Author Topic: Musing on the gender of instruments (Read 539 times)

David Houck · « **Reply #30 on:** November 26, 2006, 09:09:35 PM »

As Charles pointed out, those two basses were custom ordered and certainly are not a standard model. That body shape is not even a listed option.

bob · « **Reply #31 on:** November 27, 2006, 12:14:38 AM »

Jordan, we are way off-topic here, but very briefly: a dead spot refers to a point on the neck where you just can't get much sound. You can play the note, but compared to the rest it is quite low in volume, dies out quickly, lacks character, and so forth.

To be fair, this is not unique to Fenders. It's a resonance problem having to do with length and mass of the neck, the frequency of the note, and all sorts of things. It just seems that Fender was unusually consistent about including one of these on their basses (I forget what note, but you can google it), and of course there are a lot of Fenders around, so it's sort of a standing joke.

crgaston · « **Reply #32 on:** November 27, 2006, 02:48:23 AM »

Bob, wouldn't it be more of a standing wave?
;-)

olieoliver · « **Reply #33 on:** November 27, 2006, 06:57:35 AM »

These dead spots are definitely not exclusive to Fenders. Every bass I?ve owned has had them. The spot is usually around the 5th fret of the 1st string when tuned 440 GDAE. It is also noticeable on the 10th fret of the 2nd string.
Now on my Alembic, Warwick and Kubicki basses they are very slight, almost unnoticeable. My Fender, Daion and Ibanez basses these spots are very prevalent, Fender being the worse.
I?ve never really played any alternate tuning so I wonder if the spot moves when, lets says tuning down a ? or whole step. Maybe I?ll try that tonight and see if it moves.

Now to keep this post ?on topic?, I wonder if a ?male? bass would have the same dead spot.

lg71 · « **Reply #34 on:** November 27, 2006, 07:22:16 AM »

Do you mean the G spot, or the LG spot?

keurosix · « **Reply #35 on:** November 27, 2006, 12:55:18 PM »

My PLASTIC, Modulus Graphite neck does not have a dead spot. Dead and active or Live spots tend to be generated from materials that vibrate within the same range of frequencies as the strings fundamental and harmonic vibrations. Whereas graphite, a plastic material has a vibrational frequency much higher than the highest harmonics, so no string enduced vibration gets a sympathetic reaction either in phase or out. Out of phase or a dead note sounds like it is sucked up by the guitar with little or no sustain or volume. Rather annoying.
By the way, my guitars have to be girls when I think about it. I agree with Joe Walsh and Hifi Guy. A more regal calling for worthy examples of art. Also, some foreign languages speak in genders too, so I cannot rule this out!
Kris

hankster · « **Reply #36 on:** November 27, 2006, 02:45:37 PM »

My Fender P had a dead spot at the 7th fret on the G string, which I've noticed on a number of Fenders. My '79 Stingray had the same. I don't notice one on my Stanley standard, or my old (1980?) Les Paul bass. They are, as noted above, a function of the resonance of the instrument - the denser the better, but, so far as I can tell, they are gender neutral.

Rick

lg71 · « **Reply #37 on:** November 27, 2006, 03:39:38 PM »

Anyway, to me, a dead spot is not a big deal... If it sound that dead, you can always hit another note, which will force you to move up and down the neck more often, also, it makes your instrument special & unique in a way. If it's got a dead spot, it's gotta have a G spot, no? It's you to find it!

how about a beauty spot while we are at it? But what the heck, there is nothing from with a dead spot here and there...

jsaylor · « **Reply #38 on:** November 27, 2006, 04:16:48 PM »

I was playing my Thunderbird tonight, and I didn't notice any deadspots. Weird.

If any of you guys like the art side of basses, check these out: http://www.ritter-royals.com/

Thats some artistic stuff.

lg71 · « **Reply #39 on:** November 27, 2006, 04:37:54 PM »

Nice photos - I am gonna buy the Flora Aurum for my Birthday.

olieoliver · « **Reply #40 on:** November 27, 2006, 06:04:51 PM »

I would most definitely say the Ritters are female. They are to pretty to be male.
My luck though, I'd spend a 100K and still have a dead spot.
So its all yours LG. LEt us know how it plays. LOL

(Message edited by olieoliver on November 27, 2006)

lg71 · « **Reply #41 on:** November 27, 2006, 06:11:46 PM »

100K? I thought it was 100000 pesetas!
Sorry, I didn't read properly...

olieoliver · « **Reply #42 on:** November 27, 2006, 06:18:30 PM »

Thats still a cool grand, and no Alembic logo on it.

jsaylor · « **Reply #43 on:** November 27, 2006, 06:46:24 PM »

Their not ment to be played, their for the art aspect.

olieoliver · « **Reply #44 on:** November 27, 2006, 06:49:03 PM »

I thought playing music was art?