Here are are all those abbreviations, acronyms, and special words all us newbs are asking about all the time. They can be found, along with other interesting information here:
Learning Links For All TBrs - TalkBass Wiki
8x10, 2x12, 1x15: For speaker cabinets, the quantity/size of speakers mounted in a cabinet.
15/6/1, 15/6, 12/6, 151566: For speaker cabinets containing speakers of different sizes.
'66: Short for a 1515/66 cab. See fEARful
$$: Warwick Double Humbucker
[OT] A polite way to mark up a comment to indicate that you know you're making an Off Topic post in a thread so you don't get flamed. [/OT]
+1 (or any number): Agreed. More numbers = you HIGHLY agree.
A/B: When you compare two instruments/cabs/amps etc. by playing/listening to them one after the other.
ABG: Acoustic Bass Guitar
Active, Active Bass: A tone control circuit(pre-amp-treble,mid,bass) that is powered by one or two 9 volt batteries. The more voltage, the more boost.
AFAICS: As Far As I Can See
AFAIK: As Far As I Know
AFAICT: As far as I can tell
Amp: Amplifier. Increases the pre-amplifier signal so we can hear it.
Amp Modeling: See DSP.
Ampage: amplifier(s),e.g., "But I agree... for small rooms, regular ampage with only vocals through the PA should be sufficient."
Analogue, Analog:A representation of an object that resembles the original. Analog devices monitor conditions, such as movement, temperature and sound, and convert them into analogous electronic or mechanical patterns. For example, an analog watch represents the planet's rotation with the rotating hands on the watch face. Telephones turn voice vibrations into electrical vibrations of the same shape. Analog implies a continuous signal in contrast with digital, which breaks everything into numbers.
All original: As in an "all original '63 Fender Jazz Bass".
ATOZ (A to Z): Icon designed from TBr ATOZ'. Also, his photograph has been photochopped many a time in the TB Photochop thread.
Attenuator: See Power Brake
AUB: Acoustic Upright Bass
Avatar: For TB donors/supporting (paid) users, the ability to place a picture next to one's user name.
AYFKM: Are you freakin' kidding me?
B&B: Bass neck is blocked(instead of fret dots) & bound (trim around neck edges).
Backline: Amps and other equipment being used for a gig provided by the venue. Used a lot in rental situations...Backline provided.
Bacon: You know... bacon.
Ban, Banned (Temp/Permanent): What happens to TBer's who are unable to control what comes out of their keyboard on to their screen and into their TB posts AND, who are unable/unwilling to change despite warnings from TB mods.
BardsTale: TBr, made this up, he loved the old game and loves TBr Bard2theBone's stories
Bassface: A particularly funny/odd facial expression associated with a person feelin' it while playing.
Basss Shaped Object: See BSO
BB: the late Bob Babbitt, replaced James Jamerson in the Motown studio musician's group, The Wrecking Crew. All-time great.
b/c: because
BFM: Bill Fitzmaurice - audio and speaker cab guru. Has his own DIY (also authorized builders) speaker cab website
'bic: Alembic
Bill Lawrence aka here. (RIP): Master guitarist and pickup invention/designer/builder of Wilde pickups for bass and guitar.
BL: Band Leader
Blocks, Blocked: Rectangular inlays in fretboard at 3rd, 5th etc. frets instead of dots
BOH: Back of House: (to go along with FOH] Back line, monitors, etc...anything heard on stage.
Boner Bass: Basses with an extra long top horn.
Bound: Fretboard edges inlaid with material of contrasting color/material
Boutique Bass Cabs(Cabinets): Low production, cutting-edge cabinets. See Boutique Cabs
BSO: Bass-Shaped Object, a poorly-made 'bass-shaped object'. Heard more in DB(double bass)forums
Bump, Bumped or Bumping: When you post in your own thread or another TBr's thread to move it to the top of the thread list. See also TTT
CAR: Candy Apple Red color of paint.
Cab(s): Speaker cabinet(s)
Cabbage: Speaker cab(s). "I happy with my current cabbage."
Carrots: in a thread poll, a choice provided by the pollster for TBrs who want to vote but don't care about the poll question or outcome.
CAS: Chicks At Shows. There's an,ongoing TB pic thread on the topic.
Chambered: Slots cut into a bass body to reduce weight and/or to create a hollow bodyDB type tone.
CIJ: "Crafted In Japan" Usually when the manufacture did more than assemble.
Click Track: Recording and sometimes live playing technique(mostly for drummers) where a metronome click is provided on a separate track through headphones so that everyone has the same timing.
Closed back speaker cabinet: See Sealed/Unsealed
Closet Classic: Bass that has little signs of aging, as if stored in a closet for many years.
Coffee Table: Instrument with highly figured top where the grain is visible.
Comb Filtering: Distortion (phase cancellation of mids/highs) that occurs when speaker/speaker cabs are placed on a horizontal axis (side by side). Corrected by vertically stacking speakers/cabs. Mitigated somewhat by placing speakers in a cab at angles from each other. See related thread -->TB list
Combo: Combination; usually referring to amp and speaker built into one cabinet.
Compression: an electronic unit that smooths the peaks of the bass signal to even out the sound and to protect the amp/speakers.
Conversations Replaced Private Messages(PM's) when TB software was upgraded.
CUP: Commercial User Policy. Policies set up to regulate the usage of TB by businesses.
DB: Double (upright) Bass(as played by Jazz, Rock-a-billy and other musicians.)
DB Forum: TB's double bass/eub/upright bass forum.
DC: Double Cut Body Style (two horns).
DD: The late Donald "Duck" Dunn, R&B bassist, an all-time great
DI, DI Box, Direct Box: Small unit to plug bass into that splits signal for sending clean bass to PA mixer and another signal to the amp. Many amps have them built in with a switch (Pre/Post) to send either a clean, unfiltered bass tone(Pre)to the PA or EQ'd tone(Post)
Dinger: Dingwall Bass
Digital:Records or diplays everything (sound, light, temperature, etc.) in numbers.
Digital Modeling: See DSP.
Dots: Fretboard Markings
DSP: Digital Sound Processing. Using software to manipulate the output signal to emulate different amp tones, speaker cab tones, guitar/bass tones and create special effects. Also applied to home theater audio systems. Manufacturers/Builders usually come up with their own trademarked name for DSP.
