Single Cut basses - Why?

[wazz]

Whats the reason for the single cut bass?

Does it add to the tone, playability, stabilty or is it just aesthetics?

[bass_ferret]

FIIK!

[Wil]

[quote name='bass_ferret' post='53423' date='Aug 31 2007, 03:33 PM']FIIK![/quote]

???

All asthetics, really. Some may say there is more neck to body contact, but I doubt it makes any difference to tone. Single cut guitars like the Les Paul have been around years, so why not have single cut basses too?

Edited August 31, 2007 by Wil

[bass_ferret]

f***ed if I know.

Single cut Les Paul basses have also been around for years and I suppose even a T-bird could be described as a single cut. They dont usually join around the 12th fret though.

[Alpha-Dave]

I suppose I should add that my SCs are there purely for the aesthetic value.

A technical difference that's mentioned on Jon Shuker's web site is that the truss rods on his SCs only go down to the 12th fret (shorter than normal then) because after that the neck is held rigidly to the body, so isn't needed.
If that's a pro or even a con I've no idea.

SCs tend to polarise people: like marmite!

I also should mention that it can be quite odd to play an SC at first if you're used to having your thumb over the top of the neck on the higher frets. It requites a change in how you position it, but it's not bad.

There are also semi-SCs where there is a branch from the body that connects into the neck so at the highest position you could still get your thumb through the hole. I've never tried one, but I think it could be really good (fixed playing position without having to look) or really bad (you get your thumb tangled up as you want to move back down the neck). Edited August 31, 2007 by Alpha-Dave

[Wil]

[quote name='bass_ferret' post='53436' date='Aug 31 2007, 03:48 PM']f***ed if I know.[/quote]

Ah ha! I was totally stumped by that one!

[MacDaddy]

because so much more of the kneck is joined to the body, this helps increase sustain and affects the tonal characteristics.
OSIH.

[Dood]

Aesthetics yes, maybe some give a little bit more strength to the neck/body join, but as for improved tone? pffft! I'd very much doubt the human ear could hear the difference.. 2 planks of wood would sound far more different to each other than the having a single or double cut difference.

I reckon it just looks pretty.. nuffink else. Well, actually, not having an upper horn stuck in your side is a bonus (if you play the bass a bit higher like me.) The flatter back of the singlecut is far more comfy. If you have nice rounded edges as well, you're snug as the proverbial bug!

*finds excuse to post more pics* [url="http://www.danveall.co.uk/Shuker7Page.htm"]http://www.danveall.co.uk/Shuker7Page.htm[/url]

[bass_ferret]

Any excuse..........................

[The Funk]

With some basses I do find myself thinking "why even bother having a upper horn there?". I think the singlecuts can look neater.

[ARGH]

I think it looks nice!

Singlecuts have a vibe of 'standoutness' in a world awash with Fenderesque doublecuts.

[velvetkevorkian]

Why not?

[bass_ferret]

Well if you are a sloppy thumb over kind of player like me it would get in the way. Is it being different for the sake of it?

[RichBowman]

I like the aesthetics of a single-cut (pretty useful, that, seeing as I own one!) - To be honest I don't know if there's any real benefit in sound/ playability terms over the regular shapes.

I decided to go for a SC as I reasoned it would be the only custom that I'd have made (certainly for a long time, any way!) so why not go the whole hog and have something really bespoke to me. It gets lots of good comments while I'm out and about - Possibly far more than my actual playing! :-)

Rich

Edited September 1, 2007 by RichBowman

[Dood]

[quote name='bass_ferret' post='53498' date='Aug 31 2007, 04:58 PM']Any excuse..........................[/quote]


i know.. i need reigns sometimes! ;o)

[Gazm]

I think they look horrible, and I like Marmite!

Edited September 1, 2007 by Gazm

[Alpha-Dave]

I think they look great and I hate Marmite!

Poll?

[Gizmo]

I love um so much so that i built two for myself a 6 and a 4 both headless for some ppl thats a combinded multiple of evil's hehe

Id say it mostly aesthetics but maybe a teeny little bit more sustain
Everyone to there own i guess but it would sure be a boaring world (aesthetically and tonealy) if we all played sunburst jazz'ers 4's (not that theres anything wrong with jazzer's)

[dub_junkie]

because they're the height of cool

DJ

[EdwardHimself]

this is the thing. i don't mind "classic" single cuts like dub_junkie's G&Ls or a les paul/esp eclipse bass but i really think that the massive bloody things that go up to the 12th fret are just ridiculous.

[Dood]

It never ceases to surprise me that the lack of an 'upper horn' provokes such a marmite reaction!! I don't think I've ever seen a 'well, they're ok I suppose' reply! lol lol!

Most enjoyable.

[GreeneKing]

I would go a bit further.

[b][size=7]Upper Horn basses - Why?[/size][/b]

Given that your thumb doesn't go over the neck what's its purpose other than putting the strap button in the right place, so why not have it going all the way down to the neck?

Apologies for the bigger than intended font

Edited September 1, 2007 by GreeneKing

[Alpha-Dave]

Jeez, there's no need to shout!






Following a similar line of thought: why do people assume that what Leo first designed, P&J (I believe his aims were low cost and good functionality) was the pinnacle of evolution from the start, and any changes are bad? For a low-cost instrument he did very well, but he certainly didn't go all out: IMHO the neck-plate and huge heel block are more of an impediment to higher fret playing than an SC, but I very much doubt that was his aim anyway!

[Dood]

[quote name='Alpha-Dave' post='53925' date='Sep 1 2007, 05:55 PM']IMHO the neck-plate and huge heel block are more of an impediment to higher fret playing than an SC,[/quote]

yes, there are plenty of other things that will provoke a reaction from me than the addition of an extra li'l square of wood at the top of the bass body!!!

[EdwardHimself]

[quote name='Alpha-Dave' post='53925' date='Sep 1 2007, 05:55 PM']Jeez, there's no need to shout!

Following a similar line of thought: why do people assume that what Leo first designed, P&J (I believe his aims were low cost and good functionality) was the pinnacle of evolution from the start, and any changes are bad? For a low-cost instrument he did very well, but he certainly didn't go all out: IMHO the neck-plate and huge heel block are more of an impediment to higher fret playing than an SC, but I very much doubt that was his aim anyway![/quote]

let's not forget the fact that he made them 1 semitone short of a 4 octave range. And he made a 5 string with 15 frets, that also really makes you wonder what he was thinking. The point is tho i don't mind modern basses, infact i prefer 5 strings to 4, it's just that i really hate SCs