Ramp on a P-Bass - anyone done it?

[kesslari]

Ramps suit my playing style. I'm considering a P, wondering if anyone has put a ramp on theirs? It would be a bit odd, but I'm a bit odd too. I'm thinking of "a couple of inches from the pickup back toward the bridge".
Anyone done it?

 

[bdgotoh]

Here's one on a Kinal I used to own.

FS Kinal P-bass

 

[smeet]

Here's one on a Kinal I used to own.

FS Kinal P-bass

That's really nicely done.

 

[Chace90]

I've got a custom clear ramp on my Carvin PJ. Not easy to see in this photo, but that's sort of the idea!

 

[Plucker Tom]

whats the reason for the ramp..?? I never saw this before..?

 

[bobyoung53]

whats the reason for the ramp..?? I never saw this before..?

Yeah, I've heard of them but never knew what they were for.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

whats the reason for the ramp..?? I never saw this before..?

Yeah, I've heard of them but never knew what they were for.

Ramps are used to prevent you from digging in. They are radiused to the height of the fret/fingerboard. They allow you to play faster and with a lighter touch. It's an economy of motion thing.

Back to the OP, I thought about adding one to my P but I already stuck a thumbrest where a J pickup would be. That is good enough for me. I wouldn't consider adding one in front of the pickup but that is just me.

 

[wvbass]

I always thought the P pickup made a pretty good ramp.

 

[BassmanM]

I always thought the P pickup made a pretty good ramp.

The edge of the pickguard is my ramp on a P bass.

I guess both of the above are no option for the OP....

 

[Josh Kneisel]

I want a ramp for My P Deluxe ( P+J) because I like to play in between the pups

 

[GretschWretch]

I have yet to install a ramp on a bass, but I often pick over the 17th fret on the neck, partly for tone and partly for the rebound effect I get when my fingertips hit the 'board. Speeds up my playing a bit. I expect a ramp would have the same effect.

 

[Son of Wobble]

I always thought the P pickup made a pretty good ramp.

Likewise the J pickup on a P/J.

 

[smeet]

Here's my homemade ramp for my Nordy PJ:

 

[el_Bajo_Verde]

Honestly, my P pickups are my ramp...

 

[nostatic]

Here's my homemade ramp for my Nordy PJ:
View attachment 1183578

You should use dominos instead. That way you can swap them out each song and the audience can play along, or maybe you can get a pizza sponsorship deal...

 

[smeet]

You should use dominos instead. That way you can swap them out each song and the audience can play along, or maybe you can get a pizza sponsorship deal...

I like that. It'll match the pole pieces.

 

[monsterthompson]

You should use dominos instead. That way you can swap them out each song and the audience can play along, or maybe you can get a pizza sponsorship deal...

 

[tlc1976]

My 7 string has 2 large pickups arranged like a split P that takes up most of the area I play in. They sound better raised, but I lowered them because I really don't like the ramp effect, very difficult to play that way for me. Still sounds good though.

 

[Stomp Freeman]

Hey bass people. I'm kind of a dummy with gear stuff. I was thinking of throwing a rectangular J-bass ramp (as opposed to one customized to fit the pickups) onto my P-bass. It would be between the pickups and the bridge, as close to the pickups as possible. Any idea if this would achieve the desired effect? If you can picture it, my setup would leave a little square gap above one of the pickups. Not sure if that would negate the effect.

In case you're wondering- this is 100% budgetary. Not sure if I'll stick with the ramp and don't want to sink money into the custom route.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Fredrik E. Nilsen]

I have made a ramp for my Aerodyne jazz (P/J). Balsa wood, black laqcuer, double sided tape.