Walknbluez wrote:I'd have to respectfully disagree with you there zambiland. My Fender precision has flats and the pickup is series and if I want to drop a bomb I really need to use a double stop. I can usually tell the difference when listening to recordings whether Phil hit the note by itself or if he played a double stop or a chord (when he was playing a four string). I think you can tell the difference. Do you not use them at all?
Rusty the Scoob nailed what I was saying about series (was that a rusty nail?).
As far as double stops go, I use them all the time. Not just 5ths, but 3rds, 6ths, etc. My point is that a bomb is not simply the product of more notes, you don't need a double stop to drop a bomb and I've discovered that in fact, it can detract from its bombiness to use double stops as there are all kinds of harmonics that are generated that can cause intermodulation distortion that distracts from huge clear deep bomb bottom end. It might sound bigger in terms of making more noise, but once you factor in a large bass rig and PA system, double stops actually more midrange than huge clear deep bomb bass.
This is exacerbated by violation of lower interval limits. What I mean by that is that as you go lower, the notes get closer together in terms of cycles per second. So, if you play a 3rd, say, high on the neck, it sounds great. If you bring down low, there are fewer cycles per second between the notes in absolute terms. That means that they interfere with each other more easily as do their harmonics and create a more clangorous sound. So, even a 5th, by the time you get to the low A on the E string, creates more tension than it would if it were played an octave up. This further muddies up double and triple stops low on the instrument.
Of course, most amplifiers just turn this all into mush and you get a big roar coming out of the amp. That's appropriate for some things, but it ain't no bomb.
The beauty of a Modulus, when it comes to dropping bombs, is that every note is very even and the fundamental can be really strong. My Starfire is a little more finicky. Low A, Ab and G bombs are easy. Low F# and F are a little less reliable. For some reason, low E doesn't seem to respond nearly as well. I can see why Phil got in the habit of staying at G or above.