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does weight affect tone?

#24
mpdd said:
my heavy bass just so happens to have a big big neck though
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Good point, I have noticed with all the basses I have built that heftier necks make a huge impact on tone. Almost more so than body weight, however inconclusive which is more a factor. Wenge neck vs maple/maple is like black and white. It's all an interesting journey of discovery.
 
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#27
If you believe what a famed luthier like Roger Sadowsky says, the lighter weight basses sound better, which is why he chooses the lightest wood blanks and also now chambers all of his NYC basses.

But personally, I don't think it affects tone in any appreciable way whatsoever, especially not in an electric instrument. However, I've never seen any appreciable evidence supporting one side or the other, so I think the official verdict has to be "uncertain".

My shoulder and back sure are happy though with how amazing my 8-ish lb Sterling sounds though, and I loved the tones that came out of my 7-ish lb Precision Lyte that I had years ago. :)
 
#28
Density can play a significant part in the physics of keeping that string vibrating. Density is tied to weight. So, yeah, it probably does matter.

Whether that's BETTER or worse sounding is subjective. And due to a dozen other factors, not very predictable, it seems.

Find what weight of bass you like, how the instrument responds to your touch, and don't let anyone tell you that you're doing it wrong.
 
#33
blindrabbit said:
If you believe what a famed luthier like Roger Sadowsky says, the lighter weight basses sound better, which is why he chooses the lightest wood blanks and also now chambers all of his NYC basses.
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IMHO Roger chambers his basses because many people prefer a lighter bass and are willing to pay a lot more for one coming in under 8.5 lbs.
I would wager a hearty sum that given a dozen Metros over 9 lbs and a dozen NYC basses that have the same pups and FB woods, no one could reliably differentiate the heavies from the feathers if blinded. I have played boat anchors that sound amazing (several Roscoe Beck Vs come to mind) and an equal number of featherweights that sound just as pleasing.
 
#35
lomo said:
IMHO Roger chambers his basses because many people prefer a lighter bass and are willing to pay a lot more for one coming in under 8.5 lbs.
I would wager a hearty sum that given a dozen Metros over 9 lbs and a dozen NYC basses that have the same pups and FB woods, no one could reliably differentiate the heavies from the feathers if blinded. I have played boat anchors that sound amazing (several Roscoe Beck Vs come to mind) and an equal number of featherweights that sound just as pleasing.
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Check out his interviews on YouTube. He states quite clearly his belief that lighter instruments sound better. I do agree that many people (such as me) have other reasons for wanting a light bass that would result in us paying more, but in this instance that is not the only reason for it. I'm not saying that everyone agrees with him - for example, I don't...I'm more on your side with believing that weight is irrelevant - but I'm offering him up as an example of someone who thinks that lighter=better tone.

On an OT note, shame about Price going down. :( I thought they would have made the final otherwise and had a good chance at bringing the Cup back to Canada.
 
#37
IMO weight does not affect sound in any way thats worth serious consideration. How the instrument feels slung over my shoulder has far more impact on the end product which for me is making music, not analysing micro variations in timbre. Though I do think a 100% correct answer is that it might. ;)
 

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