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Snark appears to affect dead spots and tone

Discussion in 'Basses [BG]' started by PDGood, Jan 1, 2015.

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  1. Jan 1, 2015 #1
    PDGood

    PDGood

    Sep 19, 2010
    Nashville, TN
    I've been reading about solutions to the dead spot on Fender style basses. There are several suggestions and one is the Fender Fat Finger which is a piece of metal that screws to the headstock and changes the resonant frequency (or whatever you want to call it) of the neck.

    So I got to thinking - why doesn't the Snark do this? Or maybe it does! I did some tests and was stunned to find out that it DOES change the tone - but not for the better. On my bass it extended the dead spots from two frets to about five or six and in general created a slight mellowness of tone (as if a little bit of the highs had been rolled off). For what it's worth - the same mellow tone claim has been made by numerous guitarists (not bassists) using the Fender Fat Finger.

    My disclaimers:
    We are talking nuances of tone here, but it is definitely noticeable when the bass is played solo.
    Where you place the Snark matters.
    This applies to one bass I tried with a Fender style head stock. Haven't tried others yet. Your results may vary.

    I make no claims that this is universally true, but you might want to check your own basses, particularly those with Fender style headstocks, to see if you get a similar response.
     
  2. Jan 1, 2015 #2
    M.R. Ogle

    M.R. Ogle Supporting Member Commercial User

    Nov 5, 2004
    Mount Vernon, Illinois
    Backstage Guitar Lab owner
    A clip-on Snark? That's not very much mass to cause that effect.
     
    My name is Mudd, Mike A, SirMjac28 and 1 other person like this.
  3. Jan 1, 2015 #3
    PDGood

    PDGood

    Sep 19, 2010
    Nashville, TN
    True. It is surprising.
     
  4. Jan 1, 2015 #4
    scourgeofgod

    scourgeofgod

    Aug 17, 2006
    Did you try it in different places on the headstock?
     
  5. Jan 1, 2015 #5
    two fingers

    two fingers Opinionated blowhard. But not mad about it. Inactive

    Feb 7, 2005
    Eastern NC USA
    Resonance is a funny science. In everything from radio waves and antennas to cabs to woods used to make basses, I have yet to find that anything is absolutely true all the time.

    Here's the only universal truth. If something makes a difference, it really does make a difference (no matter what the "experts" say).
     
    TonyP- and Awesome Sauce like this.
  6. Jan 1, 2015 #6
    JimmyM

    JimmyM Supporting Member

    Apr 11, 2005
    Apopka, FL
    Endorsing: Yamaha, Ampeg, Line 6, EMG
    Can't say I ever noticed anything with my Snark or my Planet Waves clip on tuners. Just the same, I never leave them on because I hate the look of a tuner clipped onto my bass.
     
    My name is Mudd, maxschrek, JIO and 15 others like this.
  7. Jan 1, 2015 #7
    The Diaper Geni

    The Diaper Geni Submissive. And loving it. Supporting Member

    Nov 22, 2005
    Central Ohio
    Huh. Always use a Snark attached to my bass. Never thought of it affecting my bass' tone. Going to gave to check it out.
     
  8. Jan 1, 2015 #8
    BazzTard

    BazzTard Inactive

    Sep 12, 2014
    Adelaide, South Australia
    I can't imagine something so light would make a difference, but then again, my ears are so damaged from years of standing next to drummers' cymbals I can't notice much anyways lol.

    I'm with Jimmy, don't leave em on the bass , they look silly.

    People might think they are mini teleprompters hehe....now THAT'S an idea!
     
    JIO likes this.
  9. Jan 1, 2015 #9
    Smoove-Groove

    Smoove-Groove

    Jun 18, 2013
    Ontario, Canada
    I have groove tubes Fat finger that I clamp on some of my basses. And it really does make a difference when it comes to dead spots. Not too sure if it moves the dead spots to different frets, but depending on where I clamp it, it has eliminated them.
     
  10. Jan 1, 2015 #10
    PDGood

    PDGood

    Sep 19, 2010
    Nashville, TN
    I was trying it at home in a quiet room. Not likely you'd hear it in a band situation. I was just surprised it made any difference at all.
     
    JimmyM likes this.
  11. Jan 1, 2015 #11
    Ragoo

    Ragoo

    Oct 14, 2011
    Richardson, Texas
    Who says you have to clip it to the headstock? I've sometimes clipped my Snark to my bridge and fit the clamps in between bridge saddles. Not that I noticed a change in tone. But keep your mind open to other clip spots.
     
  12. Jan 1, 2015 #12
    10cc

    10cc Inactive

    Oct 28, 2013
    I clip one onto the bridge of my nose so I can see if my vocals are in key.
     
    MarkoYYZ, sissy kathy, Garret Graves and 10 others like this.
  13. Jan 1, 2015 #13
    gln1955

    gln1955 Supporting Member

    Aug 25, 2014
    Ohio, USA
    By the way, what's the best Snark for metal?
     
    Garret Graves, My name is Mudd, matthewbrown and 6 others like this.
  14. Jan 1, 2015 #14
    Spectrum

    Spectrum

    Apr 10, 2011
    Alexandria, Virginia
    [​IMG]
     
    Real Soon, fretlessguy, TMARK and 2 others like this.
  15. Jan 1, 2015 #15
    Woofer

    Woofer

    Sep 24, 2008
    OBX
    Best Snark for Steampunk Folk? Steamfolk?
     
    Garret Graves, NG51, RichSnyder and 3 others like this.
  16. Jan 1, 2015 #16
    exidor

    exidor

    Jul 10, 2011
    Detroit,MI
    Why not, things effect things, and stuff effects stuff, so why wouldn't things effect stuff, and stuff effect things. you know?
    but I wouldn't know cuz I always take my snark off it just bugs me to leave it on,I can't stand those scrunchy bands around the neck, they come right off.
    but cool to know.
     
  17. Jan 1, 2015 #17
    10cc

    10cc Inactive

    Oct 28, 2013
    It does make me sound a tad nasally though. Hmmm.... Maybe it does is affect the tone?
     
    Red Four and fretlessguy like this.
  18. Jan 1, 2015 #18
    petrus61

    petrus61

    Dec 18, 2011
    Hudson Valley, New York
    Snarks are the fanny packs of the musical world. Sorry.
     
    charlie monroe, BassikLee, Igor Porto and 7 others like this.
  19. Jan 1, 2015 #19
    hsech

    hsech Work hard. My Social Security needs a raise.

    Jun 27, 2012
    Central Iowa
    People leave their Snark on after tuning? I just use it for silent tuning then set it on top of my amp ready to grab again when I need to check my tuning.
     
    Mike A and Plucky The Bassist like this.
  20. Jan 1, 2015 #20
    MDBass

    MDBass Supporting Member

    Nov 7, 2012
    Los Angeles, CA
    Endorsing Artist: Dingwall-Fender-Bergantino-Dunlop-Tech 21-Darkglass-Nordstrand
    This. I did once at a club gig where a professional photographer was taking photos...never again.
     
    Red Four likes this.
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