Registered: 05/21/06
Posts: 1014
Loc: indianapolis
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I wrote this originally on the Low down forum, and someone suggested that maybe Bass Player magazine would like to do this experiment. I am a psychology student at Indiana University and more importantly a bass player. So here is the post: _____________________________________________________________________
I wonder is there really is a difference between Vintage basses and new ones besides the price? I want to compare a Vintage fender and a MIA new fender and have the people here take a poll and see if people can actually tell the difference. I really don’t know; there might be a difference and there may not be. However I would like to end this quibbling and subject this to a blind opinion test. ------------------------ If anyone can help me conduct this experiment I would be grateful. First I just want to see if anyone would be interested and if people would actually listen to the sound bites and answer a poll. I do not have a new or old fender. Does anyone have both types that is willing to put them to the test? -------------------- Proposed Methodology. Set the 2 basses up the same, neck scale, string height, and any pother things we can collectively think of. Play a very simple part or scale on the vintage bass that goes up the neck. Take the PUPs out and play the same part on the new fender MIA bass (2 reasons for not using MIM, scale length, and the wood is completely different and we are just testing for differences in age and build). This can be played by anyone who has access to these 2 things and be sent to me, I would like a video though just so I can be certain there is confounding variables. Or if I could come to you and record them myself that would be the best situation with the least amount of digital processing. Recording should be done in 32BIT 96K sample rate on both. Only one gain change should be made to each to make them the same volume. And each will be changed once to make sure they go through the same process I will think of any other variables over the next few days. Please PM me if you have access to these basses and would like to see what happens. Then I will post them in a way that can be listened to in Wav. Format (I will also need help with this because I do not know how or where to do so) I might have a short survey to see how much experience each person has with fender this way if all the fender guys can pick out the correct bass I can run correlation and T-Tests to make sure the none fender experienced players didn’t skew the sample. --------------------------------------- I would also like to do this with monster cables and see if people can actually tell the difference or it is a placebo effect.
Please let me know of any concerns or problems with this set up, and I will continue to think about it for a while. I would appreciate the help. I tried my best to be clear. Please ask questions on any unclear or confusing parts.
P.S. Does anyone think that any guitar companies would be interested in this little experiment? I don’t know of any like it. Jonathan
I think that is a great idea. I am a college student as well (Environmental Science) and with out getting to in depth, for a degree in our program you have to do a senior research project related to your field. If you have to do that as well, this would be awesome - testing the sense of sound. For the longest time I have been told that vintage basses/guitars have a totally different sound because time has caused the would to dry out and age has given it a much warmer sound. Hopefully we can find out! What do you say Bass Player?
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Jackson C20 Concert Bass / Polytone Contempo B Solid Body / Peavey MAX 750 Watt Head / Ampeg 810E
