Playing near the bridge?

LotusCarsLtd52 · #1 07-30-2010, 02:36 PM

The last few times I've been to a live performance it seems that the bassists tended to play near the bridge. Now from experience I know that when you have the neck pup on full-blast and the bridge pup off and you're playing near the neck you get that heavy boominess and playing near the bridge cuts the boominess a little bit.

I figured that perhaps using the neck pup while playing near the neck might sound too muddy in a live mix, hence the use of this technique. Is this really the case or is it just a matter of personal technique for these bassists?

KingRazor · #2 07-30-2010, 02:54 PM

I play in the same spot regardless of what pickup is selected.

EricF · #3 07-30-2010, 05:42 PM

Pickup selection and playing location are two independent choices. A bass is full of different sounds depending on pickup selection, playing style (fingers, pick, thumb, etc.) AND location.

I tend to have a sweet spot that I like for most of my playing (on the bridge side of the pup on my P bass), but depending on the song, I will move closer to the bridge or closer to the neck if that is the sound I want. It's not uncommon for me to be playing right over the end of the neck.

bassmanbiff · #4 07-30-2010, 05:48 PM

The string dynamics and the interaction between the fingers and strings is different near the bridge. It's sometimes nice there for finer control of sound dynamics, tone, and feel.

skwee · #5 07-30-2010, 06:22 PM

I move quite a bit left to right while playing. When I need to play a little faster, I gravitate to the bridge. If I need some fullness or tenderness, I move all the way up to the fretboard with my right hand. Typically, too, I keep my bass' tone the same, and depend on my technique to change the sound, rather than have a bunch of settings.

wmheilma · #6 07-30-2010, 06:31 PM

I also use a lot of variation to get different tones by playing differently on different parts of the string as well as changing pickup and preamp settings, but it was not always this way. I played close to the bridge for years, because I like the way the strings feel there. It is a great way to get definition. Then I cut an album with a couple of identical twins from Boston who prompted me to move my hand away from the bridge and look for technique to get definition there. We recorded to 2 inch tape and (yikes) listened to every bass track solo. There is a lot of tone to be had when you can get definition away from the bridge!!! So now I play all over the place to get the sound for the situation.

Phalex · #7 07-30-2010, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EricF

Pickup selection and playing location are two independent choices. A bass is full of different sounds depending on pickup selection, playing style (fingers, pick, thumb, etc.) AND location.

I tend to have a sweet spot that I like for most of my playing (on the bridge side of the pup on my P bass), but depending on the song, I will move closer to the bridge or closer to the neck if that is the sound I want. It's not uncommon for me to be playing right over the end of the neck.

I'm exactly the opposite. My sweet spot is on the neck side of the PUP on my P, but when I want a rocky kinda bark, I play close to the bridge.

On my Ric, I tend to play at the bridge pretty much all the time.

I don't think there's a right or wrong answer. You do what you have to to get the sound you want.

alexwittscheck · #8 07-30-2010, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EricF

Pickup selection and playing location are two independent choices. A bass is full of different sounds depending on pickup selection, playing style (fingers, pick, thumb, etc.) AND location.

I tend to have a sweet spot that I like for most of my playing (on the bridge side of the pup on my P bass), but depending on the song, I will move closer to the bridge or closer to the neck if that is the sound I want. It's not uncommon for me to be playing right over the end of the neck.

+1

I play where and how the I need to to fit the song or moment.

bubinga5 · #9 07-30-2010, 06:59 PM

i feel no need to blend in any direction...my finger placement gives me the attack or lack of i need..i find the bridge pickup full is too thin..like is said all over, the tone, dynamics comes from your approach..

SMILEYSIXX · #10 07-30-2010, 07:12 PM

When playing my schecter, I favor the neck pickup, but still play towards the bridge. The string's tighter and I have more string control. On my precision, I play just a hair toward the bridge side of my pickup. Though, having a pickup cover, I can't really stay over the pickup, where is more comfortable, but closer to the bridge still seems to sound better.

Muaguana · #11 07-30-2010, 07:28 PM

Like others, I switch my position depending on the sound I'm going for, sometimes irregardless of pickup blend settings, sometimes to compensate for them. Usually I have my hand over the neck pickup, sometimes I pick by the bridge for a tighter sound, or (on my fretless) I play right over the fingerboard with the bridge pickup soloed and the tone rolled off halfway for a pseudo-upright tone. To answer your question: I can't speak for others, but for me, it's really just a matter of personal preference where my hand is.

progmanjum · #12 08-02-2010, 10:10 AM

I just got on to post a similar question. I was wondering where finger strikers liked to be along the string. I'm fairly new and noticed that I had more control near the bridge but a fatter sound up around the first pup. Kinda figured the answers would be all different.

mambo4 · #13 08-02-2010, 02:07 PM

I vary depending on the sound I want. One of my favorite "tricks" is to sweep from neck to bridge while plucking a steady string of notes, for a slow filter opening effect.

The physics:

the fundamental note is produced by the whole string's vibration, and the harmonic overtones are produced by fractional vibrations. what it looks like.

The lower the frequency, the more energy the wave requires to be heard. So by plucking nearer the middle of the string (neck), you create a larger vibration along the fundamental, which makes it louder than the overtones : fat, bassy tone

plucking near the neck you move the overall string less distance, so the fundamental is vibrating over less range, while the overtones remain relatively loud(since they need less amplitude to achieve a full volume) So the result is a perception of more mids and highs.

countrybassist · #14 08-15-2010, 09:15 AM

I really have never thought that much about this. I just play where it feels the most natural, which for me is over the neck PUP (see avatar pic). On occasion I'll shift towards the bridge, but seldom.