earlyman Posted August 4 Share Posted August 4 For most of us I’d guess that thump from a good amp/speaker is up there among the most pleasing aspect of a good live sound. But…. What is thump? Rather, why is thump?! It’s not the same as loudness, is it? but how is it different? Why do some amps give you thump while others, though just as loud, don’t? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykesbass Posted August 4 Share Posted August 4 Is it this month's Heft? 2 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bolo Posted August 4 Share Posted August 4 Thump is the whoomp from cheap oversized subs in cheaper smal cars driven by baseballcapped chavs. Nothing to do with good bass cabs. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SumOne Posted August 4 Share Posted August 4 If the chest ain't rattln' it ain't happenin' 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted August 4 Share Posted August 4 Thump is when the low mid's hit you in the chest. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted August 4 Share Posted August 4 It means whatever you think it means 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
40hz Posted August 4 Share Posted August 4 (edited) It's fairly easy to describe - a strong, loud and full initial attack of a note. Mostly a low-mid thing as @chris_b stated. Interchangeable with 'punch', as, to me, they are more or less the same thing. Edited August 4 by 40hz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Downunderwonder Posted August 5 Share Posted August 5 2 hours ago, chris_b said: Thump is when the low mid's hit you in the chest. 80hz is the home of thump. Your chest has a natural resonance around there. I don't think it is coincidence the harmonic of a low E is also living there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted August 5 Share Posted August 5 7 hours ago, neepheid said: It means whatever you think it means Exactly. See: 'growl', 'heft', 'punch', etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykesbass Posted August 5 Share Posted August 5 As this conversation comes up regularly (on here and elsewhere), I thought I would have a look around to see if there were any guidelines to what can be very subjective, describing sound. There are a couple of well thought out pieces from sound engineers and academics, and they seem to be fairly consistent (with enough variance to imply they haven't just plagiarised each other). I like this website as they have included frequency ranges to their terms. If you are happy to accept @40hz assertion that Thump and Punch are fully interchangeable then: Punchy: Good reproduction of dynamics. Good transient response, with strong impact. Sometimes a bump around 5 kHz or 200 Hz. Full glossary here: https://michaelrasbury.org/uva/images/notesimages/describingsound.pdf 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_c2 Posted August 5 Share Posted August 5 10 hours ago, earlyman said: It’s not the same as loudness, is it? "Loudness" is a very vague term but as I understand it, its often seen on older car stereo where they add a bit of volume; and a boost to lower and maybe higher frequencies too ("smiley face" graphic EQ). Whilst of course EQ settings are subjective, many older car stereo setups sounded quite terrible with flat EQ and the "loudness" disengaged, even if you adjusted the volume to match the loudness setting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bolo Posted August 5 Share Posted August 5 Well this is going all over the place, as expected. For Loudness in hifi (not car stereo, which copied home hifi) see Fletcher-Munson. Thump is in the sub 100Hz, punch is as described by Mykesbass, they are not the same. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rodders Posted August 5 Share Posted August 5 I understand thump to be the opposite of sustain, some people may look at thump as being the same as punch? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykesbass Posted August 5 Share Posted August 5 10 minutes ago, Bolo said: Well this is going all over the place, as expected. For Loudness in hifi (not car stereo, which copied home hifi) see Fletcher-Munson. Thump is in the sub 100Hz, punch is as described by Mykesbass, they are not the same. I stand corrected. None of the sources I found mentioned Thump, and initially thought the two related as synonyms. Looking further, there are differences, especially where sound is concerned. @bolo do you have a reference for the sub 100Hz definition please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bolo Posted August 5 Share Posted August 5 2 minutes ago, Mykesbass said: do you have a reference for the sub 100Hz definition please The terms are perhaps best separated by drum kick mixing like here https://www.crate.fm/tutorials/mastering-the-art-of-kick-drum-production-a-complete-guide-for-music-producers "Creating a good kick drum is not just about the 'thump' or 'boom' " And later "The rapid downward pitch envelope makes that satisfying punch" So thumping subs have a lot of boom (or even whoomp) and they are punchy if they react fast or 'tight' . 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diskwave Posted August 5 Share Posted August 5 10 hours ago, Downunderwonder said: I don't think it is coincidence the harmonic of a low E is also living there. Its debatable, every instrument seems different., My Sq CV 70's P has the most glorious thumpiness from C to D on A. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NHM Posted August 5 Share Posted August 5 The Peavey Minimax has a Punch button, and according to the manual: 'This switch engages a boost of 6dB at 100Hz, which greatly enhances the low-end presence of the bass guitar.' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie C Posted August 5 Share Posted August 5 20 hours ago, earlyman said: What is thump? Rather, why is thump?! It’s not the same as loudness, is it? but how is it different? "Thump" is a double bass with Innovation "black rockabilly" strings. 😉 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Dare Posted August 5 Share Posted August 5 51 minutes ago, NHM said: The Peavey Minimax has a Punch button, and according to the manual: 'This switch engages a boost of 6dB at 100Hz, which greatly enhances the low-end presence of the bass guitar.' My Aguilar AG700 has the same button (or rather a button that does the same thing). It seems to me to be more a device intended to impress in the showroom. At working volumes, it's too much and OTT. I almost always cut, rather than boost eq, but using the bass control to boost allows you to add the desired amount of extra low end subtly, rather than the all or nothing you get with the button. Trust me when I say you wouldn't want to use both at the same time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NHM Posted August 5 Share Posted August 5 31 minutes ago, Dan Dare said: My Aguilar AG700 has the same button (or rather a button that does the same thing). It seems to me to be more a device intended to impress in the showroom. At working volumes, it's too much and OTT. I almost always cut, rather than boost eq, but using the bass control to boost allows you to add the desired amount of extra low end subtly, rather than the all or nothing you get with the button. Trust me when I say you wouldn't want to use both at the same time. I used a Minimax for a gig yesterday afternoon - I engaged the Punch but cut the bass eq. and was really happy with the sound. The fan noise was insignificant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JottoSW1 Posted August 5 Share Posted August 5 (edited) There is a useful alternative martial art , (not the Goodies bbc comedy show one) That was ecky thump. The Yorkshire version is Tyke whann Dohh Edited August 5 by JottoSW1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham56 Posted August 6 Share Posted August 6 How you deal with an over-enthusiastic guitarist... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykesbass Posted August 6 Share Posted August 6 1 minute ago, Graham56 said: How you deal with an over-enthusiastic guitarist... See Punch above 😎 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Blank Posted August 6 Share Posted August 6 The OED definition, just for reference of course... Thump (v) - To strike or beat heavily, as with the fist, a club, or any blunt instrument, producing a dead, dull, somewhat hard sound; also, without reference to the sound produced, to hammer, pound, knock forcibly. Thump (n) - 'hard heavy dead dull blow with something blunt’ (Johnson), as with a club or the fist; a heavy knock; also, the heavy sound of such a blow (not so dull as a thud). Also figurative. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE Posted August 7 Share Posted August 7 The best thump sound and feel for me , was playing the humbucker pick by the neck telecaster bass through an Aguilar amp head , through an angular cab with no tweeter . It helped that the drummer loved the sound too , after remarking that the Aguilar setup looked like something from a '50s coffee shop .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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