Emo: Emotional (as in, Don't get all emo over this!)
EB: Electric Bass Guitar. Term usually seen on the DB forum side of TB.
e.g.: for example
EQ, Equalizer(analog or digital): Multi-Band frequency tone controls the allow adjustment to specific frequencies. Can be built into an amp, pedal, rack unit, stand alone unit or be software based.
ERB: Extended Range Bass
EUB,EURB: Electric Upright Bass
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions. Please read the High Pass Filter.
Fassa: Legendary newbie TBr.
FCOL: for cryin' out loud
fdeck: TBr/Designer of a popular adjustable high-pass-filter(HPF)/pre-amp used to cut out undesirable low freq. noise below 35hz. Tightens up your low end and protects speakers. Version 3 (V3) is adjustable up to 140hz to cut boominess due to venue acoustics
fEARful: DIY speaker cabs designed by TBr Greenboy
fEARless: Cabs designed by TBr Greenboy
Feeler: Used mainly on the "for sale" forums. Meaning "I'll sell if I get what I believe is top dollar."
Fenderbird: A bass made from parts of a Gibson(or copy)Thunderbird & a Fender. Typically a T-Bird body, Fender neck and any kind of electronics. The late John Entwistle had several made.
Fingerboard: Fret Board WITHOUT Frets (Fretless)
FL: Fretless
Flame: A highly configured and visible wood pattern, usually associated with the top of a bass.
Flame: To unleash copious amounts of vitriol on a fellow TBr. Note: can get you banned.
FMIC: Fender Musical Instruments Corporation
FOH: Front Of House (as in, in front of the PA).See BOH.
Fools on Stools: Usually reserved for old guy duos playing acoustic instruments (or with an electric bass) while sitting on stools playing rock tunes of suspicious origin and with dubious talent.
Frankenbass, Frankenstein bass: A bass made of various, sometimes rarely-used-together parts
Freq/Freqs: Frequency/Frequencies
Fretboard: Neck board with frets (Fretted)
Fridge: Ampeg 8x10 cab
FSO: For Sale Only or Fender Shaped Object (to describe a Fender bass clone or something near it).
FSR: Factory Special Run
FTW: For the win. When a post captures the essence of a thread.
Fugly: Beyond ugly ... ******* + Ugly
Fundamental: Root frequency of a note. Fundamental of the B string on a 5 string bass is 32hz hertz. See Harmonics.
FUQUA'd" Having DBr Ed Fuqua bastardize your TB handle.
FWIW: For What It's Worth.
GAS,G.A.S.: Gear Acquisition Syndrome.
GAT: Get a teacher
GC: Guitar Center. A chain of music stores owned by Bain Capital. Also owns Woodwind and Brasswind, Music 123, Lyons Music, Musician's Friend and others
Get the hell off my lawn: Uused by old guys when newbies, et.al. make us cranky.
Git Player: Guitar Player
Gitard: Derogatory term for guitar players. Frowned upon on TB except when applicable.
GIF: picture file process and format that allows minimal animation in a very small file size with usually humorous content and effect. Used in many avatars.
GK: Gallien Krueger amp/speaker cab manufacturer.
GL: Can Refer to "Geddy Lee" (ie. The model) or G&L basses.
GLWTS: "Good luck the the sale" or "Good luck with the show".
Greenboy: designer of fEARful and other light weight cabs.
GTG: Get Together.
Gtr: Guitar
Guitard: Derogatory term for guitar players. Frowned upon on TB except when applicable. In retalition, guitards sometimes refer to us as "basstards"
Hannie: Hanewinckle
Harmonics (2nd order, 3rd order, etc.): frequencies produced above the root (fundamental) frequency of a note that creates the musical timbre of a steady tone from an instrument and is determined by the relative strengths of each harmonic. See Fundamental
Head: Pre-amp, Amp and Speaker(s) built in one cab.
Hertz: See Hz.
HH: Double Humbucker Pickup Combo
Hissy Quit: See Rage Quit
here. (HPF,Rumble Filter/Subsonic Filter/Low Cut Filter): filter built to eliminate low frequencies below a specific frequency to eliminate inaudible low bass frequencies that suck amplifier power and can damage/blow speakers. Some amps have it built in. See TBr fdeck's adjustable HPF V3. Also check out the Thumpinator or Fishman Pro Platinum. See Micro Screaminator for low pass (treble cut off) filter box.
Hoffman's Iron Law: There's a tradeoff relationship between box size, bass extension, and efficiency. If you want to make improvements in one area, payment for that must come from the others. So if you want a small box that goes deep, it will have low efficiency (classic example is the one cubic foot home stereo subwoofer that goes down to 20 Hz but needs a kilowatt of power).
Hoffy: Hofner Bass, like the one Paul McCartney uses.
HPF See High Pass Filter HTH: Hope That Helps.
Hybrid: Usually an amp that has a tube preamp and Solid State(SS)amp.
Hz: A Measurement Of Cycles Per Second related to a specific frequency,e.g., "32 Hz"
IBBIE,IBBY: Ibanez
IBTL: Before The Thread Lock (Frowned upon by TB mods). Making a post before it's locked due to issues in a thread.
i.e.: that is
IDC: I don't care, I didn't care.
IDK: I don't know, I didn't know.
IEM: In ear monitors. System used to replace on stage floor monitors.
iOS: (previously iPhone OS) is a mobile operating system developed/distributed by Apple Inc. Also for iPad, iPod Touch. TB club.
IIRC: If I Remember Correctly
IME: In my experience
IMHO: In My Humble Opinion or In My Honest Opinion
IMO: In my opinion.
Jazz: Fender Jazz Bass or basses built in the style of.
J/H: Jazz (single coil)/Humbucker (double coil) Pickup Combination
J/P/J: Bass built with 3 pickups in the format of: Jazz, Precision, Jazz. Usually with a Fender Jazz Bass style bass.
J,J-Bass,JBass: Fender Jazz Bass or basses built in the style of.
JMHO: Just My (Humble, Honest) Opinion
JJ: The late James Jamerson, Motown bassist, arguably the greatest bass player ever
LGD: Lead Guitarist's Disease.
LILO: Load in/Load out
Lounge, The: Private Forum accessible to TB supporting members.
