Why Does The P-Bass Sustain The Way It Does?

[Misterwogan]

Originally Posted by lowphatbass

I will say, some of those Journey "power ballads" do have a lot more hang-time on the bass notes than is typical. I realize this isn't a thread about "how to get Journey tone", but cranking the volume a plucking/picking a bit lighter is helpful in terms of getting a more even sustain. That's typically how I like to get that low gain, direct into the board, heavily compressed sound without running a compressor live.

Yes, I know. I agree.

[dmusic148]

Every bass is different obviously. Electronics/pickups have nothing to do with sustain, unless your pickups are so close to the strings that they choke them (not unusual on guitar, rare on bass but possible).

In my opinion, sustain, and the sound generally, are heavily, HEAVILY reliant on the neck.

P basses tend to have thicker necks than some others, and this usually helps the neck to be stiffer. A stiffer neck will usually be a brighter sounding neck, and may sustain better. Carbon rods might help(hint-your P bass has them).

But the key to sustain(and 'punch') IMO, is mass, and specifically the relationship of neck-to-body mass, which is something I believe Roger Sadowsky may have explored/exploited a bit(IMO).

My own informal observations(after building a few bolt-on's) suggest that best results are had when the neck/tuners are approximately 25% of the total instrument weight.

[Old Fart]

My P sustains for weeks.

[PJ Muzikmansky]

Originally Posted by JimB52

I've noticed very different tonal qualities from my AVS '57 RI Precision and Lakland Bob Glaub P Bass as compared to my other Fender Precisions, and I think that difference is due to the 1 3/4" nut width. Bigger nuts = longer sustain?
Probably not much help, but at least somewhat on topic.

.

The fact that some of us are well endowed in the testicular department, does not necessarily mean that we enjoy more long-lasting performance in the bedroom...

[dmusic148]

Originally Posted by PJ Muzikmansky

The fact that some of us are well endowed in the testicular department, does not necessarily mean that we enjoy more long-lasting performance in the bedroom...

I wanted to go there, but couldn't quite find the words....

[M.R. Ogle]

Journey power ballads = guilty pleasure!

Stole a lot of Randy Jackson's lines from the "Raised on Radio" album, too.

I have only a sketch of the physics that make up a P-bass, but I'll be sheep-dipped if it isn't remarkable... more tonally rewarding than the sum of its relatively few manufactured parts.

The saying "Leo got it right" is mostly true.

[JoeWPgh]

It's voodoo. And it's not limited to a P bass. Some planks (which are turned into necks and bodies) just sing. Sometimes you get lucky and they both do.

[JimmyM]

Ross Valory used an Ovation Magnum on "Who's Crying Now." But I saw a video from a couple years later where he's playing it live with a Steinberger and it sounds about the same to me.

Hands.