Tone Block

[GGK]

Greetings, I have read about the placement of " Tone Blocks" on BFR and other premium instruments and understand the physical concept but do not know what or how this influences the sound or tone of the instrument? Any light shedding would be most appreciated.
Tks

 

[mynan]

Since you understand the physical concept, then my understanding of the tonal concept is that you get the tonal benefit (resonance) of a mahogany body without having to have the whole body made of mahogany.

 

[bovinehost]

I'd be interested to see what Dargin or BP or Dudley say about what the thing does.

I think Bryan's on the right track. The mahogany block seems to add (in my 20th SR5) a sort of midrange enhancement that really kicks the normal SR5 tone right in the butt. (By this, I mean it adds to what is already a very good sound.)

Tough, muscular midrange - which is also a hallmark of the 30th SR4 (mahogany body).

It's a good combination - I know that much.

 

[phatduckk]

the tone block really is magic. to me it sounds like it kicks up the midrange (like jack said). gives it a more full sort of sound.

the tone block is a good thing

 

[Colin]

it gives it mojo....

 

[r goldsmith]

It's timely that someone raised this. I tried a 20th SR5 the other day for the first time, and was really taken with the sound, definitely different from my plain vanilla SR5. What really appealed to me about the 20th was the single coil setting, really sounded great, and that's coming from someone who appreciates the single coil setting on his standard SR5. Whether it's the tone block or something else, that 20th is a hell of a bass.

 

[GGK]

OK, from the replies I take it that the mid-range tonal qualities may be enhanced with the tone block. Would this be consistent with any type of wood used, or is mahogany basically used primarily in an ash body to achieve this sound? I take it a body made from ash with a maple cap and mahogany tone block would offer a different variation on the mid-range tonal quailities?
Tks

 

[shastaband]

What really appealed to me about the 20th was the single coil setting, really sounded great, and that's coming from someone who appreciates the single coil setting on his standard SR5.

I do believe that the 20th SR5 doesn't have a single coil setting like a standard SR5, but rather a parallell setting and two different series settings.

 

[r goldsmith]

I do believe that the 20th SR5 doesn't have a single coil setting like a standard SR5, but rather a parallell setting and two different series settings.

Really? I wonder how would that work? In any event it was the middle of the switch setting that I was referring to, where the "single with phantom" sits on the standard SR5.

 

[John Denner]

MoJo

Yes Colin the word of the day is MOJO

 

[mynan]

Really? I wonder how would that work? In any event it was the middle of the switch setting that I was referring to, where the "single with phantom" sits on the standard SR5.

The middle switch setting is "enhanced series" on the 20th SR5...

 

[fidooda]

+ on MOJO! incredible. i never heard so many amazing tones coming from the same bass.

 

[r goldsmith]

20th

The middle switch setting is "enhanced series" on the 20th SR5...

Well whatever that means (i.e. over the standard series" setting), it really works for me. Something in that tone block too for sure.