Low Cut Filter: See High Pass Filter
Lownered: To start a thread or post once ( usually a trollish type post ) and leave a thread forever.
LP or LPB: Les Paul or Les Paul Bass (Referring to the body style) or Lake Placid Blue (A colour)
LSD: Lead Singer's Disease
Macca: Paul McCartney
Mad: Lots of something: Mad skills, mad props.
Maximum excursion: The amount of speaker movement that takes the coil out of the magnetic gap, making reconing a distinct possibility. See Xmax.
MHDW: (TBr)Maki has done worse
Metronome: Unit that provides an adjustable tempo (speed) click to assist a bass player while practicing or a band while rehearsing. Sometimes used to describe a drummer's time keeping ability-"like a metronome".
MIA: "Made in Asia" or "Missing in Action" or Made in America
MIC: "Made in China"
Mic/Mic'd or Mike/Miked: Microphone
Micro Thumpinator: See High Pass Filter.
here.: Low pass filter that cuts highs (clankyness) above 5Khz. Also good for guitar also.
Mids: Frequencies generally between ____ Hz and ____ Hz.
Mid-Forward: Bass cab that emphasizes mid-range.
MIJ: "Made In Japan" See Also, CIJ.
MIK: "Made In Korea"
MIM: "Made In Mexico"
MM or EBMM: Music Man or Ernie Ball Music Man. MM can also refer to the Marcus Miller signature bass
Mod(s): Moderator(s): Talk Bass overseers. They can shut you up.
Mod(s): Modify, as in Mod a bassor What mods does your bass have?
Mojo: Extensive wear on a bass due to years of playing. Such basses seem to have a deep history or charisma.
Mosh Girl: Photochop thread based on a photo of a girl dancing in mosh pit. Mosh Girl Photoshop Thread
Mothman: bass of legend, forged in the depths of hell
MdS: Medium Scale
My Inspired Pose: Photochop thread based on TBr Oniman's picture: My inspired pose
NAD: New amp day
N'Ampeg: Ampegs of overseas Asian manufacture
NBD: New Bass Day
NBD: No big deal
NCD: New (speaker) cabinet day
NIMBY: Not in my backyard.
No pic, no hot chick: Calling out a fellow TBr to provide pics of the "hot chick" he/she referenced in a previous post.
No pic, no _____: Used when you want a TBr to provide pics of whatever has been referenced in a previous post.
Noob/Newbie/Newb: New Member. New to a topic/subject.
NOS: New Old Stock. Applies to any object that was originally made many years ago, has remained unsold and is still in new condition for sale.
NTTAWWT: Not that there's anything wrong with that
NWS, NSFW: Warning about a photograph or video. Not work safe or Not safe for work to display on your screen. Something you should never see on TB and something you should never post on TB. See Banned.
OP: Original Poster/Original Post. "The OP has a point."
Open back speaker cabinet: For guitar, allowing part of the back to be uncovered, creating a desired and different tone than sealed back cabinets. Placed close to a wall, part of the sound will be widely reflected back into the room.
Original: As in An original, '63 Fender Jazz Bass.
OT: Off Topic forum or "off topic". "Your post is off topic".
OTOH: On The Other Hand
P, P-Bass, P Bass, PBass: Fender Precision Bass or basses built in the style.
PA or P.A.: Public Address system used to amplify vocals and various musical instruments that a band uses.
Passive, Passive Bass: A bass that depends on the voltage from the pickups to power a preamp/amp. No batteries. A non-active bass. See Active.
Paul Determan: Forum administrator/owner of TB. Contact with any issues the mods can't handle or to file website complaints.
P-Bass: Fender Precision Bass or those built in the style.
PBDDI: Tech 21 Programmable Bass Driver DI
PDDI: Tech 21 Para Driver DI
P/G,PG: Pickguard
P/H,PH: Precision/Humbucker Pickup Combination
P/J,PJ: Precision/Jazz pickup combination. Usually installed on a Fender Jazz Bass,sometimes a Fender Precision Bass along with a Jazz Bass neck. Precision p/u in the neck position, Jazz p/up in bridge position.
Pre-amp: Pre-amplifier. Takes powered signals(electrical impulses) from a source(usually a bass on TB), modifies it with filters(tone controls)and sends the modified signal to an amplifier making the bass and "active bass". Can be purchased as an individual unit or in conjunction with an amplifier(head)
Photochop, Photochopped: modifying a photo, usually in a humorous way. Photo modified using the program Photoshop.
Pic(s),Pix: Picture(s)
Pillow: Bass tone that emphasizes the lower frequencies but is not distorted but more smooth/rounded tone.
PITA, Pita: pain in the a$$
Plank: DBer's(upright bass player) derisive term for electric bass guitar
Plank Spanker: Those who play electric bass guitar
PM: Private Message sent through TalkBass from one TBr to another.
Port, Ported: Usually a round hole cut into a speaker cabinet with a specific length(determined by calculation) of plastic pipe extension attached. To maximize bass response.
POS: Piece of $**+. Not a good piece of equipment.
Potentiometer: Volume control, etc.
Power or speaker(Brake, Attenuator, Soak) or (Amplifier, Volume, Power, Wattage) Attenuator: A very effective and adjustable unit that is inserted between amplifier and speaker cab that absorbs amp power (little to a lot) so a musician can get power tube distortion at a low volume by turning up the amp volume and where the (Brake, Attenuator, Soak) absorbs the amp power. Usually for guitarists using tube amps and can shorten tube life considerably. If you are looking for speaker distortion, this is not the effect to use.
Precision: based on Fender Precision Bass.
Pron: Porn
Props: Proper respect. That bass player deserves mad props for really putting on a show tonight!
PUP(s), p/u's: Pickup(s)
Pwn, Pwned: from the verb own, owned, as in, I pwned you. Gloating or bragging about some accomplishment that overshadows someone else's. Also, to appropriate or to conquer, compromise or control.
QFT: Quoted for Truth. A very strong agreement with another TBr's statement/reply.
OT: TB Off Topic Forum where pretty much any non-music subject (except politics and/or religion) are discussed, disputed and generally chewed on pretty good by lots of TBrs.
Rack, Rack Mount(ed): amps, pre-amps, etc. designed (with ears/tabs) to be semi-permanently mounted into a (usually) metal box (rack). Many racks are modified to hold pretty much any thing that will fit in them.
