How Often Do You Practice Unplugged?

[jimmybc91]

I practive with my acoustic bass (unplugged), does that count?? If so, then always. I plug in once in a while with my electric to play with effects.

 

[marko138]

I play all the time unplugged. I usually keep a bass in the living room, the amp is upstairs. I just sit on the couch and play.

 

[bachlover]

I used to practice through a little, cheap, practice amp that amplified and that was about it, ie. nothing special tonally. I bought my dream Ampeg amp (avatar) and started using that for practice and I probably tripled the amount of time I practice. After 30 or so years of playing a J bass 4, I picked up a 5 and then in short succession, 4 more guitars including a 6. This increased my practice time even to a greater extent. The varieties and beautiful qualities in tone I get through the amp and the different guitars is what inspires me to practice, it made a huge difference after I'd gone for years thinking it wouldn't.

 

[TheCush]

I play unplugged pretty much every day, too. Sad because like bachlover I have a nice old B15 I love to play through, but with my day job, it's mostly mornings before I leave that I practice, before my wife and kids are awake!

 

[Jimmi Clarke]

I practice unplugged all the time, it's a great way to improve your natural tone. If the bass sounds nice unplugged it'll sound amazing when you plug it in.

 

[sanderic]

I practice unplugged in the morning before the wife gets up. Just me, the bass, a cup of coffee, and whatever sheet music I'm working on.
Try this: rest your chin on the upper horn of the bass while you play. The vibrations will go through your jaw into your ear, it's amazing what you'll hear.

 

[Huge]

Pretty much never anymore. My bass is right next to my amp, and my amp has a headphone jack if I need to be quiet.

 

[jmverdugo]

All the time, sitting at my desk while working, watching the news sitting on the couch, etc...

 

[Lownote38]

Almost never. I don't play in bands unplugged with an electric bass, so I prefer to be plugged into something if I'm playing any other time. The only time I really play without being plugged in is when I am warming up just prior to hitting the stage, and that's just to loosen up my fingers.

 

[lfmn16]

I almost never use the bass without an amp.
If it's late I just play quietly, or with headphones.
Unplugged it's just not that inspiring...

+1

Also you can't hear all of the nuances that you'll hear with the amp. The amp is part of your sound, you aren't really fully practicing without it ... IMHO.

 

[Kubicki440]

I practice running through Guitar Rig 5 or Amplitube through studio monitors or headphones. I no longer have an amp.

 

[MD]

ABG, no need to even think about plugging in.

 

[DannyBob]

Whenever I walk past my bass stand I'll pick it up and play for a minute or so. However when it comes to actually practising, I NEED to be plugged in, especially with the FX and tone I need

 

[GKon]

I do it all the time.

 

[kenneffdupriest]

I practice more unplugged than wired. always have. an amped bass disturbs the volume of the 60'' tv that has Natural Born Killers playin on it. also I have a kid. 9 months old. so me no playa loud any mora inda house mon. u dig?

When Nik sends me piano tunes I listen with tha headphones on on ear n I place my chin on the hip of the bass and the resonance in my head is enough. Its uncomfortable but have kid and talk to me.

 

[Jaco Taco]

I practice running through Guitar Rig 5 or Amplitube through studio monitors or headphones. I no longer have an amp.

Ha. Me too!

 

[Milk]

I live in an apartment so my amps are never used at home (to not disturb neighbors). If i plug its generally in my computer. I generally only plug in to record. If i'm not recording, i'm usually playing unplugged.

 

[Bassist4Eris]

When I was a beginner, I practiced unplugged a lot, and I wish I hadn't. It masked technique problems and stunted my growth in terms of learning to dial in a tone. Mind you, I'm talking about a being a beginner, not a guy with 30 years experience.

Nowadays, I have about 20 years of experience, and I play unplugged all the time. I just don't recommend it for beginners.

I disagree slightly here as I feel practicing unplugged actually helps with technique. It's great for ironing out inconsistencies as if you can get your fingers playing even and sounding consistent then all you have to worry about when you plug in is dialling in a nice tone from the amp.
In my experience.

OK, fair enough. But when I say "masked technique problems", I'm talking about things like open strings ringing out, which I wasn't hearing because I wasn't plugged in. I had some technical corrections of that sort to make once I started playing in bands and such. I also think an amplifier will make the inconsistencies you refer to that much more noticeable. IMHO.

 

[GigJones]

I rarely practise without being plugged into an amplifier.

My routine involves close attention to tone generation. Without an amp, I’d just be guessing.

 

[Christian Joseph Allbee]

I used to practice unplugged more than amped. I still do, but nowadays I mainly do so with an acoustic bass.