Violent disagreement said with love. All righty then.
Also have a look at
this thread. It also illustrates the point again with different basses. An important point from the first post of that thread :
So, even with an enhanced fundamental it is still significantly quieter than the first harmonic.
You'll probably disagree with all of that too and that's fine. The FACTS are many people get really good sound from speakers and equipment that do NOT reproduce the lowest fundamentals. The many users of Ampeg's SVT 8x10 cabinet are an example as are the users of fdeck's HPF. Most people are aware that Ampeg's 8x10 cabinet doesn't go much below 60Hz and fdeck's HPF is used specifically to remove the lowest frequencies which coincide with the fundamental tones of the bass.
It may not be obvious from what I wrote but I am not against reproducing fundamentals. I wrote what I did because sometimes the fundamentals can be muddy in someone's system and apparently they are in the OP's. In his case, I think he can minimize the mud and add clarity by removing the lowest frequencies. Yours and his MMV.
Thanks for the thoughtful reply, Vince.
I've noticed the skill with which experienced TBers manage to surgically insert, edit, and work around the quotes they're responding to. I've spent a few minutes trying to navigate in and about your post, with little success, and will do my best to respond in a way that makes sense despite my lack of skill at doing this!
I went and looked at the long, long thread you referenced. Wow! Terrific stuff! Funny how, shortly after I posted something to the effect that essentially, there's nothing new under the sun, that you would so refer me to something which so conclusively demonstrates that this line of thought and discussion been has so thoroughly explored, by really smart people, and to such a degree.
So, obviously, I'm a little late the this particular party. I find the thread much more informative and detailed than the Stereophile article, as you probably do, as well. (I've never been much of a fan of Stereophile, BTW.)
First of all, if you prefer, I disagree strenuously. I'm sorry if you don't like my previous adverb, but it need not be dwelled on.
So, first of all, you're absolutely right. I misread, and thought the graph was from the output of the Bassman, when in fact, they had done exactly as I suggested, and taken the signal from the instrument itself. Silly me.
As far as your quote, that, "This is why response down to 40Hz, or 30Hz with a 5-string, is not absolutely necessary. A solid 60Hz can be more effective," it begs the question: More effective at what? Certainly not at reproducing the full range of the instrument. The question of relative levels of the fundamentals to the harmonics is irrelevant to this question. So I guess we'll have to non-violently disagree on this, even though I think I understand why you see it this way. I saw posters on that long thread who seem positively militant on this issue, even as short listening sessions can provide all the evidence necessary to validate my view.
You said: "So, even with an enhanced fundamental it is still significantly quieter than the first harmonic."
I can accept this, especially in view of the well-documented evidence of same on the long thread referenced. But I still see it as irrelevant when the job at hand is to
reproduce a signal. I can't imagine, for example, a designer of an "audiophile" loudspeaker compromising the accuracy of his design based on what he considers to be the unique characteristics of certain program material. I just don't see what one has to do with the other.
Of course I would never dispute that people get really good sound from rigs which fail to properly reproduce their fundamentals. I just can't understand why they'd want to, other than the trades-off they might make to enhance power handling, which IS a legitimate concern.
With regard to your last paragraph, point taken, even though I don't know what you mean by "MMV."
All that said, the lesson I can take from this exchange is that there is an enormous amount of content on this site, and in general, it would probably be a good idea for me to ask for referrals to previous threads which might have gone into great depth on a particular subject before I chime in, and perhaps speak as if I hadn't seen what I hadn't seen!
But, of course, my opinion hasn't changed, and I'm glad to hear you don't have a problem with reproduction of the fundamentals. I still see the relative levels of the harmonics and fundamentals as utterly irrelevant in the design of a tool to accurately reproduce an electrical signal in a room. In fact, I've learned a little bit about bass guitars, too! I made a living playing drums for many years, and heard a lot of bass equipment during that time, but I never did play bass much.
Thanks,
Andy
I figure OP was probably cutting on both going by his complaint that EQ was killing his lows.
