Neck-thru vs Bolt-on

I will refrain from making a naughty joke about hard wood and sustain.

Too late :joy:

I’m sorry about that.

7 Likes

I do hope, @nixxinn is right though:

:slight_smile:

2 Likes

I recently found an interesting video about Sandberg and their SuperLight bass guitars. In this video they also talk a little about sustain in relation to the material and weight of the instrument.

They said the Sandberg SuperLight models have less sustain, but a more snappy tone. Sounds good to me. Depends of course on the kind of music one plays.

This is an interesting video. Featuring Julia Hofer, whom people here might know from Thomann’s videos.

3 Likes

Say it isn’t so! :sweat_smile: :wink:

That’s most likely due to the number of windings in the pickup. :smiley:

The issue where is like many others - lots of factors. I have tried every bridge design out there and I can say for sure that bridge design can greatly influence sustain, as well as strings. I took a MIM Vintera P bass and gave it more sustain than I could stand using the Ray Ross bridge and these crazy gold strings @Al1885 likes (can’t remember the name of the strings).

Same wood, greatly different outcome

2 Likes

I believe any further discussion of what increases/decreases sustain should be accompanied by either the results of testing and the documented methodology and/or an analysis of the differential equations making up the bass/string/bridge/tuner/etc system. Fourier transforms are probably also acceptable, but you should justify why the approximation is applicable.

2 Likes

@John_E yes, high mass bridge is stiffer right ? :slight_smile:

and I agree, I have a neck through bass with a hvy bridge, and fender with a super light one, definetly get more sustain on the neck through one

1 Like

I know you are joking, but Ray Ross isn’t really high mass per se, it’s a saddleless bass so the strings can really ring out long and clean.

2 Likes

Actually it’s the counter intuitive argument. Unbroken string is what provide more sustain. The Saddleless bridge produce crystal clear tone and unmatched sustain. It’s the second most sustained component you can get for your bass if you want sustain.

M

What’s the most you ask?

Optical pickups, even with the proper strings break it still produce ample amount of sustained on the strings. There’s no magnets only light to read the string oscillation.

2 Likes

Those Wilcox Saber’ are actually pertty reasonably priced for what they are. Just looked and was kinda surprised tbh.

1 Like

Yeah it feels shorter too. I have both 4 string and 5 string Fretless the 5 string is their premium with the Richlite fingerboard, definitely one of my favorite Synthetic fingerboard material.

It looks MASSIVE though. I really love the look of it!
Luckily I don’t have the €€€ to upgrade my three basses, and you can’t get them easily here anyway.
Also I think I would need to replace strings, as the old ones are “bend” by the old bridge.

I remembered the name of the strings - Optima gold Unique. Like Bells ringing out forever

1 Like

@John_E makes sense that the bend in the strings would be detrimental to sustain. at least in my brain, and I hope I did not go to far in joking around, like I said before I’m new to music and very little clue, but I love learning :slight_smile:

:heart:

2 Likes

I’m not typically one for gold hardware, but on that bass, that combo of the bridge, strings, knobs, and pickguard go really well together. I also like how the intonation adjustment nuts and the string holders are closer to the same color as the frets and output jack giving some complementary coordination. I hope the tuners are gold, though.

1 Like

Seriously asking: has anyone ever ran in to a bass where it didn’t have enough sustain, and could you describe the situation in detail?

It’s simply not generally a problem on bass, even if you are playing drones, in my experience. Nor is it a particularly desirable quality; it’s nice if it’s there but it’s not even on the list of criteria I would use.

2 Likes

Funny you said that. That bass got me the invitation to join this community by @T_dub That’s exactly what he said.

Here’s the tuners

3 Likes

Beautiful. And the matching jazz!

3 Likes

That was the era that started boycotting HipShot. I waited for the gold Lolipop (on the Jazz) for over 4 months, while it was sitting on the shelf at HipShot. Thanks to them I now discovered so many different brands.

1 Like

Sadly this is a thing for Gotoh too. Some models just become unobtanium for a while.

1 Like