Bass tone encyclopedia

[Max Blasto]

I see on here so many descriptions of sound. Let's build a list of tone descriptions then add videos/sound files/etc to the specific words to give an example


now we are getting a list going


you add video/audio with example of sound you think fits!

Sparkly
Deep
Rich
Full
Sweet
Warm
Thump
Meaty
Beefy
Punch
Thick
Round
sexy
Crispy
Clacky
Fuzzish
Sizzle

"Talking about music is like dancing about architecture."
- Frank Zappa

 

[PortlandBass77]

Stoner

 

[Mosstone]

"Talking about music is like dancing about architecture."
- Frank Zappa

Also: Laurie Anderson, Steve Martin, Martin Mull, Elvis Costello, Thelonius Monk, Clara Schumann, Miles Davis, and George Carlin have all been credited with that simile (either "talking" or "writing about music...").

Martin Mull is considered to be the first person to say that, though, but I like Frank Zappa better than Martin Mull, so I'll give it to Frank.

When I say it, I let people think I came up with it (if they dont ask).

 

[mongo2]

Sweet/sexy defined right here. I was going to pick out a section, but it's so darn good you just have to hear the whole darn song.

And here's where subjectivity comes into play. That sounds more "burpy/farty" than "sweet/sexy" to me.

 

[BurningTheAltar]

Rusty...



Acidic....

 

[Deleted member 264575]

I'd add Gritty, Clanky and Trebl-ey (guess what kind of bass/music I play....?).

 

[bolophonic]

Shoop
Diggety
Krump
Stretch
Bloot
Dangle

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

Clicky

 

[Deleted member 264575]

Clicky

Nappy ?

Tony Levin on the song Don't Give Up:
"It was recorded in 1985, when my daughter was two months old. I had brought her to England and had her in the studio with me. On some tracks I was wearing her in a brace on my tummy and the bass was on the other side of her. I didn't trust there would be nappies in England -I had packed my bass case full of Pampers, which I then used as string dampeners. I put a whole Pamper under the strings -an extraordinary sound. In the second half of the song where it gets really bassy it's called 'the super wonder nappy sound."

 

[Ric5]

I see on here so many descriptions of sound. Let's build a list of tone descriptions then add videos/sound files/etc to the specific words to give an example


now we are getting a list going


you add video/audio with example of sound you think fits!

Sparkly
Deep
Rich
Full
Sweet
Warm
Thump
Meaty
Beefy
Punch
Thick
Round
sexy
Crispy
Clacky
Fuzzish
Sizzle

Those are all subjective terms that cannot be objectively quantified ...

But if you want to go there ...

you need to add ...

Growl
Clank
Clean
Tubey
Cold
Harsh
Bright
Dull
Clear
Crunch
Gritty
Distorted
Smooth
Flat
Woody
HiFi
Old School
Motown
Proggy
Upright
Fretless
Mellow
Overdriven
with and without overhead
Modern
Plucky
Attack
Legato
Staccato
Walking
Organic
Muted
Dark
Acoustic
Funky
Fundamental
Overtones
Harmonics
Rich
Tone
Stiffer Midrange
Boomy
Muddy
Buzz
Color
Dead
Bulky
Floppy
Thin
Trebley
Blended
Mix
Compression
Effects
Transients
Standing Wave
Frequency
Vintage
Low End
Fat
Sustain
Decay
Wet
Dry

 

[Lejdestad]

I'd add Gritty, Clanky and Trebl-ey (guess what kind of bass/music I play....?).

Hmm... I'm thinking No... No wait! Yes?

 

[kkaarrll]

deep warm bass?

 

[kosmicwizard]

Full comes from a well designed cab that may or may not be ported, have different sized drivers, a cross over and/or tweeter.

3-d any sound that comes out of the ampeg svt ll (non-pro) or vintage svts.

 

[mindwell]

Compressed. "Reminiscing," Little River Band.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyouflDC3UU

 

[-Liam-]

Overdriven
Gritty

 

[kkaarrll]

now we have people playing by the rules!

 

[jamro217]

I'd add Gritty, Clanky and Trebl-ey (guess what kind of bass/music I play....?).

No idea, but is it fair to assume that your bass has twice the number of truss rods as Jamerson's?

 

[jamro217]

Yeah, if only Jamerson knew better.

Jaco, too.

 

[Fat Freddy]

Metal...errrm....y?

 

[kkaarrll]

carrot ish?

some good explanation so far, I like comparing sounds