matski Posted March 19, 2013 Share Posted March 19, 2013 [quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1363689954' post='2015776'] Everything on a bass, apart from the strap locks, affects the tone, including the construction and materials. [/quote] Whenever these discussions come up we hear all about different materials used for bodies, necks, nuts, pickups, wiring, etc., etc., BUT we never hear about different materials being used for frets. Surely, as the humble fret is one of the crucial points of contact where the energy of the vibrating string is being directly transferred to the body of the instrument, there should be more scientific analysis in the field of frets. I say we should be given a choice! When will manufacturers realise this and start producing brass, bone, carbon fibre, aluminium, solid gold, and composite resin frets? Eh? Eh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted March 19, 2013 Share Posted March 19, 2013 [quote name='matski' timestamp='1363698028' post='2015978'] I say we should be given a choice! When will manufacturers realise this and start producing brass, bone, carbon fibre, aluminium, solid gold, and composite resin frets? Eh? Eh? [/quote] They already do. What about Warwick's bell brass, and how about [url=http://www.crystalfrets.com]these[/url]! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hubrad Posted March 19, 2013 Share Posted March 19, 2013 [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1363699398' post='2016011'] They already do. What about Warwick's bell brass, and how about [url="http://www.crystalfrets.com"]these[/url]! [/quote] Ooh.. I like the sound of those! For an 850 USD price tag I think they need better, larger pics, though. To my eyes they look like.. errr, frets! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bartelby Posted March 19, 2013 Share Posted March 19, 2013 [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1363699398' post='2016011'] They already do. What about Warwick's bell brass, and how about [url="http://www.crystalfrets.com"]these[/url]! [/quote] You can buy them [url="http://www.banzaimusic.com/Warwick-Bronze-Frets.html"]http://www.banzaimusic.com/Warwick-Bronze-Frets.html[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncle psychosis Posted March 19, 2013 Share Posted March 19, 2013 [quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1363692421' post='2015844'] As far as I'm concerned, the different woods thing is so insignificant in real world applications that I really don't give a monkey's about it. Until one can measure it in a repeatable experiment then it's a waste of time to even debate it. There are no hard facts in this, you can't even say that two pieces of wood from the same tree, never mind the same species or locality will be even similar, never mind identical. [/quote] +1. I spent about five years studying brass instrument acoustics, and a lot of brass musicians and instrument makers will swear blind that a trumpet made from brass sounds different to one made from white gold. However, even in scientifically controlled double blind tests the results are inconclusive, at best. Talented instrument makers are truly gifted individuals, but that doesn't mean you have to believe everything they tell you as gospel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hubrad Posted March 19, 2013 Share Posted March 19, 2013 Of course, as a fretless player I could only get excited about a complete fingerboard made of that stuff! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted March 19, 2013 Share Posted March 19, 2013 [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1363699398' post='2016011'] They already do. What about Warwick's bell brass, and how about [url="http://www.crystalfrets.com"]these[/url]! [/quote] I see they do [i]black[/i] frets, too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xgsjx Posted March 19, 2013 Share Posted March 19, 2013 I've heard folk say they can hear the quality of the wood. So on that, do plexiglass basses sound plasticy & aluminium basses sound tinny? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted March 19, 2013 Share Posted March 19, 2013 [quote name='xgsjx' timestamp='1363706811' post='2016246'] So on that, do plexiglass basses sound plasticy & aluminium basses sound tinny? [/quote] Aluminium basses are good for metal. ...I'll get me leather jacket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bass Doc Posted March 19, 2013 Share Posted March 19, 2013 (edited) [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1363707174' post='2016253'] Aluminium basses are good for metal. [/quote] Presumably basses made from human skeleton bones are good for folk. Edited March 19, 2013 by The Bass Doc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted March 19, 2013 Share Posted March 19, 2013 (edited) [quote name='xgsjx' timestamp='1363706811' post='2016246'] I've heard folk say they can hear the quality of the wood. So on that, do plexiglass basses sound plasticy? [/quote] No. They have a lovely clear, transparent tone. Quite glassy in the high end response according to some... Edited March 19, 2013 by Conan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted March 19, 2013 Share Posted March 19, 2013 [quote name='The Bass Doc' timestamp='1363708015' post='2016281'] Presumably basses made from human skeleton bones are good for folk. [/quote] Yes! And pelvises are good for hip-op. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted March 19, 2013 Share Posted March 19, 2013 Granite basses are good for rock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted March 19, 2013 Share Posted March 19, 2013 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1363708669' post='2016302'] Granite basses are good for rock. [/quote] I take your recommendations with a pinch of basalt... