OFF: Two basses

Arjan Hulsebos arjanh at WOLFPACK.NL
Fri Jan 11 03:54:32 EST 2008


On Thu, 10 Jan 2008 20:35:27 +0000, Chris Allen wrote
> Nah, it's more that even the slightest mistake in timing where two
> basses are slightly out of sync causes near seismic wobbles, in a
> *bad* way.
> I think it's because the frequency range involved is much narrower,
> shared between basses.

I don't understand that. Timing differences are nothing more than a phase
shift that doesn't vary in time. The story would be very different with a
small difference in frequency, which can easily happen, as when you fret a
string, you have to apply pressure on that string. Pressure differences lead
to different frequencies, and with bases, the ratio of frequency differences
and the frequencies are an order of magnitude greater as with guitars. My
guess is that with guitars, this is perceived as an amplitude fluctuation,
whereas with bases, this would be perceived as the addition of a dissonant
frequency.

Then again, I'm just a theoretical physisist by training, not a biomechanic.
Is there a biophysisist on the list who might shed some light on this?

Gr,

Arjan H

--------------------------------
Rock in the 70ies:
   substance inhalation, hotel devastation, and amplifier obliteration



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