Define "punchy"

[bassmonkey]

I often hear this word being used to describe how a bass sounds.

Okay, so define it. What does "punchy" mean to you?

 

[Mobay45]

Think about Rocky Balboa hitting you in the face.

 

[bassmonkey]

Think about Rocky Balboa hitting you in the face.

Quick reply and LOL!

...but seriously....

 

[mrpackerguy]

On a Stingray anyway, bass at 5, mids at 8, treble at 6.
On the Kern: bass at 12:00, mids at 2:00, highs at 12:00.

Plenty of mids gets me that punch through tone I hear in my head.

 

[Mobay45]

Quick reply and LOL!

...but seriously....

Seriously, it's like the speaker is throwing a punch when you play. A quick, burst of sound that moves a lot of air very fast. (As you can tell, I'm terrible at this.)

 

[bassmonkey]

On a Stingray anyway, bass at 5, mids at 8, treble at 6.
On the Kern: bass at 12:00, mids at 2:00, highs at 12:00.

Plenty of mids gets me that punch through tone I hear in my head.

Okay, is 5 the centre detent or is that half way up to full boost?

 

[strummer]

The kind of sound that, if turned up loud enough, feels like a giant fist hits you in the chest.
my way: Bongo 5 Both H full on/eq flat, Ag500/2xGS112, amp flat, power amp above half.

 

[Ole Man Blues]

A very tight mid to low end sound that thumps..........

OMB

 

[mrpackerguy]

Okay, is 5 the centre detent or is that half way up to full boost?

yes

 

[Lazybite]

I would suggest that punchy indicates that the overall tone is tight and well balanced and penetrates through other instruments in a band situation without sitting on top of them volume wise.

 

[funky]

simple .....play a open b on a sr5hh

 

[Aussie Mark]

Punchy is more round than attackiness.

 

[tkarter]

Punchy = drunk drummer. IMHO

tk

 

[syciprider]

IMO it's the bass tone engineers choose if they want folks to move to the bass vice the drums.

 

[bassmonkey]

yes

Which one?

 

[SteveB]

Punchy is more round than attackiness.

Very funny! But I actually agree with this notion.

 

[Steve Dude Barr]

 

[kompressaur]

holy cow! .....you should see the other guy

 

[bassmonkeee]

I saw that fight. You'd be amazed at how quickly that thing appeared. I picked the wrong evening to try and convince my girlfriend that "really, boxing isn't quite as violent as it sounds."


I agree with Mark. To me, punchy is more quick low mid burp that doesn't have a slow swell to it, and isn't overly clangy on the top.

 

[drgroovenstein]

Punchy makes me think of the bridge pickup solo'd on a jazz bass. It's that strong prominent midrange with pretty fast attack.