What causes piano like tone?

[asberrys]

To me it is the Seinfeld slap bass. It is alright if that is your thing but I don't particularly like it either for my playing. I like a bass to sound like a bass. Am I the only one that thinks it is more common with fresh nickels than SS?

 

[invalidprotocol]

You mean THIS tone?



As you can see, it's just a J. Rotos with a pick, a great amp and a severe 800hz cut in the EQ.

This just sounds like new strings on a jazz with the tone turned all the way. The tone I'm getting out of my E string sounds distinctly like when you hammer a low note on a piano. The technique I use to strike it doesn't do much to change the outcome.

 

[invalidprotocol]

Is it a 35" scale bass? I don't like the sound either. It seems nickels have more of a piano like growl to me. I think the consensus here is SS however.

34" string through. I've only used DR Sunbeams Medium 45-105 on this bass so far.

 

[invalidprotocol]

Seriously guys, we know what he means.

"piano like" in this situation is a sound with rich harmonic content.
A bright tone. He'd need a good clear amp too.

After all, he didn't ask how to make a bass sound exactly like a piano.

Its almost like the string emits not only the note but another rapid oscillation of some kind that doesn't match. Almost like it is out of tune with itself? Does that make any sense at all? Muting the other strings made no difference.

Pardon my lack of technical speak to describe what is happening but it just reminds me of a piano. Its not brightness per se either although with added brightness it is more pronounced.

 

[smeet]

As has been mentioned, low piano strings have stretched harmonics that are slightly out of tune with the fundamental.

For piano-like tone on bass, I think even more people are referring to a clean, bright, somewhat thin sounding note. I think this means clear sound with a lack of midrange emphasis. So adding a little bit of tube-like harmonic distortion or a boost in the mids or playing back by the bridge will get away from that sound.

Rolling off the highs can help too, but I think the lack of mids (or maybe very flat mids) is the main piano-like characteristic. A traditional non-piano bass sound has a bump in the mids.

 

[knuckle_head]

Rigid bass, high tension flexible strings, minimal EQ.

 

[ixlramp]

Almost like it is out of tune with itself? Does that make any sense at all?

Yes. That could be inharmonicity you hear: the higher harmonics are shifted in pitch and are no longer in pure harmony with the lower harmonics. This could be an overly stiff string? You say this is your 3rd set of Sunbeams and only the E of this set has this sound? Perhaps then it is a dud string?

 

[asberrys]

The Seinfeld bass is the epitome of a piano tone to me. So I imagine a through body bass would be more apt to give this tone as it is more rigid than a BO. Is this true?

 

[ggunn]

Does anybody read???
The OP wants to know how NOT to get a piano-like tone...

I personally think a slightly higher action, older strings, boost the mids and pluck (don't hit) the strings. Also, pluck closer to the bridge.

Bump.

 

[lbwdog]

Flat wounds...well broken in!! That will get rid of the piano tone.

FWIW: That's all keyboard on the Seinfeld bumpers.

 

[invalidprotocol]

Yes. That could be inharmonicity you hear: the higher harmonics are shifted in pitch and are no longer in pure harmony with the lower harmonics. This could be an overly stiff string? You say this is your 3rd set of Sunbeams and only the E of this set has this sound? Perhaps then it is a dud string?

Must be then. I played on it again tonight. In the mix you can't tell so much but playing solo at the house it has been annoying. I turn nickels relatively quickly so hopefully it will fade some. If not I'll just swap the set out.

 

[invalidprotocol]

As has been mentioned, low piano strings have stretched harmonics that are slightly out of tune with the fundamental.

For piano-like tone on bass, I think even more people are referring to a clean, bright, somewhat thin sounding note. I think this means clear sound with a lack of midrange emphasis. So adding a little bit of tube-like harmonic distortion or a boost in the mids or playing back by the bridge will get away from that sound.

Rolling off the highs can help too, but I think the lack of mids (or maybe very flat mids) is the main piano-like characteristic. A traditional non-piano bass sound has a bump in the mids.

I always keep my highs rolled back. Rolling back the mids more helps mask it some. The pickups on this bass tend to be mid heavy.

 

[renegadethorton]

I used to get a weird tone that i'd characterize as something close to a piano tone whenever i'd string the bass bottom-to-top on the tuning screws instead of top-to-bottom. Since the string wasn't forced down, i could hear another tone from vibration between the string and the nut.

 

[invalidprotocol]

I finally changed out the strings with another new set of Sunbeams. Problem gone. Tone seems more even in the new set as well. Thats the first time ive ever had a bad set of strings.

Thanks all