Punchy sound on high frets

[CaptainTuna]

Hello everyone,

I can't help noticing that I like the sound on higher frets (frets 12 to 20) better than I like it on lower ones: it sounds punchier to me, and I like punchy.

I was wondering if this depends on the tension of the set, and whether I have to look for a lower or higher tension for my next strings in order to try to get that punchier sound on lower frets as well. I don't even know if tension actually matters or not. What are your thoughts/tips about this?

(For the record, I am using a P bass equipped with D'Addario Nylon Tapewounds and foam mute at the bridge.)

 

[lz4005]

"Punch" is a word that means different things to different people.
Describe what you are hearing and what you like about it.

 

[CaptainTuna]

"Punch" is a word that means different things to different people.
Describe what you are hearing and what you like about it.

You are totally right. I've recorded a small clip to describe what I mean: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
The first note is a G1 (played on E string), then a G2 (played on D string), last is G2 (played on E string). The last one sound more "punchy" to me, not really sure how to describe that. Maybe more "Hollow body short scale bass with flats"-like.

 

[SLaPiNFuNK]

This is why you find many players playing higher up the neck. I rarely play the G string below the 5th fret for example, playing the notes on the D-String between the 5 and 10th fret has a large fuller tone.
On a short scale instrument you get these tones on most frets you play on.

 

[Jay2U]

A short, fat piece of string produces a 'duller' sound spectrum than a long, thin piece of string. Maybe this punchyness has another cause. If the action of a bass is rather high, the strings will be notably closer to the pickups if fretted at high positions. This may give some extra output and a richer tonal spectrum.

 

[SeattleSunn]

I think it has to do with where you are plucking or picking the string relative to its string length, and the fi If you play an open string, then a 12th fret you would have to move your right hand half way to the bridge to be picking/plucking in the same relative place on the string. If you like the sound of playing on the 12th to 20th fret, you should move your right hand towards the neck to get a sumular sound when playing on the open to 12th fret.

Simularly it will also change the harmonics that the pick up is exposed to by changing the string length.

 

[CaptainTuna]

I've tried moving my right hand but the sounds is still quite different. I am definitely getting more and more interested in short scale basses these days, gotta try one and maybe I'll find what I'm looking for.

Thank you for your suggestions!