So what does "punch" mean, anyway?

[DrThumpenstein]

And I would boost 250 hz to get more punch and 1000 Hz for more clarity or definition.

But I did start the thread by asking what punch is so maybe I am off base

Nah, I think we just all have our own ideas about what it is. I think it really depends a lot on the cab, too.

I feel like the 800-1200 range does add clarity and attack which is part of my definition of punch. It also helps with presence in the mix, so win-win-win. (Of course, attack has more to do with the plucking/picking technique, and is an important part of getting a punchy sound.)

I have a WD-800, and I have played around with the parametric EQ quite a bit. I have found that I have to tweak the EQ to get punch, depending on what I play through. I pretty much always have a little bump @ 1000, just to sit better in the mix.

Our rehearsal space has an old Ampeg 215. It is thunderous and really old school. But I have found that to get punch out of that cab, I turn up the HPF, and cut ~180-200 to get rid of mud, and I give the 800-1000 a little more of a boost, and I get good punchy bass.

When I play through my GK 212, I dial the 200 range back up, as I get a fuller sound and I can't find mud in that cab unless I get crazy with the EQ (HPF all the way down, extreme bumps @ 80 and 200, cut high mids, and there's muddy, punchless bass even in that cab).

I think that's the thing about trying to define our nebulous lexicon. For me, punch is in the way it hits you. Like the Tyson analogy that @db59 so succinctly contributed. You feel it hit, it's right there, not overpowering the other instruments but definitely standing strong in the mix.

 

[bbh]

I always struggle with wanting punch and depth. Depth being deep lows and punch being mid lows that make your chest vibrate. I love depth because it’s more fun but not as balanced, of course. I can really fine tune the lows with my Alembic whatever model that rack filter is yet I haven’t heard a cabinet that can do both at once. I have high end gear currently running 10’s at home and 18’s or 12’s for other locations and can rock the room or go for the higher get’em in the chest frequencies. I don’t always process through the Alembic.

 

[Claymore]

I didn't wade through all the responses but to me, punch is the front-end of the attack when you first hit a note. If the slope is really steep, then that translates into more punch. If the swell of the note is more gradual, the opposite is true.

 

[darwin-bass]

Let's hear some examples. Is this punchy?

Nope. To me that is clanky. Not punchy,.

How about this?

Nope. To me this is Bark, not punch.

I'd say something like this, maybe with a tad more mids (300 Hz):


Oh, and I think that punch has a lot to do with the dynamics of the note. A quick rise time.

 

[T Bassman]

I always consider punch to be a bump around 240-300k, and possibly a little bump around 1k in the eq. For me its mostly a low mid thing

 

[Watchootognbout]

This is "punch"

 

[EatS1stBassist]

We have so many terms to describe bass sound but I suspect that few of us really have clear definitions of them. We think we're clearly communicating but I suspect often we not even speaking the same language.

I'd love to have some definitions in terms of volume & frequency. No fair using the term to define the term ("Smooth, you know - when it sounds smooth like a gentle breeze").

• Growly
• In-Your-Face
• Hi-Fi
• Vintage
• Full
• Smooth
• Bite
• Bark
• Burp
• Fart (sorry, but I'm not making these up)
• Thud
• Thump

And the one that leaves me the most confused:

• Punch

punch means Ampeg SVT with Fridge!!

 

[punchdrunk]

I’ve always had the impression that punchy is where it seems that the note/attacked is more tightly coiled and springing forward in a way that seems opposite to relaxed. Think mudbucker vs the rear single coil of a Jazz Bass. The former seemingly strikes a bit more quickly, decisively, and aggressively than the later.

 

[DavidEdenAria]

To me you need headroom to get a lot of punch, especially down low frequencies

 

[5StringBlues]

 

[Doner Designs]

Unlike slap which is played with an open hand, punch is played with a closed fist. Groan.

But seriously, I think what I hear as punch from the bass is more often a bassline that is well synced with the kick drum.

Playing aggressively and/or with a pick is a technique that delivers punch in my opinion. This can sometimes be attained and/or accentuated by certain compressor and EQ settings which I mostly find through trial and error.

 

[EatS1stBassist]

Unlike slap which is played with an open hand, punch is played with a closed fist.

Lol!

 

[squarepeg]

It's interesting that many people try to explain metaphors with more metaphors.

 

[ToneMonkey]

Punch = immediate visceral impact

 

[5StringBlues]

 

[DJ Bebop]

punch is "THWAP!"
View attachment 4037057

This is punchy:

 

[DJ Bebop]

punch means Ampeg SVT with Fridge!!

As much as I can't stand that amp, this is true

 

[DJ Bebop]

Punch = immediate visceral impact

 

[DJ Bebop]

It's interesting that many people try to explain metaphors with more metaphors.

 

[5StringBlues]