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I don't like playing over the bridge pickup
- Thread starter RyanKW
- Start date
Fretless Jazz, or Precision, I play anywhere from the twelfth fret to the bridge, depending on what tone I want, but usually on the P pickuo or between them on the Jazz.
Practically all of my basses have soapbar style pickups & I agree, I'm at home over the neck pickup, rarely venturing near the bridge pup. I get a full, fat tone over the neck pup & the string tension @ that location feels best to me also.
Playing closer to the brirge is much easier, but i agree tone wise. Sounds way too midrangey. I like to play over the neck pickup or right between the last fret and the bridge pickup. Perfect mix of beef and cut.
The pickup configuration on my TBird is like a J and my preferred position is in between the pickups. If I'm in a low noise environment and can play on one pickup, I play the neck. That pickup has the best sound to me.
Except for hanging on the neck pickup most of the time, the first part is pretty much me in a nutshell, but I often go up to and on the neck because the strings are floppy, as it forces me to play lightly when required.
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
Play where you feel comfortable, don't worry about what other players do or what is supposed to be "correct". I play at the neck or even over the 20th fret, works fine for me.
Some guy on TB forums said players like me aren't worth our salt... guess that means I have lower cholesterol than him.
Some guy on TB forums said players like me aren't worth our salt... guess that means I have lower cholesterol than him.
I play where ever feels best, and/or sounds right for the song; which varies from bass to bass. Sometimes, though, there isn't much choice...
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It sounds too thin on my bass in most situations, though I have been in some where it was "just right" depending pickup and EQ settings (this is all on the same jazz bass).
Most of the time I am doing floating thumb and plucking somewhere between directly over the neck pickup and juuuust shy of directly over the bridge pickup.
The only time I warrant playing really close to the bridge is if I'm picking and need a really driving sound. Or if I'm hammering out a fast lick and want the least amount of play in the strings.
Otherwise I'm all over for my right hand position.
My avatar probably represents my most "normal" position. Maybe just a tad closer to center.
Otherwise I'm all over for my right hand position.
My avatar probably represents my most "normal" position. Maybe just a tad closer to center.
Yep sure do. Bottom line the best way to play is what works for you.
My old bass tutor who is a professional musician, plays directly over the bridge pick up.
Says the strings have less movement closer to the bridge and allows for faster, more consistent playing.
But he insisted I develop what works for me as long as it wasn't ergonomically damaging.
I play in front of the neck PU and depending on tone, desired sometimes right at the neck heel.
BTW, I never even thought about where I placed my right thumb or whether it was floating or whether
I was using the best strings for metal until I started reading TalkBass!
interesting thread. less variety than I thought! most low end thumpers on the neck around here.
with my 35" scale 5'er, it is a J neck pup and a MM bridge pup. I usually do a slight boost in the bass EQ and pluck over the bridge. clear, articulate, and punchy.
With my 34" 4 strings, one a PJ and one a dual humbucker, I play mostly over the neck pickup, but still venture back to the bridge when it fits. i like the control back there. i did in at the neck pickup.
with my fretless semi-hollow, I pretty much pluck over the end of the fretboard. dubby and huge sounding.
with my 35" scale 5'er, it is a J neck pup and a MM bridge pup. I usually do a slight boost in the bass EQ and pluck over the bridge. clear, articulate, and punchy.
With my 34" 4 strings, one a PJ and one a dual humbucker, I play mostly over the neck pickup, but still venture back to the bridge when it fits. i like the control back there. i did in at the neck pickup.
with my fretless semi-hollow, I pretty much pluck over the end of the fretboard. dubby and huge sounding.
THIS......is generally why I do play over the bridge pickup.
If you guys get at thin,weak tone,then you may need to start turning some of those knobs.
That IS what they are for.
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If I'm playing finger style, I generally play closer to the bridge for faster passages. Seems a bit punchier, too.THIS......is generally why I do play over the bridge pickup.
If you guys get at thin,weak tone,then you may need to start turning some of those knobs.
That IS what they are for.
Pick style I just play between the pickups, regardless of how fast the part is, because I just don't like how it sounds or feels when I play pick style close to the bridge.
