrangebass]

Originally Posted by nutcracker

The problem is - magnetic pickups tent to roll off lower frequencies so the balance
of fundamental and overtones ( x 2 harmonics above fundamental) changes to be unfavourable to
fundamentals. Attempts to improve that balance leads to loss of higher harmonics and makes sound
"darker". Villex doesn't have that problem and can go below 20 Hz and still have all highs that naturally
present in particular strings.

+1000 on that. Some well respected and very knowledgeable people who have heard the Villex pickups said "the first thing I noticed was how nice the bottom-end was. Very big and warm. I was surprised at the clarity. Usually pickups with that much low-end emphasis have a muddy top-end."

[Ach]

Sorry for hijacking the thread, does it possible to make villex fitted bass bark and growl?

[fullrangebass]

Originally Posted by Ach

Sorry for hijacking the thread, does it possible to make villex fitted bass bark and growl?

You can fine tune the tone of a Villex-loaded bass with the mid-control and the tone pot, achieving bark and growl, but each person's idea of that is different. What exactly is your definition of bark and growl?

[billoetjen]

Hey,
Hope this response is not too late...

I have two Villex P/J sets: in fretless and fretted Warmoth builds. A couple of things that I've learned is that:
1) you can get away with having the strings waaaaay closer to the pups than I could have believed possible;
2) Doing so gives this incredible attention-grabbing bark to the j position pup that screams presence, while remaining beautifully musical; and
3) The bass fundamental is thunderously, tectonically strong.

The more I play my Villex-equipped basses the more I am impressed by them. Some serious mojo there.

Bill

[Ach]

fullrangebass, i think growl = lot of mids. Stingray (without highs), and Jazz bass (bridge pup) - are the best ways to describe growl to me.

[fullrangebass]

Originally Posted by Ach

fullrangebass, i think growl = lot of mids. Stingray (without highs), and Jazz bass (bridge pup) - are the best ways to describe growl to me.

You can definitely achieve the growl with Villex pickups (and much more than that)

[HUnt49]

What if we don't want the growl or bark? Just that 'tectonic fundamental' (I really like the sound of that) plus solid, smooth, warm, and articulate all the way up? Will they do that?

[fullrangebass]

Originally Posted by HUnt49

What if we don't want the growl or bark? Just that 'tectonic fundamental' (I really like the sound of that) plus solid, smooth, warm, and articulate all the way up? Will they do that?

They are more well known for providing HUGE ('tectonic fundamental' as you call it ), warm, organic tone all over the board, than for their growl and bark.

[Ach]

What about scooped modern tone? Can it be achieved with a turn of a passive Mid control?

[fullrangebass]

The mid-control "morphs" the mids (not a mere mid-cut) allowing a "scooped" sound, amongst other tones. The "scooped" sound is not as extreme (and mid-empty) as with active preamps, but still super great