I play pick exclusively but use a Dunlop .60mm to control the honk. I don't use pedals at all but I do turn the tone knob down a bit.
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Need a pedal for playing with a pick !
- Thread starter surfpurple
- Start date
I play about 80/20 fingerstyle/pick and I don't really need any special settings, just pull it out of my back pocket when I want it.
Typically I reach for the pick specifically for the increase in treble response, but it's also possible to go the other way and a get a subby dubby sound, similar to pulling with your thumb, with good technique.
So the solution to this is very simple: turn down the tone knob and get really good at palm muting! You can finesse different levels of muting to get different levels of treble content.
My favorite pick is the Dunlop Little Stubby 3.0mm. Aside from being crazy thick, it's made of extremely hard and stiff Lexan material.
With good palm muting I can give it the same tone as a rubber pick without sacrificing the super sharp articulation that you only get from a stiff pick.
Still, you probably won't like the Stubby. Unmuted it is indeed very very bright. I love it.
The other pick I like to use is the Dunlop Jazz III, which is 1.4mm and made from Nylon. I would never consider using a thinner gauge than that. It's thinner and softer so, unmuted, this has a LOT less treble tone, much more round sound, so this is the pick I would recommend to you.
All that being said, a switchable EQ or filter isn't a terrible idea at all. I think gain or compression is a questionable solution; the right pedal with the right settings might work, but the wrong setup easily might make it worse.
Typically I reach for the pick specifically for the increase in treble response, but it's also possible to go the other way and a get a subby dubby sound, similar to pulling with your thumb, with good technique.
So the solution to this is very simple: turn down the tone knob and get really good at palm muting! You can finesse different levels of muting to get different levels of treble content.
My favorite pick is the Dunlop Little Stubby 3.0mm. Aside from being crazy thick, it's made of extremely hard and stiff Lexan material.
With good palm muting I can give it the same tone as a rubber pick without sacrificing the super sharp articulation that you only get from a stiff pick.
Still, you probably won't like the Stubby. Unmuted it is indeed very very bright. I love it.
The other pick I like to use is the Dunlop Jazz III, which is 1.4mm and made from Nylon. I would never consider using a thinner gauge than that. It's thinner and softer so, unmuted, this has a LOT less treble tone, much more round sound, so this is the pick I would recommend to you.
All that being said, a switchable EQ or filter isn't a terrible idea at all. I think gain or compression is a questionable solution; the right pedal with the right settings might work, but the wrong setup easily might make it worse.
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D
^^^^
yes!, get to where you don’t even realize your doing it.
Then you can mute and not mute at will for some pretty cool dynamics..
This may or may not be helpful but I’m able to achieve a surprising amount of consistency in my finger style to pick ratio with proper palm muting. Not every tune allows for it either, but if I can get a good chunk of palm flesh over the bridge, that fattens up my tone quite a bit when using a pick.
It took me ages to get the pick right and it took me ages to get the right pick. I like 2mm Joe Dunlops with a picture of an aligator on them as they're abit furry and stick nicely to my fingers, but we're all different. I also don't mind roughing them up a bit with sandpaper when the temperature gets up. My vote, persevere without a pedal then get a really cool pedal that does something special to your sound as a pressie to nailing pick technique. 
- Nov 9, 2009
- 360
- 100
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Reunion Blues, 64 Audio, Mesa Engineering, Ernie Ball.
Everyone telling you you're using the wrong pick is killing me. I pick with an even thinner pick than you use, and it sounds delightful. Heavy picks can be cool for sure, but I'm all about the thin pick on bass for a lot of the music I play.
I use the Source Audio Programmable EQ pedal for what you're describing, and the first generation one can be found used for a little over $100. It's great. If it is too intimidating, Boss has been making a bass EQ forever.
The other suggestion I'd have is maybe the OvniFX Smoothie. It's a compressor, which, once you learn how to use it, can be a wonderful tool. This particular one is only five knobs, and, for the learning curve, only two of them are really for the compression; the others are volume for the clean signal and volume for the compressed signal, and one of them lets you change the EQ/tone of your compressed sound... then you can blend it in with your direct signal to taste. So I occasionally use mine as a hybrid comp and tone-shaper... but man, I love using my actual EQ pedal to pop out the good pick tones and get rid of the rest. Desert-island pedal would be the comp, but after years away I recently found the EQ again and it's way more fun.
Big support to the budding bassist! Keep up the good work.
I use the Source Audio Programmable EQ pedal for what you're describing, and the first generation one can be found used for a little over $100. It's great. If it is too intimidating, Boss has been making a bass EQ forever.
