EQ for pick and finger style?

[baddarryl]

Hi all! With all else being equal, how do you balance tone/volume if using both techniques in a gig?

 

[baddarryl]

No need to delete. The other never posted. Thanks

 

[Jrussblues]

I play with a heavy finger style and a thin guitar pick. I also move my plucking/picking hand around from the bridge side to the neck side depending on what I’m trying to accomplish.
Most of my eq comes from where I position my right hand, not from knobs and panning.

 

[LahLeylah95]

I usually roll back treble a bit when I start using a pick. I have no idea if this is the proper thing to do.. I tend to hear the clicky sounds from the pick if I leave the treble the same and I don't like that sound.

 

[Barisaxman]

If you can't achieve the sounds you're looking for with both styles using the onboard electronics, you may want to consider either an EQ pedal or a preamp pedal with some EQ control to create a separate tone for the different styles. The few times I use a pick, I generally end up backing off the passive tone control on my bass to get rid of some of the treble, then make sure I'm picking further from the bridge if it is still too bright for my liking. Several ways to accomplish it depending on the exact tone you're after.

 

[walterw]

what works for me is not so much EQ but some nice leveling compression via my carl martin comp, it lets me swap from fairly aggressive pick to a regular fingerstyle without too much change in volume.

pick and fingers sound different from each other and that's the idea, the comp just lets both styles hang reasonably the same in the mix.

 

[marqueemoon]

what works for me is not so much EQ but some nice leveling compression via my carl martin comp, it lets me swap from fairly aggressive pick to a regular fingerstyle without too much change in volume.

pick and fingers sound different from each other and that's the idea, the comp just lets both styles hang reasonably the same in the mix.

Except for the compressor (I use a Barber Tone Press), that is exactly what I do, and for the same reason.

 

[Wissen]

you should be able to go to "thread tools" upper right and delete it yourself

At first I was suuuuuper confused and thought this was the most savage response I'd ever seen to what I thought was an innocent question.

Seriously though, I think the different sounds you get for a given bass are precisely the reason you use both options. So I agree with everyone else that a leveling comp to keep the output volume consistent might be what you're really after.

If you have a different goal for drawing out completely different EQed tones from the differing attacks, be specific about what you're hoping to accomplish, and the answer will be in the question.

 

[walterw]

At first I was suuuuuper confused and thought this was the most savage response I'd ever seen to what I thought was an innocent question.

deleted (duplicate thread )

 

[BLDavis]

I play with a heavy finger style and a thin guitar pick. I also move my plucking/picking hand around from the bridge side to the neck side depending on what I’m trying to accomplish.
Most of my eq comes from where I position my right hand, not from knobs and panning.

This ^ ^ ^
If I have new strings (rarely) I might roll off the tone pot a bit. Other than that, everything stays the same except for my right hand placement.
B.

 

[lat]

This ^ ^ ^
If I have new strings (rarely) I might roll off the tone pot a bit. Other than that, everything stays the same except for my right hand placement.
B.

Just starting to use a pick. Thanks for the insight...

 

[DeepFriedBass]

I pretty much play my amp flat for the best tone, and most of the way the notes sound and sustain come from technique. I like brand new strings with the tone knob where they sound biggest, and several different pick sizes. .75 to 1.5mm range. Each pick is a whole different attack style, and softer plucking on one of the many sweet spots on the strings is gonna ultimately allow you to make every note sound exactly the way you want, with the most string character and wood tone from your bass.

EQ is for a situation when other instruments are involved. So you start playing the in band flat eq and something isn't blending right, (usually the guitar player scooping or boosting lows) then you take away some lows, adjust the mids a bit until the music sounds cohesive. Or better yet, get the guitar player to flatten his amp and go from there

 

[pintspiller]

I do tend to roll my treble off, but forget to add it back when I switch back. I have a combination of arthritis and carpal tunnel and use my fingers when I can't hold the plectrum any more.

I try my best to use fingers or plectrum depending on the song, but sometimes just forego the plectrum if I feel my trip going. I've taken to using .60 nylons from Dunlop.

 

[jad]

Generally speaking, if I'm switching between a pick and fingers, I want it to sound different, so I don't re-eq. My fingers technique is a bit louder, but I don't worry about it in a live setting because between the light compression I apply myself, the heaver compression on the bass channel on the board, and the additional compression on the main mix, the volume really doesn't change much.

 

[pepj]

Don't use a pick...but use double thumb to cop that 'style'.
Its all about honing your technique so you dont have volume imbalances, imv.

Make you have headroom in your attack.