Body shape and sound

[aquaman]

Does the body shape affect the sound of the bass?  For example, does a standard Spoiler sound different than a Spoiler Exploiter -- assume that the electronics are the same.

[serialnumber12]

Series basses are chambered where'as all other models come standard with solid bodies except for SC/MK sig (delux) models come chambered, so that being said chambered basses have more of a rounded sound (full-bodied tone)....of course wood types have their tone characteristics too.

[pclifton2004]

Only Series models come chambered - it's an option on SC and MK deluxe (I had it on mine) but a $500 one (or was on 2000)

[hydrargyrum]

I'm guessing the answer is yes, but the effect probably is no where near as strong as changing woods. In some ways wood acts as a filter, absorbing the vibrational energy of the strings.  Changing the distribution of mass through the body will probably have some subtle effect on how the wood absorbs this energy.

[apdavis]

Side by side comparisons would be interesting.  Definitely more mass in the exploiter body.  
 
Geddy Lee had made a point that his double neck Rickenbacker  was the better sounding of his Rics possibly due to the mass.

[jseitang]

when i had my series custom made, i asked them not to chamber the body, the result was a real difference in the presence of sound. also very very heavy bass.

[mike1762]

I understand the filtering effect of wood.  But what does more mass do?  Is it going to suck MORE of the vibrational energy out of the strings or will the greater mass inhibit resonance of the body?

[white_cloud]

To be honest it probably doesnt make a huge difference. I would also argue that the species of wood selected for the tops makes virtually no difference at all to the tone of the instrument either...most of the tone probably comes from the stiffness of the neck/neck thru...then body core/instrument design etc. IMHO chambering the body DOES indeed have a significant effect on the sound.
 
Ken Smith argued some time ago that multi laminations made no difference to the sound at all, that it was just a fancy way of using nice looking joints.
 
It could be argued that lots of glue joints actually DETRACT from the tone of an instrument but I am sure there are just as many people who would disagree.  
 
It looks great though!!
 
The true test of any instrument is how it sounds unplugged - a lot of modern high end basses rely heavily on expensive electrics and pick-ups!

[keith_h]

Actually the top/back woods do make a difference in the sound of the bass. I have been able to compare several that have walnut or maple tops and the standard maple/purple heart neck. There is a pronounced brightness to the ones with maple tops. This might not be as noticeable for all woods but it is there.  
 
Keith

[pclifton2004]

White Cloud, if you side by side a maple top neck thru bass and a cocobola top one you will take that back lol - top wood, against many opinions I have heard, makes a very audible difference to tone. The choice of corewoods does too, though less noticably to my ears. Cocobola looks best if you ask me, but maple has a brighter, punchier tone. Glue is the enemy to tone, but laminates just look so nice!

[hydrargyrum]

Mike,
 
I think the logic goes that the more massive the wood, hardware, etc., the less transfer of vibration between the strings and body.  This is why Alembic adds the brass sustain blocks under bridges, and why the addition of Ebony to a neck causes the harmonics to ring longer.

[mike1762]

Kevin
 
I worded my question poorly... going back to the OP's question:  Does a bigger chuck of the SAME wood act as a bigger filter (absorbing more of its typical frequencies) or does it absorb less owing to its greater mass?  Or perhaps it's the same with less perceptible resonance of the body owing to greater diffusion(?) of the resonance.  Is Bob Novy reading this?  He knows about this stuff.

[adriaan]

and why the addition of Ebony to a neck causes the harmonics to ring longer.
 
The point with ebony is that it makes the fundamental (aka the first harmonic) ring longer.
 
Each note starts out with its maximum energy, and as the fundamental takes up a lot of energy, its amplitude will decrease quicker than that of the higher harmonics. So as the note keeps ringing, the lower frequency components fade out. With ebony, this fade-out is slower.
 
Specific weight, stiffness, oiliness, brass hardware --- it all contributes to the tone, but in different ways. Resonance can be sympathetic, but also resistant. Then start laminating chunks of wood, and the outcome becomes more and more interesting (or dead).

[white_cloud]

I have certainly noticed a big difference between tones of solid bodied basses over the years but less so on multi laminated basses. Maple is indeed much brighter than for example Mahogany etc. The real advantage, however, of laminating is that you can marry an extremely stable  Mahogany core with a much less stable Maple top and form what is effectively a compromise of sorts - a body that wont move much combined with an improved brightness.
 
I dont doubt for a minute that other folks here at the club have noticed a tonal difference between different tops though - perhaps I should stand corrected on that one...its just that I havent noticed a big difference in my experience i.e. not really being able to afford more than two high quality multi laminated instuments at the time
 
I do still believe though that most of the sound/tone is in the neck/neck construction. This is where all the dynamic resonance occurs - much less so in body wood tops of only a few millimetres thickness.
 
I feel it would be beneficial to my research if some kind club members would be willing to donate their Alembics (a wide variety of tops would be preferable please) to me for some prolonged and comprehensive study? All interested members in this scheme please contact me asap as I have some big gigs coming up over the holiday period

[pclifton2004]

Easier than that - borrow a dvd copy of Level 42 either Guaranteed tour 1994 or Isle of White 2000 (approx years) and have a good listen to the tone difference between the quilted maple topped series II and the cocobola topped one - it's quite audible - his EQ settings are same, he simply swaps basses. The maple is brighter and punchier, the coco sort of darker and more complex and rich but with less 'presence'. I think it may be more pronounced on series instruments because of the resonance provided by the hollow body under the top wings? Of course, your method is more enjoyable!