The other suggestion I'd have is maybe the OvniFX Smoothie. It's a compressor, which, once you learn how to use it, can be a wonderful tool. This particular one is only five knobs, and, for the learning curve, only two of them are really for the compression; the others are volume for the clean signal and volume for the compressed signal, and one of them lets you change the EQ/tone of your compressed sound... then you can blend it in with your direct signal to taste. So I occasionally use mine as a hybrid comp and tone-shaper... but man, I love using my actual EQ pedal to pop out the good pick tones and get rid of the rest. Desert-island pedal would be the comp, but after years away I recently found the EQ again and it's way more fun.
Big support to the budding bassist! Keep up the good work.
D
I have to admit, its cool to see more bass players using a pic.
some great suggestions for the OP in this thread.
I personally wouldn’t use an EQ pedal for that purpose, Technique is key but if it gets the job done, right on!!
I didn’t see any posts stating that the OP was using the wrong pic but there were a lot suggestions for picks that worked for those individuals. I know my quest for the right pick was years long. It may be for you too but at least there are crumbs to follow... i hope they get you somewhere good!!
Good luck @surfpurple
some great suggestions for the OP in this thread.
I personally wouldn’t use an EQ pedal for that purpose, Technique is key but if it gets the job done, right on!!
I didn’t see any posts stating that the OP was using the wrong pic but there were a lot suggestions for picks that worked for those individuals. I know my quest for the right pick was years long. It may be for you too but at least there are crumbs to follow... i hope they get you somewhere good!!
Good luck @surfpurple
Freekmagnet
Commercial User
EQ pedals are a good suggestion.
When I used to play with a pick, I’d used the heel of my hand to mute the strings. I would play all the way back by the bridge. It sounded pretty bassy.
When I used to play with a pick, I’d used the heel of my hand to mute the strings. I would play all the way back by the bridge. It sounded pretty bassy.
I've already said that I've experimented with picking literally everywhere and used literally numerous picks, etc, etc etc!
And, AGAIN, I've got a gator 2mm pick which sounds GREAT, no question.
BUT, my dilemma is that it's MUCH easier for me to use the .77mm nylon pick for It's flexibility and control. And in doing so, the result is more treble, mid honky sounding, compared to thudy with a thicker pick.
I have not the patience to work on my technique for so long until I can palm mute, or play near the neck pu, or practise until I can use a thicker pick well enough for all our songs, etc, etc.
My thoughts are for a pedal to engage that has a sound dialled in for when I play my pick songs. And another setting as a boost for when I need to boost to keep up with the loudness wars in my band would be great too.
Hope that clears some points that I tried to state in my OP.
And, AGAIN, I've got a gator 2mm pick which sounds GREAT, no question.
BUT, my dilemma is that it's MUCH easier for me to use the .77mm nylon pick for It's flexibility and control. And in doing so, the result is more treble, mid honky sounding, compared to thudy with a thicker pick.
I have not the patience to work on my technique for so long until I can palm mute, or play near the neck pu, or practise until I can use a thicker pick well enough for all our songs, etc, etc.
My thoughts are for a pedal to engage that has a sound dialled in for when I play my pick songs. And another setting as a boost for when I need to boost to keep up with the loudness wars in my band would be great too.
Hope that clears some points that I tried to state in my OP.
That’s a red flag and a race to the bottom. I’ve left bands because people were unable or unwilling to control their volume. See the recent thread on hearing loss.
how did musicians play live without hearing protection??
I don't understand what is wrong with the pick suggestions many of us have made. O.P. said that he found a thin pick easier to use but hated the tone, and that a thick pick was harder to use but produced the tone he wants. So, some of us suggested just putting in the practice to learn to play with the thick one, and others have suggested other types/sizes of picks that might strike the right compromise between tone and ease of use. Why is that killing you?
For the record, a stainless steel pick with roundwounds sounds incredible in a mix that doesn't relegate the bass to boom boom boom. It has a lovely feel too it also.
Well that's another another story altogether. We spend zero time on getting our levels and mix right, very frustrating!!
I don’t change anything on the few songs I use a pick. Maybe roll off the tone knob on my p bass just a bit if it’s too exaggerated.
It sounds that the OP just wants to buy a pedal. Okay. Get any overdrive with two band EQ, boost the lows and crank the volume. Adjust the drive to your liking.
- Nov 9, 2009
- 360
- 100
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Reunion Blues, 64 Audio, Mesa Engineering, Ernie Ball.
