Who plays a Ric without a pick?

[Kenzy]

And how does that go for you? The playing a Ric without a pick, I mean.

[Spectrum]

Goes great. Even better since I removed the pickup cover. That bridge pickup is right where my hand naturally wants to go. I do dig in with fingernails a bit.

Lots of people play fingerstyle with the cover still on, though. I did for a while and almost got used to it. Al Cisneros does: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zj9IAvv32wE

Notice in the video where his right wrist lays on the body; that's pretty much how I was doing it. Now my wrist is over right above the bridge pickup.

[Floyd Eye]

I use my fingers where it is appropriate and a pick where it is appropriate. I personally prefer the attack I get with a nice thick pick, but I am in a cover band so I play what fits the song.

[bassgod0dmw]

Originally Posted by Floyd Eye

I use my fingers where it is appropriate and a pick where it is appropriate. I personally prefer the attack I get with a nice thick pick, but I am in a cover band so I play what fits the song.

Pretty much exactly this, and it works out great!

[Mojo-Man]

I use both.
Pick for that McCartney Beatle tone.
Fingers for a more mellow vintage tone.
String my Ric with TI-JF344-flats.

[Medford Bassman]

I haven't used a pick yet on my RIC. I'm not against it just have been a finger style player for so long. I do use round wounds.

[gidbass]

Finger style only here, and I recently put my pickup cover back on.

Good Luck!

[Bert Slide]

I play without a pick and haven't removed the pickguard. It just looks too cool on my vintage 4001. I rest my pinky on it and use mostly a floating thumb but sometimes use the top of the pickguard for an anchor.

[greggster59]

I only play fingerstyle. On my Ric I use TI Jazz Flats. They have a nice percussive thump with the tone control set a little below balanced and a bit more volume in the neck pup.

I have no problem getting the mids and highs a Ric can put out when I crank the treble and/or turn on the vintage circuit. Its not a gritty Rotosound tone like Chris Squire has but it cuts through the mix nicely.

[Kenzy]

It's good to hear this side of things. I hear a lot about how fabulous Rics are for people who play with a pick but, until this point, I never really heard praise from fingerstyle players, ya know?

[thedudebrah]

I was at a show recently and saw a bassist playing a RIC fingerstyle with flats. Potential for great tone, but the back line rig was an ampeg combo through an extension cab and I'm assuming it was DI'ed to the FOH and the sound man had zero idea what he was doing. The bass sounded like nasaly clicking in the monitors. I felt bad for the guy because his playing was great and the sound man ruined it.

[lyla1953]

Use to using my fingers so thats what I do...4003 with pu cover off....pu bezel with raised thumb rest ..... round wounds....
Life is good!

[Stephent28]

Back in the 70's and 80's I was 100% pick.
Now I play about 85% fingers and 15% pic but it really depends on the song.

[willsellout]

I use mostly fingers.

[Kenzy]

Oh! Fingerpluckers, I forgot to ask what strings you've got on, though some of you mentioned it already.

[ryco]

I play a stock '80 4001 with fingers.
Wish I could play with a pick, but never got it down very well.
Cover on and strung with RotoSound Swing 66. Last strung in '87. Nice, dead rounds!

[gidbass]

Rotosound 55's. Just recently switched from TI Jazz flats.

[Sartori]

I play my ~1975 Ric 4001 with my fingers much of the time.

I'm using fingerstyle on both these Dylan covers:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqMd5atpgx0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ktdyq6xJOhQ

Haven't taken the pickup cover off, and I don't intend to. I've got D'Addario XL's on that bass.

[tinman 1967]

I use no pick with my Rick,.... although I did buy it from Pick of the Ricks, maybe I was supposed to Get a special Pick for my Rick from them? I can pick many different things,... My friends, my nose, my seat...... But I cannot seem to pick my Rick ,.. Or My friends Rick....... Or his nose....

No pick for me!

[Jeff Scott]

I primarily play my Ricks fingerstyle but the pick does come out depending on the need.

BTW, how does one play a corporation (RIC) with a pick or fingers?