Unplugged sound may make a difference??

[dragonzmad]

I play my bass unplugged a lot when I practice and decide I want to walk around while practicing. The tone of the bass sounds..... like a bass? I guess?

Recently I grabbed a buddy's ken smith and began doodling around on. It sounded so different. I'm pretty sure the strings werent new or anything. I wanted to hear any opinions on determing a bass's tone or at least the tone of the wood from playing it unplugged.

Also another thing I noticed... Since I am always cold, I wear a sweater with a hood. If any part of the bass is touching the hood ( i wear my bass kind of high so I guess one of the wings would touch) the vibrations from the bass transfer to the hood. The hood is of course.. on my head and touching my ear. I can feel the vibrations and hear (what I think is) the tone of the actual wood almost as if it was an acoustic bass but of course its not even close to as loud and it doesnt sound like an acoustic bass.

WOuld this be a good way to determine the tone of the wood\construction?

[Led_Zeppelin678]

Always listen to a bass unplugged when trying it out. Try this, too: Start playing your bass. Walk up to a table (wood works better than stone or glass or whatever) and set the bottom edge of the bass onto the table. All of a sudden, it's much louder because it's reverberating the table now. Mass=Sustain & Volume.

[dragonzmad]

Always listen to a bass unplugged when trying it out. Try this, too: Start playing your bass. Walk up to a table (wood works better than stone or glass or whatever) and set the bottom edge of the bass onto the table. All of a sudden, it's much louder because it's reverberating the table now. Mass=Sustain & Volume.

interesting. The only thing is I dont know a good unplugged tone from a bad one. I think i'll try and play some basses I like and keep a mental note on their unplugged tone.

The next thing I was wondering is what if I am playing two basses constructed of the same woods Alder, maple, rosewood. If one is a $100 bass and one is a $1000 bass then the only difference amplified would be the electronics right?

[Led_Zeppelin678]

The hardware and the construction are most likely different as well. Every little thing has a different effect on your tone.

[Chris K]

Well, when Bill Dickens gets hold of a bass for the first time, he always holds it gainst his chest and hits a note, looking to feel the body vibrating. Thats a good sign :thumb:

[kilian]

Always listen to a bass unplugged when trying it out. Try this, too: Start playing your bass. Walk up to a table (wood works better than stone or glass or whatever) and set the bottom edge of the bass onto the table. All of a sudden, it's much louder because it's reverberating the table now. Mass=Sustain & Volume.
Then you're also hearing the soundcharacteristics of the table ;)

But you're right.. when a bass/guitar sounds good unplugged; it will most likeley be a bit better bass then any other when plugged in. If you've also got good electronics..

[mastrrbasser]

Well, when Bill Dickens gets hold of a bass for the first time, he always holds it gainst his chest and hits a note, looking to feel the body vibrating. Thats a good sign :thumb:


He has an advantage though, because he's huge. He has more mass, and as led zep said "more mass=more sustain"


/lame joke

[EADG]

I freaked out the first time I heard my bass through my hoodie.

I used to play by holding my bass against the wall.