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Help Me Design My Next Test!

-=DanAtkinson=-

-=DanAtkinson=-

Feb 26, 2008
2,457
125
50
Atlanta, GA
#1
Ok, these wood tone tests have been fun, for the most part. It seems a handful of folks are taking things WAY too seriously and getting very fired up, for some odd reason. But I think for 95% of us, we can appreciate these tests for what they are, and can learn a bit from them.

Now, some people have been asking me to test woods with more drastic tonal differences, such as Mahogany vs. Maple. Well, I don't have a Mahogany bass to test. But I could test two P basses, one with an Alder body and ALL Rosewood neck, and the other with a Soft Maple body and all Maple neck. These 2 basses should be VERY different in tone, according to conventional thinking. The Alder/Rosewood should be very "warm" and the Maple/Maple should be very "snappy and bright".

But before I embark on recording samples, I'd like some input. It seems some folks are very nitpicky about tests like these, and they complain that my pasts experiments have been terribly flawed and are essentially useless. Other folks aren't as uptight, but have still requested various small changes be made to the methodology to improve things a bit.

So, here is your chance. Please post your thoughts on how this test should be conducted. But please keep it realistic!

For instance, what type of strings should be used? What styles of playing should be recorded? How many clips should I make? Also, I tend to prefer "real world" samples where the bass is a part of a mix, but what do you think? Etc.

(It may be a couple of weeks until I'm able to actually get this done, but I wanted to solicit everyone's guidance in advance)
 
#5
People will never be totally satisfied with your tests no matter what you do because that's how people are. It's hard to sway people with long held and deep rooted beliefs, especially those who take wood too seriously.
 
#8
christw said:
People will never be totally satisfied with your tests no matter what you do because that's how people are. It's hard to sway people with long held and deep rooted beliefs, especially those who take wood too seriously.
Click to expand...

Well, I'm not really trying to "sway" anyone. I'm doing this for those people with an open mind who might learn a bit from these tests. And many of those people have legitmate ideas about making the tests better.

Let's hear 'em! :bassist:
 
#9
I think your tests are great and reveal much about the degree to which wood affects tone, as well as psychology/sociology. Keep up the good work and I look forward to the next one. Nothing like seeing a sacred cow repeatedly slain.

That said, as you've pointed out, NASA will not be able to devise a test that will satisfy everyone.
 
#11
While there will always be flaws in any test, every one of these you do adds a little bit of information available to people who need them and are willing to set aside preconceptions in order to understand a controversial topic more.
 
#12
While I do appreciate your tests, and applaud you for it, personally, wood, bridges, strings, etc. dont matter at all to me. I can take my 60's passive pbass that's held together with duct tape and nails (really!) and make it sound like a spanking fresh Rickenbacker if I want it to. All through the magic of the tone knobs, my Sansamp and TC Electronic head. Slight variations in tone due to the body wood (if they even exist) are EASILY manipulated by technology. The only reason I have multiple basses is to change up the feel/comfort level/mood of my day, and if I want a 5th string. That's it. Tone? I can get an infinite amount of varying tones through my electrical gear.
 
#14
Antny said:
While I do appreciate your tests, and applaud you for it, personally, wood, bridges, strings, etc. dont matter at all to me. I can take my 60's passive pbass that's held together with duct tape and nails (really!) and make it sound like a spanking fresh Rickenbacker if I want it to. All through the magic of the tone knobs, my Sansamp and TC Electronic head. Slight variations in tone due to the body wood (if they even exist) are EASILY manipulated by technology. The only reason I have multiple basses is to change up the feel/comfort level/mood of my day, and if I want a 5th string. That's it. Tone? I can get an infinite amount of varying tones through my electrical gear.
Click to expand...

I chuckled a little.
 
#18
Before I give my proposal, I should disclose that I am a member of the Wood Matters Club, on the basis that wood does have an influence to some degree on the overall tone of a bass, but isn't the end-all-be-all of the overall tone, and unlike some of the hacks in that club I have an open mind about these tests.

My proposed test is in 2 parts: Basswood body w/ Maple neck/fingerboard vs. Walnut Body w/ Ovangkol neck/wenge fingerboard. Then switch the necks for the 2nd part of the test.

Could be interesting :D
 

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