P bass slab vs contoured body - effect on tone?

[boristhespider7]

I'm interested is there much of a tone difference in P slab bodies (51P) vs the contoured body, assuming they are both made of the same wood?

I appreciate that contoured will be lighter and more conformable. Just wondering whether the slab will have any advantages with tone?

 

[Member8675309]

 

[Turnaround]

Everything has an effect on tone - the wood, the shape, the finish, the weather, the number of bodies in the audience.......

Could you reliably detect the difference slab vs contour? Highly doubtful. If you had some pretty sophisticated scientific measuring tools you might be able to detect a difference. But if you can actually hear a difference, you should be hiring yourself out as an audio super-sleuth and charging mega-bucks.

Or to put it another way - no.

 

[Member8675309]

"Just wondering whether the slab will have any advantages with tone?"

No, not necessarily, not without expressing what exactly you're looking for. Even then, I think the differences in tone, considering the same wood species, would be minimal and/or impossible to detect (See Above). And, even then, different does not equate to worse or better.

I ordered an Ash "T Bass" from Rosser Guitars on New Years Eve. I'll begin working on it in a few weeks. I can say, with all honesty, that tone had no impact on my aesthetic decision. If a lighter body is perceived to be an advantage to you, I'd go light, or lighter anyway, w/the contoured body. Word is that contoured is indeed lighter.

 

[2saddleslab]

Contour vs slab has no desernable effect on tone, comfort, or weight in my experience.

 

[Paulabass]

How does one answer that? Very few people have both, and rip out the electronics, and take off the strings, swap it all, just to find out.

 

[JRA]

unfortunately: the biggest impact on 'great' tone comes from the wood which is sacrificed during the contouring. it becomes sawdust.

 

[202dy]

Everything has an effect on tone - the wood, the shape, the finish, the weather, the number of bodies in the audience.......

Could you reliably detect the difference slab vs contour? Highly doubtful. If you had some pretty sophisticated scientific measuring tools you might be able to detect a difference. But if you can actually hear a difference, you should be hiring yourself out as an audio super-sleuth and charging mega-bucks.

Or to put it another way - no.

Once again, saved from five minutes of typing by a friendly answer.

 

[Mvilmany]

Technically, the more mass of the slab body will in theory lead to more sustain, but the amount probably would not be noticeable at all.

Pick looks or comfort. I like the cool factor of the slab, but for me, the contoured body is a must for comfort.

 

[socialleper]

I'm interested is there much of a tone difference in P slab bodies (51P) vs the contoured body, assuming they are both made of the same wood?

I appreciate that contoured will be lighter and more conformable. Just wondering whether the slab will have any advantages with tone?

If both instruments were built to the same spec, there would be no impact on tone. There technically could still have the same weight.

 

[tlc1976]

All else equal, which ever one is more comfortable on you is going to get a better tone. Especially since "tone is in the fingers".

 

[GrapeBass]

 

[bassman10096]

I'm interested is there much of a tone difference in P slab bodies (51P) vs the contoured body, assuming they are both made of the same wood?

I appreciate that contoured will be lighter and more conformable. Just wondering whether the slab will have any advantages with tone?

Simply, "No."

 

[fretlessguy]

Negligible at best. Go for the contour (If your gut is like mine, lol!)

 

[Warhawk]

What happens to the tone when you put a high-mass bridge on a slab body???

 

[GrapeBass]

What happens to the tone when you put a high-mass bridge on a slab body???

The better the coupling to the body, or worse will affect resonance but the issue is it may be negligible.

 

[boristhespider7]

What happens to the tone when you put a high-mass bridge on a slab body???

The same as what happens when you put a high mass bridge on a contoured body?

 

[Mannyinnewyork]

I would think that if there was a discernible difference one way or the other there would be nothing to discuss.

 

[GrapeBass]

I would think that if there was a discernible difference one way or the other there would be nothing to discuss.

Welcome to the internet

 

[Warhawk]

What material will your fingerboard be made of?