OK TB, define "resonance" in a bass.

[darwin-bass]

I read it all the time. People write about resonance of a bass as if it is a desirable thing.

The physical / engineering definition of resonance is when the bass vibrates at the same frequency as the string, robbing energy (tone and/or sustain) from the string. Dead spots are due to resonance. I don't think that is what most on TB want in a bass or even mean by the term.

So, how do you define resonance? What does it sound like? How can you tell if a bass has it or not?

 

[Wasnex]

The word resonance does not have a precise meaning in this context. What people perceive is often subjective.

You need to consider the instrument as whole. A dead spot would be consider an antiresonance. The vibration in one part of the instrument cancels against the vibration of another part of the instrument.

I also suggest you consider resonance in the context of the note envelope. A note from a bass is not just one frequency. It's made up of the fundamental and a bunch of overtones stacked in certain frequency ratios over it. The envelope of the discrete tones that make up a note can have a different dynamic envelope or shape.

IMHO when people say a bass has resonant qualities that aren't talking about endless sustain. They are referring to complexity of the overtones as whole, and the shape and duration of the dynamic envelope of those tones. IMHO the perception of resonance is mostly associated with mid frequencies that give the tone short of a woody quality. So when you pluck a string there is dynamic sound in the attack and decay of certain element of the note that give the tone a perceived resonant quality.

Keep in mind that a bass might have more than one quality that could create a perception of resonance.

Consider a drum tuned to it's resonant frequency with an adjustable damper. With the damper off, the drum has a longer sustain and more resonance. As the damper is engaged and increased, the sustain decreases. Resonance is damped. This changes both the relative strength of overtone and the shape of the dynamic envelope. You could also tune the drum away from it's resonant frequency, so that it become more thuddy and less ringy.

 

[Wasnex]

Ref: Bass frequency/waterfall plots: what they mean to rigs

 

[doctone]

The physical / engineering definition of resonance is when the bass vibrates at the same frequency as the string, robbing energy (tone and/or sustain) from the string.

Pardon me? I think that scientifically, resonance is exactly the opposite. For instance, I think about resonance when I read people using the "mwah" term.

Resonance - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Pdaddy1978]

<------- Should have paid alot more attention in science class.

 

[jTrolt]

My interpretation:
Resonance is when the vibrating string triggers the natural, warm, full tones and overtones contained within the wood structure of the instrument. It is made to resonate. Resonance to me is the triggering, rather than cancelling of this tonality within an instrument. Indeed, some resonance can cause disharmony and even wave cancellation, but in general, as it pertains to the instrument itself, it's all about resonance, and that's a good thing.

Reminds me of Michael Tobias and other's musings about electric basses particularly, in that they are an acoustic instrument first, and if you get a pleasant tonality (read: resonance) acoustically prior to plugging in, you'll likely have a nice sounding instrument when plugged in. The electronics are utilized to amplify and enhance that natural acoustic tonality inherent in the instrument.

Used verbally: "This idea resonates with me."

 

[ImTheOnlyOne]

Pardon me? I think that scientifically, resonance is exactly the opposite. For instance, I think about resonance when I read people using the "mwah" term.

Resonance - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

WARNING - NOT AN EXPERT TYPING

Instead of "robbing" energy, maybe "matching" energy?

Think of the crystal glass resonating until it shatters before the opera singer's voice. The air resonates with the singer's voice, then, when the air's vibrational frequency matches the crystal's resonant frequency, the crystal resonates with the air. The crystal, being less elastic than the air, might then shatter when trying to match (absorb, channel) the energy.

Thank you PBS

A hollow bodied instrument may contain enough air such that the vibrating air inside of it, excited by outside amplification, if exciting the instrument's resonant frequencies, may cause a feedback loop.

 

[Wood and Wire]

I get the impression that generally when people use the term "resonance" to describe an electric bass, they mean its unplugged acoustic loudness, and / or sustain.

 

[Wasnex]

I get the impression that generally when people use the term "resonance" to describe an electric bass, they mean its unplugged acoustic loudness, and / or sustain.

It frequently used to describe a quality the amplified sound has.

IME the acoustic sound of bass guitar is not always indicative of a good amplified sound...and vice versa.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I read it all the time. People write about resonance of a bass as if it is a desirable thing.

The physical / engineering definition of resonance is when the bass vibrates at the same frequency as the string, robbing energy (tone and/or sustain) from the string. Dead spots are due to resonance. I don't think that is what most on TB want in a bass or even mean by the term.

So, how do you define resonance? What does it sound like? How can you tell if a bass has it or not?

That's *one* definition, but hardly the only one. It's not even the one that leaps to my mind.Resonance can just as easily be in phase and lead to feedback.

 

[jthisdell]

So when I tried a P bass in a shop in Newport News, Va back in 1976, I found this bass that even unplugged really sang out, I bought it without ever plugging it in to an amp and still have it nearly 50 years later. And yes, it sounds great through an amp.

