The Church of Dan Atkinson / The Wood Doesn't Matter Club

[dmusic148]

Originally Posted by awilkie84

Wood has no magnetic properties. How can wood affect the magnetic field of a pickup & string??

It doesn't, obviously. However, given the fact that the strings are anchored to a long, flexible beam which flexes and vibrates when the strings do, it's a safe bet that this beam has some effect on the vibration of said strings. In fact we know for sure that it does, otherwise no bass would have a dead spot.
The argument is about how and to what degree the effect changes when wood species changes.

[Munjibunga]

Originally Posted by awilkie84

Wood has no magnetic properties. How can wood affect the magnetic field of a pickup & string??

It doesn't, but it can affect the way the string vibrates which, in turn, affects the output of the pickups. Different woods resonate differently, and the string receives vibratory feedback from the wood.

[Musiclogic]

I suggest to everyone to look at the video that compares an alder bass to the same parts mounted in a piece of 2x12 scrap from a buildng site to understand how little difference the wood parts make in the sound of an instrument.

Players technique and electronics are the biggest effect on the sound of an instrument followed by strings, hardware, and construction.

Wood plays a very minor part, unlike what so many claim to be able to hear. This is more perception than reality.

Until someone does actual spectrum analysis of multiple materials with graphing for varying attack, the Ed Roman wood and finish myths will continue to be gospel for too many. IMNSHO

[seang15]

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

It doesn't, but it can affect the way the string vibrates which, in turn, affects the output of the pickups. Different woods resonate differently, and the string receives vibratory feedback from the wood.

Sure. But the pickups and strings add about 99.9% of the sound, with the wood about .1%.

[dmusic148]

Originally Posted by seang15

Sure. But the pickups and strings add about 99.9% of the sound, with the wood about .1%.

I'm gonna have to go ahead and disagree with you there.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sdVx5gQz6w

[Munjibunga]

Originally Posted by seang15

Sure. But the pickups and strings add about 99.9% of the sound, with the wood about .1%.

Do you care to cite your sources or experimental results?

[dmusic148]

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

Do you care to cite your sources or experimental results?

Oh
No
You
Di-int.

[mystic38]

I guess les pauls really dont have any more sustain than strats after all.... gee..

[danroche]

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

Do you care to cite your sources or experimental results?

To be fair, Dan's sound clips test is the closest to scientific testing this whole thing has ever come. And traditionally, the answer to experiments whose outcome you have a problem with is more, better experiments, not conversational goal post moving.

So until those experiments are produced here, I think Dan's sound test carries the day.

[mongo2]

Originally Posted by Musiclogic

I suggest to everyone to look at the video that compares an alder bass to the same parts mounted in a piece of 2x12 scrap from a buildng site to understand how little difference the wood parts make in the sound of an instrument.

Except when you have access to several basses (even made of the same materials) and can hear distinct differences between them.

Hearing is also a variable so some may not notice the differences.

[khutch]

Originally Posted by mongo2

Except when you have access to several basses (even made of the same materials) and can hear distinct differences between them.

This observation is not the end of the argument, only the beginning. Now you have to do a careful analysis to determine why the basses sound different. This is the step that everyone (?) but Dan passes over. Although I would point out that if two basses made from the same materials sound different then the difference is not likely to be due to the materials themselves unless those materials have significant variation and in that case assigning any particular "sound" to the materials is fraught with an obvious error.

Ken

[Cambo]

Originally Posted by Musiclogic

I suggest to everyone to look at the video that compares an alder bass to the same parts mounted in a piece of 2x12 scrap from a buildng site to understand how little difference the wood parts make in the sound of an instrument.

Players technique and electronics are the biggest effect on the sound of an instrument followed by strings, hardware, and construction.

Wood plays a very minor part, unlike what so many claim to be able to hear. This is more perception than reality.

Until someone does actual spectrum analysis of multiple materials with graphing for varying attack, the Ed Roman wood and finish myths will continue to be gospel for too many. IMNSHO

Originally Posted by khutch

This observation is not the end of the argument, only the beginning. Now you have to do a careful analysis to determine why the basses sound different. This is the step that everyone (?) but Dan passes over. Although I would point out that if two basses made from the same materials sound different then the difference is not likely to be due to the materials themselves unless those materials have significant variation and in that case assigning any particular "sound" to the materials is fraught with an obvious error.

