Dead spots pretty much invalidate the theory that "it's all in the pickups" and that wood plays little role. If wood didn't matter, then our pickups wouldn't be reproducing what results from the necks resonant frequency, right?
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If a tree falls in the forrest do pickups actually make a difference
- Thread starter Doom Bass
- Start date
- Aug 21, 2008
- 10,386
- 252
- 68
- Disclosures
- Owner, SGD Music Products
Hopkins
Commercial User
The pickup is producing a signal because of a string vibrating in its magnetic field. The dead spot is the frequency of the neck canceling out the frequency of the string. That doesn't mean that wood is the largest influence of the overall sound of the bass.
There are two sides when it comes to this argument, and neither can be proven. In the end as long as the bass sounds and plays good its all that matters.
Fancy top wood 25%
Headstock shape 25%
Headstock label 25%
Tort pickguard 25%
I would replace "Fancy top wood" with "Sunburst"
Well, yes it sort of does.
At least it's the one thing that you'll be dealing with as a constant. It STARTS there.
Yeah. Spot on.
Or, you could just "slap some Fralin's in it" and make EVERY bass magical, all glitter and unicorns.
I would say the vibration from the neck affects the notes specific to the cancellation, but not the overall tone of the instrument, as much. I do, however, believe the neck plays a much larger role in the sound of a bass than the body. Having said that, I think strings and pickups play the largest role in the overall sound.
Again...define largest role?
Is what you can't change (the structure) the dominant factor?
Or is what's most easily changed for the greatest sound difference (strings and electronics) the dominant factor?
It depends on how you define it in the context of the instrument ONLY.
If you're talking about what produces the greatest overall percentage of sonic output, the volume knob on the amp is it.
Is what you can't change (the structure) the dominant factor?
Or is what's most easily changed for the greatest sound difference (strings and electronics) the dominant factor?
It depends on how you define it in the context of the instrument ONLY.
If you're talking about what produces the greatest overall percentage of sonic output, the volume knob on the amp is it.
There is no way you can seriously think that the neck only affects the notes specific to the dead spots (cancellation). The neck is affecting EVERY note in some way.
Hopkins
Commercial User
I'd have to say that's pretty spot on. I might switch the first two or change them both to 45%.
Clearer?
I have no idea what percentage of any of these factors actually affects the tone of an instrument. I can say that I believe the neck plays more of a role than just 5%. This I can only be sure of, because I have swapped necks and heard a real difference. I don't mean maple to rosewood, either. Both necks were rosewood. I might say 15% of the sound could be attributed to the neck, but it's just a guess.
Okay, I'll play the "percentage" game.
STRINGS: Produce 100% of the frequencies available
STRUCTURE: Damps out maybe 10-25% of those frequencies in the string's vibration.
PICKUPS : Transduce magnetically a portion of the remaining frequencies
Pre-amp and amp: Get to play with whatever's left.
STRINGS: Produce 100% of the frequencies available
STRUCTURE: Damps out maybe 10-25% of those frequencies in the string's vibration.
PICKUPS : Transduce magnetically a portion of the remaining frequencies
Pre-amp and amp: Get to play with whatever's left.
I understand your argument. My point is the strings and pickups, when swapped, would net the largest change, with all other things being equal.
I agree. Strings and electronics can net a HUGE change, no question about that.
Thank heavens, as those components are the easiest to swap out.
It's just that I've swapped electronics on just about every bass I've ever owned, and I'll be sheep-dipped if 90% of the time, the basic timbre of the instrument STILL came through. Same attack, same sustain, same dead spots, etc. The structure is earlier in the sound-producing "food chain", and so I give it the win in the "Rock, Paper, Scissors" game because everything else is inherently "subtractive" and downstream from that.
When I shop for a bass, I'm looking for that positive resonance, because I got a drawer full of pickups and I'll go through all of 'em to find ones complimentary to that bass's inherent sound. Same as vocalists go through a search for the best microphone to compliment their voice.
Thank heavens, as those components are the easiest to swap out.
It's just that I've swapped electronics on just about every bass I've ever owned, and I'll be sheep-dipped if 90% of the time, the basic timbre of the instrument STILL came through. Same attack, same sustain, same dead spots, etc. The structure is earlier in the sound-producing "food chain", and so I give it the win in the "Rock, Paper, Scissors" game because everything else is inherently "subtractive" and downstream from that.
When I shop for a bass, I'm looking for that positive resonance, because I got a drawer full of pickups and I'll go through all of 'em to find ones complimentary to that bass's inherent sound. Same as vocalists go through a search for the best microphone to compliment their voice.
Fralin's sure help
I'm slapping some 62RI pups in my Fender tonight. Bet the dead spot is still there afterward...
Hopkins
Commercial User
Fralin's sure help
I'm slapping some 62RI pups in my Fender tonight. Bet the dead spot is still there afterward...
I guarantee it will be, but depending on what pickup you are replacing the sound can change completely, even the dead note. No one is arguing that the neck doesn't play its part, but if the pickups just give volume to the way the wood sounds, why replace them?
I played and or heard at least a dozen basses of varying quality that have Sadowsky pickups and preamps, but they don sound like Sadowskys. Some get closer than others, but they aren't the same thing.
I never said pickups weren't part of the equation, they are a huge equation. If I were to go by that logic, I could throw a Strat pickup in and call it a day, no?
IMO the strings and pups generate most of the frequencies (not all strings- rounds, flats, etc, or pups- Barts, Delanos, SC, P's, etc produce the same),
then a faulty 'structure' cancels out some of them regardless of what is first generated.
In this case, the 'structure' acts as a filter.
There's a huge variance in what diff types of strings produce, or there'd only be a need for ONE style/wrap/mat'l.
There's also a huge variance in the frequencies produced by the pickup style- windings, aperture, placement, etc.
There's also a huge variance in the frequencies/tones reproduced by the intended design of a preamp.
Then resonance of the 'structure' either contributes by accenting some frequency ranges or kills part(s) of what was already produced.
Percentages are relative to the above^^^
then a faulty 'structure' cancels out some of them regardless of what is first generated.
In this case, the 'structure' acts as a filter.
There's a huge variance in what diff types of strings produce, or there'd only be a need for ONE style/wrap/mat'l.
There's also a huge variance in the frequencies produced by the pickup style- windings, aperture, placement, etc.
There's also a huge variance in the frequencies/tones reproduced by the intended design of a preamp.
Then resonance of the 'structure' either contributes by accenting some frequency ranges or kills part(s) of what was already produced.
Percentages are relative to the above^^^
