JeezyMcNuggles
Inactive
- Feb 23, 2018
- 14,723
- 20,970
- Disclosures
- I suck, but nobody really notices
All the time. If you rest the headstock against a wall, or the arm of the couch, you make an acoustic amplifier.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
How Many Practice Electric Bass Unplugged?
- Thread starter KerrywAZ1
- Start date
I don’t practice that way routinely but I’m good with it on those drop-of-a-hat occasions. Playing a solid body bass unplugged is way better than playing under the thumb of a lot of irrelevant “rules.”
I practice cerebrally. Seriously.
I picture in my head, the scales and chords, frets and notes and what I'm going to have to do with my fingers in order to hit them all correctly.
I have fairly debilitating nerve and musculoskeletal damage in both arms from the elbows down (motorcycle) -and sometimes saving mileage and wear on the claws is the best way to practice for me.
I picture in my head, the scales and chords, frets and notes and what I'm going to have to do with my fingers in order to hit them all correctly.
I have fairly debilitating nerve and musculoskeletal damage in both arms from the elbows down (motorcycle) -and sometimes saving mileage and wear on the claws is the best way to practice for me.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
Sometimes I'll grab my Tacoma abg. But solid bodies bass unamplified just to run a few scales or exercises.
95 percent of my playing is unplugged. Makes you better, IMO. Let's you really learn how exactly the instrument responds to your touch.
JeezyMcNuggles
Inactive
- Feb 23, 2018
- 14,723
- 20,970
- Disclosures
- I suck, but nobody really notices
It actually doesn't make you better, it makes you develop an unnecessarily hard attack that end up being a bad habit that's incredibly hard to break. But, who really cares about that anyway. That's character.
Never. Without an amp, it's an expensive door-stop.
The ONLY time I do it is at touch-up on a bass I already have, or set-up on a new-to-me instrument. After the feeler gages and the measuring, if I'm looking for a little more, I listen for string rattle unplugged. If I'm really trying to get it as low as possible (not often anymore), my cutoff point would be some rattling unplugged that I could not yet hear through the pickups into the amp. That's usually about all I'm going to get that's playable.
For times I would like to play 'unplugged', I'm going to have to break down and buy an ABG for a 'couch bass'.
The ONLY time I do it is at touch-up on a bass I already have, or set-up on a new-to-me instrument. After the feeler gages and the measuring, if I'm looking for a little more, I listen for string rattle unplugged. If I'm really trying to get it as low as possible (not often anymore), my cutoff point would be some rattling unplugged that I could not yet hear through the pickups into the amp. That's usually about all I'm going to get that's playable.
For times I would like to play 'unplugged', I'm going to have to break down and buy an ABG for a 'couch bass'.
I used to here and there but not anymore, as I ended up playing really hard so I could hear it which also brought other noise into my signal if I played the same way amplified.
Personally, I bought an amPlug2 for bass guitar so no matter where I'm at I can have an amplified signal. Whether or not you need it? Record yourself.. if you aren't happy with the results and you regularly practice without an amp, it might teach you some things.
I think playing with headphones every now and then is good too, as it can help you hear things you might normally miss when your ear drums are being blasted in a bandsetting.
Personally, I bought an amPlug2 for bass guitar so no matter where I'm at I can have an amplified signal. Whether or not you need it? Record yourself.. if you aren't happy with the results and you regularly practice without an amp, it might teach you some things.
I think playing with headphones every now and then is good too, as it can help you hear things you might normally miss when your ear drums are being blasted in a bandsetting.
When I have an amp available, never. However on camping trips I bring my bass and practice unplugged just to keep my fingers fresh, but dat's it.
Rarely. Typically only when I set up the bass or guitar. Otherwise, maybe for a moment before I walk out the door for work on a song I just learned up.
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
How Many Practice Electric Bass Unplugged?
I have a small amp and a headphone amp that I can use for low volume or no volume
I have a small amp and a headphone amp that I can use for low volume or no volume
Sure do, I can hear were my technique is at.
Fret Noise unplugged = noise AMPLIFIED.
Sometimes I can’t be stuffed reaching for the lead and plugging in so I always, always have my acoustic bass in the lounge leaning against the lounge. I get an idea or hear something while watching a show- I play along , at least try to.
Fret Noise unplugged = noise AMPLIFIED.
Sometimes I can’t be stuffed reaching for the lead and plugging in so I always, always have my acoustic bass in the lounge leaning against the lounge. I get an idea or hear something while watching a show- I play along , at least try to.
I do practise both unplugged, via headphones (with various preamps) and via amp. I think one should be able to get something out of all of this.
I also use playing unplugged in evaluating an instrument. With some instruments the acoustic sound I liked better than the amplified sound. Maybe it's time to waste a few thoughts on buying better PUs then.
Also I tend to be a bit strict about rattles, buzzes, etc. Maybe an amp would camouflage these, but they are likely to waste sustain at least. Also this is not where I'm wanting to be going to playing technique-wise.
I used to have a hard attack long ago, which together with playing over the bridge PU (and also soloing the Bridge PU) back then was considered to provide a fretless tone of choice. These days, I guess, I play with a medium touch (at least not decidedly light). I try to pay highly controlled so I can switch between techniques like pizz, slap, double thumbing and touchstyle without relying on a compressor.
I also use playing unplugged in evaluating an instrument. With some instruments the acoustic sound I liked better than the amplified sound. Maybe it's time to waste a few thoughts on buying better PUs then.
Also I tend to be a bit strict about rattles, buzzes, etc. Maybe an amp would camouflage these, but they are likely to waste sustain at least. Also this is not where I'm wanting to be going to playing technique-wise.
I used to have a hard attack long ago, which together with playing over the bridge PU (and also soloing the Bridge PU) back then was considered to provide a fretless tone of choice. These days, I guess, I play with a medium touch (at least not decidedly light). I try to pay highly controlled so I can switch between techniques like pizz, slap, double thumbing and touchstyle without relying on a compressor.
Plugged. I have a tendency to dig hard on the strings, and need to be able to hear what my plucking fingers are doing.
Since COVID, the house has been fully occupied, with work and school taking place. I bought an Ampeg SCR-DI as a headphone amp to avoid household anarchy.
However, I’m often up while everyone else is sleeping, so I keep my fretless out of it’s case for an occasional low-volume noodle session. It has a great acoustic sound. If I play more melodic changes, it’s almost hypnotic, to the point where it tucks me back in.
However, I’m often up while everyone else is sleeping, so I keep my fretless out of it’s case for an occasional low-volume noodle session. It has a great acoustic sound. If I play more melodic changes, it’s almost hypnotic, to the point where it tucks me back in.
