Callous causing different tone?

[Jazzkuma]

First of all, this post isn't an excuse to bad tone, I'm not trying to find an easy fast way to good tone here.

I have started practicing using thumb and also ring finger (sort of classical guitar technique) and I noticed that the tone on my ring finger is much more mellow while playing with my index and middle produce a brighter sound. Then I figured its because I don't have callous in the ring finger yet so its gotta be that, its "fleshier" and not tough like a callous.

Sometimes I want that mellower tone so Ill play a line with only my ring finger (if the baseline isn't too fast or much cross string). Im just wondering if anyone has gotten rid of their callous just to get a specific tone? Because as i get more dexterity with my ring finger I am favoring that tone for the stuff I play.

[matti777]

I was envious of my bass instructors tone because he had callouses giving him a more staccato like percussive attack. Many bass players use their thumb when they are looking for a softer fuller tone.

[two fingers]

Callous tone IS my tone. I play pretty hard. You could stick a needle a good 1/4" into my plucking fingers and I wouldn't feel it. I tap them on a table and it sounds like plastic. They may as well be dull picks.

But "getting rid of" a callous seems like minor surgery to me. I don't think it's worth it. Just use other fingers if you want that other tone.

[Jazzkuma]

yeah i know, not saying which tone is better but my preference is a mellower fuller tone.

I am trying to get rid of my them too. And I know you can just play with thumb but there are certain things which can be played and learned faster using index/middle.

[NYCbassist]

Yep. After enough time your fingers get so callused that a pick is mellower sounding. That's how mine are. I find that playing right near the neck joint and easing up on my attack does the trick for mellow sounds. That plus rolling the tone off helps.