is it okay to not play over the pickup

[villarddefender]

Are these your artworks? They rock! I'd consider buying one if they're available ...

Instead I'll give you the trick to create them. I took the picture with a BlackBerry camera lol so your camera will probably have a higher quality and once you have the original picture head to this website: photomania ,upload your image and select "Sketch" and then "Coal Sketch" and boom you're in business!

 

[lfmn16]

The rule is to play where you need to in order to get the sound you want.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

nope. not ok. but it IS ok to play above the nut.

 

[crlujan]

Since the earlier basses had those ashtray pickup and bridge covers, it's safe to say that it was impossible to play over the pickup back then. Of course, some people removed the ashtrays and they've become a thing of the past. I've still got them on my bass and play on the neck side.

 

[CryingBass]

Regarding tone, etc - try using the sides/pads of your picking fingers rather than just the tips. As many - or more? - opportunities for shaping your tone this way vs. a minor variation of where you play over your pickups. YMMV!

 

[ThuzzleFump]

I was shot once when I did

But the good news?

 

[Relsom]

You could but be forwarned.......you may be told by the guitar player that that's not how you play bass

 

[SasquatchDude]

It worked well enough for this guy...

 

[DavC]

pickup placement picks up harmonics/tone at that point ... plucking elsewhere accentuates some harmonics at that plucked point ..

even more fun and variations with 2 pups ...

 

[Sixgunn]

I'd be careful. You can disrupt the fabric of the universe with incorrect right hand position, even more so if you're a lefty.

 

[comatosedragon]

I love playing near the neck, Geezer style.
I see a lot of my favorite bassists who play near the bridge; that's just uncomfortable for me.

 

[BassBrass]

In the picture above it's the new Fender Dimension bass with a simple H configuration but there's another version of that bass with an HH config. Now that I know that we're allowed to play anywhere what would be the advantage of the 2nd H pickup near the neck besides a little volume difference?

The 2 pickup configuration does something to the tone, the phase relationship of the 2 pu's eq mixed together usually has a deeper perceived low center, a scoop in the upper mids but a more audible mid "voice" peak somewhere else in the mids. Of course all the frequencies exist in the single pickup and that's usually the simplest waveform for effects or loud volume situations, but lots of classic sounds come from a 2 pu setup, and they vary. Recently I took out my Allan Woody which has a unique 2 pu's near the neck, and it really does have a special thing going on in the mids which you have to have to be heard as the highs are gone...Warwick and of course the classic Jazz bass all have a certain scooped mid presence.

 

[Mr.Ace]

I play all over the darn place

 

[Spectrum]

If you do not play directly over the pickup, you will be taken out and shot...........

The guy is asking a question, and you bite his head off with sarcasm. Feel better?

 

[Fat Freddy]

Absolutely not! Never, ever should you do that.


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Ooooh!....Look at you with yer new Chrimbo shirt on....

 

[Fat Freddy]

The guy is asking a question, and you bite his head off with sarcasm. Feel better?

It was a light hearted remark.....Take your hangover out on somebody else!....

 

[2saddleslab]

Over the pickup for bigger bang, end of the neck for bigger boom.

 

[Spectrum]

It was a light hearted remark.....Take your hangover out on somebody else!....

Last word, right?

 

[Thumpin6string]

I think you can only play off of the pickup on the third Sunday and the second Tuesday of every other month. If you violate this, you are put in a room for several hours with a guitarist with an ego. It is worse than death.

 

[tsheldon]

Sorry if there was another thread on this but is it okay to not play over the pickup

Let's say your bass only has a bridge pickup but you play near the neck: since there's no pickup under your fingers will the sound be "picked up" less?
View attachment 2845387

Proper technique is a matter of:

1. Not hurting yourself.
2. Enabling greater facility on the instrument.

All technical matters that don't have to do with those two things are completely subjective. Play how you like if you like the sound coming out.