Does The Name On The Headstock Affect Tone?

[stepswork4me]

I know, it seems like a silly question. Although, I've seen lots of discussions concerning what affects tone and many more concerning "value" of different brands. So, do you think that the name on the headstock changes peoples perception of "tone" or "sound"? How many of us listen with our eyes or preconceived notions of specific brands?

 

[meatwad]

I think some tones are inherent to the name, especially a Ric. MusicMan is pretty unique and fairly easy to distinguish.

 

[pringlw]

Yes. But there's also tone in the fingers.

Geddy on a Stingray (pause to imagine with smile on face) would sound like Geddy, on a Stingray. Crazy, I know.

 

[meatwad]

Yes. But there's also tone in the fingers.

Geddy on a Stingray (pause to imagine with smile on face) would sound like Geddy, on a Stingray. Crazy, I know.

I agree to a point, because Geezer Butler sounds like Geezer regardless of the dozen or so basses I'm aware of that he used over the years. But, his Precision sounded like a Precision, and his Vigier sounded very different.

 

[IngerAlb]

So, do you think that the name on the headstock changes peoples perception of "tone" or "sound"? How many of us listen with our eyes or preconceived notions of specific brands?

Yes, I believe so. Unfortunately there's still a lot of hype and misconception regarding certain brands. Or regarding where that instrument was made. I don't care a bit about such issues, because life taught me how silly such fix ideas really are Now I play the bass first, and then pay attention at the name on the headstock

 

[Duplo42]

It would be interesting to take all the Ric electronics and put it in Pbass and vica verse. I bet nobody would like the sound of Ricified Pbass, but in familiar shape of Ric bass, everybody would go - yeah, thats the sound.

Its the old blindfold test debate - take a squire, mia, etc and blindfold an "expert". So many wrong answers...

 

[Dubista]

Which name on the headstock is best for metal?

 

[johnk_10]

No.

 

[nuno.ka]

It affects the perception of tone for those who suffer from gearsluttiness.

 

[pringlw]

I agree to a point, because Geezer Butler sounds like Geezer regardless of the dozen or so basses I'm aware of that he used over the years. But, his Precision sounded like a Precision, and his Vigier sounded very different.

Not getting where we disagree...

 

[Evil Undead]

I've played basses with no name on the headstock that have been awesome, and I've loved the tone. And there's a big following of Sue Ryder basses over here at the moment

I think that bassists and musicians in general have a habit of listening with their eyes, but bass is bass to me.

 

[badboy1984]

I don't think is the value or brand that affects the tone. Is how we want the tone come out .......

Every bassist have a tone in their head that they like and would like to get that tone everytime as possible. Altho we have so many different basses but everytime we pick up the bass we dial the same kind of tone but with abit of a brit from that bass.

Hope this make sense .....

 

[Nev375]

Only if the name is inlaid with tonewood.

 

[Anthony White]

Taking the question literally -- no. If you take a Fender P or a Stingray, and sand the name off the headstock, the tone won't change.

Tone is the result of design, materials and construction. A Fender P sound like a Fender P because of the way it was designed, the materials its made of, and the nature and quality of the construction. If you go to a good luthier and ask him or her to make you a nice copy using the same materials, it will sound the same. If the luthier puts more time or care in that the Fender factory, then it may even sound better.

There is always, though, a little bit of black box in tone. As every piece of wood is different, sometimes the particular blocks of wood used on a particular instrument will just sound better than the blocks of wood used in a different instrument. In those cases, you can't tell until the instrument is made and you play it.

And then the effect of playing regularly over several also shakes the fibres in the timber down, and somehow the instrument sounds better as a result.

The last two factors can make a considerable difference. I have a Mexican Fender J that I've owned for 15 years that sounds better than some new US-made Fender Js in the store.

 

[Jim Nazium]

Only if the name is inlaid with tonewood.

 

[allexcosta]

No, the name on the headstock doesn't affect tone, but it may affect how some people perceive the tone. Our brains are powerful things...

 

[Jerry Ziarko]

Yes! As much as a $200 power cable does..........

 

[fullrangebass]

Shhhhhhhhhhhhh, it's a secret....

The name on the headstock affects the tone (esp if inlaid with TONE-INK, as in tone-wood), but we must not reveal what the Illuminati have taught us...

In reality, many people use neither their senses (tactile and auditory) nor their common sense when they try instruments. These people are biased (negative or positive bias) towards certain brands, so they do not objectively value the playability and tone of the "specific" bass in an un-prejudiced state of mind

 

[BassyBill]

Different name on headstock = different bass.

So, yes. My bass with "Rickenbacker" on the headstock has a different tone to the ones with "Fender" on the headstock.

 

[Bassbuster]

I sanded the name off the headstock of my bass and the tone has improved dramatically. It is also no longer suffering from neck dive.