body size and it's influence on the "behavior" of a bass

[cnltb]

Does, as far as you are concerned, the size of the body on a bass have a noticeable effect on it's tone?
How would you describe this effect in case you think there is one.
Thanks!

[Stone Age]

The only thing I can say about larger bass bodies is they are heavier. I can't speak to the tone differences, other than to say the thinner lighter bodies sound just fine.

[mikeyswood]

Define behavior.

[cnltb]

Originally Posted by mikeyswood

Define behavior.

I have heard some people say that certain instruments felt like they did not respond with an immediacy that was displayed by other instruments.
They mentioned body size as one of the factors playing into it.

Personally I have no opinion on it thus far.

I agree that "behavior" might not have been the best word to chose in this context.
I should just have said "tone"

[mikeyswood]

Define tone.

[cnltb]

Originally Posted by mikeyswood

Define tone.

It is quite alright to say "I have not noticed any differences between larger and smaller bodied basses".
If you do notice a difference in the mentioned areas it's ok to post too.

[MusicBear]

Originally Posted by cnltb

Does, as far as you are concerned, the size of the body on a bass have a noticeable effect on it's tone?
Thanks!

It may be time for you to experiment ---
Find instruments such as an (original) Steinberger bass, a Kramer Duke bass, or a Chapman Stick and play them.

My own opinion is that the rigidity/stiffness of what supports the strings will have greater effect upon tone. Also, the density (not the same as mass) of the bridge will have significant impact upon tone. (I've had basses with high-mass aluminum bridges that have sounded "darker" than equivalent brass or steel bridges - the "darker" tone is because aluminum is less dense.)

[Stone Age]

I notice differences between identical bodies.

[Rockingbird]

Don't heavier basses sustain longer or some such? I rock an ABG, so I wouldn't know.
Rockingedit: Also, didn't Auerswald(sp?) patent the Sustain bow"? It was basically a piece parallel to the neck that attached the body and headtock at two more points. It was supposed to increase overall body sustain or something thereabouts.

[MusicBear]

Heavy, very dense instruments tend to be non-resonant so the instrument will not vibrate and steal energy from the string, which in turn yields more sustain. Another way to describe heavy, dense instruments is "stiff" or "rigid."

Your back and shoulder pay for this weight, and your chiropractor or orthopedist profit.

----------------------------
The "sustain bow" or supplemental neck support are just other methods for increasing stiffness or rigidity and reducing resonance of the string support mechanism.

[MusicBear]

Originally Posted by Stone Age

I notice differences between identical bodies.

There are differences between pieces of wood - even from the same tree.

[Beauchene Implements]

I just banged out a lengthy rant about yet another unscientific, unproven, anecdotal tone discussion. Then I deleted it, because they are never going to go away.

I'd love it if Luthier's Corner was build threads and woodpr0n threads, and that's it. Can we have a filter?

I'm turning off wifi, starting up Eagle, and getting started on a new preamp with a different tone stack topology that I haven't tried yet. That's how I am affecting tone today.

[reverendrally]

this is a furfee I believe.

I've owned both light, medium weight and heavy basses. Basses with big bodies (Ps etc) and a steinberger style 5 string. I found the headless great tonewise and flexible. But what made more difference to any of the basses I've played was the age of the strings and the electronics and... dare I say it, the hands of the player.

Re sustain; why does anyone need more sustain than a P? What you don't want is dead spots. The body doesn't fix that.

Make the body so it's comfy and the neck joint so it's stable. That will keep your ears happy and your chiro poor.

[Omnipharious]

There should be a sticky for this. No one has ever gotten anything close to a definitive answer when it comes to tonewoods; and at that, most everyone here sees it a waste of time to even give a positive opinion on tonewoods.

[allexcosta]

Originally Posted by barnaclebeau

I'd love it if Luthier's Corner was build threads and woodpr0n threads, and that's it. Can we have a filter?

Originally Posted by Omnipharious

There should be a sticky for this. No one has ever gotten anything close to a definitive answer when it comes to tonewoods; and at that, most everyone here sees it a waste of time to even give a positive opinion on tonewoods.

Luthiers build things that produce sound...

What's so wrong about discussing the sound produced by your instruments? Don't you ultimately try to build an instrument that plays and sounds good?

Most luthiers I had an opportunity to talk to love the subject and will talk about it for hours. They even like to talk about how different amounts of glue affects tone, or how different construction methods do it.

Why the animosity towards this kind of discussion in this forum? Because you can't achieve a definitive answer to these questions? Einstein couldn't find definitive answers to his theories, but revolutionized science regardless...

[Omnipharious]

Originally Posted by allexcosta

Luthiers build things that produce sound...

What's so wrong about discussing the sound produced by your instruments? Don't you ultimately try to build an instrument that plays and sounds good?

Most luthiers I had an opportunity to talk to love the subject and will talk about it for hours. They even like to talk about how different amounts of glue affects tone, or how different construction methods do it.

Why the animosity towards this kind of discussion in this forum? Because you can't achieve a definitive answer to these questions? Einstein couldn't find definitive answers to his theories, but revolutionized science regardless...

Oh, you mistook me. Excuse my misspeaking. I'm a believer in the (minor) effects of tonewoods myself, and I could discuss such for hours myself, I was just saying that I don't think anyone has ever gotten anywhere discussing it here. Half of the people are non-believers, and the other half doesn't care to argue about it. At least such has been my viewing.

[allexcosta]

Originally Posted by Omnipharious

Oh, you mistook me. Excuse my misspeaking. I'm a believer in the (minor) effects of tonewoods myself, and I could discuss such for hours myself, I was just saying that I don't think anyone has ever gotten anywhere discussing it here. Half of the people are non-believers, and the other half doesn't care to argue about it. At least such has been my viewing.

Sorry then...

Don't we have a "third half" that are believers and care to argue about it? I think so...

[Meatrus]

Originally Posted by allexcosta

Luthiers build things that produce sound...

What's so wrong about discussing the sound produced by your instruments? Don't you ultimately try to build an instrument that plays and sounds good?

Most luthiers I had an opportunity to talk to love the subject and will talk about it for hours. They even like to talk about how different amounts of glue affects tone, or how different construction methods do it.

Why the animosity towards this kind of discussion in this forum? Because you can't achieve a definitive answer to these questions? Einstein couldn't find definitive answers to his theories, but revolutionized science regardless...

Its quite simple : they usually end in a hostile debate (at least when they are posted in the basses section) and getting closed. Whether in LC, or Basses its still the same people posting their same opinion over and over again. Its at the point now when you see a familiar username (which is all of them, because they post on the same topic relentlessly) and know what the person is going to say before reading.

[MusicBear]

Originally Posted by cnltb

Does, as far as you are concerned, the size of the body on a bass have a noticeable effect on it's tone?
How would you describe this effect in case you think there is one.
Thanks!

cnltb,

To return to your original post - you only mentioned body size. You did not mention body type.

With all other factors being equal, the effect of body size would be less noticeable than the effect of body type. If you opt for chambered, semi-hollow or hollow the tone difference would be much more noticeable.

[MusicBear]

Originally Posted by Meatrus

Its quite simple : they usually end in a hostile debate.

A quotation from one of Robert A. Heinlein's stories --

"No philosopher would let his opinions be swayed by the facts - he would be kicked out of his guild."