Change in tone with ageing?

[blr2]

Hello,

As described in THIS THREAD , I reacquired a Jazz Bass I used to own since new, after 7 years. Obviously, I cannot make a direct comparison, but from memory, I am convinced that now, after 7 years, the tone of the bass is considerably deeper and warmer. Could it be that the this is due to wood ageing, knowing that it has a thin nitro finish?

What's your experience people?

 

[IPA]

Same amp? Same strings? Same technique?

 

[Pilgrim]

You'll find a lot of debate about wood changing "tone" after years, and possibly after lots of playing.

But solid body basses aren't violins. With a solid body bass, my belief is that you get a lot more difference from strings and electronics than from aging of the wood. If a previous owner changed the strings - or if they just aged, which they did if they weren't changed - I wouldn't be surprised if it sounds a bit different.

That's also why I play flats and never change them. IMO they get better as they age.

 

[blr2]

Same amp? Same strings? Same technique?

Same rig, yes.
While I had the bass I used it with different strings, but one of them (Fender 7250's) is the same, yes. Brand new set BTW.
I don't thing I changed technique in the last 7 years. I play mostly finger style since the 80's.

Also, nothing changed in the setup of the bass (didn't need any adjustment). The only thing I did was polish the frets lightly with 2500 grit sandpaper, oil the fretboard and change strings.

 

[Snert]

Could it be that the this is due to wood ageing, knowing that it has a thin nitro finish?

No. It's wishful thinking/confirmation bias. Audible memory is extremely short term and unreliable.

 

[deff]

Hello,

As described in THIS THREAD , I reacquired a Jazz Bass I used to own since new, after 7 years. Obviously, I cannot make a direct comparison, but from memory, I am convinced that now, after 7 years, the tone of the bass is considerably deeper and warmer. Could it be that the this is due to wood ageing, knowing that it has a thin nitro finish?

What's your experience people?

That's funny because every tele player out there swears the opposite. They all say brighter and twangier. There are certainly material changes over time, but I'm gonna take your anecdotal evidence with a salt mine.

 

[ics1974]

I think it’s possible. The wood is going to dry out more over time and playing it is like Yamaha’s I.R.A treatment but naturally.

 

[Matt O]

Same ears?

As I age, all sounds seem “warmer”.

 

[Killing Floor]

No and Yes. Your bass isn’t going to change in a few years although the strings will. Your speaker may change slightly as it ages but I doubt that is what you are hearing.

Most likely suspect is called GAS.

 

[MrAB4003]

Hello,

As described in THIS THREAD , I reacquired a Jazz Bass I used to own since new, after 7 years. Obviously, I cannot make a direct comparison, but from memory, I am convinced that now, after 7 years, the tone of the bass is considerably deeper and warmer. Could it be that the this is due to wood ageing, knowing that it has a thin nitro finish?

What's your experience people?

My two oldest basses are 15 years old and 11 years old. I haven't noticed a change in either of their tones since I acquired them brand new.

 

[blr2]

My two oldest basses are 15 years old and 11 years old. I haven't noticed a change in either of their tones since I acquired them brand new.

My oldest is 35 years old, but that's not the point. If the tone (for whatever reason) changes very slowly over time, it may not be noticeable. Here I'm talking about the instrument that I knew well, played it for 6 years, than didn't have it for another 7, and now I have it again.

 

[Silky Johnson]

If anything aged it was probably your ears or else the strings

 

[blr2]

There are certainly material changes over time, but I'm gonna take your anecdotal evidence with a salt mine.

I didn't present any evidence. Just shared impressions, that's not evidence.

However, I may be able to do something a bit more objective if/when time permits.
I recorded a couple of tracks for an album in 2016 using this bass and new Fender flats. We did it in the studio of our drummer (who's a professional sound engineer), with whom I work to this day. I just asked him, and he confirmed that he still keeps the isolated tracks for the whole album. We use different converters nowadays, but the ones we used back in 2016 are still available as spares in the studio.
One of the bass tracks is a pure DI, and I happen to still have the DI box I used in 2016.
In short, we may be able to recreate the same signal chain and track part of the bass line of one of the songs. Then we can compare on high quality monitors/headphones and do some FFT analysis.
Again, not a 100 % scientific experiment, but way better than a sonic memory.

 

[metron]

Change yes. I don’t know that it’s universally for the better though. Basses are like strings on a longer timeline. Being broken in seems to generally be an improvement but long term things eventually wear out.

 

[Discount Bassy]

Sir, you have fallen in love.

 

[MARVIN MECKLER]

I'm 51, and I've definitely changed tone with aging.

Every time I move, I moan.

 

[coy garcia]

I would guess strings got old and so did ears.

 

[Low End Scum]

I'm no scientist, but I don't see how it really would. I've had it justified to me by a few guitarists that it's the wood "drying out", but more in reference to my grandma's early 70's Kay. I was told that "they're good now cause they finally dried out". I could be wrong, I've nearly broken through from amateur to professional in being wrong, but I don't see how wood changes if it's been sealed under layers and layers of poly. Or electronics passing electricity in a different way that isn't causing issues but still is audible due to, I don't know, oxidation?

 

[Chrisk-K]

Human memory is highly unreliable.

 

[Pings Bass]

Nah

The human ear and the brain connected to it are much more malleable than a solid body electric bass guitar.