This is a good description of what I am experiencing. The beefy fundamental of the note falls off quickly, so the note is there, just thinner, what is left is mostly overtones. These overtones still suggest the note, though.
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Dead spots on G string - Why??
- Thread starter jeffkew
- Start date
This is a good description of what I am experiencing. The beefy fundamental of the note falls off quickly, so the note is there, just thinner, what is left is mostly overtones. These overtones still suggest the note, though.
That is a dead spot. Again usually not a problem as long as the fundamental hits pretty hard at the initial attack
If you don't notice them, that is a wonderful thing. Leave this thread quickly, and be happy
Again, most deadspots are in a similar position and luckily, most are easy to play around (i.e., the note will sustain nicely, but just have a much quicker drop-off in the fundamental, leaving the upper harmonics ringing.
Also, per the post above on scale length, luckily, most basses don't have the dreaded 'immediate drop off in fundamental at the initial attack'. I've luckily only experienced a few of those for sure. That is not a good thing. It also has NOTHING to do with the price of the bass, but sometimes happens, Rogue, Alembic, Fodera, Fender, whatever. Physics is physics.
I've played bass now for 41 years, and being a gear hog, have probably owned 25 basses, and have probably played a few hundred more. I can't remember any wooden neck basses that didn't have a deadspot somewhere, regardless of scale or design. Most were minor, but they are there for sure.
That being said, I know of many players who don't notice them (unfortunately, until they are pointed out by someone). Hence, my suggestion to not think about the topicWhat you don't know (in this case) won't hurt you
All good. Been playing around 30 years myself, and have played many dozens of basses, from pre-CBS Fenders to Kays and Silvertones and Foderas and Dingwalls, and I get you.
Dead spots are common.
Things is, I don't seem to have any on any of my basses.
I have heard dead spots, and I have owned basses that had them. They are gone now. The basses I have now just don't seem to have any. At least not in an audible way.
BassHappy
Supporting Member
Wow, it'll be 50 years of playing for me in a few months....still looking for that list of medium scales you played with dead spots. Fascinating that you can't or won't list them, although you sure seem to remember that they all had them?????
I would bet you haven't even PLAYED a quality medium scale, which would be a great reason for you not to list any. They are pretty hard to come by. Not many hanging on the wall in your local Guitar Center.
I am serious, whether you realize it or not - you are really misleading folks by perpetuating and repeating a myth.
This isn't about one note ringing a little longer than another as you imply - this is purely about DEAD spots. A note that doesn't even sustain for half a second and in forty years of playing you know better.
Please, I beg you and challenge you - let's see the list. Not talking about the $169 specials either, I am talking about a QUALITY medium scale bass. If you can't provide it I would suggest that you re-phrase your opinion and not lump medium scales into your generalization.
BassHappy
Ditto.
I have several Fender basses, I can't find the dead spot on any of them. If it's there, it's certainly not an imposition, 'cuz I can't hear it even on long notes. This must not be something that affects every bass.
I've had 'em. My 74 Tele bass had one at C that was a real dog - THUMP (as they do), then nothing, not even the overtones. B and C# were perfect as was every other position on the whole neck.
My old fretless Warwick Corvette had a very mild one on E on the G string. We're talking so mild that I didn't even notice it for the first two years I owned it. It was a 2007 German Warwick, so it was not a cheapie rockbass.
Oddly, I can't find any on either of my Squiers. The two cheapest basses I've ever owned (barring my first plywood-body one) and I literally can't find one on either.
It just goes to show that it's definitely the wood ;P
Seriously though, it's very common, and it can take a while to find a long scale bass that you both love and can't find any dead spots on. After 26 years with a bass in my hands I just don't worry about them anymore.
My old fretless Warwick Corvette had a very mild one on E on the G string. We're talking so mild that I didn't even notice it for the first two years I owned it. It was a 2007 German Warwick, so it was not a cheapie rockbass.
Oddly, I can't find any on either of my Squiers. The two cheapest basses I've ever owned (barring my first plywood-body one) and I literally can't find one on either.
It just goes to show that it's definitely the wood ;P
Seriously though, it's very common, and it can take a while to find a long scale bass that you both love and can't find any dead spots on. After 26 years with a bass in my hands I just don't worry about them anymore.
I've only had two 30" scale basses.... two beautiful Rob Allen Mouses. The fretless had a moderate dead spot, although with the tape wound flats and the way I played it and had it EQ'd, I went for a quick roll-off anyway. The fretted had a 'no problem' minor dead spot around the E on the G string. The dead spot will definitely move around a bit for sure.
