While engaging in arguments about what it takes to have 17Hz/23Hz/30Hz bass rig. It started becoming very apparent that many people don't understand that an electric Bass Guitar, Doesn't have much open string fundamental.
I've heard many people say (I believe erroneously) that the reason is because the scale of the instrument (I think that has more to do with acoustic bass (body).
It would appear that the actual open string fundamental LF response is directly related to the position of the pickup. The tuning of the string is directly related to string length, String Mass and String tension.
If you take a look at this pickup placement response calculator:
http://www.till.com/articles/PickupResponseDemo/index.html
You can scale and tune an instrument to just about anything you want.
If you play with the pickup placement the best fundamental response for an open string appears to be between the Nut and the Bridge. If you look at standard pickup positions, it becomes apparent that basically the action of fretting is effectively changing the position of your Nut. The higher note wise you fret, the pickup/nut/bridge relationship changes to a more ideal position up to a point.
So inherently the standard electric pickup stringed instrument configuration makes it non ideal for low fret fundamental response.
I had an Idea for an experimental Extended LF response Electric Bass.
Since many Metal and Rock players drop tune the low string and use it much like a drone, and I personally don't like playing to high up on my low A string.
Why not build a Bass that has a specialized pickup for the low B and perhaps E string strategicly placed on the neck, and eliminate the frets a few above and all bellow the pickup.
Keep the fret board in place for the higher strings.
Has this been done?
I have a feeling this would be the best compromise for attaining true fundamental response from an electric pickup system.
I did see some statement on the optical pickup system web site, that says "You've never heard fundamental like this" I think its impossible to attain good fundamental with the optical system being so close to the bridge saddles. Unless they have an EQ curve built into the circuitry.
Anyhow any thoughts guys???
I've heard many people say (I believe erroneously) that the reason is because the scale of the instrument (I think that has more to do with acoustic bass (body).
It would appear that the actual open string fundamental LF response is directly related to the position of the pickup. The tuning of the string is directly related to string length, String Mass and String tension.
If you take a look at this pickup placement response calculator:
http://www.till.com/articles/PickupResponseDemo/index.html
You can scale and tune an instrument to just about anything you want.
If you play with the pickup placement the best fundamental response for an open string appears to be between the Nut and the Bridge. If you look at standard pickup positions, it becomes apparent that basically the action of fretting is effectively changing the position of your Nut. The higher note wise you fret, the pickup/nut/bridge relationship changes to a more ideal position up to a point.
So inherently the standard electric pickup stringed instrument configuration makes it non ideal for low fret fundamental response.
I had an Idea for an experimental Extended LF response Electric Bass.
Since many Metal and Rock players drop tune the low string and use it much like a drone, and I personally don't like playing to high up on my low A string.
Why not build a Bass that has a specialized pickup for the low B and perhaps E string strategicly placed on the neck, and eliminate the frets a few above and all bellow the pickup.
Keep the fret board in place for the higher strings.
Has this been done?
I have a feeling this would be the best compromise for attaining true fundamental response from an electric pickup system.
I did see some statement on the optical pickup system web site, that says "You've never heard fundamental like this" I think its impossible to attain good fundamental with the optical system being so close to the bridge saddles. Unless they have an EQ curve built into the circuitry.
Anyhow any thoughts guys???