Rage Quit: Posting a tantrum thread and then quitting TB. Possibly deleting one's account in the process.
Ramp: Small piece of rectangular wood placed to fill space between pickups and usually used to rest your thumb while playing.
Rattle Can Refin: Refinishing a bass with paint out of a spray can(rattles when shaken).
RB5: Roscoe Beck 5-string
Relic, Light Relic a bass: Nicks, scratches. etc. added to a bass to make it look like you've been gigging /playing it for 30 years. Light relic, only about 5 years.
Respect: Number one rule on TB: Respect your fellow TBr's at all times when posting.
RI: Reissue
Ric: Rickenbacker Basses
Round port: a circular hole cut into a speaker cabinet along with using an internal extension(usually plastic pipe) of a specific length for tuning the cabinet to obtain maximum performance from the speaker. See Shelf Port. See Sealed/Nonsealed Cabinets.
Rumble Filter: See High Pass Filter
SABDDI: Tech 21 SansAmp Bass Driver DI.
SC: Single Cut Body Style.
SE: Sound Engineer who runs the P.A. and stage monitors. Sometime two individuals, one for the PA and one for the stage monitors.
Scale Length: The length from the nut of the bass, to the bridge of the bass.
Search is your friend: A polite way to inform a thread creator or poster that what is being asked about has been widely and thoroughly discussed before and to use the Search function to obtain answers to their question.
Sealed(closed) speaker cabinet/non-sealed(ported) speaker cabinet: Sealed cabinets have no other opening except for the speaker(s). Non-sealed cabinets have openings (shelf, round, horn) that tune a speaker cabinet to match the speaker(s) parameters resulting in obtaining maximum performance from the speaker(s) See Round port, Shelf port.
Shedd, shedding, shedded See Woodshed.
Shelf port: Alternative to a round port. Usually built as a specific full-length or full-width opening of a speaker cabinet to maximize speaker capabilities. Can also be built into both sides of a speaker cabinet. See Sealed/nonsealed cab.
Shoegaze, Shoegazer, Shoegazi: (UK) A type of Britpop or other indie music of the 1990s, characterised by a dreamlike sound making much use of effect pedals, and by a detached or introverted performance style or music similar.
Sig: Signature. TB's signature display area seen at the bottom of posts or in a user's profile.
Siggable: A phrase or comment worth putting into the TB signature display space.
Sigged: Putting another TBr' phrase into your TB signature display space.
Signature: Display under a post where a TB can input any type of information or links
Single Cut: Bass with only one cut away.
Sitch: Situation
Slab: DBer's derisive term for bass guitar
Slab Bass Bass w/o comfort shaping, like the original Fender Precision Basses.
Slab: Rosewood fingerboard with a flat bottom on a neck with comparable mating surface.
SLM era CL+SLM era 810e: SLM was previous owner of Ampeg. CL=amp, 810e=speaker cab
SM57: An Industry Standard Microphone made by the Sure company. Mostly used to mic instruments.
SM58: An industry standard vocal microphone made by the Sure company.
SMDH: Shaking My D@mn Head
Sound guy: see SE
Spec(s): Specifications
Squire: Officially spelled "Squier", a budget brand of FMIC(Fender Musical Instrument Corporation)
SR5: Ernie Ball Stingray 5-string
SS: Solid state (transistor, not tube circuit)
Stammie: Stambaugh bass
Sticky: Thread that rises to such popularity or contains highly useful information that is placed permanently at the top of the forum it originated in for TBr's easy access.
String Tension: How much force a string exerts when tuned. See TB discussion TB list
StS: Short Scale
Subsonic Filter: See High Pass Filter.
Supporting Member: $20/yr., $60/yr.-GOLD supporting member. Larger message storage and avatar pics + other benefits.
SX Basses: Essex Basses
TB: TalkBass
T-Bass, TBass: Fender Telecaster Bass or those built in the style
TBBFM: The Best Bass For Metal
T-bird, Tbird: Thunderbird bass
TG: TalkGuitar.com, TB's sister site.
The Best Bass for Metal: Humorous reply to a thread/post taken from a thread the asked "What's the best bass for Metal?"
The Best Bass For ________: Humorous reply to a thread/post that asks about "The best", "The most" or any other overused superlative.
The Qintar: An old poster on Talkbass.
Thump: bass tone that has more mid-range and gives you a thumping type tone instead of a smoother tone. A P bass is good for this.
TI: Thomastik-Infeld strings, e.g.. TI Flats
TL;DR: Too long, Don't Read. Too long, Didn't Read. Summary of long post, usually seen at the beginning of the post.
Tort: Tortoise Shell (pickguard)
Tribbie: G&L Tribute basses
Troll: A person who posts for the sole purpose of stirring the pot.
TTIUWOP or TTIUWP: This Thread Is Useless Without Pics
TTT: "To The Top", alternative to Bump. Typed in a post to get a thread moved to the top of the thread list.
Tug Bar: Small piece of rectangular wood/plastic placed on front of bass above or below pickups to rest thumb/fingers. Older Fender Precision or Jazz basses are good examples.
Unmolested: Stock, unmodified, unchanged, as first sold, original setup
URB or UB: Upright Bass
Vintage: Previously used to describe old basses until incorporated into the names of new basses made in the style of old basses.
Vox: Vocals
VTC: Vintage Tone Control
'wick: Warwick bass
WinISD: Free speaker cabinet design program available in the Interwebz.
Wish Bass: Bass-shaped object made by Steve Wishnevsky- rumored to be capable of making bass like sounds
Woodshed, Woodshedding, Woodshedded: Spending a large amount of time practicing with the goal of getting as good as you can in a short amount of time, as if you are isolating yourself in a woodshed so no one will bother you. See Shed.
WRT,W.R.T.: With respect to. Making a comment "WRT" a specific point made earlier in a conversation".
WTL;DR: Way too long, Didn't read. See TL;DR.
Wunkay: G&L L-100 bass
WWMD: What Would (TBr) Maki Do?
Xmax: How far the speaker cone can travel(one way) with the coil still in the magnetic gap. Farther is better. Not related to maximum excursion which takes the coil out of the magnetic gap.
