Plectrum/Pik Players Club

[Mister_GothFrak]

Come hither all ye plectrum holders! A home away from the haters where we can freely discuss our piks and share pik pics.

I'm surprised there hasn't been one of these. I admit that I don't use one regularly but, sometimes they're great! They can change up the attack, add different textures and tones.

If you haven't experimented piking yet, give it a shot. There are plenty out there to choose from. Many different thicknesses, shapes, materials, etc. It may be a bit of a learning curve but, they're a good tool and skill to have.

Let's discuss different techniques, use cases, favorite brands and designs... And whatever else.

Mention if you want a number.
The ongoing list of members will be on my Listography as I'm pretty sure I'll only be eable to edited this post for a brief period of time.


Here's my personal collection. Every one of those is different, except the AttakPik brand limited edition Eclipse and Mecha Glow ones are the same base with a different print. The Dope pik is from a limited bundle of their album Blood Money, Vol. 0.

 

[Mister_GothFrak]

Hope I can just start one of these like this. lol. They seem pretty lax and laissez-faire.
I'm number one! Who's gonna be number two?

 

[r_bnks]

What haters?
The hatred for picks is an internet thing what didn't really existed before...
Those people are just simply unprofessionals or trolls so not worth taking them seriously.

I play with pick exclusively for more that 15ys but I want to work on my finger technique tough.

This is what I'm using since I'm started. Haven't used anything since.

 

[JimmyM]

What haters?
The hatred for picks is an internet thing what didn't really existed before...
Those people are just simply unprofessionals or trolls so not worth taking them seriously.

I play with pick exclusively for more that 15ys but I want to work on my finger technique tough.

This is what I'm using since I'm started. Haven't used anything since.

View attachment 6992268

Actually, pick snobbery on electric bass was around since the beginning. I was around long before the internet and getting flack from musicians about it.

 

[r_bnks]

Actually, pick snobbery on electric bass was around since the beginning. I was around long before the internet and getting flack from musicians about it.

I never experienced anything like this. But I can believe that it was there at least st amateur levels, and internet magnified it a lot.
But I don't think that any serious professional or famous player would ever despise any playing technique.
It only tells about the people who degrade it.

 

[JimmyM]

I never experienced anything like this. But I can believe that it was there at least st amateur levels, and internet magnified it a lot.
But I don't think that any serious professional or famous player would ever despise any playing technique.
It only tells about the people who degrade it.

Can’t argue with you about that last part, especially in a world with Paul McCartney, but trust me, it happens and happened long before the net

 

[Mister_GothFrak]

Yeah, I've kind of been on both sides. I've jokingly given some buddies a hard time about using a pik for some faster riffs in songs. lol

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Has anyone else had a hard time adjusting to using a plectrum for bass?

 

[Oddly]

I'm in. I'm not exclusively a pick player, but when the song needs it I'll grab one. I've a few options...soft felt, leather and hard plastic, depending on the situation.

 

[Mister_GothFrak]

I've never seen felt or leather plectrums before! That's interesting.

I began typing something then I realized that we can, indeed, add audio files directly to these posts! We should totally record some clips and share them to compare different sounds.

 

[woodyng2]

Because of Chris Squire and Yes, I made a point of learning how to use a pick when I first started to play bass. (1975).
It actually seemed more natural than trying to get my plucking fingers coordinated, so that’s how I played for many years.
Later became more proficient with fingerstyle, and nowadays I mostly play that way if I’m not in a live band setting where I use the pick to cut through the din.
When I started, Herco snot green picks were the choice, but I’ve used whatever I could find/try. I like sharkfin picks, more recently have used leather ukulele picks for a softer hybrid sound.

 

[woodyng2]

Here’s what’s in my pick baggy currently.

 

[Mister_GothFrak]

Welcome! You're #5 BTW.
Nice assortment of piks. I bookmarked that sharkfin thing.

 

[WI Short Scaler]

I was a fingers player for a long time. Over the last couple years I've really started to like the sound with a pick. I started with Fender thins but have since moved on to these, 2mm Dunlop Big Stubby. For me I think it's a good mix of low level thump with some brightness. If that makes sense.

 

[el jeffe bass]

I don’t understand any technique snobbery, I would slap my bass with a dead bass if that technique produced the sound that I wanted. Picks, fingers, thumb or possibly dead bass. Doesn’t matter, I’m all in

 

[r_bnks]

I don’t understand any technique snobbery, I would slap my bass with a dead bass if that technique produced the sound that I wanted. Picks, fingers, thumb or possibly dead bass. Doesn’t matter, I’m all in

Me neither understood it ever. No serious players are technical snobs tough.

 

[Mister_GothFrak]

RIP bass

 

[Crispus]

I have recently re-emphasized picks in my playing and am digging it! The clarity and attack are nice, and I like the good chunk with palm muting. Probably 75% pick right now, having some fun with it. Picks really help with some effects. Currently settled on Dunlop gray nylons, .88mm.

 

[sovereign_510]

I was a fingers player for a long time. Over the last couple years I've really started to like the sound with a pick. I started with Fender thins but have since moved on to these, 2mm Dunlop Big Stubby. For me I think it's a good mix of low level thump with some brightness. If that makes sense.

View attachment 6995651

i have those too! ive been using the 2mm big stubby or the 1.14mm tortex depending on my mood

 

[rcs]

I like using a pick (especially down near the bridge while muting the string with the heel of my hand) but I feel like I lose some low end tone-wise if I play near the middle (which is my usual finger-style position.) Any tips for retaining the low while still getting that increase in attack? Maybe I should be playing closer to the neck.

 

[Ritter667]

I actually started out playing bass with a pick, and did so for many years, but in recent year I by far most of the time I use my fingers, index and middle finger, stroking the strings with the outmost tip of my fingers/nails, in a slight inward light slapping motion, rather then plucking, pulling or striking the strings, this gives me a richer piano like tone with a somewhat bell like attack., and plenty of room for dynamics.
Occasionally I'll incorporate the ring finger or thumb as well, or utilize flamenco guitar style index and/or middle and/or ring finger flicking technique.
But occasionally I still do use a pick too.

I like the Dunlop .60mm Tortex, Dunlop .73mm regular Nylon and Dunlop .060mm Max Grip Nylon (tip or round corner) picks, depending. But also use a 3.1mm Soft Wedgie rubber pick, if it's that sound I am going for.

I prefer the tone I get from using my fingers, but if I need a softer/warmer, more mellow, tone that Wedgie pick is great, and if I need that specific aggressive snappy emphasis of the attack that you can only get from using a pick the .60mm Tortex is perfect, the Nylons if I want less click in the attack, or need to strum fast or whole chords.

Both when using my fingers and playing with pick I prefer the tone I get from picking the strings just about over the bridge J pickup, or just about the spot where such would be.