"Official" Mikro Bass Club Part 2

[CaballoViejo]

Originally Posted by GregDunn

3) The B string is plenty stiff enough. I don't say "tension" because what you feel is not the tension, it's the stiffness of the string, or resistance to lateral pressure - which is only partially related to the string tension.

Would you mind explaining what else besides the string tension affects "resistance to lateral pressure"?

[WildWes]

Originally Posted by howardcano

Here are two totally unrelated questions:

How is the balance? Does it hang headstock-heavy?

Are the pickups arranged for noise cancelling when both are on?

Also GregDunn, how much wider is the Mikro 5 neck having an extra string. The main reason I like the Mikro 4 is because of the thinner neck.

[GregDunn]

Originally Posted by howardcano

Here are two totally unrelated questions:

How is the balance? Does it hang headstock-heavy?

Are the pickups arranged for noise cancelling when both are on?

No, and yes.

It's actually slightly better-balanced than the Mikro 4 that I have.

And it's very quiet as long as both pickups are cranked up to the same level; this also seems to give more bass than midrange. turning one pickup higher than the other seems to cause some mid peaking.

[WCHIII]

I love my MICKRO..but Im going to have to move it to #2 and use it for a backup. Im getting a Birdsong. I've loved the way my Mikro plays and sounds. Scott Beckwith of Birdsong played my Mikro in a jam session last week and He even said He liked it... A great compliment on the bass I thought..

[GregDunn]

Originally Posted by CaballoViejo

Would you mind explaining what else besides the string tension affects "resistance to lateral pressure"?

The thickness and winding of the string around the core. A thin or simple string under high tension might still bend very easily because it is too thin to resist deformation, but a heavy, wound string actually resists bending because the windings press against each other and resist lateral deformation of the string. If the windings are thick enough and snug against each other, the string can be very hard to bend regardless of the tension.

Here's the equation:

f = frequency
T = tension
L = length of string
µ = density (roughly, mass)

f = 1/2L sqrt(t/µ)

So the tension can be low and the mass high, giving (if designed properly) a low tension but stiff string with the same fundamental frequency.

[GregDunn]

Originally Posted by WildWes

Also GregDunn, how much wider is the Mikro 5 neck having an extra string. The main reason I like the Mikro 4 is because of the thinner neck.

4-string Mikro:
Width at Nut 38mm
Width Last Fret 58.5mm

5-string Mikro:
Width at Nut 45mm
Width Last Fret 67mm

They are both very close in thickness. The 4-string is roughly as wide as a j-bass neck, and the 5-string is roughly as wide as a p-bass 4-string neck.

[CaballoViejo]

Originally Posted by GregDunn

The thickness and winding of the string around the core. A thin or simple string under high tension might still bend very easily because it is too thin to resist deformation, but a heavy, wound string actually resists bending because the windings press against each other and resist lateral deformation of the string. If the windings are thick enough and snug against each other, the string can be very hard to bend regardless of the tension.

Here's the equation:

f = frequency
T = tension
L = length of string
µ = density (roughly, mass)

f = 1/2L sqrt(t/µ)

So the tension can be low and the mass high, giving (if designed properly) a low tension but stiff string with the same fundamental frequency.

Sorry, but I don't think the above makes much sense, and I can't really see how that formula is related in any way to "resistance to lateral pressure", unless what we're actually talking about here is string tension.

Surely it's how hard a string is stretched that mostly, not partially, determines how "stiff" it feels?

And perhaps I'm a bit thick, but I can't even begin to imagine how "A thin or simple string under high tension might still bend very easily because it is too thin to resist deformation..."!

Anyway, to get back on topic, I'm happy to have heard more than once in this thread that the B string doesn't feel too floppy, because my own Mikro 5-string should be arriving soon!

[WildWes]

Originally Posted by WCHIII

I love my MICKRO..but Im going to have to move it to #2 and use it for a backup. Im getting a Birdsong. I've loved the way my Mikro plays and sounds. Scott Beckwith of Birdsong played my Mikro in a jam session last week and He even said He liked it... A great compliment on the bass I thought..

Replacing your Mikro with another bass is like "fight club". We aren't suppose to talk about it.

However, it's nice to know that Scott Beckwith liked yours.

[Trayster2]

Congrats, GregDunn. I love my Ibanez & you will too.

[SBassman]

Originally Posted by GregDunn

4-string Mikro:
Width at Nut 38mm
Width Last Fret 58.5mm

5-string Mikro:
Width at Nut 45mm
Width Last Fret 67mm

They are both very close in thickness. The 4-string is roughly as wide as a j-bass neck, and the 5-string is roughly as wide as a p-bass 4-string neck.

I wish they made the 4 string with that neck width. I always feel like I'm falling off the fretboard when I play the G.

[GregDunn]

There are three measurements of force that can be applied to a string: tension, torsion and bending. Tension is along the length of the string (only), bending is at right angles to the length of the string and torsion is a twisting force around the axis of symmetry. They are independent forces and would be completely independent of each other if the string were "ideal", that is, not subject to deformation. The fact that the string deforms when you subject it to force is why tension and bending strengths are not completely independent.

