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Hmmm, interesting. My MV4 doesn't dive on a strap, but having just gotten my Fender P down to 3.6kg (under 8lb) and loving what that does for me on a long gig, I was curious to see if the same could be done for the Metro (currently 3.9kg, about 8.5lb).
Absofrigginlutely.
I don't pick very well (shame on me) but for certain songs (usually harder rock, e.g. "Would" by Alice in Chains, "Slither" by Velvet Revolver) I prefer it to my usual fingerstyle.
FWIW, I use slimmer picks, less than 1mm (0.73 for awhile now). IME, these deliver more attack, while thicker picks sound somewhat closer to fingerstyle. I'm sure it depends on the player, though.
Agreed 200%. A JJ5 Sadowsky will get you through any gig you could imagine.
I'm not into picking that much (almost never use it live), but I'm totally cool with picking bassists.
I feel anytime the "bassist with a pick" argument is brought up, this video should be linked to end it all immediately:
True dat! I started on a pick- at one point I could fly across the strings. That was many, many moons ago! I pulled one out for the first time in years and it felt so awkward, lol. Some stuff just sounds so much cooler when a pick is thrown in. My PJ5 is really chunky with a pick.
I appreciate good pickstyle playing on bass. I wish I was better at it. I have used it for a few songs here and there (interestingly, "Would?" was one, back a while a go - I'm with you there, Fuzzbass).
Last summer, I had to play pickstyle for two gigs on an emergency basis. The night before a big State Fair beer tent show, I sliced my index plucking finger really deep while opening a box (I know, I know...). There was no way I could pluck, so I just went pickstyle. It was interesting to say the least. My previous time spent studying Carol Kaye's pickstyle technique probably saved my bacon. I got through it, probably about 85% as good as normal - passable but not great. It's probably one of those skills that's useful just in case, even if you don't use it much normally. YMMV, of course.
Last summer, I had to play pickstyle for two gigs on an emergency basis. The night before a big State Fair beer tent show, I sliced my index plucking finger really deep while opening a box (I know, I know...). There was no way I could pluck, so I just went pickstyle. It was interesting to say the least. My previous time spent studying Carol Kaye's pickstyle technique probably saved my bacon. I got through it, probably about 85% as good as normal - passable but not great. It's probably one of those skills that's useful just in case, even if you don't use it much normally. YMMV, of course.
Because I play a lot of cover situations, I am agnostic on right hand technique, using whatever method suits the tune the best. Plectrum is one of 4 primary methods, and I use it where appropriate. Whatever works.
To me, this song is a clinic of a wonderful style of bass playing to which I have aspired for many decades.
Another interesting thing about the pick is figuring out where to carry it when not in use. Again, because of my current cover work, there is zero time between tunes. It's all I can do to switch pickup and VTC settings. On the Sadowsky, I jam the pick, a .88 mm Dunlop vinyl, point first in between the E string and the E string saddle screw. If anyone has a better spot, I'm all ears.
Pretry much the same here. I can palm it pretty well I can still slap and play fingerstyle well enough.
Joeykun
pronounced ジョーイくん
- Jun 22, 2007
- 4,200
- 16,150
- Disclosures
- Endorsing: LAKLAND SADOWSKY GENZLER DARKGLASS NORDSTRAND TEMPLEBOARD KIRLIN DRSTRINGS ACCESS
Carol Kaye, Paul McCartney, and Bobby Vega are usually the first to pop into my head but there are so many more, including Mr. Squire of course.
