I don't like playing over the bridge pickup

[Spidey2112]

My understanding is that that's what floating thumb is. Maybe I have the term wrong.

Ryan, I could be wrong...

Float- nomad... outlier... loner... does it's own thing, not considering what it's other four playmates are up to.

Anchor- librarian... control freak... peacekeeper... constant communication, while maintaining radio silence.

 

[Membo]

It depends on the song for me. I play near the neck for a more "woody" sound when needed, and closer to the bridge when I need that tone. I switch between a G&L SB1 "P" bass and a Fender Jazz, but I play where the tone is best for that particular song.

 

[sotua]

usually anchor thumb on the neck pickup of my JBass. Though I've been playing with pick a lot lately...

I find that the strings are too tense near the bridge. I like a little more give.

 

[Spidey2112]

I actually thought more people would talk me down and give me reasons to go bridge.

We can work it out, Ryan... just don't jump...

 

[Mantis Tobaggan]

I play just behind the neck too. I used to play over the bridge pickup for years but for the last 2 years or so I've been plucking just behind the neck. I can play faster and i like the tone more.

 

[lowfreqgeek]

If you don't like it, don't do it.

It's just another tool in the technique tool belt. You can choose to use it or not.

 

[Felken]

I don't trust people who play close to the bridge as their default tone.

You don't trust Jaco?

 

[ThuzzleFump]

I don't like to play near the railroad bridge.

Yeah, Mom says it's dangerous.

 

[ThuzzleFump]

I'm all over the place...

That's the real tone control, right?

 

[Resonance129]

I thought I was alone in not being comfortable playing over the bridge. It was awkward to have my plucking/picking hand so far back on the bass.
I saw so many other people playing over that pickup so much, it made me determined to do it until I was semi comfortable with it. Still takes adjusting, but I actually don't mind it so much anymore. I like the sound, especially on an active bass, although it makes things a bit thinner when I solo the bridge pickup and play over it. But I just EQ in a bit more bass and volume than normal and it can really sing into the mix.

 

[Rip Van Dan]

I typically play over the neck pickup and often behind the neck pickup while using the neck pickup as a thumb rest. If I need a brighter more percussive sound though, I absolutely will make a point of playing over the bridge pickup. If I need more attack and a brighter sound I will tilt my hand a bit so I'm hitting the string with the tips of my fingers instead of the softer pads.

You should be aware that a lot of the tone you get is in your fingers, both in how you fret the notes and how you attack the strings (as well as where you attack them). Don't be surprised if someone else sounds good playing over the bridge and YOUR bass doesn't - even if your both playing the same make and model bass. Different basses have different sounds and different players will get different sounds out of your bass. So just adjust your playing style until you get the sound you are looking for and don't sweat what other people are doing. Do what works for you.

Obviously, this may take a fair amount of trial and error on your part to find that particular sound, but pretty quickly you'll recognize how hand placement affects the sound of your bass and it will become automatic for you.

 

[el_Bajo_Verde]

If tone is in the fingers what's up with using a pick ?

Well what are you holding the pick with? Your toes?

The tone in your fingers transfers to the pick that your fingers are holding, therefore even when using a pick, the tone is still in your fingers.

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

That's the real tone control, right?

 

[ba55i5t]

Not sure if anyone mentioned this...but I play at one of three imaginary frets 24, 29 or 36.

One can find the imaginary frets through the use of artificial harmonics. For me, plucking in these areas gives the nicest tones.

I use 3 different places depending on the pickup settings. Most of the time I'm playing bridge pickup solo'd so I'm plucking at fret 36.

Give it a try TB

 

[Korladis]

I play wherever I need to to get the tone I'm trying to cop. I play a P bass with the tone dimed almost all the time. I use finger technique, pick technique, various picks, plucking finger placement, the side of my thumb, whatever. I'm not anti any technique if it gets me to the sound I'm going for.

Then again, I play all kinds of music. If you have found one sound that works for you, more power to you.

Yeah... I don't use thumb technique, but I vary where I'm playing depending on what kind of sound I want for that particular song or segment. I've even gone between pick and fingers not only several times in the same song, but sometimes partway through a riff, depending on the sound I want for certain notes.

That's the real tone control, right?

Indeed. I don't use the tone knobs on my basses, really.

Not sure if anyone mentioned this...but I play at one of three imaginary frets 24, 29 or 36.

One can find the imaginary frets through the use of artificial harmonics. For me, plucking in these areas gives the nicest tones.

I use 3 different places depending on the pickup settings. Most of the time I'm playing bridge pickup solo'd so I'm plucking at fret 36.

Give it a try TB

Since my pickups are at where the 24th and 36th frets would be, either pick style or finger style, I tend to play kinda where the 29th/30th fret would be (between the two pickups). I like this spot for fingers because it's not quite as "woody" as right over the neck pickup (which is in the 24th fret position), but there's still enough play in the string to thwack it against the fretboard for some clang.

With fingers, I sometimes play closer to the bridge if I want a punchier tone, for faster parts. Seems like this area is more low mids, less actual lows, whereas where I usually play (29th fret position) is more lows and upper mids. With a pick, I rarely play in this area, and basically only do it when I want a twangy tone.

The vast majority of the time I'm only using the bridge pickup (which is at fret position 36).