Let's look at the limiting case: an extremely thick string with no tension at all: something like a piece of rebar, gently supported at each end. Very hard to bend! Yet there is no inherent tension on it because there is nothing pulling on the ends to hold it straight. The answer is that the composition of the string makes the difference. And yes, if you did put tension on the piece of rebar, it would vibrate at a higher frequency.

And thanks, Trayster, I know I will enjoy playing it! I really found bass playing a chore before I discovered the Mikro family...

[CaballoViejo]

Originally Posted by GregDunn

There are three measurements of force that can be applied to a string: tension, torsion and bending. Tension is along the length of the string (only), bending is at right angles to the length of the string and torsion is a twisting force around the axis of symmetry. They are independent forces and would be completely independent of each other if the string were "ideal", that is, not subject to deformation. The fact that the string deforms when you subject it to force is why tension and bending strengths are not completely independent.

No one said they were "completely independent", so you're not actually providing any useful information here.

What you said in a previous post was that resistance to lateral pressure "is only partially related to the string tension". Replace "partially" with "mostly" and you'd be on the right track.

Originally Posted by GregDunn

Let's look at the limiting case: an extremely thick string with no tension at all: something like a piece of rebar, gently supported at each end. Very hard to bend! Yet there is no inherent tension on it because there is nothing pulling on the ends to hold it straight. The answer is that the composition of the string makes the difference.

Meanwhile, back here in the real world of bass guitar strings, your "limiting case" has very little, if any, relevance because there is no such thing as a string with a composition even remotely similar to that of your "limiting case". In the real world, the string's composition makes much less difference to the stiffness of the string than does the string's tension.

Originally Posted by GregDunn

And yes, if you did put tension on the piece of rebar, it would vibrate at a higher frequency.

"At a higher frequency" than what, zero? And your point is?

[WildWes]

Originally Posted by GregDunn

There are three measurements of force that can be applied to a string: tension, torsion and bending. Tension is along the length of the string (only), bending is at right angles to the length of the string and torsion is a twisting force around the axis of symmetry. They are independent forces and would be completely independent of each other if the string were "ideal", that is, not subject to deformation. The fact that the string deforms when you subject it to force is why tension and bending strengths are not completely independent.

Let's look at the limiting case: an extremely thick string with no tension at all: something like a piece of rebar, gently supported at each end. Very hard to bend! Yet there is no inherent tension on it because there is nothing pulling on the ends to hold it straight. The answer is that the composition of the string makes the difference. And yes, if you did put tension on the piece of rebar, it would vibrate at a higher frequency.

And thanks, Trayster, I know I will enjoy playing it! I really found bass playing a chore before I discovered the Mikro family...

Originally Posted by CaballoViejo

No one said they were "completely independent", so you're not actually providing any useful information here.

What you said in a previous post was that resistance to lateral pressure "is only partially related to the string tension". Replace "partially" with "mostly" and you'd be on the right track.

Meanwhile, back here in the real world of bass guitar strings, your "limiting case" has very little, if any, relevance because there is no such thing as a string with a composition even remotely similar to that of your "limiting case". In the real world, the string's composition makes much less difference to the stiffness of the string than does the string's tension.

"At a higher frequency" than what, zero? And your point is?

Sorry to interrupt the program in progress:

Interesting conversation you two have going on here in MikroWorld about the "big bang theory" of string dynamics, but none of it relates to my hands are too small to begin with and my fretting pinky was fractured years ago, hence pretty usless in pressing down on a string without pain.

We now return you to the scheduled program.
Play nice or I'll......I'll......I'll hold my breath until I have to breathe again.

[CaballoViejo]

What's your favourite colour again? That's a much more interesting topic.

[WildWes]

Originally Posted by CaballoViejo

What's your favourite colour again? That's a much more interesting topic.

It's PURPLE!!!!!!!!!

[CaballoViejo]

[SBassman]

Any of you ever feel like your falling off the fretboard when you're on the G string?

I guess it's bad technique of mine, but I fell like I'm pulling the string off the narrow neck when I'm on the G. I have never felt this on any other bass.

[WildWes]

Originally Posted by SBassman

Any of you ever feel like your falling off the fretboard when you're on the G string?

I guess it's bad technique of mine, but I fell like I'm pulling the string off the narrow neck when I'm on the G. I have never felt this on any other bass.

I don't experience that g string problem, but I do possess bad technique. Seriously, I stink at bass, but I do have moments of "how'd I do that".

[PaulNYC]

Originally Posted by SBassman

Any of you ever feel like your falling off the fretboard when you're on the G string?

I guess it's bad technique of mine, but I fell like I'm pulling the string off the narrow neck when I'm on the G. I have never felt this on any other bass.

I also sometimes feel that way. I make an effort not to play guitar notes.

[punisher911]

So I traded in the Tbird I bought for a blue Mikro. I'm digging it. I have some Chromes to put on it after I sell my $$ and get my money situation cleaned up. Tonight I will play it with my band in practice and see how it goes. I'm thinking about a Model P/Model J pup set for it later too. Definitely not a fan on the stock J pup in it. I'm currently running the P open with the J off.