define warmth

[JDC]

Got thinking the other day, I really don't have much of a clue what warmth actually is, I've got ideas about it. But since no one thought it was a good idea to make a website to define and reference with sound clips, all these words that guitarists and music folk use are a bit of a mess.

So how do you define warmth?

[Dmoney]

probably the opposite of when an amp sounds sterile  :lol:

[99_not_out]

I always like to think of in terms of records: Vinyl sounds warm as opposed to Digital recordings (CD/MP3 &c.) being more sterile?

But then again I never got the hand of Thermodynamics in Physics :-D

[Fourth Feline]

For me it is a slight attenuation / 'rounding' of the highest frequencies, including those that constitute  the fundamentals and harmonics across the entire tonal range.  This task to be achieved , without overtly sacrificing detail.   The manifestation being that no note sounds too percussive - or strident.  To use another ambiguous term - 'sweetness'.



( Edited to remove 'padding' ).  :)

[sgmypod]

For me the difference between a 100 hiwatt not cranked (hi fi ish) and a bassman at 3/4..sorry to use these terms but what other guitarist had..and has first very clean ice pick and bassman warm

[jibidy]

I agree abit with fourth feline. I think warmth is to do with attenuation of high frequencies.

Its not necessarily bass either, I would say its more of a mid to low mid kind of detail.

Its important to remember that there is no loss of clarity as well.

Or a summer holiday ;)

[phlip]

I agree abit with fourth feline. I think warmth is to do with attenuation of high frequencies.

Its not necessarily bass either, I would say its more of a mid to low mid kind of detail.

Its important to remember that there is no loss of clarity as well.

Or a summer holiday ;)

That about sums it up.

However I can't think of warmth in terms of guitar tone without thinking of this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18FgnFVm5k0

[Denim n Leather]

You need to read this article:

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/feb10/articles/analoguewarmth.htm