YMMV: Your Mileage May Vary. Advising a reader that taking your advice is at his/her own risk.
561
Learning Links For All TBrs - TalkBass Wiki
8x10, 2x12, 1x15: For speaker cabinets, the quantity/size of speakers mounted in a cabinet.
15/6/1, 15/6, 12/6, 151566: For speaker cabinets containing speakers of different sizes.
'66: Short for a 1515/66 cab. See fEARful
$$: Warwick Double Humbucker
[OT] A polite way to mark up a comment to indicate that you know you're making an Off Topic post in a thread so you don't get flamed. [/OT]
+1 (or any number): Agreed. More numbers = you HIGHLY agree.
A/B: When you compare two instruments/cabs/amps etc. by playing/listening to them one after the other.
ABG: Acoustic Bass Guitar
Active, Active Bass: A tone control circuit(pre-amp-treble,mid,bass) that is powered by one or two 9 volt batteries. The more voltage, the more boost.
AFAICS: As Far As I Can See
AFAIK: As Far As I Know
AFAICT: As far as I can tell
Amp: Amplifier. Increases the pre-amplifier signal so we can hear it.
Amp Modeling: See DSP.
Ampage: amplifier(s),e.g., "But I agree... for small rooms, regular ampage with only vocals through the PA should be sufficient."
Analogue, Analog:A representation of an object that resembles the original. Analog devices monitor conditions, such as movement, temperature and sound, and convert them into analogous electronic or mechanical patterns. For example, an analog watch represents the planet's rotation with the rotating hands on the watch face. Telephones turn voice vibrations into electrical vibrations of the same shape. Analog implies a continuous signal in contrast with digital, which breaks everything into numbers.
All original: As in an "all original '63 Fender Jazz Bass".
ATOZ (A to Z): Icon designed from TBr ATOZ'. Also, his photograph has been photochopped many a time in the TB Photochop thread.
Attenuator: See Power Brake
AUB: Acoustic Upright Bass
Avatar: For TB donors/supporting (paid) users, the ability to place a picture next to one's user name.
AYFKM: Are you freakin' kidding me?
B&B: Bass neck is blocked(instead of fret dots) & bound (trim around neck edges).
Backline: Amps and other equipment being used for a gig provided by the venue. Used a lot in rental situations...Backline provided.
Bacon: You know... bacon.
Ban, Banned (Temp/Permanent): What happens to TBer's who are unable to control what comes out of their keyboard on to their screen and into their TB posts AND, who are unable/unwilling to change despite warnings from TB mods.
BardsTale: TBr, made this up, he loved the old game and loves TBr Bard2theBone's stories
Bassface: A particularly funny/odd facial expression associated with a person feelin' it while playing.
Basss Shaped Object: See BSO
BB: the late Bob Babbitt, replaced James Jamerson in the Motown studio musician's group, The Wrecking Crew. All-time great.
b/c: because
BFM: Bill Fitzmaurice - audio and speaker cab guru. Has his own DIY (also authorized builders) speaker cab website
'bic: Alembic
Bill Lawrence aka here. (RIP): Master guitarist and pickup invention/designer/builder of Wilde pickups for bass and guitar.
BL: Band Leader
Blocks, Blocked: Rectangular inlays in fretboard at 3rd, 5th etc. frets instead of dots
BOH: Back of House: (to go along with FOH] Back line, monitors, etc...anything heard on stage.
Boner Bass: Basses with an extra long top horn.
Bound: Fretboard edges inlaid with material of contrasting color/material
Boutique Bass Cabs(Cabinets): Low production, cutting-edge cabinets. See Boutique Cabs
BSO: Bass-Shaped Object, a poorly-made 'bass-shaped object'. Heard more in DB(double bass)forums
Bump, Bumped or Bumping: When you post in your own thread or another TBr's thread to move it to the top of the thread list. See also TTT
CAR: Candy Apple Red color of paint.
Cab(s): Speaker cabinet(s)
Cabbage: Speaker cab(s). "I happy with my current cabbage."
Carrots: in a thread poll, a choice provided by the pollster for TBrs who want to vote but don't care about the poll question or outcome.
CAS: Chicks At Shows. There's an,ongoing TB pic thread on the topic.
Chambered: Slots cut into a bass body to reduce weight and/or to create a hollow bodyDB type tone.
CIJ: "Crafted In Japan" Usually when the manufacture did more than assemble.
Click Track: Recording and sometimes live playing technique(mostly for drummers) where a metronome click is provided on a separate track through headphones so that everyone has the same timing.
Closed back speaker cabinet: See Sealed/Unsealed
Closet Classic: Bass that has little signs of aging, as if stored in a closet for many years.
Coffee Table: Instrument with highly figured top where the grain is visible.
Comb Filtering: Distortion (phase cancellation of mids/highs) that occurs when speaker/speaker cabs are placed on a horizontal axis (side by side). Corrected by vertically stacking speakers/cabs. Mitigated somewhat by placing speakers in a cab at angles from each other. See related thread -->TB list
Combo: Combination; usually referring to amp and speaker built into one cabinet.
Compression: an electronic unit that smooths the peaks of the bass signal to even out the sound and to protect the amp/speakers.
Conversations Replaced Private Messages(PM's) when TB software was upgraded.
CUP: Commercial User Policy. Policies set up to regulate the usage of TB by businesses.
DB: Double (upright) Bass(as played by Jazz, Rock-a-billy and other musicians.)
DB Forum: TB's double bass/eub/upright bass forum.
DC: Double Cut Body Style (two horns).
DD: The late Donald "Duck" Dunn, R&B bassist, an all-time great
DI, DI Box, Direct Box: Small unit to plug bass into that splits signal for sending clean bass to PA mixer and another signal to the amp. Many amps have them built in with a switch (Pre/Post) to send either a clean, unfiltered bass tone(Pre)to the PA or EQ'd tone(Post)
Dinger: Dingwall Bass
Digital:Records or diplays everything (sound, light, temperature, etc.) in numbers.
Digital Modeling: See DSP.
Dots: Fretboard Markings
DSP: Digital Sound Processing. Using software to manipulate the output signal to emulate different amp tones, speaker cab tones, guitar/bass tones and create special effects. Also applied to home theater audio systems. Manufacturers/Builders usually come up with their own trademarked name for DSP.
