Resonance vs sustain

[zortation]

What do you want a bass to have more of?

 

[Jeff Scott]

It depends.

Hope this helps.

 

[M.R. Ogle]

I'll be interested to see how this turns out.
To my way of understanding, resonance is the "loss" of string energy out through the structure of the bass, attenuating some frequencies but resulting in a sometimes very pleasant "warmth" to the instrument. These basses can be "heard" when not plugged in.
Sustain happens when the instrument structure is comparatively more rigid, NOT absorbing as much energy, so the string rings longer.

 

[buldog5151bass]

I have never understood the obsession by some about sustain with bass. Unless you are solo a la Michael Manring, bass is a lot more about proper use of muting.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

Try playing Knockin' on Heaven's Door w/o a good bit of sustain


I always thought better resonance = better sustain, but I was informed on a guitar player's forum that it is not.

 

[M.R. Ogle]

I'm going to vote "resonance." 99% of the time, I got enough sustain.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

I have enough sustain with a well-built bridge.

 

[DigitalMan]

I always considered resonance to be a sympathetic form of energy. I find empathy to be more useful.

 

[Linnin]

I always considered resonance to be a sympathetic form of energy. I find empathy to be more useful.

Electric Bass Zen. I like it.

 

[bobyoung53]

I like a punchy sounding bass tone, good strong attack that dies out quickly so I voted resonance, I don't like a lot of sustain and never did. If I were playing a certain form of classic rock I would probably want sustain but I'm not at this point anyway.

 

[Londo Molari]

Cowbell.

 

[megafiddle]

What do you want a bass to have more of?

"Sustain" is pretty well understood.

You might want to establish an accepted meaning for "resonance" though.

-

 

[40Hz]

In that resonance is how most musical instruments produce sound, without resonance there isn't anything to sustain.

 

[Mystic Michael]

What do you want a bass to have more of?

Aw, gee willikers, mister! Do we really have to choose just one characteristic?

MM

 

[Killed_by_Death]

electric instruments don't inherently need resonance, as long as the string is vibrating over the pickup

 

[Dave Hill]

Resonance seems like it would be less consistent at different frequencies(?)

 

[micguy]

I want a bass with consistent sustain - all the notes stay around the same length of time.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

That's impossible, considering the wavelength difference of a open E to that of a high note on the G string.

 

[Jeff Scott]

I want a bass with consistent sustain - all the notes stay around the same length of time.

That's impossible, considering the wavelength difference of a open E to that of a high note on the G string.

He can still ask for it, though.

 

[zortation]

Aw, gee willikers, mister! Do we really have to choose just one characteristic?

MM

You can chose which one is more important to you.