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Ramps?

#13
Albatross said:
so it's a crutch?
i'm sorry to sound so confused....i just don't get it.
i get what your saying but...are they permanent pieces to your bass?
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The only people I've ever heard call them a crutch were people on TalkBass who haven't used them. If properly radiused to match the radius of your fingerboard/string setup, they will provide a completely consistent depth below each of your strings. Practicing won't give you that. A lot of the best players in the world use them, and I'd never assume that they just don't practice enough. Even a large amount of upright players rely on the consistency of depth you get when playing over the fingerboard. With that said, ramps aren't for everyone, and they can be of no use to some and can even be a hinderance for some. They've allowed me to play in ways I've wanted that I can't do without them, so they are certainly not limiting or a hinderance for me.

Here's some more info on them for you:
Link Removed
 
#17
jworrellbass said:
It looks like you would have a hard time popping with it.
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Depends on where they are. Most people keep their ramps between their pickups, where it wouldn't affect popping at all. I rarely slap these days (I should have rarely slapped in those days too :D), so my ramps go up pretty close to fingerboard. I either use the small space between the rams and pickups to pop, or I'll use my fingernails to pop and do it right over the ramp. Gary Willis rarely ever slaps/pops either, so the space isn't necessary for him I imagine.
 
#18
Bryan R. Tyler said:
The only people I've ever heard call them a crutch were people on TalkBass who haven't used them. If properly radiused to match the radius of your fingerboard/string setup, they will provide a completely consistent depth below each of your strings. Practicing won't give you that. A lot of the best players in the world use them, and I'd never assume that they just don't practice enough. Even a large amount of upright players rely on the consistency of depth you get when playing over the fingerboard. With that said, ramps aren't for everyone, and they can be of no use to some and can even be a hinderance for some. They've allowed me to play in ways I've wanted that I can't do without them, so they are certainly not limiting or a hinderance for me.

Here's some more info on them for you:
Link Removed
Click to expand...

Bryan's contribution, like the other information on his site, is spot on and helpful.
It was Gary Willis' idea so between the link somebody already provided from the Willis site and Bryan's helpful explanation you can now consider yourself fully informed.
 
#20
Bryan R. Tyler said:
Depends on where they are. Most people keep their ramps between their pickups, where it wouldn't affect popping at all. I rarely slap these days (I should have rarely slapped in those days too :D), so my ramps go up pretty close to fingerboard. I either use the small space between the rams and pickups to pop, or I'll use my fingernails to pop and do it right over the ramp. Gary Willis rarely ever slaps/pops either, so the space isn't necessary for him I imagine.
Click to expand...

+1 and there's always the option of having radiused pickups, which can give you the feel of a ramp and stll use the open spot between pickups if desired.

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