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted March 19, 2013 Share Posted March 19, 2013 [quote name='Conan' timestamp='1363708758' post='2016305'] I take your recommendations with a pinch of basalt... [/quote] Probably a wise decision, on aggregate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xgsjx Posted March 19, 2013 Share Posted March 19, 2013 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1363708960' post='2016313'] Probably a wise decision, on aggregate. [/quote] Is that you paving the way for a new genre? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackers Posted March 19, 2013 Share Posted March 19, 2013 wasn't there an experiment done on talkbass a few years ago where someone posted up 3 sound clips, one of a US Fender Jazz, one of a bitsa/copy jazz and one of a plank of diy-type wood with pickups and strings attached and got people to vote for which they thought was which? I seem to remember that very few people were able to tell the US jazz from the plank of wood, and there were even some who made up an entire arguement as to why they were definitely sure their choice was the US jazz, only to find out they picked the plank. IMO, it may well make some difference, but it is definitely not a very important factor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heminder Posted March 19, 2013 Share Posted March 19, 2013 A fun blindfold test, only done acoustically. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCEdT2d43jU Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
throwoff Posted March 19, 2013 Share Posted March 19, 2013 [sub]This thread always turns into a war![/sub] [sub]Frankly I honestly don't believe wood makes an ounce of difference in tone, it's all in the pickups and strings. [/sub] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassTractor Posted March 19, 2013 Share Posted March 19, 2013 (edited) [quote name='jackers' timestamp='1363709436' post='2016329'] wasn't there an experiment done on talkbass a few years ago where someone posted up 3 sound clips, one of a US Fender Jazz, one of a bitsa/copy jazz and one of a plank of diy-type wood with pickups and strings attached and got people to vote for which they thought was which? I seem to remember that very few people were able to tell the US jazz from the plank of wood, and there were even some who made up an entire arguement as to why they were definitely sure their choice was the US jazz, only to find out they picked the plank. [/quote] Yup! Here's the J with alder body that was used: and here's the construction site plank: I don't remember if a third bass was used, or whether he's just stated three basses were involved, but only two were recorded. BTW, and often underrated, people only chose the plank as the US J because of the similar wiring and identical QC. best, bert Edited March 19, 2013 by BassTractor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skankdelvar Posted March 19, 2013 Share Posted March 19, 2013 [quote name='ingmar808' timestamp='1363656189' post='2015491'] Hi all. First post... [/quote] And a [i]good[/i] one too. No matter what people may say, this question's always good for a few pages. For myself, I believe that different woods [i]must[/i] make a difference, because if they didn't, bass guitars would all be made from the same type of wood. Makes sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland Rock Posted March 19, 2013 Share Posted March 19, 2013 [quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1363719462' post='2016551'] And a [i]good[/i] one too. No matter what people may say, this question's always good for a few pages. For myself, I believe that different woods [i]must[/i] make a difference, because if they didn't, bass guitars would all be made from the same type of wood. Makes sense. [/quote] Or maybe the most easily obtainable wood. How do you think Leo chose? I see two scenarios... 1: He made twenty odd prototypes in different woods, all known for their tonal properties, then chose alder, based on the subtle nuances that that material provided. 2: He phoned Chad, his brother-in-law's cousin who owned a timber yard. Chad tells him that Alder is plentiful and cheap and he'll do him a deal. Leo tries it, sounds fine, so uses alder for years, till Chad does a better deal on ash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted March 19, 2013 Share Posted March 19, 2013 According to Black and Molinaro's [i]The Fender Bass[/i], '...Fender added a sunburst finish to the Precision in late 1954, while the bodies were still ash. Fender did not use alder for sunburst until 1956. According to George Fullerton, this decision was motivated by cost and ease of finishing rather than any effect the change had on tone, which Fender did not consider to be a factor...' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xgsjx Posted March 19, 2013 Share Posted March 19, 2013 I dare say some woods are chosen on their weight, some on their looks & some on their cost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland Rock Posted March 19, 2013 Share Posted March 19, 2013 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1363723583' post='2016645'] According to Black and Molinaro's [i]The Fender Bass[/i], '...Fender added a sunburst finish to the Precision in late 1954, while the bodies were still ash. Fender did not use alder for sunburst until 1956. According to George Fullerton, this decision was motivated by cost and ease of finishing rather than any effect the change had on tone, which Fender did not consider to be a factor...' [/quote] Interesting. And I thought my theory was flawless :-( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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