Double Bass pick? ever? anyone?

[eucalyptus]

lame topic, i know. but it just popped into my head and i got curious. anyone ever use a pick to play the double bass? i had always used a pick almost exclusively when i played electric (thanks, Phil Lesh) but have never thought to try it on DB. i would try it right now but it's too late here and the neighbors would come-a-knockin'. it seems gimmicky and near sacrilege, but i imagine it would sound alright for fun..

 

[Huy Nguyen]

Not enough pulling power... leaves you with a thin sound. I think I tried it briefly once and wasn't impressed.

 

[eucalyptus]

that makes sense. but out of sheer curiosity i'm gonna try it tomorrow anyway with a thick pick, and will probably come to the same conclusion..

by the way, i see you're in SF. tonight i was at the powell st. BART station and saw a kid busking, playing the Bach cello suites on bass. he couldn't have been more than 22 or so and he sounded awesome! maybe instead of playing with picks i should just try to do justice with the dang bow..

 

[padmavyuha]

You could also hit 'em with a stick, like on the Hungarian ütögardon .

Of course, the ütögardon's strings are about 1/4" gut...

 

[Huy Nguyen]

that makes sense. but out of sheer curiosity i'm gonna try it tomorrow anyway with a thick pick, and will probably come to the same conclusion..

by the way, i see you're in SF. tonight i was at the powell st. BART station and saw a kid busking, playing the Bach cello suites on bass. he couldn't have been more than 22 or so and he sounded awesome! maybe instead of playing with picks i should just try to do justice with the dang bow..

Yeah... I've been tempted to find a guitar player and do some impromtu swing in BART. Maybe once I get some slap callouses.

If you want to see sticks, check out Charnett Moffett smacking his bass with a french bow.



It's interesting to say the least.

 

[bassist14]

You could also hit 'em with a stick, like on the Hungarian ütögardon .

Of course, the ütögardon's strings are about 1/4" gut...

+1 for the ütögardon!
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[Paul Warburton]

You could also hit 'em with a stick .

This old friend of mine let a drummer do that and made some big $'s.

 

[ToR-Tu-Ra]

Now, when you pick a pawpaw
Or a prickly pear
And you prick a raw paw
Next time beware
Don't pick the prickly pear with the paw
When you pick a pear
Try to use the claw
But you don't need to use the claw
When you pick a pear of the big pawpaw
Have I given you a clue ?

 

[Damon Rondeau]

I tried it once out of curiosity. I don't think you're gonna like the ergonomics of using a pick on a DB.

I've been playing a little more slab this year than anytime over the last decade. I'm really getting into a pick with a thumpy old P-bass I've got a hold of. The thing sounds like a bass drum with tonality. Love it.

 

[jtlownds]

Caution --- If you play double bass with a pick, your Johnson will fall off!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ee-san]

Caution --- If you play double bass with a pick, your Johnson will fall off!!!!!!!!!!

The converse also is true.

 

[Paul Warburton]

If you pick your Johnson your double bass will fall off?

 

[Peck_Time]

If you play double bass with your johnson, your p(r)ick will fall off?

 

[ee-san]

Yikes! Clearly the road less travelled.