Official Meme Thread. [NO POLITICS]

[MuseChaser]

Originally Posted by fumanchu1

I was talking about the material not the shape of it, type of wood, strength of material used (i.e. lap steel guitar) all affect tonality, sustain and vibration to a certain extent (obviously not as much as a hollow/semi hollow or acoustic guitar).


I assume the bass was made with a toy version of the ship and therefore is some type of plastic... which isn't ideal for tonality

Not to go all word police on you, but the misuse of the word "tonality" drives me crazy, as does the current and constant misuse of the word "tone-deaf" in the media today; music is my profession.

"Tonality" refers to a the quality of a sequence of notes coming from or sounding like they originate from a certain key. Wood doesn't affect the "tonality" of anything. The notes you play are "tonal" or not, and determine the "tonality" of what you're playing. The words you are looking for are "tone quality" or "timbre."

"Tone deaf" refers to an inability to distinguish differences in pitches or frequency response and, in actuality, is extremely rare. Almost anyone, with enough patience and/or training, can learn to distinguish pitches. Being "tone deaf" to an issue (often said in political news coverage) is a stupid, meaningless phrase. You can be deaf to an issue as a figure of speech, but being "tone deaf" to an issue is .. well... a stupid phrase. Wish they'd stop saying that.

Now, as far as the wood or other materials chosen for the body of a solid-body guitar or bass, I'd agree with most of the other posts. The construction of the neck (with a nod given to through-built necks that run the entire length of the instrument), bridge, nut, pickups, preamps, and strings would be the greatest contributors, but anything that comes into contact with the vibration (which is pretty much everything) has SOME effect on the resultant sound. An Alembic bass sounds like no other bass; they weigh a ton for their size, and have an incredible sustain. That ain't all due to the pickups.

Now, back to the topic...

[Tcoat]

[KR-S]

Just in case the other thread gets deleted...

[ScoobsMcGee]

[Atropine]

Originally Posted by go_a_way1

Attachment 129266

Attachment 129267

Wow both of those pics are awesome...

Wish I could "like" this post twice.

First pic...wow super funny and creative slug maze.

Then the "Beavis?" Pic brought me right back to being 15 and staying up late to watch that show.

Kudos!

[babydriver]

Originally Posted by MuseChaser

Now, as far as the wood or other materials chosen for the body of a solid-body guitar or bass, I'd agree with most of the other posts. The construction of the neck (with a nod given to through-built necks that run the entire length of the instrument), bridge, nut, pickups, preamps, and strings would be the greatest contributors, but anything that comes into contact with the vibration (which is pretty much everything) has SOME effect on the resultant sound.

Now to flog a dead horse

Depending on the material, the solid body of an electric guitar should contribute a negligible amount to the sound. This is by design. Certainly, any hollow body electric will be strongly affected by the resonating chamber of the body and its materials. The strings and pickups certainly interact and profoundly affect the tone. With regard to the top nut it should contribute minimal effect if made and fitted properly, as it merely terminates the vibrating portion of the string at the top. The bridge will have an effect because of differences in design and materials. What also profoundly affects the tone is the position of the pickup relative to the bridge; that is why there are tone switches on any multipickup guitar. Regarding "preamp" I assume you are referring to any built-in amp designed to increase the signal voltage? Any external preamp should not be counted IMO as it is not part of the guitar itself.

With regard to my own professional musical experience, I was involved in music and music education from 1977 to 2009. University music professor from 1991 to 2005, conducting orchestras and teaching music theory and music ed courses. I play clarinet, piano, guitar, viola, and cello. I have 4 college degrees, three of which are in music (B.A. music ed, M.M. music theory, DMA orchestral conducting).

I realize that it is unlikely that we will convince each other. Pacem.

[Sarlacc]

[MuseChaser]

Originally Posted by babydriver

...
Depending on the material, the solid body of an electric guitar should contribute a negligible amount to the sound.

That's close to what I said, isn't it? Pickups, neck, bridge, strings are the main contenders, but that anything in contact with a vibrating body will have SOME effect on those vibrations. "Negligible" is in the ear of the beholder. If you, personally, don't notice a difference or don't care about the "negligible" difference, but many others do, are the others wrong? Why do you think violinists get so involved in choosing just the right shoulder pad? It ain't just for comfort.. it's also about trying to find one that impacts the sound of the INSTRUMENT the least.

Originally Posted by babydriver

This is by design. Certainly, any hollow body electric will be strongly affected by the resonating chamber of the body and its materials. The strings and pickups certainly interact and profoundly affect the tone. With regard to the top nut it should contribute minimal effect if made and fitted properly, as it merely terminates the vibrating portion of the string at the top. The bridge will have an effect because of differences in design and materials. What also profoundly affects the tone is the position of the pickup relative to the bridge; that is why there are tone switches on any multipickup guitar. Regarding "preamp" I assume you are referring to any built-in amp designed to increase the signal voltage? Any external preamp should not be counted IMO as it is not part of the guitar itself.

Sigh. Many, MANY high end guitars and basses have built-in preamps.

Originally Posted by babydriver

With regard to my own professional musical experience, I was involved in music and music education from 1977 to 2009. University music professor from 1991 to 2005, conducting orchestras and teaching music theory and music ed courses. I play clarinet, piano, guitar, viola, and cello. I have 4 college degrees, three of which are in music (B.A. music ed, M.M. music theory, DMA orchestral conducting).

I realize that it is unlikely that we will convince each other. Pacem.

Peace to you, too. Our bonafides are similar, except that mine are more as a professional player, clinician, and recording engineer of classical and acoustic jazz music. My degrees are in music ed and violin performance, but my "real world" life has mostly been as a jazz pianist and orchestral educator at every level from elementary to college, a recording engineer, and occasional recording artist. Never went for the DMA.. too busy practicing and making music.

This discussion, actually, is VERY much like a lot of the discussions here on this .. ahem... CAR ENTHUSIAST forum. There are those who read a lot, and those who actually live this stuff every day. Obviously, neither you nor I are are on polar ends of that continuum musically, but we do lie towards different sides of that continuum.

[MuseChaser]

And... just to tie it all together..

[Tcoat]

Wow. Strongly regret posting that rebel base meme now.

[MuseChaser]

Lol, T. Yeah.. and I'm sorry I bothered to look at anything other than the memes.

Here's another peace (pacem) offering to tie things together...

[MuseChaser]

[go_a_way1]

Originally Posted by MuseChaser

Lol, T. Yeah.. and I'm sorry I bothered to look at anything other than the memes.

Yeah thats like me. I didn't read any of the text walls lol

[86Mike]