ABG Owners: Fingerstyle or Pick?

**HeavyDuty** · #1 04-26-2002, 09:11 PM

Well?

I'm not a pick user, but may have to become one with my Tacoma for volume reasons. Fingerstyle is nice and mellow, but may not keep up with a raucously played 12 string guitar.

Nick man · #2 04-28-2002, 11:35 AM

I play a Tacoma 5 string, and I find that finger style is loud enough to play with 2 acoustics.

I like the bite I get when I use a pic, and it makes it easier since I dont have a suitible place to rest my thumb for playing fingerstyle.

I chose a little of A, alittle of B.

Peace
Nick

**HeavyDuty** · #3 04-29-2002, 08:07 AM

Nick, have you dried resting/hooking your thumb in the sound hole? I heard about it online, tried it, and really like the sound and feel that comes from playing the Tacoma right at the end of the fretboard.

Nick man · #4 04-30-2002, 08:29 PM

I also heard and tried that, but I like the sound I get from playing over the pickgaurd.

Besides, I play their five string, and to reach to a G from the sound hole is kinda tough.

On an side note, what is the size of your neck?
Mine (5 string) perfectly matches my Warmoth P-sized neck. Despite the seemingly narrow spacing its really comfortable to play. Is yours similar?

Peace
Nick

**HeavyDuty** · #5 04-30-2002, 08:32 PM

It's a little wider than the J necks I'm used to, but very comfortable. It feels thin to me, which is fine!

maxvalentino · #6 05-01-2002, 11:30 PM

Ok..I play ABGs almost exclusively...and exclusively for my solo work. Granted they are Godin A4 Fretted and A5 fretless (four and five string respectively) so I don't encounter any of your soundhole problems. My advice on right hand placement....use the floating thumb technique: rest your thumb on the string either one or two strings away from the string you are playing. "Float" this position as move from string to string. For 5 string players, this also helps mute those unwanted low freq vibes.
Mostly I play fingerstyle, either traditional (or in my case semi-traditional: three fingered) or a modified flamenco apoyando technique. I also slap, and tap on ABGs. I also use ebows, "funk-fingers", aligator clips, thumbpicks, and on a rare occaision a flatpick. All these devices and techniques are used for tonal verstaility and enhancement. Variety is the spice of life!
Max

Rick Blanc · #7 05-06-2002, 11:26 AM

Mostly I play finger style up by the neck to get a reallt deep fat tone. But sometimes I use a pick with a palm mute technique back by the bridge and it sound really cool.

tard85 · #8 05-07-2002, 08:15 PM

It's a pick all the way for me. I'm mainly a heavy/thrash metal player, so in order for me to keep up with the speed I need to use a pick. It's just easier for me that way.

**HeavyDuty** · #9 05-08-2002, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by tard85
It's a pick all the way for me. I'm mainly a heavy/thrash metal player, so in order for me to keep up with the speed I need to use a pick. It's just easier for me that way.

On an ABG?!?

Nick man · #10 05-08-2002, 06:15 PM

I played my first gid with my Tacoma ABG, and I used a thumb pick.

Ive been using them for about 2 years on electric for those times where I wanted to get a sharp pick sound and softer fingered sound in different parts of the song, or songs where I play eigth notes the entire song to keep me from stopping because im tired.

I think they're really for banjo, but theyre great.

I worked out great, especially since we were miked (It was about 100 people) and I didnt need to worry about how hard or soft I played as much as usual.

Peace
Nick