Thunk lives around 400hz

[Tal_175]

It seems to me that if you boost around 400hz you increase the thunk. If you reduce it, thunk mostly goes away. That is of course with the flat wound strings.
I noticed that my ES 175 gets a lot more thunky through tweed amps than blackface style amps. Which gave me the indication that it's really some of the overtones that are in the lower mid range that bring out the thunk. I tested with my EQ pedal and that turned out to be true in my opinion.
More over although not as much as ES 175, my Byrdland gets very thunky as well with flats when that frequency range is prominent.
I might post sound samples of what I mean if I find sometime on the weekend.

[Woody Sound]

Who'da thunk it!

[Franz 1997]

That's why quite a few members here are using small bass amp heads...most of them have the midrange set around 400hz, whereas many guitar amps have the mids centred much higher.
400hz seems to be a sweet spot..by coincidence or not, 400hz -ish is also the frequency of the famous Fender midrange dip..

[Tatayoyo]

Sorry but as a non-english-speaker I think I dont understand properly what the "thunk" is. I know the thump, and the fact that a G is at 392hz so do you "thunk" when you brutally hit a slightly overtuned G note ?Thank you.

[Woody Sound]

Sorry but as a non-english-speaker I think I dont understand properly what the "thunk" is. I know the thump, and the fact that a G is at 392hz so do you "thunk" when you brutally hit a slightly overtuned G note ?Thank you.

[Zhahn]

by coincidence or not, 400hz -ish is also the frequency of the famous Fender midrange dip..

Funky, but not thunky.

[Tatayoyo]

It's this slappy tone behind the notes ?Thank you for the video but I don't really know what to search in it.

[mickmac]

I hate thunk ...lol " Lou Grant " Mary Tyler Moore show mickmac

[Woody Sound]

It's this slappy tone behind the notes ?Thank you for the video but I don't really know what to search in it.

Yes it's that tone, especially in the melody. Sounds are often difficult to describe in words without using onomatopoeia. "Thunk" describes that 'thunky' tone. Kind of dull, hollow, short sustain, etc.

[Tatayoyo]

Yes it's that tone, especially in the melody. Sounds are often difficult to describe in words without using onomatopoeia. "Thunk" describes that 'thunky' tone. Kind of dull, hollow, short sustain, etc.

OK ! I got this kind of "thunk" with heavy strings and pick on a es-125 and es-165 but not on a Peerless with same strings and heavy pick. It might be due to the laminate I think.Thank you for your explanation.

[Tal_175]

Sorry but as a non-english-speaker I think I dont understand properly what the "thunk" is. I know the thump, and the fact that a G is at 392hz so do you "thunk" when you brutally hit a slightly overtuned G note ?Thank you.

I think the word "thunk" is mostly used in this forum, not much outside. If you search "thunk" in the forum, you'll find many threads about it:
thunk site:www.jazzguitar.be - Google Search

[neatomic]

the term thunk as related to jazz guitar has been around for decades...long before this great forum

the sound of a heavy flatwound string without a lot of acoustic resonance and overtones...related to thud!! hah



cheers

[Tal_175]

Somewhat reminiscent of the sound of the upright bass.

[Tatayoyo]

Somewhat reminiscent of the sound of the upright bass.

That's exactly what I've in mind without the term. I love very much this sound and it was what I was looking for in my recent search for a new laminate archtop (I've found btw).