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Absolutely... there is a peak at about 10/8.5 or so, and you can hear it just kind of come alive.
That's a fair point. I once had a Jaguar bass that had a basic plastic nut. I switched to brass and it sounded worse. It was pretty obvious and I switched back to plastic to make sure of what I was hearing, reinforcing what I heard. Our fingers are essentially soft capo's and since we're not normally pressing as hard as an actual capo (mechanical clamp) the string is still resonating throughout its length due to high tension. In a similar fashion, I palm mute at the bridge playing with a pick. It muffles the string but it's still resonating under my palm at the bridge saddles. At least that's how I see it.All good Geo. I knew you changed to brass and hoped you would hop in. I respect your thoughts and experience on this. I'm just a natural born skeptic and this is one of those areas! I believe everything affects everything in large or small ways, but logically I can't wrap my mind around the nut doing much when it's largely removed by fretting since the fret basically becomes the nut. But you've done it both ways and I trust what you say. But still have to see it to believe it!
If we figured it out, we would be going blind winding pickups.
For many years, I tried to play everything without ever playing an open string. There are a number of songs and riffs I still play that way, even though it's harder, just because of the way it sounds. Playing the upright taught me to use open strings a lot more than I had.That's a fair point. I once had a Jaguar bass that had a basic plastic nut. I switched to brass and it sounded worse. It was pretty obvious and I switched back to plastic to make sure of what I was hearing, reinforcing what I heard. Our fingers are essentially soft capo's and since we're not normally pressing as hard as an actual capo (mechanical clamp) the string is still resonating throughout its length due to high tension. In a similar fashion, I palm mute at the bridge playing with a pick. It muffles the string but it's still resonating under my palm at the bridge saddles. At least that's how I see it.
brass/ebony composite nut - warmth and definition
View attachment 7356033
For whatever reason I was the same, but turned that around years ago. I did play upright for a while but it wasn't that which got me to play more open strings.
I was initially concerned about some new Fender necks having synthetic bone and instead of actual bone, then I read some article on the advantage of synthetic bone is thet it's more consistent than natural bone which - 'naturally' - may be inconsistent in its structure.That's a fair point. I once had a Jaguar bass that had a basic plastic nut. I switched to brass and it sounded worse. It was pretty obvious and I switched back to plastic to make sure of what I was hearing, reinforcing what I heard. Our fingers are essentially soft capo's and since we're not normally pressing as hard as an actual capo (mechanical clamp) the string is still resonating throughout its length due to high tension. In a similar fashion, I palm mute at the bridge playing with a pick. It muffles the string but it's still resonating under my palm at the bridge saddles. At least that's how I see it.
brass/ebony composite nut - warmth and definition
View attachment 7356033
So many early R&R bands had a schtick. The Young Rascals dressed as school-boys, Paul Revere & the Raiders dressed as early American/British revolutionaries, Devo dressed as... Devo, even The Beatles in their Sgt Peppers gear -
True enough - but as a designer and builder of custom basses, I consider every part of the bass and have a pretty successful track record of creating great sounding basses.
I like the final choice best!!So many early R&R bands had a schtick. The Young Rascals dressed as school-boys, Paul Revere & the Raiders dressed as early American/British revolutionaries, Devo dressed as... Devo, even The Beatles in their Sgt Peppers gear -
...and Bond Girl - dressed to kill!
View attachment 7356123
I'm duly impressed- you have uncommon skills. What styles do you create more- original one-offs or improved versions of existing styles?
Rich Corinthian, I assume?
"Squeaks, Rattles, and Clacks"-new band name?Absolutely... there is a peak at about 10/8.5 or so, and you can hear it just kind of come alive.
Playing with the tone dimed kind of reveals my playing flaws, but I guess its time to up my game.
One of the downsides of playing alone; no place to hide the squeaks, rattles, and clacks.