Emo: Emotional (as in, Don't get all emo over this!)
EB: Electric Bass Guitar. Term usually seen on the DB forum side of TB.
e.g.: for example
EQ, Equalizer(analog or digital): Multi-Band frequency tone controls the allow adjustment to specific frequencies. Can be built into an amp, pedal, rack unit, stand alone unit or be software based.
ERB: Extended Range Bass
EUB,EURB: Electric Upright Bass
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions. Please read the High Pass Filter.
Fassa: Legendary newbie TBr.
FCOL: for cryin' out loud
fdeck: TBr/Designer of a popular adjustable high-pass-filter(HPF)/pre-amp used to cut out undesirable low freq. noise below 35hz. Tightens up your low end and protects speakers. Version 3 (V3) is adjustable up to 140hz to cut boominess due to venue acoustics
fEARful: DIY speaker cabs designed by TBr Greenboy
fEARless: Cabs designed by TBr Greenboy
Feeler: Used mainly on the "for sale" forums. Meaning "I'll sell if I get what I believe is top dollar."
Fenderbird: A bass made from parts of a Gibson(or copy)Thunderbird & a Fender. Typically a T-Bird body, Fender neck and any kind of electronics. The late John Entwistle had several made.
Fingerboard: Fret Board WITHOUT Frets (Fretless)
FL: Fretless
Flame: A highly configured and visible wood pattern, usually associated with the top of a bass.
Flame: To unleash copious amounts of vitriol on a fellow TBr. Note: can get you banned.
FMIC: Fender Musical Instruments Corporation
FOH: Front Of House (as in, in front of the PA).See BOH.
Fools on Stools: Usually reserved for old guy duos playing acoustic instruments (or with an electric bass) while sitting on stools playing rock tunes of suspicious origin and with dubious talent.
Frankenbass, Frankenstein bass: A bass made of various, sometimes rarely-used-together parts
Freq/Freqs: Frequency/Frequencies
Fretboard: Neck board with frets (Fretted)
Fridge: Ampeg 8x10 cab
FSO: For Sale Only or Fender Shaped Object (to describe a Fender bass clone or something near it).
FSR: Factory Special Run
FTW: For the win. When a post captures the essence of a thread.
Fugly: Beyond ugly ... ******* + Ugly
Fundamental: Root frequency of a note. Fundamental of the B string on a 5 string bass is 32hz hertz. See Harmonics.
FUQUA'd" Having DBr Ed Fuqua bastardize your TB handle.
FWIW: For What It's Worth.
GAS,G.A.S.: Gear Acquisition Syndrome.
GAT: Get a teacher
GC: Guitar Center. A chain of music stores owned by Bain Capital. Also owns Woodwind and Brasswind, Music 123, Lyons Music, Musician's Friend and others
Get the hell off my lawn: Uused by old guys when newbies, et.al. make us cranky.
Git Player: Guitar Player
Gitard: Derogatory term for guitar players. Frowned upon on TB except when applicable.
GIF: picture file process and format that allows minimal animation in a very small file size with usually humorous content and effect. Used in many avatars.
GK: Gallien Krueger amp/speaker cab manufacturer.
GL: Can Refer to "Geddy Lee" (ie. The model) or G&L basses.
GLWTS: "Good luck the the sale" or "Good luck with the show".
Greenboy: designer of fEARful and other light weight cabs.
GTG: Get Together.
Gtr: Guitar
Guitard: Derogatory term for guitar players. Frowned upon on TB except when applicable. In retalition, guitards sometimes refer to us as "basstards"
Hannie: Hanewinckle
Harmonics (2nd order, 3rd order, etc.): frequencies produced above the root (fundamental) frequency of a note that creates the musical timbre of a steady tone from an instrument and is determined by the relative strengths of each harmonic. See Fundamental
Head: Pre-amp, Amp and Speaker(s) built in one cab.
Hertz: See Hz.
HH: Double Humbucker Pickup Combo
Hissy Quit: See Rage Quit
here. (HPF,Rumble Filter/Subsonic Filter/Low Cut Filter): filter built to eliminate low frequencies below a specific frequency to eliminate inaudible low bass frequencies that suck amplifier power and can damage/blow speakers. Some amps have it built in. See TBr fdeck's adjustable HPF V3. Also check out the Thumpinator or Fishman Pro Platinum. See Micro Screaminator for low pass (treble cut off) filter box.
Hoffman's Iron Law: There's a tradeoff relationship between box size, bass extension, and efficiency. If you want to make improvements in one area, payment for that must come from the others. So if you want a small box that goes deep, it will have low efficiency (classic example is the one cubic foot home stereo subwoofer that goes down to 20 Hz but needs a kilowatt of power).
Hoffy: Hofner Bass, like the one Paul McCartney uses.
HPF See High Pass Filter HTH: Hope That Helps.
Hybrid: Usually an amp that has a tube preamp and Solid State(SS)amp.
Hz: A Measurement Of Cycles Per Second related to a specific frequency,e.g., "32 Hz"
IBBIE,IBBY: Ibanez
IBTL: Before The Thread Lock (Frowned upon by TB mods). Making a post before it's locked due to issues in a thread.
i.e.: that is
IDC: I don't care, I didn't care.
IDK: I don't know, I didn't know.
IEM: In ear monitors. System used to replace on stage floor monitors.
iOS: (previously iPhone OS) is a mobile operating system developed/distributed by Apple Inc. Also for iPad, iPod Touch. TB club.
IIRC: If I Remember Correctly
IME: In my experience
IMHO: In My Humble Opinion or In My Honest Opinion
IMO: In my opinion.
Jazz: Fender Jazz Bass or basses built in the style of.
J/H: Jazz (single coil)/Humbucker (double coil) Pickup Combination
J/P/J: Bass built with 3 pickups in the format of: Jazz, Precision, Jazz. Usually with a Fender Jazz Bass style bass.
J,J-Bass,JBass: Fender Jazz Bass or basses built in the style of.
JMHO: Just My (Humble, Honest) Opinion
JJ: The late James Jamerson, Motown bassist, arguably the greatest bass player ever
LGD: Lead Guitarist's Disease.
LILO: Load in/Load out
Lounge, The: Private Forum accessible to TB supporting members.
Low Cut Filter: See High Pass Filter
Lownered: To start a thread or post once ( usually a trollish type post ) and leave a thread forever.
