Is sustain such a many splendored thing?

[jellymax]

On a bass, I really don't need it. I actually have foam under the bridge on most of my basses right now.
I absolutely love hearing a note die out semi slowly.
If you look at Mr Jamerson, you will see what I mean.
Secondly, I know that high mass bridges contribute to sustain, from experience, I know that they change the low end profile. My unscientific experience is, sub lows are enhanced a bit. To me, sub lows are good in recordings, but on a stage, they are just not good on a number of levels unless the sound system is perfect.
Even then, the kick drum needs its
Territory.
I am greatly interested in this subject and would love to hear your thoughts

J l mattox

 

[cataract]

Five years ago I plucked an open E on my solid aluminum bass & it’s still ringing out to this very day please send help it’s hard to sleep I don’t know what to do

 

[5StringBlues]

You can go and have a bite and you'd still be hearing that one.

 

[jd56hawk]

Last thing I consider when buying a bass, right below horizontal grain vs vertical grain on a bass with a transparent finish.

 

[Jrussblues]

Have fun. That jamerson thing gets boring after a while. Good to have options.

 

[jellymax]

Five years ago I plucked an open E on my solid aluminum bass & it’s still ringing out to this very day please send help it’s hard to sleep I don’t know what to do

You've been reincarnated, in the form of Boston's bass player

 

[Michael Stanley 2112]

Meh. I like sustain on some songs, but to me, that's what round wounds are for. Otherwise, I'm a flats kinda guy.

ETA: I didn't really go into enough detail, here.

I'm a big fan of reverb and adding just a tinge of distortion (which does add sustain) in almost all of my recordings.

 

[jellymax]

It's ok if you spent a bunch of money on a bridge. We still love you anyways

 

[JimmyM]

Sometimes I want it, sometimes not. But beyond what your average Fender bolt on gives, I don’t need or want.

 

[scuzzy]

Bridge has little to do with sustain in my experience. But if the bass can't hold a solid note for 2 bars, I have little use for it. For the music I play, sustain is vitally important. If you disagree, I don't care. To me, a sign of a poorly made instrument is the inability to sustain a note.

 

[Discount Bassy]

I'd rather have it and dampen it when necessary than not have it and wish I did when I needed it and sought electronic workarounds. I, too, love hearing notes die, but prefer to let them suffer a bit before meeting their fates.

 

[Grinderman]

Have fun. That jamerson thing gets boring after a while. Good to have options.

Man, once you get that foam under there good luck getting it out again.

 

[CoffeeLove]

I, too, love hearing notes die, but prefer to let them suffer a bit before meeting their fates.

Haha. Good one, and likewise

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Five years ago I plucked an open E on my solid aluminum bass & it’s still ringing out to this very day please send help it’s hard to sleep I don’t know what to do

‘I have one still ringing at my old church in Virginia, and I moved here 2 years ago…

 

[jellymax]

Sometimes I want it, sometimes not. But beyond what your average Fender bolt on gives, I don’t need or want.

Well said Mr Jimmy. Hello from sf. Up here, the bent metal plates are more common than not. And also, come visit.

 

[Cadillac_Mike]

‘I have one still ringing at my old church in Virginia, and I moved here 2 years ago…

That's cause you set something on the organ key.....

 

[JimmyM]

Well said Mr Jimmy. Hello from sf. Up here, the bent metal plates are more common than not. And also, come visit.

I wish! I loved SF the one time I went there.

Bent plates seem to be making a comeback of sorts. I still see plenty of heavy bridges but I see plates more often than I used to.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

On a bass, I really don't need it. I actually have foam under the bridge on most of my basses right now.
I absolutely love hearing a note die out semi slowly.
If you look at Mr Jamerson, you will see what I mean.
Secondly, I know that high mass bridges contribute to sustain, from experience, I know that they change the low end profile. My unscientific experience is, sub lows are enhanced a bit. To me, sub lows are good in recordings, but on a stage, they are just not good on a number of levels unless the sound system is perfect.
Even then, the kick drum needs its
Territory.
I am greatly interested in this subject and would love to hear your thoughts

J l mattox

I’ve been covering Jameson’s work for the last 50 years, the last 45 playing on fresh round wounds on Fender basses with the pickups and tone wide open. With the right EQ and good technique, what you get is a much cleaner signal to send the board. Zero complaints from sound engineers or bandmates.

IMO, your EQ and or sound reproduction is way more important than eliminating sustain at all costs. I’d you don’t think so, without your bass plugged into anything play a note. Then plug it into your amp and play the same note.

Totally agree with Uber lows on stage, but you don’t necessarily want them in the studio either for best results. Most engineers that I’ve worked with want the clearest signal they can get. In the process of producing your sound they can dub it up satisfactorily for that thump. JMO.

 

[GretschWretch]

Bridge has little to do with sustain in my experience. But if the bass can't hold a solid note for 2 bars, I have little use for it. For the music I play, sustain is vitally important. If you disagree, I don't care. To me, a sign of a poorly made instrument is the inability to sustain a note.

But at what tempo? There is a lot of difference between sustain for two bars at 120 bpm and at 60 bpm. Two bars of sustain at 60 is a really long sustain. I can think of few basses that could provide that.

 

[lug]

My band prefers me to get as little sustain as possible. They said try to keep it under 1 millisecond if possible.