 

[Pings Bass]

As this topic is adjacent to tone wood, which is adjacent to religion, you will hear a lot of fervently held misunderstandings of physics when you bring up sustain or resonance of an electric instrument. For example back in the 80s everybody wanted boat anchors with high mass bridges for "sustain" because everybody KNEW more mass was better for that.

The truth is it all matters very little TO ME. I mean it's orders of magnitude less important than technique, strings, scale length, pickups and pickup placement.

 

[thisheregiraffe]

If I describe an instrument as resonant, it’s a positive thing. It means the instrument sounds good. I often don’t know exactly how to put into words how/why it sounds good. It just does. And I just know when a guitar has the goods. Using a word like ‘resonant’ isn’t really any less vague than saying, “It sounds good.” But I suppose it feels more specific to use a word like that.

 

[Bar Band Bassman]

I think more in terms of "live" or "dead". And it is, for me, an acoustic thing. Thing is, I can deaden a live bass if needed but vice versa, not so much, IME.

BBB

 

[Dust2Dust]

The word resonance does not have a precise meaning in this context. What people perceive is often subjective.

You need to consider the instrument as whole. A dead spot would be consider an antiresonance. The vibration in one part of the instrument cancels against the vibration of another part of the instrument.

I also suggest you consider resonance in the context of the note envelope. A note from a bass is not just one frequency. It's made up of the fundamental and a bunch of overtones stacked in certain frequency ratios over it. The envelope of the discrete tones that make up a note can have a different dynamic envelope or shape.

View attachment 7314120

IMHO when people say a bass has resonant qualities that aren't talking about endless sustain. They are referring to complexity of the overtones as whole, and the shape and duration of the dynamic envelope of those tones. IMHO the perception of resonance is mostly associated with mid frequencies that give the tone short of a woody quality. So when you pluck a string there is dynamic sound in the attack and decay of certain element of the note that give the tone a perceived resonant quality.

Keep in mind that a bass might have more than one quality that could create a perception of resonance.

Consider a drum tuned to it's resonant frequency with an adjustable damper. With the damper off, the drum has a longer sustain and more resonance. As the damper is engaged and increased, the sustain decreases. Resonance is damped. This changes both the relative strength of overtone and the shape of the dynamic envelope. You could also tune the drum away from it's resonant frequency, so that it become more thuddy and less ringy.

.
There he goes again

Enough with the extraterrestrial witchcraft already

Either that, or else hook me up with a "Wasnex For Dummies" book or something

 

[Cal03]

The word resonance does not have a precise meaning in this context. What people perceive is often subjective.

You need to consider the instrument as whole. A dead spot would be consider an antiresonance. The vibration in one part of the instrument cancels against the vibration of another part of the instrument.

I also suggest you consider resonance in the context of the note envelope. A note from a bass is not just one frequency. It's made up of the fundamental and a bunch of overtones stacked in certain frequency ratios over it. The envelope of the discrete tones that make up a note can have a different dynamic envelope or shape.

View attachment 7314120

IMHO when people say a bass has resonant qualities that aren't talking about endless sustain. They are referring to complexity of the overtones as whole, and the shape and duration of the dynamic envelope of those tones. IMHO the perception of resonance is mostly associated with mid frequencies that give the tone short of a woody quality. So when you pluck a string there is dynamic sound in the attack and decay of certain element of the note that give the tone a perceived resonant quality.

Keep in mind that a bass might have more than one quality that could create a perception of resonance.

Consider a drum tuned to it's resonant frequency with an adjustable damper. With the damper off, the drum has a longer sustain and more resonance. As the damper is engaged and increased, the sustain decreases. Resonance is damped. This changes both the relative strength of overtone and the shape of the dynamic envelope. You could also tune the drum away from it's resonant frequency, so that it become more thuddy and less ringy.

We could end the thread right here!

 

[Rayjay]

It kind of a generic term, pertaining to how agreeable the bass is when asked to produce a tone. That could mean the length of time a note rings out, or it could mean how acoustically loud the bass is, or it could pertain to how immediate the response of the bass is to touch. Or a combination of all those. Generally speaking (to me) if a bass partners with you in making music, it is resonant; if it fights back and chokes off vibrations too much it is not. Also, sometimes resonant is good, others it doesn't really mesh with what I'm going for. For instance, James Jamerson had the perfect sound (to me), but I'm not sure if it's particularly resonant.

 

[brianrost]

Resonance is certainly a reality when you consider acoustic instruments. A pipe organ, a drum and a gong wouldn't make much sound if not for resonance.

 

[dune]

 

[FretRiff]

Yes the physics definition does not comport with the TB/musical usage of the term.

On TB it involves sounding more complex and ringing played acoustically and having a richer, livelier sound plugged in, and sustaining evenly across the fretbord without dead spots. In the positive/TB sense often a bass is said to be resonant based on the feel of vibration.

How can you tell if a bass has it? You can compare it to another bass, see how ring-y or dull it sounds playing unplugged, seeing if you feel vibration through the neck when played plugged in, see if it has no dead spots.