That being said, I don't know much about short scale basses, and quite frankly, unless you are going for a DB emulation, never saw the point in them. Pure IMO there. Again, if you don't have an issue with dead spots, not sure why you would be posting here, but all is good.
My comment on 'scale not mattering' has more to do with moving from the 'normal 34" to 35". That REALLY has no impact.
Not sure what your point is... that everyone should buy a short scale bass to avoid a minor drop in fundamental on the G string. I don't get the passion here, but whatever.
The 'price' of a bass has literally NOTHING to do with dead spots or not. Not sure why you would think that would matter. Again, all is good. If none of your basses have any sort of dead spots, that would be a good thing. Not sure why you would even be posting in this thread.
Again, most dead spots are non-issues, but I ALWAYS recommend playing sustained notes up and down the G string on any bass, just to make sure there isn't a major issue. There usually is not.
BassHappy
Supporting Member
Some of you will hate me for this, but I have to do it.
Start on the G string and pluck or pick the G# on the first fret with your usual stroke and hold the note. Count how long it sustains doing a one mississippi, two mississippi, three mississippi and see if you make it to four while the note is still ringing. If so you are looking good.
Continue up the neck with each and every fret/note. Repeat on all strings.
If you pass this test, congrats - dead spots on your instrument are not a problem. If you fail, feel free to hate me for pointing out the imperfection in your baby.
BassHappy
Start on the G string and pluck or pick the G# on the first fret with your usual stroke and hold the note. Count how long it sustains doing a one mississippi, two mississippi, three mississippi and see if you make it to four while the note is still ringing. If so you are looking good.
Continue up the neck with each and every fret/note. Repeat on all strings.
If you pass this test, congrats - dead spots on your instrument are not a problem. If you fail, feel free to hate me for pointing out the imperfection in your baby.
BassHappy
BassHappy
Supporting Member
This is such a hoot.
Short scale is not medium scale my friend....
There is a WORLD of difference.
Please do not lump 30" short scales in with 32" medium scales, but I hear where you are coming from. The only short scale bass I own is my Rob Allen 30" mouse, all my others are 32" mediums. Trust me. HUGE difference in every respect.
BassHappy
LOL. No problem. So, you are talking about 32" scale or something. Still don't see your point, but all is good.
Let me rephrase... for the 90%+ of electric bassists who play either a 34" inch or 35" scale instrument, you will virtually always find a dead spot on a wooden neck (usually minor and easy to deal with). In most cases, it is a trivial issue.
I agree, I now have no idea what you are talking about
No, Leo got it right. What the heck you doin' up THERE, boy?? He just put on a G string to balance neck tension!
BassHappy
Supporting Member
No, Leo got it right. What the heck you doin' up THERE, boy?? He just put on a G string to balance neck tension!
Well apparently he didn't do a very good job, unless you want to jam your headstock into the drywall, of course.
BassHappy
BassHappy
Supporting Member
LOL. No problem. So, you are talking about 32" scale or something. Still don't see your point, but all is good.
Let me rephrase... for the 90%+ of electric bassists who play either a 34" inch or 35" scale instrument, you will virtually always find a dead spot on a wooden neck (usually minor and easy to deal with). In most cases, it is a trivial issue.
I agree, I now have no idea what you are talking about
Thanks so much for the clarification. I appreciate it very much whether anyone else does or not.
This is what I am talking about:
All 32" medium scales, except the Rob Allen mouse, and nary a dead spot among em!
Never played a medium scale bass yet that had a dead spot and frankly, I am dying to find one! I don't think they exist.
Which is my whole point. Maybe Leo missed the mark on one aspect anyways.
BassHappy
www.innertainment.net
On topic: dead spots are always there on wood necks in varying degrees.
I own about four basses where I don't notice them at all. I have more that have them and are noticeable and at least two that are fairly severe.
I own about four basses where I don't notice them at all. I have more that have them and are noticeable and at least two that are fairly severe.
This is what I am talking about:
Derail alert: Hey BassHappy, what is the carved t double cut beauty on the top left?
Derail alert: Hey BassHappy, what is the carved t double cut beauty on the top left?
my long time guitar tech told me once that it is the nature of 34 inch scale basses that dead spots are common in them. I don't know if that's true or not but thought I would throw it out there.
having said that, I like 34 inch scale basses and have 4 of them and I don't hear anything unusual.
I also have a 32 inch bass and I am pretty sure it is dead spot free.
having said that, I like 34 inch scale basses and have 4 of them and I don't hear anything unusual.
I also have a 32 inch bass and I am pretty sure it is dead spot free.
That's one of the things they try to do with graphite rods. It may or may not actually work.
