Ramp on a P-Bass - anyone done it?

[mojomike001]

What does the ramp do for you? On some basses they kind of look cool, but what are they for?

 

[Fredrik E. Nilsen]

What does the ramp do for you? On some basses they kind of look cool, but what are they for?

Resting your thumb (and preventing you from digging too much in).

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

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. View attachment 3054316

That is not a ramp, it's a flat piece of plastic. Ramps are radiused, like the board. You really won't touch a flat piece of wood unless you dig in way too much. I don't know about other materials but it really is not difficult to make one out of wood.

@mojomike001 see post #7 for an explanation on ramps.

 

[Stomp Freeman]

Fredrik E. Nilsen- looks nice. I've seen a couple P/J ramps in this thread. Not sure if it'll work without the J.

mojomike001- I want the ramp for ease of play. I've got wimpy hands and play long contract gigs.

DiabolusInMusic- I think that's a bit of a semantics argument. Some of the ramps I've seen are barely radiused. It seems to me that I would feel the effect of a non-radiused ramp, just not as equally as if it were custom built to the bass. I.e. I'd notice it more playing the E&G strings. And unfortunately, your vote of confidence in my woodworking skills is misplaced. I try to keep away from saws when possible. But I do appreciate your feedback.

 

[Fredrik E. Nilsen]

That is not a ramp, it's a flat piece of plastic. Ramps are radiused, like the board.

There are different types of ramps, and some of them are flat.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

There are different types of ramps, and some of them are flat.

By definition, a ramp isn't flat. It is more like an over-sized thumbrest or tugbar.

 

[Fredrik E. Nilsen]

By definition, a ramp isn't flat. It is more like an over-sized thumbrest or tugbar.

I obviously haven't read the correct definition of a ramp. Maybe you can point me to it?

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

I obviously haven't read the correct definition of a ramp. Maybe you can point me to it?

the definition of ramp

Here is Gary Willis breaking down the benefits of the ramp:

Invalid Link Removed

The whole point is to keep you from digging in too hard. Without anything stopping the inner strings, it kind of defeats the purpose of the ramp.

 

[Stomp Freeman]

Ok. Well this product is marketed as "Clear ramp for Jazz Bass without radius (72mm or 73mm spacing)". We'll just have to agree to disagree here.

Clear ramp for Jazz Bass without radius (72mm or 73mm spacing) | eBay

 

[Fredrik E. Nilsen]

the definition of ramp

Here is Gary Willis breaking down the benefits of the ramp:

Invalid Link Removed

The whole point is to keep you from digging in too hard. Without anything stopping the inner strings, it kind of defeats the purpose of the ramp.

I have a GWB1, I'm perfectly aware of what GW says about it. There are still different types, even if you don't like it.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

Ok. Well this product is marketed as "Clear ramp for Jazz Bass without radius (72mm or 73mm spacing)". We'll just have to agree to disagree here.

Clear ramp for Jazz Bass without radius (72mm or 73mm spacing) | eBay

Hey now, I think TB has shown time and time again that you can put anything in an Ebay ad, it doesn't make it true.



I understand many people call flat rests ramps but that just doesn't meet the definition of a ramp, ramps are sloped. Using a flat "ramp" will not provide any more than putting a thumbrest between your pickups would. People buying their first ramp and getting a flat piece of material might be turned off from ramps, seeing them as pointless.

 

[Fredrik E. Nilsen]

I understand many people call flat rests ramps but that just doesn't meet the definition of a ramp, ramps are sloped.

Your definition.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

Your definition.

Outside of the bass world, have you ever seen a flat ramp?

 

[TolerancEJ]

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

FS Kinal P-bass

I've never owned a bass with a ramp, but that looks really good.

 

[Dark Horse]

What Are Ramps, Anyway? And Why Do Food Lovers Freak Out Over Them? | HuffPost

 

[Stomp Freeman]

Haha. I like the "flat ramp" comment. But I think what it boils down to for me- what else are you going to call it? It's not a thumb rest. The fretboard on a fretless bass has no frets, but it's still a fretboard.

 

[Dark Horse]

Haha. I like the "flat ramp" comment. But I think what it boils down to for me- what else are you going to call it? It's not a thumb rest. The fretboard on a fretless bass has no frets, but it's still a fretboard.

*Platform
*Plateau
*Riser
*Thing that goes between pickups and sticks up from the body
*Kentucky Mule Sled

 

[Stomp Freeman]

Sold! Kentucky Mule Sled it is.

 

[Passinwind]

Ramps are used to prevent you from digging in. They are radiused to the height of the fret/fingerboard.

Not always. I've seen many that are just made to be flush to the pickups, since one often stated reason for using a ramp is to make your picking hand's experience consistent whether playing over the pickup(s) or over the ramp. So: radiused pickups, radiused ramp; flat pickups, flat ramp. I have one bass that's each way, although I recently removed the flat one on my fretted bass. And of course flat fingerboards exist too...

 

[JIO]