Ken

https://soundcloud.com/fodera-guitars

Three identical except for construction basses.

And Dan is now out of business, so who cares? And any 'builder' who DOESN'T think wood affects sound, well...



...and for him to out and out ridicule the life work some of the greatest builders ever...

His work won't be missed.

Sincerely,
Cameron

[bassguitarthund]

Originally Posted by Cambo

And Dan is now out of business, so who cares?

His work won't be missed.

Sincerely,
Cameron

I respect your opinions/beliefs in the wood debate. However I think these two things you said above are uncalled for and kinda rude. You can say what you said and do it in a respectful manner. Their were plenty of people on TB that happened to like his basses. You can disagree with the man but you don't need to be a jerk about it.

Welcome to TB, see this was your first post. Try and respect your fellow TB members and you will have a great time here.

[dmusic148]

Originally Posted by Cambo

https://soundcloud.com/fodera-guitars

Three identical except for construction basses.

And Dan is now out of business, so who cares? And any 'builder' who DOESN'T think wood affects sound, well...



...and for him to out and out ridicule the life work some of the greatest builders ever...

His work won't be missed.

Sincerely,
Cameron

Dude, your just,...............you're being a ..............

I never saw Dan 'ridicule' anybody. Dan's a stand-up guy. What the heck is your problem?

The Fodera clips? They prove something? What? That different basses sound, umm, 'different?' You obviously have no business being in this discussion.

[Caca de Kick]

Originally Posted by mongo2

Except when you have access to several basses (even made of the same materials) and can hear distinct differences between them.

Yup exactly. I have always had multiples of the same bass, on paper supposed to be the same body and neck wood, I still do. And when you pick them up and play wether acoustically or plugged in...by golly, you hear the differences.

[Mojo-Man]

Originally Posted by Caca de Kick

Yup exactly. I have always had multiples of the same bass, on paper supposed to be the same body and neck wood, I still do. And when you pick them up and play wether acoustically or plugged in...by golly, you hear the differences.

Big +1
Every piece of wood is singular in tone.
You can build 5 basses with everything the same, and all 5 will be a little different. That's the nature of the tone game.
This is why mass produced basses like Fender. even though the same model, will sound different to some degree.
So to say wood does not matter, just does not hold water.

[dvh]

Originally Posted by Cambo

https://soundcloud.com/fodera-guitars

Three identical except for construction basses.

And Dan is now out of business, so who cares? And any 'builder' who DOESN'T think wood affects sound, well...



...and for him to out and out ridicule the life work some of the greatest builders ever...

His work won't be missed.

Sincerely,
Cameron

You seem to have missed Dan's point - a lot of people here have. He never said wood doesn't matter. He said it's not as important as other build factors. In the grand scheme of things, it's importance is not as significant. I agree.

Further, as others have observed here even wood of the same species can sound different. That only reinforces Dan's point.

For any builder to claim that X species is always going to sound like X is disingenuous.

[danroche]

For the record, anybody stating that the sound of wood in any guitar is highly variable is effectively agreeing with Dan. His whole main point was that assigning characteristic labels to any one wood species was silly. And in the post that began this inane, multi-year festival of rear end pain, Dan himself said "wood does matter."

All of this anecdotal "my different basses sound different so neener" talk is CONSISTENT WITH DAN'S BELIEFS.

And Cameron, independent of your arguments, you're just kind of an ass.

[-=DanAtkinson=-]

Originally Posted by danroche

And Cameron, independent of your arguments, you're just kind of an ass.

Nothing new there. He's one of a handful of guys who seem to outright despise me with a deep, personal, relentless hatred. Comes with the territory, I suppose. Some people can't handle their beliefs being challenged.

Can't imagine what these folks would do if I challenged them on religion or politics!

[Josh Pelican]

Originally Posted by Cambo

His work won't be missed.

Sincerely,
Cameron

You're right. No one on this board misses his work.