LP or LPB: Les Paul or Les Paul Bass (Referring to the body style) or Lake Placid Blue (A colour)
LSD: Lead Singer's Disease
Macca: Paul McCartney
Mad: Lots of something: Mad skills, mad props.
Maximum excursion: The amount of speaker movement that takes the coil out of the magnetic gap, making reconing a distinct possibility. See Xmax.
MHDW: (TBr)Maki has done worse
Metronome: Unit that provides an adjustable tempo (speed) click to assist a bass player while practicing or a band while rehearsing. Sometimes used to describe a drummer's time keeping ability-"like a metronome".
MIA: "Made in Asia" or "Missing in Action" or Made in America
MIC: "Made in China"
Mic/Mic'd or Mike/Miked: Microphone
Micro Thumpinator: See High Pass Filter.
here.: Low pass filter that cuts highs (clankyness) above 5Khz. Also good for guitar also.
Mids: Frequencies generally between ____ Hz and ____ Hz.
Mid-Forward: Bass cab that emphasizes mid-range.
MIJ: "Made In Japan" See Also, CIJ.
MIK: "Made In Korea"
MIM: "Made In Mexico"
MM or EBMM: Music Man or Ernie Ball Music Man. MM can also refer to the Marcus Miller signature bass
Mod(s): Moderator(s): Talk Bass overseers. They can shut you up.
Mod(s): Modify, as in Mod a bassor What mods does your bass have?
Mojo: Extensive wear on a bass due to years of playing. Such basses seem to have a deep history or charisma.
Mosh Girl: Photochop thread based on a photo of a girl dancing in mosh pit. Mosh Girl Photoshop Thread
Mothman: bass of legend, forged in the depths of hell
MdS: Medium Scale
My Inspired Pose: Photochop thread based on TBr Oniman's picture: My inspired pose
NAD: New amp day
N'Ampeg: Ampegs of overseas Asian manufacture
NBD: New Bass Day
NBD: No big deal
NCD: New (speaker) cabinet day
NIMBY: Not in my backyard.
No pic, no hot chick: Calling out a fellow TBr to provide pics of the "hot chick" he/she referenced in a previous post.
No pic, no _____: Used when you want a TBr to provide pics of whatever has been referenced in a previous post.
Noob/Newbie/Newb: New Member. New to a topic/subject.
NOS: New Old Stock. Applies to any object that was originally made many years ago, has remained unsold and is still in new condition for sale.
NTTAWWT: Not that there's anything wrong with that
NWS, NSFW: Warning about a photograph or video. Not work safe or Not safe for work to display on your screen. Something you should never see on TB and something you should never post on TB. See Banned.
OP: Original Poster/Original Post. "The OP has a point."
Open back speaker cabinet: For guitar, allowing part of the back to be uncovered, creating a desired and different tone than sealed back cabinets. Placed close to a wall, part of the sound will be widely reflected back into the room.
Original: As in An original, '63 Fender Jazz Bass.
OT: Off Topic forum or "off topic". "Your post is off topic".
OTOH: On The Other Hand
P, P-Bass, P Bass, PBass: Fender Precision Bass or basses built in the style.
PA or P.A.: Public Address system used to amplify vocals and various musical instruments that a band uses.
Passive, Passive Bass: A bass that depends on the voltage from the pickups to power a preamp/amp. No batteries. A non-active bass. See Active.
Paul Determan: Forum administrator/owner of TB. Contact with any issues the mods can't handle or to file website complaints.
P-Bass: Fender Precision Bass or those built in the style.
PBDDI: Tech 21 Programmable Bass Driver DI
PDDI: Tech 21 Para Driver DI
P/G,PG: Pickguard
P/H,PH: Precision/Humbucker Pickup Combination
P/J,PJ: Precision/Jazz pickup combination. Usually installed on a Fender Jazz Bass,sometimes a Fender Precision Bass along with a Jazz Bass neck. Precision p/u in the neck position, Jazz p/up in bridge position.
Pre-amp: Pre-amplifier. Takes powered signals(electrical impulses) from a source(usually a bass on TB), modifies it with filters(tone controls)and sends the modified signal to an amplifier making the bass and "active bass". Can be purchased as an individual unit or in conjunction with an amplifier(head)
Photochop, Photochopped: modifying a photo, usually in a humorous way. Photo modified using the program Photoshop.
Pic(s),Pix: Picture(s)
Pillow: Bass tone that emphasizes the lower frequencies but is not distorted but more smooth/rounded tone.
PITA, Pita: pain in the a$$
Plank: DBer's(upright bass player) derisive term for electric bass guitar
Plank Spanker: Those who play electric bass guitar
PM: Private Message sent through TalkBass from one TBr to another.
Port, Ported: Usually a round hole cut into a speaker cabinet with a specific length(determined by calculation) of plastic pipe extension attached. To maximize bass response.
POS: Piece of $**+. Not a good piece of equipment.
Potentiometer: Volume control, etc.
Power or speaker(Brake, Attenuator, Soak) or (Amplifier, Volume, Power, Wattage) Attenuator: A very effective and adjustable unit that is inserted between amplifier and speaker cab that absorbs amp power (little to a lot) so a musician can get power tube distortion at a low volume by turning up the amp volume and where the (Brake, Attenuator, Soak) absorbs the amp power. Usually for guitarists using tube amps and can shorten tube life considerably. If you are looking for speaker distortion, this is not the effect to use.
Precision: based on Fender Precision Bass.
Pron: Porn
Props: Proper respect. That bass player deserves mad props for really putting on a show tonight!
PUP(s), p/u's: Pickup(s)
Pwn, Pwned: from the verb own, owned, as in, I pwned you. Gloating or bragging about some accomplishment that overshadows someone else's. Also, to appropriate or to conquer, compromise or control.
QFT: Quoted for Truth. A very strong agreement with another TBr's statement/reply.
OT: TB Off Topic Forum where pretty much any non-music subject (except politics and/or religion) are discussed, disputed and generally chewed on pretty good by lots of TBrs.
Rack, Rack Mount(ed): amps, pre-amps, etc. designed (with ears/tabs) to be semi-permanently mounted into a (usually) metal box (rack). Many racks are modified to hold pretty much any thing that will fit in them.
