Does a bass really improve with age??

[BobXboB]

On the History channel they were relating to how the stradivarius "fiddles" sounded better.. they came to the conclusion that the forests where these trees were felled were in an area where there volcanic activity limiting the woods regular growth patterns thus making the wood rings smaller and more dense because of the limited sunlight in those particular forests.

This speaks to a common practice I see, we tend to make the materials responsible for the "magic" in a bass or other instrument and we like to make the bass the magic in a players works. I feel this is a bit materialistic and unfairly discounts the players contributions. Then we get stuck in the trap that we need special magic gear to be any good and never realize our musical limitations may be based mainly in our skills.

IMHO

 

[xgator4u]

This speaks to a common practice I see, we tend to make the materials responsible for the "magic" in a bass or other instrument and we like to make the bass the magic in a players works. I feel this is a bit materialistic and unfairly discounts the players contributions. Then we get stuck in the trap that we need special magic gear to be any good and never realize our musical limitations may be based mainly in our skills.

IMHO

Holy crap BOB will you marry me? No wait I'm already married... All kidding aside, I could not possibly agree with you more. A crappy bassist is still a crappy bassist even if he has a $4K bass his mommy bought him, where a good bassist is still a good bassist playing a $200.00 bass.

 

[Krügmeister]

This speaks to a common practice I see, we tend to make the materials responsible for the "magic" in a bass or other instrument and we like to make the bass the magic in a players works. I feel this is a bit materialistic and unfairly discounts the players contributions. Then we get stuck in the trap that we need special magic gear to be any good and never realize our musical limitations may be based mainly in our skills.

IMHO

I agree... I just think they were trying to scientifically challenge the overall build and if they were indeed "different".
I would think that any violin that was made from the same region during that time should have the same type of resonance... if they were made exactly the same.
An electronic bass obviously would hardly make a difference unless it was due to superior electronics... maybe the aged copper has a bearing on the sound... but i tend to think it's all in the fingers myself.

 

[BobXboB]

It could improve or become worse depending on how well it is maintained

I like that, it allows more than 2 possibilities, complexity can be good

Personally I don't think any aging in one persons lifetime would be perceptible. The fiddle people say it takes centuries to show up in a violin, er, fiddle. I doubt it would show up in a Tele in 40 years.

 

[Lajwah]

Though I’d resurrect the is old thread, if anyone is still watching. I had the impression that my Electric basses did sound better as they got played more, now at least I can certainly prove a difference…
I purchased a brand new Standard Fodera 3 years ago. I remember distinctly thinking how “quiet” and “thin” it sounded acoustically, even though plugged in, it was a monster…
Now this may not have an actual impact on the amplified tone, but i can definitely say the tone is louder and fuller acoustically now than it was 3 years ago, especially comparing to my other basses which I haven’t played so much in that time. Whereas before is was acoustically quiet compared to the same basses, now it’s the loudest bass I have!
Now, better or worse, that is subjective… to my ears, way better…

 

[Chris Laarman]

I'm curious to learn. (I skipped the old part of the thread, though.)

So I have two basses bought new in 1981: a solid-body Ibanez MC-924 and an acoustic Eko Chetro. I'll have hardly played them since 1990. And then five basses bought new since 2021 (three solid-body, two acoustic; one Fender, four Harley Benton).

I don't think that the sound of my oldies has "matured". Besides, I can't verify one, as I have restored the Eko to its factory tape-wound strings (as the Fender now is the acoustic one with flat-wounds). Whatever, I love them more now than back then.

Yes, I can imagine wooden instruments to develop in whatever way. Both by ageing and by getting played (and being restringed). The same could apply to the strings on them. That would result in 4..6 causes for change of tone.

So, I'm curious to read the upcoming comments.

 

[Mike Vee]

if worn in all the right places, then yes

 

[chadds]

This speaks to a common practice I see, we tend to make the materials responsible for the "magic" in a bass or other instrument and we like to make the bass the magic in a players works. I feel this is a bit materialistic and unfairly discounts the players contributions. Then we get stuck in the trap that we need special magic gear to be any good and never realize our musical limitations may be based mainly in our skills.

IMHO

Here on TB some choices tend to be get a compressor or fire the drummer. We do talk bass and I think it's temporary curse to think they'll play or sound better with that next new gear. At some time in their progress they begin to realize it's first how they hear, then how they touch as the great significant influences. Then they will choose a bass out of many that responds to those priorities. (Amps too) They will know that their bass improves as it is used.

There's the rub. A bass not played doesn't break in. It doesn't age. The instruments at the Smithsonian are loaned and played or played in house so they retain their fitness. Our basses age by use. The player can feel this. An astute player can know how a new bass will feel once it's been broken in. That player feels and hears the potential. That player can predict how it will sound with a string change or a better setup. This comes with experience.

I say yes age with use. My '51 MIJ P is vibrant compared to when it was new. It get's used. I do have a very old well used G&L 1000 that was ridden hard and put away wet. It's been restored. It's "miles of aisles" are apparent when you hear the notes just jump out. When it responds to the littlest inflection you go, "oh yeah."

 

[Lance Bunyon]

Some necks degrade with age.

 

[craigmack1979]

Yes, they get better with age. But our ears get worse with age so we never really know

It’s 14.5 yrs after you posted this and it resonates with me cause i have some hearing loss