Which variables have the biggest impact on tone?

[2112]

Missing options:

12. String tension

Srs how many of us whine about string tension, especially on shawties and dropped tunings? Flabby B's anyone?

13. Effects

As much time as we all seem to spend discussing them, you'd think that effects was TB's primary topic.

 

[Pdaddy1978]

All of your poll choices, plus some things that aren't included, have influence on tone.
But.....
I think you asked what has the "most" impact.
Pick ups, and strings. Every other variable has a more subtle impact.
But those 2 things make big changes.

 

[Honkey tonk]

Pickups strings whiskey

 

[bassliner50]

I did not see cost of instrument as one of the variables. Good. It doesn't belong there.

 

[Kmrumedy]

The experience level of the person playing.

 

[jmattbassplaya]

Yes, where are the amp and/or cab choices? I'm no expert, but I would definitely put that (or those) variable(s) in the top 3 in relation to the sounds I try to get. The only one of my projects to survive Covid has been using a multi room rehearsal rental place with at least 3 different amps and 3 different cabs that I have seen in 9 possible combinations. It is remarkable how different thse rigs sound. I have been lazy and using what is already there but am learning that I can only make 3 of the possible 9 combinations work to get the sounds I need. Technique, strings, and pickups/electronics/position all have a significant effect on my tone as well.

I've never seen a convincing argument for wood choice or specific hardware having significant impact on tone (unless the hardware didn't already do the job). I'm open to being proved wrong though. That said, more dramatic construction differences such as hollow vs. solid, or 35 scale vs. 28.5 scale would likely be more evident (if all else stayed the same).

I would also throw in that I would view fretboard wood choice as much more important than body wood choice on a solid body bass. Caveat: You could eq the sonic differences away pretty easily with the right amp. It might be harder to compensate if the 'feel' difference changed your playing style significantly.

Tone: Always a lot to think (OCD) about

They were excluded intentionally. I just wanted to consider aspects of the bass.

 

[Rib 13]

stand by for every trite "fingers" and "the player" aphorism that can be thought of........

 

[Ricky Rioli]

Cutting my fingernails really short on the first two fingers of my right hand moved the pickup a good couple of inches up the neck

 

[Killing Floor]

Surprised not many votes for carrots. What forum is this?

 

[707GK]

The driver wins the race not the car .

To some degree. You ever watch multi-class racing? There is a difference between GTE and LMP1...the car has maybe a smidge to do with it...best driver in the world in GTE won't win against a mediocre driver in LMP1, no chance.

But this is off topic now....

 

[Killing Floor]

Also no option for tort?

 

[pappabass]

I still say the color !! especially the pickguard!!

 

[ElectricBass72]

My top 3: pickup type, string type and electronics

 

[Yellow Bang66]

If I had to pick something other than player technique, because this is always the answer, it would be pickup location. This can be easily ascertained by listening to the different pickups on any two pickup bass.

Yes, Its the players technique,+ the electronics (pup& position). I dont pretend to have the greatest ears or worst ,but I can never hear a "big" difference in those comparision videos! maybe just a little, but nothing game breaking! I'll just say I liked the jazz when I was younger but as my tastes matured or developed I really liked the Precision, and I own both, But I really prefer my P/J bass! I took a lot of time tweaking the eq to dial it in,Everyone Ive played with Loves the tone I get with it, I once got detained by a band to explain my setup! Not trying to brag but it's mostly how I smack the strings & how I eq that. nothing special but I took the time to do it! I tried a lot of things, different basses & pedals and it always sounds like me. I just play how I like to be heard,I play really hard( Heavy right hand) and I adjusted/e'Q'd my gear to accentuate the freq. i liked & took out what I didnt!
I think its overlooked,but it important to do, EQ to your style!

 

[mongo2]

Well... speaking as a retired engineer - who worked in (and ran) testing labs for a long time - I'd have to say that pretty much everything has an impact on your tone.

As a retired electronics and test engineer with over 20 years live audio engineering experience, I agree.

 

[micguy]

The top 2 from the perspective of the Physicist/builder/luthier in your midst are (after the player, which is number 1):

1) String type - that's the source of everything, and nothing I can do (and I know how to do a lot of things to alter the sound of a bass guitar) can make me OK with flat wounds.

2) Pickup position - where the pickup(s) are imposes a comb filter (that's different on each string in the frequency domain) No amount of electronics after the fact (given that all the strings' signals are mixed in the pickup) can undo what pickup positioning does to your sound.

2B) - Whether the pickup is a single coil or dual coil is part of pickup positioning - listening at two points in the string's vibration or just 1 is part of the comb filtering referenced above. That affects things higher up in the frequency domain - typically the "attack" of the note is affected/attenuated by a dual coil pickup. Again, as that happens at different frequencies on different strings, it's something that you can't undo after the fact.

 

[mattj1stc]

Funny, there seems to be wisdom in crowds. I did an experiment on this with my basses back when I owned several. I came up with technique, pickup location, string type and pickup type. Not necessarily in that order, but all relatively equal. Tracks really well with the top 4 answers on the survey.

 

[bass theory]

• string type or material.
• pickups would be second. I used to firmly believe that humbuckers were superior by design. I am learning what effects different positions and setups of single coils can do to give unique tone.
• player skill or technique is obviously the biggest factor, but that would be cheating in the same way as considering different amps or effects downstream. So this is disqualified IMO.
• pickup location is next, but it must include the setup. I have known many players to adjust the action, and intonation during setup, and never even check or adjust the pickup height. It is no secret that the closer a pickup is to the bridge the lower the tone it produces. so by adjusting the relative heights on multiple pickups an overall tone can be customized.

 

[Gustopher]

When I play different basses, they sound different... same fingers... same playing. They sound different to me usually because of the type of pickup, position and strings. After that, it's all a wash to my ears.

 

[MCS4]

I'll tell you this much... the two basses and one guitar that I have owned the longest (ranging between 12 to 18+ years) have all gone through various changes of pickups, strings, and hardware over the years, and to my ear they have all retained their own particular sound throughout all of those changes. Sure, there is some difference in the sound when those variables are changed, but to my ear the instruments still sound "like themselves" and retain various tonal characteristics that differ from the tone generated by other instruments I own or have played. This suggests to me that there is at least something in the construction and/or materials of the individual instrument that makes a meaningful difference -- regardless of whether it it something that is subject to any general rule of thumb or comes down entirely to the makeup of each individual instrument.