Rage Quit: Posting a tantrum thread and then quitting TB. Possibly deleting one's account in the process.
Ramp: Small piece of rectangular wood placed to fill space between pickups and usually used to rest your thumb while playing.
Rattle Can Refin: Refinishing a bass with paint out of a spray can(rattles when shaken).
RB5: Roscoe Beck 5-string
Relic, Light Relic a bass: Nicks, scratches. etc. added to a bass to make it look like you've been gigging /playing it for 30 years. Light relic, only about 5 years.
Respect: Number one rule on TB: Respect your fellow TBr's at all times when posting.
RI: Reissue
Ric: Rickenbacker Basses
Round port: a circular hole cut into a speaker cabinet along with using an internal extension(usually plastic pipe) of a specific length for tuning the cabinet to obtain maximum performance from the speaker. See Shelf Port. See Sealed/Nonsealed Cabinets.
Rumble Filter: See High Pass Filter
SABDDI: Tech 21 SansAmp Bass Driver DI.
SC: Single Cut Body Style.
SE: Sound Engineer who runs the P.A. and stage monitors. Sometime two individuals, one for the PA and one for the stage monitors.
Scale Length: The length from the nut of the bass, to the bridge of the bass.
Search is your friend: A polite way to inform a thread creator or poster that what is being asked about has been widely and thoroughly discussed before and to use the Search function to obtain answers to their question.
Sealed(closed) speaker cabinet/non-sealed(ported) speaker cabinet: Sealed cabinets have no other opening except for the speaker(s). Non-sealed cabinets have openings (shelf, round, horn) that tune a speaker cabinet to match the speaker(s) parameters resulting in obtaining maximum performance from the speaker(s) See Round port, Shelf port.
Shedd, shedding, shedded See Woodshed.
Shelf port: Alternative to a round port. Usually built as a specific full-length or full-width opening of a speaker cabinet to maximize speaker capabilities. Can also be built into both sides of a speaker cabinet. See Sealed/nonsealed cab.
Shoegaze, Shoegazer, Shoegazi: (UK) A type of Britpop or other indie music of the 1990s, characterised by a dreamlike sound making much use of effect pedals, and by a detached or introverted performance style or music similar.
Sig: Signature. TB's signature display area seen at the bottom of posts or in a user's profile.
Siggable: A phrase or comment worth putting into the TB signature display space.
Sigged: Putting another TBr' phrase into your TB signature display space.
Signature: Display under a post where a TB can input any type of information or links
Single Cut: Bass with only one cut away.
Sitch: Situation
Slab: DBer's derisive term for bass guitar
Slab Bass Bass w/o comfort shaping, like the original Fender Precision Basses.
Slab: Rosewood fingerboard with a flat bottom on a neck with comparable mating surface.
SLM era CL+SLM era 810e: SLM was previous owner of Ampeg. CL=amp, 810e=speaker cab
SM57: An Industry Standard Microphone made by the Sure company. Mostly used to mic instruments.
SM58: An industry standard vocal microphone made by the Sure company.
SMDH: Shaking My D@mn Head
Sound guy: see SE
Spec(s): Specifications
Squire: Officially spelled "Squier", a budget brand of FMIC(Fender Musical Instrument Corporation)
SR5: Ernie Ball Stingray 5-string
SS: Solid state (transistor, not tube circuit)
Stammie: Stambaugh bass
Sticky: Thread that rises to such popularity or contains highly useful information that is placed permanently at the top of the forum it originated in for TBr's easy access.
String Tension: How much force a string exerts when tuned. See TB discussion TB list
StS: Short Scale
Subsonic Filter: See High Pass Filter.
Supporting Member: $20/yr., $60/yr.-GOLD supporting member. Larger message storage and avatar pics + other benefits.
SX Basses: Essex Basses
TB: TalkBass
T-Bass, TBass: Fender Telecaster Bass or those built in the style
TBBFM: The Best Bass For Metal
T-bird, Tbird: Thunderbird bass
TG: TalkGuitar.com, TB's sister site.
The Best Bass for Metal: Humorous reply to a thread/post taken from a thread the asked "What's the best bass for Metal?"
The Best Bass For ________: Humorous reply to a thread/post that asks about "The best", "The most" or any other overused superlative.
The Qintar: An old poster on Talkbass.
Thump: bass tone that has more mid-range and gives you a thumping type tone instead of a smoother tone. A P bass is good for this.
TI: Thomastik-Infeld strings, e.g.. TI Flats
TL;DR: Too long, Don't Read. Too long, Didn't Read. Summary of long post, usually seen at the beginning of the post.
Tort: Tortoise Shell (pickguard)
Tribbie: G&L Tribute basses
Troll: A person who posts for the sole purpose of stirring the pot.
TTIUWOP or TTIUWP: This Thread Is Useless Without Pics
TTT: "To The Top", alternative to Bump. Typed in a post to get a thread moved to the top of the thread list.
Tug Bar: Small piece of rectangular wood/plastic placed on front of bass above or below pickups to rest thumb/fingers. Older Fender Precision or Jazz basses are good examples.
Unmolested: Stock, unmodified, unchanged, as first sold, original setup
URB or UB: Upright Bass
Vintage: Previously used to describe old basses until incorporated into the names of new basses made in the style of old basses.
Vox: Vocals
VTC: Vintage Tone Control
'wick: Warwick bass
WinISD: Free speaker cabinet design program available in the Interwebz.
Wish Bass: Bass-shaped object made by Steve Wishnevsky- rumored to be capable of making bass like sounds
Woodshed, Woodshedding, Woodshedded: Spending a large amount of time practicing with the goal of getting as good as you can in a short amount of time, as if you are isolating yourself in a woodshed so no one will bother you. See Shed.
WRT,W.R.T.: With respect to. Making a comment "WRT" a specific point made earlier in a conversation".
WTL;DR: Way too long, Didn't read. See TL;DR.
Wunkay: G&L L-100 bass
WWMD: What Would (TBr) Maki Do?
Xmax: How far the speaker cone can travel(one way) with the coil still in the magnetic gap. Farther is better. Not related to maximum excursion which takes the coil out of the magnetic gap.
YMMV: Your Mileage May Vary. Advising a reader that taking your advice is at his/her own risk.
561
Last edited:
