I think you missed my point because I did not say that dead spots do not exist.
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I think that lots of people think they have a wolf tone not really understanding that the wolf is only evident in chambers (Helmholtz resonator)and not slabs. The dead spot effect on necks is probably a node which was why Leo and others could “tune” the note out by strategic placements of weights on the neck. For myself, maybe I’m lucky, but neither of my G&Ls has a dead spot either around the 6th or seventh fret or anywhere else on the neck. And before someone chimes in and says they do but I just don’t notice them. I say if you have to listen that closely it doesn’t matter and as I said, is probably addressable. Speaking of wolf tones, I haven’t been quite so lucky with any classical guitar I’ve ever owned including the two I own presently, one of which costs more than 99% of all the basses owned by forum members here. It’s poorly placed wolf is there forever.
I know you didn’t say it. Other people do think that way.I think you missed my point because I did not say that dead spots do not exist.
I never even heard of dead spots until I read about them on TB. Now I just avoid the posts since I think it's about as important as tone wood, or which batch your strings are.
I'll upload a screenshot of walking up on the G string in Garage Band, and a .mp3 of my deadspot. Top notes may be choking, could be the problem with the dead spot as well, I'll have to check that. The neck definitely has a bow around the 5th fret, maybe I just need to straighten it out a little.
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In my humble opinion and without wanting to offend anyone, if you have played hundreds of basses and none of them have ever satisfied you, the problem could come from elsewhere than the instruments themselves.
If I were in your situation, on the one hand it's the first question I would ask to myself, and on the other hand I would be glad to have had the chance to play as many different basses. I would feel like the luckiest guy on Earth instead of the unluckiest.
I hope I've helped you a little bit.
I didn't mean the basses did not satisfy me and I really hope it didn't come across that way? Some of my favourite and best sounding basses actually have pretty severe dead spots. My point was all the NBD posts I see (pretty much weeksly) around here where people claim their new basses have "no dead spots". It doesn't make sense to me???
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Yeah, I've hear that claim about non-wood necks too but I've never tried one. But how exactly does that work? They must still have a resonant frequency right? Or does the materials you mentioned somehow shift the resonant frequency out of hearing range?
But I've hear the same claim made for wooden neck with graphite rods too and they DO have dead spots (at least mine do).
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All the basses I’ve had over the years had dead spots. But on 95% other basses I didn’t notice any dead spots. I think the difference is whether I look for them or not
Sure, that will absoutely make a difference. I spend a lot of time mixing bass and dead spots are pretty much impossible to "fix in the mix" so I've maybe gotten a bit over-sensitive.
Clearly you are making a rather poor job of avoiding them, lol.
Yeah, sometimes I pop in to see if anything has developed, and I feel like posting today. Good luck with the dead spots.
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I would say neither is entirely true; and your post is just a bit more emotive than necessary.
On the one hand, most string instruments have resonances in them, which can create destructive interference of one kind or another at specific points. The question relevant to the player is whether such dead spots or wolf tones occur at a significant position or note.
I once received a used fretless Fender via an eBay deal that had an absolute flat tire at the Db on the G string, a relatively important position. Flipped it immediately, because I didn’t care to deal with that particular issue. Most of my other instruments generally have no practical issues, even if there are bad spots.
In any case, it’s important with a given instrument to understand what it does and doesn’t do. Wood instruments tend to have a lot more individual personality than graphite; but graphite tends to minimize bad spots. You take em one at a time. Most of them are pretty decent.
And, probably not worth getting kerfluffled about it.
Ha! I ran into just such a scenario on a MM clone restrung to BEAD recently. I generally reef pretty hard on the strings, and the low C#, D, and Eb would bellow out like a 7 foot tall bullfrog on steroids. It surprised the heck out of me the first time, but I quickly learned to diddle those notes instead of full pluck.
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Exactly, I'm just bewildered by all the claims of "no dead spots". All my basses have dead spots so I have no choice but to accept it, lol.
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I'm not meaning there's no bass that has a severe dead spot, just I've not seen one.
Advice: Don't start looking and stop reading this thread.
My experience also.
When I first started playing bass, I noticed a dead spot in the typical area on my Jazz. I was not on TB, so had no idea what I was dealing with. I tried different strings and different setups and it was always there. I got other 34" scale basses and sure enough, dead spots in the same place. Then I learn about dead spots on here and it all made sense. Then, when I started playing short scales, the dead spots weren't there. Different geometry somehow minimizes the issue.
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No amount of adjustment will fix dead spots. You'll have to change the mass of the instrument and this will only MOVE the dead spots (ideally to a less problematic spot), not eliminated them completely. That's what products like the Fatfinger does. I suppose changing the tuners to another type with different weight might accomplish the same. But of course, it might just as well get WORSE...
For me, a dead spot is when the note won’t ring for more than a second. I have a guitar that has a dead spot on the 12th fret G-string and it happens to be a note that I need sustained for a solo. Every other song that we play, I could get away with using this guitar but nooooooo, we absolutely have to play that song.
With my basses, I’m sure there may be dead spots. Luckily they don’t sit where I play, otherwise I wouldn’t have bought the instrument. It’s a big deal for me because I would feel handicapped. I’ve contacted a manufacturer about this and they said that it’s normal and not covered by a warranty, so I’d rather avoid any guitar that can’t play notes that I use.
With my basses, I’m sure there may be dead spots. Luckily they don’t sit where I play, otherwise I wouldn’t have bought the instrument. It’s a big deal for me because I would feel handicapped. I’ve contacted a manufacturer about this and they said that it’s normal and not covered by a warranty, so I’d rather avoid any guitar that can’t play notes that I use.
Turnaround
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I heard some notes choking, but not a dead spot per se. Sounds like a fretless to me with a board slightly off true.
