• Ernie Ball
  • MusicMan
  • Sterling by MusicMan

Steve Dude Barr

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 3, 2005
Messages
5,173
Does anyone else notice a difference in how a bass sounds if the paint is a different color? Seems like there are slight tonal differences, but it could be me needing another drink.


Step away from the chulupa....

Mazatlan159.jpg
 

olorin

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 18, 2006
Messages
221
Location
Boston, MA
LMAO...dude that is classic, I am assuming that is not a church picnic revival right? And I thought I could drink....
 

bovinehost

Administrator
Joined
Jan 16, 2003
Messages
18,204
Location
Dall-Ass, TX
Does anyone else notice a difference in how a bass sounds if the paint is a different color? Seems like there are slight tonal differences, but it could be me needing another drink.

Go get that drink, dude.
 

midopa

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 24, 2004
Messages
3,850
Location
*
Personally, I hear the differences between different batteries.


jkjk :p :D
 

philthygeezer

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 9, 2004
Messages
389
olorin said:
I went back to gc for 4 hours today and played the plain pearl blue Sterling again, not one person there to bother me and plenty of half stacks to play with.

"Yeah, these arent the most popular basses here", direct quote from the GC staff regarding the Sterling. I was like, thats good because I REALLY love turning on all your amps and BLASTING the hell out of the guitar players...LOL.

I just had a thought that may be FOS, but might not...

D'yer think that most basses that sell at music stores, sell because they have a nice scooped sound that sounds great noodling but totally gets lost as soon as you stand it up with other instruments?

I notice that the Sterling kind of 'settles in' to the groove when I play it with the music on my stereo, while others I've played just plain disappear after sounding good solo. I can always hear the Sterling, but it's not usually obtrusive. I can temper the chainsaw effect with a bit more bass and a little less mids. But I can't usually add mids on other basses to the same overall effect.
 

olorin

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 18, 2006
Messages
221
Location
Boston, MA
Maybe....but think of this. There IS a huge difference between a maple neck and a sunburst, and a maple neck and a regular paint job. For instance, a candy red does sound fifferent than a sunburst...does any one else notice this? I have downed 8 newcastles and counting, maybe I am getting faded and I have to lay off the G-13, but I just consider it. Could be true....and Jack you are a HATER...LOL. Give a brotha a break man!!!LOL
 

Lazybite

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 9, 2005
Messages
683
Location
Canberra, Australia
philthygeezer said:
I just had a thought that may be FOS, but might not...

D'yer think that most basses that sell at music stores, sell because they have a nice scooped sound that sounds great noodling but totally gets lost as soon as you stand it up with other instruments?

I notice that the Sterling kind of 'settles in' to the groove when I play it with the music on my stereo, while others I've played just plain disappear after sounding good solo. I can always hear the Sterling, but it's not usually obtrusive. I can temper the chainsaw effect with a bit more bass and a little less mids. But I can't usually add mids on other basses to the same overall effect.

I think that is part of it, there is no way to tell how is going to sound in a band situation when a/b'ing at a store...... but I also think too many people go in to stores thinking that they only want something because of a bias towards a particular player or the mag hype surrounding any given make/model.....
 

olorin

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 18, 2006
Messages
221
Location
Boston, MA
Right on Lazy. Really, you hit it right on the head. A SUB from MM is basically a stripped down Stingray, sounds awesome and the electronics as far as I know are the same but I have seen god knows how many guys buy an mexican made J bass for a hundred less because of the "sunburst" finish. Nevermind the sound. Sad but true. Thank god for Ernie Ball....seriously
 

bovinehost

Administrator
Joined
Jan 16, 2003
Messages
18,204
Location
Dall-Ass, TX
olorin said:
Maybe....but think of this. There IS a huge difference between a maple neck and a sunburst, and a maple neck and a regular paint job. For instance, a candy red does sound fifferent than a sunburst...does any one else notice this? I have downed 8 newcastles and counting, maybe I am getting faded and I have to lay off the G-13, but I just consider it. Could be true....and Jack you are a HATER...LOL. Give a brotha a break man!!!LOL

Well, I know black basses sound darker and lighter basses sound snappier.

Or they have more attackiness, I think.

Dude, get another Newcastle. Paint is paint. But I don't hate anyone.

Well, I do, but no one here.

:D

Jack
 

olorin

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 18, 2006
Messages
221
Location
Boston, MA
bovinehost said:
Well, I know black basses sound darker and lighter basses sound snappier.

Or they have more attackiness, I think.

Dude, get another Newcastle. Paint is paint. But I don't hate anyone.

Well, I do, but no one here.

:D

Jack
Jack..you know I am joking but consider this. Ever listen to a sunburst rosewood verus a maple neck? BIG difference. Ever listen to the same choices but with different paint schemes? All I am saying is that there MAY be subtle nuances because of the chem composition of a particular finish that MAY contribute to a certain instrument sounding mildly different in CBP than CR. Thats all I am saying, :D so dont be a hater IAM JOKING JACK!!!!!
 

midopa

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 24, 2004
Messages
3,850
Location
*
Of the bunch, the sparkles have the most attackiness. :D

Anyway, perhaps what you're hearing is not due to the paint, but rather due to differences with wood? IIRC BP said in a GC video interview that if you build basses from the same log, all of them will sound different.
 
Top Bottom