Why are people obsessed with weight??

[savit260]

Excuse me for interperting you posts as "know it all y-ness".

Certainly entertaining how ever you intended it.

Sure sounds a bit condiscending to me, yet still entertaining.

I'm pretty sure most people don't understand the relationship between sustain and attack.


And my main basses sustain even with far less than fresh strings. The main thing affected is treble response, not note duration.

So yes, most people might have no use for this. It all depends on the individual's needs and IME I know lots of people who really appreciate it. By the same token, many if not most people haven't experienced what I'm talking about and maintain the same misconceptions that only seem to make sense in conjuction with that lack of exposure.

And the answer to how do you stop the ringing is both simple and difficult it seems... you have to practice and learn how. Maybe that's why so many prefer non sustainy D) basses.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Point was, when I go easy on strings, I'll get plenty of life prolonging , glorious sustain as well (just like you do, again you don't need to be a member of a secret society to achieve this ) , however I don't have that kind of luck with strings when they get used under harsh conditions.

Why you would take that as some kind of attack/insult/offense etc. etc. on you is beyond my comprehension

I agree. Why did you decide I think this was an attack/insult/offense? As far as I could tell it was a simple conversation until you starting assigning things to it (attack, insult, going off, etc.)


Think about it. That's how you decided to think I took it, not me. The more I read the clearer it becomes that you think I'm talking specifically about you. Not sure why you'd need to do that but sometimes that's just how things go.

Then there's this...

"I'd expect to get at least a year of a set of strings playing in such an enviornment".

The environment I described would cover any gigs I do.

I'm pretty sure I've never run out of note with any of my P's. Yup, they ring out 'till I don't want them to anymore. Do you really think there's some kind of mystery to this? Doesn't make any difference if it rings out for 30 seconds or 30 minutes. Either way , there's all you need right there.

No... that's all YOU need right there. It's the empathy thing in a nutshell

 

[savit260]

While that may be how you've decided to twist it, it's not what I actually said. "It seems that many people don't even try because they really don't understand the concept".

Many people don't. Do you disagree?

Yes, I do disagree. I think that's pretty much common knowledge, and instinctive.

For example, many people think the obvious "remedy" for a bass with good sustain is string mutes.

I can't think of ever running into examples of people thinking they needed string mutes to play a bass that had decent sustain. Maybe they're out there, I'll give you that, but it doesn't seem to be a hot topic of discussion from what I've seen around here.

There's nothing mysterious about that from my end, though it may be on theirs.

Again, in this case, you've decided a non-mystery on my part isn't a mystery. Most of us clearly don't know what I'm talking about, if they did AND it was still an issue...

Do you really believe you're talking over anyones head here?

And I told you that there are different uses for sustain besides simple note duration. the quality of the note while it's ringing is important to some people. You don't seem to see that as a factor and that's cool.

Do you really think that note quality isn't a factor for me or anyone else for that matter? Wow!

 

[Brad Johnson]

Excuse me for interperting you posts as "know it all y-ness".

Certainly entertaining how ever you intended it.

Sure sounds a bit condiscending to me, yet still entertaining.

I'm at the point in my life where I'm resigned to the fact that some people will read advice for what it is (obviously take it or leave it and if you're not one who's doing what I described, do you really think I'm talking about you? Duh.) and others will think they're being talked down to... even when they aren't.

What I said has been true in my experience and exposure to hundreds of bassists over the years. While it might make some more warm and cozy if I added sugar to it...

It's not entertaining when the persecution complexes come out. It's boring.

I'm still not insulted and I genuinely wonder why you'd feel what I said was condescending?

 

[SpamBot]

Wow. It's getting toasty in here.

 

[savit260]

I agree. Why did you decide I think this was an attack/insult/offense?

Because you seemed to keep harping one TWO WORDS out of a string of words, and kept repeating it. Figured that must have got your dander up.

As far as I could tell it was a simple conversation until you starting assigning things to it (attack, insult, going off, etc.)

Go off may have been a poor choice of words. How about Pontificate. or take the ball and run with it. Better?

Think about it. That's how you decided to think I took it, not me. The more I read the clearer it becomes that you think I'm talking specifically about you. Not sure why you'd need to do that but sometimes that's just how things go.

Nope, not taken as being directed at me specificly, more people that aren't as enlighetend as you seem to be.

Then there's this...

"I'd expect to get at least a year of a set of strings playing in such an enviornment".

Yeah, when I played gigs similar to that , that's the kind of life I got out of my strings. What's the issue there? We were talking about string longevity as it pertains to sustain. Seems like a logical statment to me.

The environment I described would cover any gigs I do.

... as well as a lot of gigs I've done in the past as well. I've played on both sides of that fence, and was commenting that sweaty gigs kill the sustain of the strings faster than the less intense ones.

 

[bassrique]

Ounces equal pounds and pounds equal pain.

.

 

[cnltb]

I'm a big fan of the dynamics from a lighter touch. It makes it so much easier to accent notes without doing a whole lot more work.

+1

 

[Brad Johnson]

Yes, I do disagree. I think that's pretty much common knowledge, and instinctive.

Fine, your experience varies from mine. Not exactly surprising, based on our conversation here. You haven't seen what I'm talking about. Cool. I've seen so many who are clueless about anythiong other than basic muting it's not funny.

I can't think of ever running into examples of people thinking they needed string mutes to play a bass that had decent sustain. Maybe they're out there, I'll give you that, but it doesn't seem to be a hot topic of discussion from what I've seen around here.

