Ramping Up...

[M-Mittlesteadt]

I decided to add a ramp between my pickups on my new Ibanez SR206 6 string. I know why people are for or against them. I like having it. I've always been pretty aggressive and heavy handed, but in learning my new 6 string, I'm working on a lighter touch and just like the feel and I usually play between my bridge and neck pickups anyway.

Just a couple pieces of thicker acrylic glued together and painted. It's only taped on, and I really don't want new screw holes in a brand new bass. I'm liking the feel and looks...

Before...

And after...

 

[GretschWretch]

I plan to add ramps to my "keepers." I play a lot over the fretboard and have found that the "rebound" of my fingers off the 'board makes me faster.

Regarding attachment, instead of tap;e or screws I've gone to using Loc-Tite putty, even for attachments which normally are screwed down, Quicker to install and quicker to remove than screws, and it leaves no permanent marks. A perfectly reversible mod.

 

[M-Mittlesteadt]

I plan to add ramps to my "keepers." I play a lot over the fretboard and have found that the "rebound" of my fingers off the 'board makes me faster.

Regarding attachment, instead of tap;e or screws I've gone to using Loc-Tite putty, even for attachments which normally are screwed down, Quicker to install and quicker to remove than screws, and it leaves no permanent marks. A perfectly reversible mod.

I used double sided tape from the tape gun in my picture framing shop. The 3M tape is on a roll and very thin. Doesn't stick permanently so I can easily remove the ramp and simply rub the tape off without disturbing the finish.

 

[RandomKaren]

I had a wooden ramp made for my Wal and used double sided tape, I kept it on for a while but now it's off again. I might try it on my Maruszczyk.

 

[Thumpin6string]

One of my ramps is held by friction between the pickups. The other is held on with 3M command tape.

 

[Arkamsrazor]

I decided to add a ramp between my pickups on my new Ibanez SR206 6 string. I know why people are for or against them. I like having it. I've always been pretty aggressive and heavy handed, but in learning my new 6 string, I'm working on a lighter touch and just like the feel and I usually play between my bridge and neck pickups anyway.

Just a couple pieces of thicker acrylic glued together and painted. It's only taped on, and I really don't want new screw holes in a brand new bass. I'm liking the feel and looks...

Before...

And after...

Looks great you did a fine job, all my basses have ramps

 

[Shenron]

Looks great to me but I genuinely have to ask... what is the purpose of a ramp?

 

[Nomoncello]

Looks great to me but I genuinely have to ask... what is the purpose of a ramp?

They decrease the movement length of your fingers under the string. Apparently it makes you play faster. I had periods of playing with and without ramps. I prefer without because it affects my dynamics. Also, you want the ramp to match your neck radius.

 

[M-Mittlesteadt]

They decrease the movement length of your fingers under the string. Apparently it makes you play faster. I had periods of playing with and without ramps. I prefer without because it affects my dynamics. Also, you want the ramp to match your neck radius.

I'm just getting back to playing a 6 stringer, after many years away from playing. When I came back to playing, I was still very heavy-handed and aggressive on my Fender Jazz 4 stringer.

My sixer requires a finer touch and I'm playing lighter now and the ramp helps me with that. I tend to play over the pickups or between them, not the neck very much. And the fingerboard is pretty flat. I matched my ramp to my pickups which are flat, so it's the same height throughout.

 

[Arkamsrazor]

They decrease the movement length of your fingers under the string. Apparently it makes you play faster. I had periods of playing with and without ramps. I prefer without because it affects my dynamics. Also, you want the ramp to match your neck radius.

I'm just getting back to playing a 6 stringer, after many years away from playing. When I came back to playing, I was still very heavy-handed and aggressive on my Fender Jazz 4 stringer.

My sixer requires a finer touch and I'm playing lighter now and the ramp helps me with that. I tend to play over the pickups or between them, not the neck very much. And the fingerboard is pretty flat. I matched my ramp to my pickups which are flat, so it's the same height throughout.

Yup, same here most of my ramps are flat and match the top of my pickups. Only radiused one I have is because the pickups are radiused as well…

 

[Smoove-Groove]

Made one for my Peavey Palaedium

 

[Element Zero]

Looks great to me but I genuinely have to ask... what is the purpose of a ramp?

Couple schools of thought. @Nomoncello nailed it on the head. It kinda requires you to play with a softer touch which with practice can allow you to play quicker. The other aspect (and this is the one that’s important to me) is it gives a consistent feel with the plucking hand. I quite like being able to feel the pickup under my finger tips with each stroke of the strings and the ramp allows a nearly identical feeling regardless of where I position my plucking hand. I’ve discovered different timbres that help with the feel of what/how I’m playing.

My fretless came from the factory with one and it’ll be staying on there. Can’t say I’ll have a ramp made for my Stingray though.

 

[Nomoncello]

I'm just getting back to playing a 6 stringer, after many years away from playing. When I came back to playing, I was still very heavy-handed and aggressive on my Fender Jazz 4 stringer.

My sixer requires a finer touch and I'm playing lighter now and the ramp helps me with that. I tend to play over the pickups or between them, not the neck very much. And the fingerboard is pretty flat. I matched my ramp to my pickups which are flat, so it's the same height throughout.

Hey fellow six brother! I'm playing a fretless MTD 6. Fretless reacts to my picking hand differently than fretted. I actually like ramps on my fretted instruments. It just doesn't jive on fretless for me.

 

[M-Mittlesteadt]

Couple schools of thought. @Nomoncello nailed it on the head. It kinda requires you to play with a softer touch which with practice can allow you to play quicker. The other aspect (and this is the one that’s important to me) is it gives a consistent feel with the plucking hand. I quite like being able to feel the pickup under my finger tips with each stroke of the strings and the ramp allows a nearly identical feeling regardless of where I position my plucking hand. I’ve discovered different timbres that help with the feel of what/how I’m playing.

My fretless came from the factory with one and it’ll be staying on there. Can’t say I’ll have a ramp made for my Stingray though.

I've been playing bass for over 45 years. I also have been playing guitar on and off all those years as well. Most of my bass playing in the past has been hard/heavy rock and my playing technique was rather hard and aggressive. Whether I was playing a 4 or 5 stringer bass my approach was always the same.

But now that I'm playing a 6 string (tuned EADGCF) I'm playing a lot of chordal things, both strumming and fingerpicking as well as some limited slap. I'm doing a lot experimentation these days, also employing a modeling/effects unit. This is requiring me to play with a lighter and more even style than I'm accustomed to so the ramp and pickups are all at the same height and flat. The ramp is a perfect add-on for me.

And the physical effect of my pups and ramp giving me a wide area of tonal choice depending on where I pluck is really noticeable when fingerpicking chords (ala guitar style). I'm more free to fingerpick without thinking about it as much.