finger players...bridge or neck

MCBTunes · #1 03-07-2005, 01:19 AM

do you guys play more towards the bridge or neck?

I play at moretowards the neck but it seems like all the accomplished players play at the bridge, what gives?

gilbert46 · #2 03-07-2005, 01:23 AM

im by no means accomplished, i probably didnt even spell it right. I like the neck pickup on my jazz. its got a touch of growl too it.

Timbo · #3 03-07-2005, 01:23 AM

Neck totally. 49/50 times I want that mellow rounded off tone. But, if I wanna play some surfy rock or something I might move back to get some 'twang.

Cerb · #4 03-07-2005, 01:29 AM

I play all over, but I often pluck all the way up at around the 16th fret if my left hand is playing low on the neck.

Tash · #5 03-07-2005, 06:37 AM

I pluck right over the neck pickup, since its a nice comfy place to rest my thumb.

Razor · #6 03-07-2005, 06:40 AM

Depends on what sound you're looking for...

Warm=Neck

Aggressive/Cutting=Bridge

andruca · #7 03-07-2005, 06:53 AM

I guess I have a "neck oriented" right hand. Only pluck towards the neck when playing ballads or other slow groove stuff that require a deeper sound.

ANDRUCA

bassicinstinct · #8 03-07-2005, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Razor

Depends on what sound you're looking for...

Warm=Neck

Aggressive/Cutting=Bridge

+1. Absolutely!

bigdaddy · #9 03-07-2005, 07:00 AM

it all depends on the articulation needed...i play everywhere - but 85% of the time between the pickup and the bottom of the neck

Bruce Lindfield · #10 03-07-2005, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MCBTunes

do you guys play more towards the bridge or neck?

I play at moretowards the neck but it seems like all the accomplished players play at the bridge, what gives?

It's easier to play fast if you pluck at the bridge, because it's tauter there - so when you say "accomplished" players - if you're looking at very technical, high-speed playing - then that's why they're playing over the bridge.

Petary791 · #11 03-07-2005, 08:19 AM

Neck. I'm normally playing straight triplets or 16th or 32nd notes so if I play by the bridge, my and gets mad tired.

Richard Lindsey · #12 03-07-2005, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MCBTunes

do you guys play more towards the bridge or neck?

I play at moretowards the neck but it seems like all the accomplished players play at the bridge, what gives?

Wherever it gives the sound I need at the moment. Most of the accomplished players I've seen aren't locked to one spot.

bbourgon · #13 03-07-2005, 04:01 PM

I'm usually over the neck pickup unless I'm playing mostly on a D-tuned low string, in which case I play close to the bridge to get some articulation to the notes.

complexprocess · #14 03-08-2005, 12:28 AM

Both, between, and beyond!

As others have said, it depends on the sound I want. I tend to default to playing between the two pickups on my dean edge (which probably translates to the middle, slightly favoring the bridge side on a jazz bass) but if I need to play a bit faster (and get a little extra articulation, which is important because my fastest 3 finger picking can be a bit muddy) I'll go closer to the bridge. For a rounder tone, I'll rest my thumb on the neck (I play 24 fret basses, so that's a little closer to the bridge than it would be on a fender bass.) If I want to get really round I'll play over the fretboard, generally between frets 20-23.

Joe P · #15 03-08-2005, 02:01 PM

I generally play directly over the pickup that I am using - the advantage of this is that when I stop a note with only the plucking finger, I get a more complete stop - without lingering harmonics still ringing a little. Another advantage of playing over my soap-bars is that I can feel the pup with my finger tips, and don't 'dig-in' too much, so I tend to play more controlled and even.

When I use both pickups, I usually pluck (or slap, thump, pop, whatever) anywhere from a little to the neck-side of the neck pickup, to right by the neck itself. If I'm slapping or popping, then it's fairly randomly all-over in that area because BOY, am I a sloppy-popper (I still see the audience appreciatively gawking - I don't get it).

For a real round tone I'll use the neck pup, and play real close to the neck.

Then there are parts where I tap: if I'm tapping a little and plucking, then of course I sort-of have to pluck wherever I'm about to right-hand tap, which could be WAY up over the neck.

My favorite sound is bridge pickup, volume full-on, tone full-off, a little growly overdrive, and picked right-over to slightly on the neck-side of the bridge pickup.

Joe

wyliee · #16 03-08-2005, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MCBTunes

do you guys play more towards the bridge or neck?

I play at moretowards the neck but it seems like all the accomplished players play at the bridge, what gives?

It depends on the sound I want. Most often, over the neck pickup though. (Which is further back than most on my Bee.)

Also, pickup blend and playing with fingers or thumb and palm muting figure in to the overall sound too.

BassGod · #17 03-08-2005, 03:50 PM

I play more towards the bridge usually, but sometimes I'll rest right over the pick-up on my Precision.

Graeme

permadave · #18 03-08-2005, 04:31 PM

I usually rest my thumb over the neck p'up so I'm playing in between the neck and bridge pickups. I'm closer to the neck p'up than the bridge though.

bassjus · #19 03-08-2005, 04:38 PM

My right hand is always moving back and forth.

MichaelScott · #20 03-08-2005, 05:35 PM

Blend to the neck and play on the neck for a fat round tone (add some bass). Blend the the bridge and play on the bridge for the agressive bitter sound (add some mids).

There are half a zillion different options for blend + finger placement + EQ but I only really use two.