Double Bass True or false

[iiipopes]

Is the tone of an electric bass closer to a double bass or cello?

Leo Fender's original design, including foam rubber glued to the underside of the bridge cover to damp the strings, was to try to emulate double bass in a more portable and stable format, with the fretted neck giving the instrument its characteristic intonation, and thus the "Precision" name.

Then someone took off the bridge cover, or perhaps forgot or decided not to put it back on when restringing, or the foam rubber deteriorated, and noticed a lot more sustain. Add some natural overdrive and compression from diming a smaller tube bass amp, and you start getting the "cello-like" sustain that all the lead guitar players strive for.

 

[Bonerific]

Nah, he just needed backup so he could collect from his big brother!

Exactly!

 

[TroyK]

The sad part is that you're a member of a bass forum and you still had to ask if an upright bass and a cello were the same.

No, Bonerific, from the Ilse of Bonerific just registered to ask that question and leave. The sad thing is getting us to talk about this was easier than using wikipedia or some other reference source.

I did lean that there was originally foam rubber under those P-Bass bridge covers! I'd heard of people putting a sponge under to dampen, but didn't know that's what those covers were for or that it was Uncle Leo's idea.

 

[transition]

I did lean that there was originally foam rubber under those P-Bass bridge covers! I'd heard of people putting a sponge under to dampen, but didn't know that's what those covers were for or that it was Uncle Leo's idea.

Yeah - I always wondered what they were for... TMYK!

 

[low2groove]

No!

Google it and you see the explanation and pics right there. Also there is wikipedia.

 

[gerry grable]

Leo Fender's original design, including foam rubber glued to the underside of the bridge cover to damp the strings,

My '68-'69 Jazz Bass came with the same foam rubber strip.
However, I think it was just to keep the ringing and sympathetic vibrations down rather than making the axe sound more wood-like. Carol Kaye mentions this in one of her books if I remember correctly. I, personally, have the covers removed and dampen with my hands.

 

[drurb]

No, Bonerific, from the Ilse of Bonerific just registered to ask that question and leave. The sad thing is getting us to talk about this was easier than using wikipedia or some other reference source.

He registered and waited a year, apparently. As for using references, that was, of course, the point of my posting this.

 

[TroyK]

He registered and waited a year, apparently. As for using references, that was, of course, the point of my posting this.

You're right, my bad! I missed the year. 112 posts, I guess he's been active on the BG side.

 

[Matthew_84]

Look here.

Did I just get a virus?