I ran into an 80-year-old bass player at Guitar Center the other day. We were both looking at, and trying out basses. After a while he told me the only way he played was if he had a felt pick made for bass players. I had never heard of one. I actually thought he was pulling my leg. But then he went over to the counter and asked the salesman if they carried felt picks. Sure enough they did. So out of curiosity I bought one. The jury is still out on this one. Anybody ever use one?
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Felt picks, ever used one?
- Thread starter TyC
- Start date
I ran into an 80-year-old bass player at Guitar Center the other day. We were both looking at, and trying out basses. After a while he told me the only way he played was if he had a felt pick made for bass players. I had never heard of one. I actually thought he was pulling my leg. But then he went over to the counter and asked the salesman if they carried felt picks. Sure enough they did. So out of curiosity I bought one. The jury is still out on this one. Anybody ever use one?
I have some of the white ones, and like them. For me, it's a question of practicing more with it, but once I start playing a song, I forget that it isn't plastic. Softer attack and overall a little different tone.
I've used them, more of a soft thump, or a whump, takes away the brightness of the attack. Good if you're trying for an old jazz upright-ish sound.
Love the sound, hate that you need a new one every few songs.
This^
I use them at times being a pick player and wanting a finger like attack.
Roundwounds can definitely shred them quickly.
The argument for felt picks has always been that they sound more like playing with your thumb than a hard pick...but why not use your thumb?
I know a lot of ukulele players who like them. Makes some sense for nylon strings I guess.
Rabbit fur everywhere...... I stopped using them years ago for the fur problem. 90% of the time I do use my thumb. I do like the old school upright sound, may pick one up and give it another try.
Had one. It was a fun novelty but I ended up giving it away to the bass player in a band I saw live after he told me he'd never seen one before
Got a bunch for my ukulele, but decided I hated them. The beautiful harp tones you get from gently picking with your fingernails are best left undisturbed, and The felt seemed to want to grab the strings and make the attack all the more violent. String breakage was a constant fear.
To that end, now I wonder if they might actually suit a bass better? Especially my viola-style, whose narrow string spacing makes my fingers confused and clumsy. Maybe the felt, flats, and hollow body could complement each other? Y'never know 'till you try.
--^@
To that end, now I wonder if they might actually suit a bass better? Especially my viola-style, whose narrow string spacing makes my fingers confused and clumsy. Maybe the felt, flats, and hollow body could complement each other? Y'never know 'till you try.
--^@
Back in 1988 when I started playing an old dude at the local music store handed me one and told me to try it out. Interesting for sure, almost fingerstyle sounding with a pick. Kinda defeats the purpose of pick playing to me, I like the sharp percussive sounds of a regular pick like a tortex.
A friend gave me one of the white ones when I first started playing (this was going on thirty years ago). I found it would get bent out of shape too easily so I stopped experimenting with it. Cool sound though.
Some folks actually use picks when they play bass, and search for a variety of colors in their attack.
I tried these and liked the tone but found that they were quite grabby on the strings.
I didn't mind the felt ones but found that with a little tone decrease i can get the sounds i want with a normal hard pick.
I'm a newer bass player (~1.5 years) and have been strictly a felt pick user. I love it...I think it sounds as close to using fingers to pluck without actually doing so. I started playing on flatwounds and did not notice any felt "dust" however I have since moving to roundwounds. But I wipe the bass off after each gig and everything's fine. I have tried the grey Wedgie and thought it was only OK. But based on the comments above I am interested in trying the black Wedgie pick.
