Help Me Design My Next Test!

[johnk_10]

I find that with a certain setup a Precision can sound quite close to a Ric--closer than any other Fender I've played. I think it has to do with the simple circuit preserving highs and the fact that the P pickup is positioned very close to where the Ric treble pickup is positioned. Just my experience, as primarily a Ric player but also a dabbler in Fenders and MusicMans.

IMO, tonewise- they are not even close to being in the same ballpark, or even the parking lot.

 

[mongo2]

False. The scientific method involves holding all variables (except one) constant, not eliminating them.

If you hold the variables not under test constant they are no longer variables and are therefore eliminated as variables.

 

[eqvolvorama]

A couple of really easy ones that I think have already been mentioned would be:

1. One bass, multiple bridges (high mass, low bass, cheap, expensive, etc.)

2. PJ bass with J-silenced vs. PJ bass with J removed from the bass entirely

These wouldn't be as thought-provoking as some of the other tests suggested, but they would allow for the same bass to be used, thereby holding a lot of those "variables" in check quite nicely.

 

[GBassNorth]

If you hold the variables not under test constant they are no longer variables and are therefore eliminated as variables.

Exactly! And if you can't hold them constant you make every effort to eliminate them. And if you can't hold them constant or eliminate them then you highlight them as a probable or potential cause of impact on the results of your test. You don't just pretend they're not important. By highlighting them you set the stage for future experiments by others with potentially more resources or other ideas to eliminate or manage the variables. That's what leads to a "Body of Science" that confirms the original theory or presents new evidence to refute it.
On a related note, I haven't personally tested it but I did read somewhere that Jimi Hendrix felt a big part of his tone and style came from the instrument cable he used - a very long coiled one with lots of resistance. Don't know how true that is but it's interesting that in his mind something as simple as the cable made a difference to him. And on his kind of "music" if you can tell a difference from one performance to another you're a better man than I.

 

[Luckie]

You know what would be interesting? Comparing various eras of stock Fender pickups.