Fine. I do. And I didn't even intimate it was a hot topic, that's something you've decided to assign to what I said.

Put up a post about string mutes and see just how foreign an idea it is. It was even mentioned in this thread.

Most threads on TB are about gear. They're not about learning what you can do with that gear and even more important, learning how you can make yourself blame your gear less by understanding how it works. Disagree with that too?


In My Experience the most common answers to issues usually involve telling people to BUY SOMETHING ELSE to remedy an issue... like weight, sustain, tone.

Do you really believe you're talking over anyones head here?

I am genuinely trying not to. In spite of that, people still want to read "I'm better than you" when I'm simply trying to help. Go figure.

Do you really think that note quality isn't a factor for me or anyone else for that matter? Wow!

Yes, that's actually what I believe, otherwise why would I say it.



I CLEARLY did not speak in absolutes so why are you acting like I did. It is amusing that you quoted me but chose to re-interpret what I wrote. Here' I'll quote it AGAIN:

You've made no mention of note quality, instead staying laser beamed on duration. I've mentioned it before in this exchange and it appears to roll right off your back. If the quality of that note is also important in conjunction with sustain, why do you appear to ignore it?

"And I told you that there are different uses for sustain besides simple note duration. the quality of the note while it's ringing is important to some people. You don't seem to see that as a factor and that's cool".

Why did I say that? Because In MY Experience note quality in conjunction with sustain is not important to some people. NOT THAT THERE'S ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT, lest you somehow contort that to mean something else too.

 

[SJLee]

I used to play an RD Artist when I was younger and it destroyed my back and neck. I work at a computer 8 hrs a day and the curvature of my neck is leaving which further irritates my neck and back. For my needs the lighter he better.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Wow. It's getting toasty in here.

It's still a conversation as far as I'm concerned. I wish I'd been around a conversation like this when I was coming up as a musician.

 

[Mastermold]

I think when I was younger it didn't matter so much. Now, I'm 44, not terribly out of shape, but any bass over 10lbs. is now a deal breaker for me, even with a wide strap. I guess as we get older we get softer? Shoulder doesn't like it. I'm not injured or anything, it just doesn't feel good if it's heavy.

Even when I was young and bench pressing 500+ lbs I still didn't like heavy basses -- the next day sore shoulder syndrome sucked just as much then as now!

 

[SpamBot]

It's still a conversation as far as I'm concerned. I wish I'd been around a conversation like this when I was coming up as a musician.

Be that as it may, despite how polite you and Savit are being, it's obvious you are both somewhat worked up.

After all, it's not too often someone replies to a thread every couple of minutes for a few pages.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Because you seemed to keep harping one TWO WORDS out of a string of words, and kept repeating it. Figured that must have got your dander up.

Not in the least.

Go off may have been a poor choice of words. How about Pontificate. or take the ball and run with it. Better?

I agree it was a poor choice. If I had said you were being hysterical, it would have been the same.

As far as taking the ball and running with it, it is genuinely amusing to me that the people I'm talking to don't see the same ball they seem to be doing the same thing with. Why is that? What makes the ball invisible to them?

I haven't responded to myself one time in this exchange.

Nope, not taken as being directed at me specificly, more people that aren't as enlighetend as you seem to be.

Yeah, when I played gigs similar to that , that's the kind of life I got out of my strings. What's the issue there? We were talking about string longevity as it pertains to sustain. Seems like a logical statment to me.

... as well as a lot of gigs I've done in the past as well. I've played on both sides of that fence, and was commenting that sweaty gigs kill the sustain of the strings faster than the less intense ones.

Cool.

 

[savit260]

It's still a conversation as far as I'm concerned. I wish I'd been around a conversation like this when I was coming up as a musician.

Same here. I enjoy a spirited discussion. There's no ill will on my end, and I'm fairly certain there's not any on Brads end either.

 

[SpamBot]

Same here. I enjoy a spirited discussion. There's no ill will on my end, and I'm fairly certain there's not any on Brads end either.

Well nevermind then. I'd hate to put words in your mouth.

 

[savit260]

Not in the least.





As far as taking the ball and running with it, it is genuinely amusing to me that the people I'm talking to don't see the same ball they seem to be doing the same thing with. Why is that? What makes the ball invisible to them?





Cool.

Oh, I'm definitly aware we're both taking the ball and running with it. Probalby in opposite directions though.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Be that as it may, despite how polite you and Savit are being, it's obvious you are both somewhat worked up.

After all, it's not too often someone replies to a thread every couple of minutes for a few pages.

Sorry, wrong again.

And how long do you wait to respond to a conversation? I guess I'm not up on the protocol. Here's my guess... neither of us has anything pressing this evening

We had a big cookout here yesterday, a house full of people (including little kids ) and today I'm still winding down. I don't have to be worked up, angry or otherwise to type.

 

[WILL WAHL]

I don't care about weight. To me, the heavier the better. My G&L weighs a ton, and I like it that way. The Rock Bass feels like it weighs 1/3 of the G&L...feels like a toy.
There's nothing like strapping a tree trunk to your body.

Yeah I felt the same way when i was young! Bench 320 curl 120lbs but then you get old! Back problems those old sports injuries creep back in ! Get some more birthdays then you'll know!

 

[JimmyM]

I have lots of ill will, but that's in general, and not really indicative of anyone or anything said in this thread.