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a_martin
Junior
Username: a_martin

Post Number: 29
Registered: 1-2012
Posted on Tuesday, June 05, 2012 - 12:02 pm:   Edit Post

As far as basses go for the last four months I have solely been playing a 32 scale 89 Persuader/Vector that has a Maple neck and Mahogany core. Recently a 34 scale 89 Elan with maple neck and wings came home with me.

Granted the Elan has fresher strings but the two basses fill the sound spectrum very differently. The Stormburst seems to bark, growl, and spit both above and below the Vector’s timbre when I slap it. On the other hand the Vector’s tone quality sounds “full” or thicker in middle. I’m wondering how much of the tone difference to attribute to the different factors like Mahogany Versus Maple, 34 scale versus 32 etc. They both have p/j pups and were made the same year. The Vector has volume, tone and pan while the Elan has a q filter in addition.

General impressions and experiences are welcome in response – replies need not be based on scientific analysis☺
bigredbass
Senior Member
Username: bigredbass

Post Number: 1882
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Friday, June 15, 2012 - 2:03 pm:   Edit Post

My Bigredbass is the deluxe (Three-stripe purpleheart / maple) laminate neck, mahogany wings with maple tops only, and FatBoys in the traditional Spoiler circuit, 34".

The Elan is maple neck with cherry pinstripes, and ash wings with maple top only, P/J Activators with the Sig circuit, also 34".

The Elan is way brighter as it's all 'white' woods, my idea to emulate a traditional Fender build, i.e., maple neck and ash or alder body. The ebony fingerboard always adds some zing! because it's so dense.

The Bigredbass is definitely warmer as the mahogany throttles that white-wood 'quack' back quite a bit. To me, it's the perfect all around blend: Not that dense presence of an all African-wood bass (like the Warwicks who often can sound like a tuba) and not as runaway bright hot as an all white wood bass.

There is a difference because the FatBoys sample a longer length of string (from the wider'magnetic aperture', see Mica, I get it!) than the PJ's, as well as their tone differences.

So I'd guess the mahogany is the leavening factor in what you're hearing, maybe some scale length in a small way.

You could get all scientific, put the same kind of new strings on both at the same time, play through the same amps settings for each, etc. After a while their identity will set in your head, and you'll either settle on on or the other, or use them where each is best.

J o e y
gtrguy
Senior Member
Username: gtrguy

Post Number: 524
Registered: 9-2004
Posted on Thursday, November 01, 2012 - 11:29 am:   Edit Post

My 6 string Elan sounds like a grand piano's lower strings, with a lot of amazing clarity and less growl than my other basses. It dose sound great.
gtrguy
Senior Member
Username: gtrguy

Post Number: 525
Registered: 9-2004
Posted on Thursday, November 01, 2012 - 11:29 am:   Edit Post

My 6 string Elan sounds like a grand piano's lower strings, with a lot of amazing clarity and less growl than my other basses. It does sound great.

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