Bass Ramp question...

[Egbert89]

Originally Posted by Bryan R. Tyler

A ramp should be radiused to match the fretboard radius though. Playing over a flat pickup (assuming yours is flat the way most are), there is a deeper depth below the inner strings than the outer strings.

Didn't know that, thanks for the info

[henry2513]

Originally Posted by Brad Johnson

Yep, it can take time to get used to it. Many folks don't want to spend the time, which is nothing new. Now I play with and without them and my techniques from using ramp's carry over to the rampless. It really aided in opening up the dynamic range in my playing. I've really worked over the years on controlling my volume predominantly with my hands with my bass' volume wide open so I could go from almost nothing to max volume just using my hands.

It's definitely a finesse thing and not for everyone, especially if you try and couple it with Willis's muting technique like I did. I leave my volume wide open as well, I found that really helped me master playing with a soft touch and also of course dynamic range. I also found that it makes playing artificial harmonics a bit easier if you're using Willis's technique of playing them even the traditional pinch.

[Brad Johnson]

"Yep, it can take time to get used to it. Many folks don't want to spend the time, which is nothing new".

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Brad, that kind of comment implies that I would end up liking it if I got used to it. I can assure you I wouldn't, and if I get turned off to something immediately, there's maybe a 1% chance at best that I'll like it down the road.

Actually it clearly does not IMO. That's why I specifically used "can" and not "will". That's exactly why I wrote it that way.


Given time, one "could" end up liking it. I'm neither implying "would" nor specifying "you"

[henry2513]

Originally Posted by Brad Johnson

"Yep, it can take time to get used to it. Many folks don't want to spend the time, which is nothing new".




Actually it clearly does not IMO. That's why I specifically used "can" and not "will". That's exactly why I wrote it that way.


Given time, one "could" end up liking it. I'm neither implying "would" nor specifying "you"

I actually hated it when I first installed one, still hated it even after I bought my GWB-1 but decided to keep plugging away, totally felt like I was starting over from scratch.

[Brad Johnson]

Originally Posted by henry2513

It's definitely a finesse thing and not for everyone, especially if you try and couple it with Willis's muting technique like I did. I leave my volume wide open as well, I found that really helped me master playing with a soft touch and also of course dynamic range. I also found that it makes playing artificial harmonics a bit easier if you're using Willis's technique of playing them even the traditional pinch.

Exactly because you have all that headroom under your immediate control. If you leave the volume wide open you have to learn how to control it with another means. I can also get some pretty massive handmuting sound because of this.

I still don't have his alternating finger muting technique down because "I" haven't spent enough time with it.

[Brad Johnson]

Originally Posted by henry2513

I actually hated it when I first installed one, still hated it even after I bought my GWB-1 but decided to keep plugging away, totally felt like I was starting over from scratch.

IME that's the primary reason... it's like starting anything over that you already have skill in. Good old baby steps. Like learning to read after playing for twenty years.


I was lucky, I had already gotten to the point where I kept my pickups high and tended to play over them so it was like adding more to that.

[henry2513]

Originally Posted by Brad Johnson

I still don't have his alternating finger muting technique down because "I" haven't spent enough time with it.

I probably have a bit of the OCD going, I sat there for hours/days doing those stupid exercises lol. It's still not 100% there, I've got nowhere near the facility that GW has but I don't have to think about it while I'm playing anymore it just "happens" so I view that as being on the right track.

[bThumper38]

I had one of Gary's old Tobias basses with the ramp, I had some other issues with the instrument, but I played it for years without having any other basses. I love ramps, it either works for you or it doesn't.

[FunkMetalBass]

How close to the strings do you guys usually keep your ramps? I've tried making on in the past and didn't have a good experience with it. I'm wondering now if it's because I just had it up too close to the strings.

[azzyrazzy]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Or we tried it once and got turned off to it

That's just lazy

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Originally Posted by FunkMetalBass

How close to the strings do you guys usually keep your ramps? I've tried making on in the past and didn't have a good experience with it. I'm wondering now if it's because I just had it up too close to the strings.

I keep mine about 1 or 2 credit cards below the strings. That's personal preference though- there's no "right" height.

[Immigrant]

Mine is about the same height as the pickups, but the radius matches the fingerboard. One size doesn't fit all.

[edpal]

I'm going to try this! I got an Ibanez ATK805E which has the curved pickups. And one of the things I had noticed was if I anchored or floated over the neck pickup, that curvature does flatten out the response(positive effect) across the strings because my finger's swing-through space is more consistent. I play REALLY hard - I have never learned slap bass because my fingers can create more twank than most young guys thumb could in a million years. Since I have radius block and I don't like the Ibbies pickguard anyway, this should be a no fear deal for me to attach a softer piece of wood to it an do some sanding. I was thinking I might try a piece of dark velvet over it right below the strings so I get absolutely no slap/twank off it - I can always ride up toward the fingerboard if I want that.