revisiting the pick

mozarwasagenius · #1 01-19-2008, 10:20 PM

I'm a fingerstyle player. Been so all my life.

Lately I've been unhappy with my Pbass sounding muddy live in certain venues. I saw another bassist playing with a pick and said, "why not"

Tried it today in a sonically difficult venue (a gym) and it helped a LOT. I used my trusty pbass with SD quarter pounders, D'addario nickel roundwounds and a dunlop 2mm pick. Sounded thick but had just enough edge to cut through. Nice and thick sounding. Shook the foundations.

Probably old news to y'all, but thought I'd share

bassmodder · #2 01-19-2008, 10:30 PM

Definitely cuts through and gets you out there. I have those same pickups and I love em dearly. Most certainly won't work on the older 50's and 60's stuff IMO, but if it works for you than thats all that matters.

Where do you put your pinky? Bridge?

mozarwasagenius · #3 01-20-2008, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassmodder

Definitely cuts through and gets you out there. I have those same pickups and I love em dearly. Most certainly won't work on the older 50's and 60's stuff IMO, but if it works for you than thats all that matters.

Where do you put your pinky? Bridge?

I let my pinky float - don't really think about it much.

I don't play much 50-60's stuff, but I can play fingerstyle or upright for more mellow tones.

bassmodder · #4 01-20-2008, 02:55 PM

Ok, I have to go try this again. Maybe I am just being sour towards it. How thick is your pick?

Sneckumhaw · #5 01-20-2008, 03:26 PM

2 mm, he already said.

eedre · #6 01-20-2008, 04:08 PM

I use my fingers 85% of the time. Most people and bands say they can hear me better with a pick.

mozarwasagenius · #7 01-20-2008, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassmodder

Ok, I have to go try this again. Maybe I am just being sour towards it. How thick is your pick?

I'm using a dunlop delrin 2.0mm (it is purple, has a turtle and a "500" written on it):

I don't like the sound of thin picks that many guitarists prefer - I like punch.

I try for a fingerstyle sound with more hi-mid definition

mikethecannibal · #8 01-20-2008, 06:26 PM

i like to use a steel pic when i play with a pic, personally i think it just looks cool and it is easier to play with

Gary Holder · #9 01-21-2008, 05:33 PM

I play quite a lot with a pick, I use Pickboy Carbon reefers 1mm with RotoSound tru bass strings on an old Maya Precision. Good solid punchy sound. Great for 60's/70's numbers.

Best wishes
Gary
www.myspace.com/garyholder

obscura1560 · #10 02-02-2008, 05:46 PM

Steel pick? Are you mad?! I'm using a delrin 2mm pick, and my god are they amazing. I find with steel picks that they just stick to the strings, and there's the obvious reason for that. They just piss me off. It's like playing with a 10p coin, pretty useless.

I also let my pinky wander, I used to be a guitarist you see and it's stuck. Bass is so much better though

the_fonz · #11 02-02-2008, 09:08 PM

dude
dunlop 3 mm big stubbies
there is nothing better

stratovani · #12 02-03-2008, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_fonz

dude
dunlop 3 mm big stubbies
there is nothing better

+1

rustinstrings · #13 02-06-2008, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_fonz

dude
dunlop 3 mm big stubbies
there is nothing better

+2, I think.
I was intrigued by threads couple of months ago praising this pick.
The combination of thickness, tight grip and pointy structure of this pick really improved my attack, consistency and speed. Before that I mostly used the dunlop 3mm purple ones.
[rant quite related]
But I haven't improved enough - I'm still struggling with single string/single note played 1/16 above 120bpm for extended periods of time (whole songs like Y-control are my recent practice material). I've tried about every pick and wrist angle, different methods for tremolo-ing, anchoring/not anchoring. 3 fingers, 2 fingers m-i-m-i vs. i-m-i-m, but can't break that speed limit. What can one do?
[/rant]

GabeN · #14 02-09-2008, 03:15 AM

After learning to pluck with 3 fingers pretty well I really got into prog and Tool's music. When I found out that Justin Chancellor uses a pick and noticing the differences in pick and finger style I picked up...a pick.

It's a whole learning curve. I don't think playing with a pick gets the respect it deserves. The subtle things you can do with a pick that make a song cool are really interesting. And that tone you can get is to die for.

But alas, I went back to fingerstyle just because it's more comfortable to me but I've now got mad respect for those that play with a pick skillfully.

TheInsane · #15 02-09-2008, 03:26 AM

I started out fingerstyle but when I joined a band (long ago) I found a pick was easier. After that band broke up I started doing it fingerstyle again and when I joined my current death metal band I played with my fingers. I wanted the warm round sound both from the amp as well as the more warm "finger sound". Now I have once again moved towards using a pick more and the sound has become more distorted and I do cut through the massive wall of sound we create. Its a combination of the sound and the picking style I think.

I now feel pretty comfortable with both my fingers and with a pick. Both has advantages and disadvantages. Good thing is that I just have to switch if I feel the need to. No reason to lock oneself into just one technique

gabe_r169 · #16 02-09-2008, 07:57 PM

I initially began playing bass as strictly a pick style player. I was really into playing heavy metal and it enabled me to play very fast with lots of attack. Eventually, though, I wanted to play other styles of rock other than metal. I decided I wanted to try to switch to finger style cold turkey for my new music. For a while I played finger style exclusively. I liked the feel and the softer tones I could create. I also like the "rubber bandy" punch when I pluck a string with a lot of force. In the end it comes down to the music. Whatever fits the song best is the technique to use. I use both methods now and my songs are better for it.

TheInsane · #17 02-10-2008, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gabe_r169

In the end it comes down to the music. Whatever fits the song best is the technique to use. I use both methods now and my songs are better for it.

Yep, thats the essence of things. Its stupid to only do one of the two because of principles or whatever. Just do what sounds best. Thats whats best for the music.

wagstaff · #18 02-10-2008, 02:48 AM

i use fingers 100% of the time, picks are very uncomfortable on bass due to the string spacing, and if you use your fingers you have 2-4 pick at once if a technicality

cowsgomoo · #19 02-10-2008, 03:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wagstaff

picks are very uncomfortable on bass due to the string spacing

for YOU maybe, but some of us don't have any problems there

once again I would challenge any players who see pick playing as somehow less musical or suitable for playing technically difficult lines to check out the playing of Scott Thunes (either on record with Frank Zappa or via the scores on my site)...