I'm only playing on the neck pick-up... problem?

[Jeff Scott]

That's my Martin Keith fretless (obviously ) Elfin 5. I got it from Martin in early 2010. Love it!

Here's another both hands are on the fingerboard photo, this one being my former April '98 4001V63 with some mods I did.

 

[Jeff Scott]

This is with my old March '73 4001.

 

[Neil Folkard]

Nice shots. What kind of strings do you use on your fretless, if I may ask.

 

[Rip Van Dan]

Hey all. Just wondering if anyone else has this issue. For whatever reason, I seem to be far more comfortable playing with my plucking hand over the neck pick-up.

It seems to have something to do with liking the fuller sound that it seems to give, and perhaps more so, I feel much more comfortable playing there. The 'stretch' farther down to the bridge pick-up feels a bit awkward to me, and it always seems that I have to play harder and louder to get the same volume level.

Does anyone else have this weird issue, and is this something that is really limiting my tone palette?

A lot of times the default position of your plucking hand over or near the neck pickup is because it's more comfortable there and that's fine. And even though you haven't figured out how to use it to your advantage yet, you are aware that plucking up by the neck pickup has a fuller, darker, and warmer sound.

So here's the deal, adjust your amps EQ to sound best where your hand normally lies, up by the neck pickup. If you need a darker sound that what you have your amp and bass set up for, just move your hand up towards the neck a bit more. If you need a brighter sound, move it back towards your bridge pickup more. You can see (hear actually) what the extremes of the sound you can get by playing over the last frets of your neck and then by plucking over the bridge pickup or even behind it a bit. Now you need to realize you can get any sound in between those two extremes just by moving your plucking plucking hand between those two extremes.

I've found it really handy to move my plucking hand back a little to get a bit brighter sound. If I need it brighter than yet, I just pluck a little farther back towards the bridge pickup. If I need a warmer sound than I have it set for, I move it towards neck (in front of the neck pickup) until I get the warmth and darkness I want.

So don't stress about where your plucking hand is hitting. Just adjust your amp for your basic sound with your plucking hand in that comfortable place and move it up or back to make adjustments in your sound as needed. If you need to get your bass to growl, that's most easily done by digging into the strings over the bridge pickup.

Give it a try and see what you think.

 

[Ric5]

I'm only playing on the neck pick-up... problem?

nope

 

[Afc70]

I (most of the time) pluck over the neck pickup too,& it definitely gives a fatter, warmer tone, and I like the feel of the strings in that area too, (as opposed to the stiffer feel near the bridge) - it’s a completely normal thing to do..

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

Hey all. Just wondering if anyone else has this issue. For whatever reason, I seem to be far more comfortable playing with my plucking hand over the neck pick-up.

It seems to have something to do with liking the fuller sound that it seems to give, and perhaps more so, I feel much more comfortable playing there. The 'stretch' farther down to the bridge pick-up feels a bit awkward to me, and it always seems that I have to play harder and louder to get the same volume level.

Does anyone else have this weird issue, and is this something that is really limiting my tone palette?

No issues at all, just use a good, ol’ P-bass …

 

[Jeff Scott]

Nice shots. What kind of strings do you use on your fretless, if I may ask.

When I got the Elfin 5 in 2010 I put D'Addario XLs (40-55-75-95-125 on it, but for a few years now it has TI Jazz Flats on it (I should have put on the bass when I first got they sound so good). On other fretless basses I have owned over the decades I've used XLs, Half Rounds, and Chromes, all in the lightest gauges available.

 

[Neil Folkard]

^^I have a p-bass Gianni, but it's a Franklin Fender p-bass! So, there are two pickups on it. Though they are pretty close together.

 

[eddododo]

last question first: sure, it will limit your tone palette. serve the song. if the song needs a different tone, do what it takes to get it.

beyond that, play what you like the way you like to play it. that's your style!

I get a pretty full spectrum of sounds from changing right hand stroke and positioning.

Car vs driver

 

[Neil Folkard]

When I got the Elfin 5 in 2010 I put D'Addario XLs (40-55-75-95-125 on it, but for a few years now it has TI Jazz Flats on it (I should have put on the bass when I first got they sound so good). On other fretless basses I have owned over the decades I've used XLs, Half Rounds, and Chromes, all in the lightest gauges available.

Interesting. Do the TI Jazz Flats really bring out the mwah? I have a number of fretlesses and despite loving the growl of round wounds, I am starting to think about trying flats on 1 of my 4 fretless basses.

 

[jimmydean]

Playing over the neck pickup is usually the appointed "Sweet Spot" on most basses .

 

[No Malarky]

Play however you like.

 

[2saddleslab]

It's a natural position for me.

 

[v-12]

I don’t know if it is a problem, but I have always just found it more comfortable and preferred the sound of playing above the neck pickup- most of the time I play relatively close to the heel of the neck. The only time I play closer to the bridge is if I am need the string tension, but otherwise, I am all about the tone and playability of playing close to the neck.

 

[Jeff Scott]

^^I have a p-bass Gianni, but it's a Franklin Fender p-bass! So, there are two pickups on it. Though they are pretty close together.

Where are those two pickups on the bass? I get a nice wide range of tones from the two Citron pickups on the Elfin 5. The way Martin wired up the controls offers a lot of variation.

Interesting. Do the TI Jazz Flats really bring out the mwah? I have a number of fretlesses and despite loving the growl of round wounds, I am starting to think about trying flats on 1 of my 4 fretless basses.

The TI JFs produce a different kind of mwah than rounds do. Given you have four fretless basses you really ought to try something different on at least one of them!

 

[Marko 1]

I know to move my hand for a particular tone, but I've been playing a two-pickup bass with 3-way switch, and just use that.

I seem to pluck in the middle, like where my P pickup would be.

 

[Ostie]

I play up there a lot. Don’t let it bother you. You found your tone and that’s a good thing.

 

[fhm555]

Depending on what I’m playing, I’ll be anywhere between the 12th fret and the bridge pickup. If it’s up to me I anchor my thumb on the edge of the neck a few frets from the end and play over the tail end of the neck.

 

[Bar Band Bassman]

Like others have said I tend to favor playing near the bridge both for speed and definition. Started way back when Fenders still came with bridge and pickup covers (Rics had pickup covers pre-installed as well), strung with flats. Found resting my thumb on the pickup cover was comfortable so it's still my default. I still but covers for p-basses that don't come with them! I also keep the action pretty low on my basses so playing up at the neck can be pretty clanky. I still do so when appropriate, just have to be more mindful (I also don't attack the strings as fiercely as I did when I was a young buck, so that helps). Find what works for you and go with it! With time you can add more techniques, just more tools for the kit. Keep on thumpin'!