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Show your Ramps!
- Thread starter needmoney
- Start date
I've been thinking. Why not Chrome ramps? It would help quiet pickups, be a ramp & have some of the Mojo of those early fender pickup cover thingys.
Bryan R. Tyler
TalkBass: Usurping My Practice Time Since 2002
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- May 3, 2002
- 28,948
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- Reviewer: Bass Player Magazine
you definitely know me pretty wellAll those periods make it sound like you're going to murder someone for theirs, Jai
... ya know, might have to do a road trip this weekend, ya know take care of a little bit of business... Come back with a ramp on my bass, the usual.
Seriously, heading to ATL and a luthier firend of mine (Jake Sharp), who also is the best repair guys in ATL (IMhO), is going to radius one to go between the p/ups on my Bennie... Actually I think that you and Matt Garrison are the motivators for this mod.
Kevin made my JXB-6's ramp today, Kevin Walker picked up his Koa ramp. Here's a phone camera pic:
Hisis Koa, mine is scrap wood with a matte black finish, similar to the Bartolini pickups.
Hisis Koa, mine is scrap wood with a matte black finish, similar to the Bartolini pickups.
I posted pics of my first preliminary ramp on page 5 - here's an update:
My black Warmoth has been fitted with its final ramp - radiused and properly painted - looks almost plasticy, but it is wood.
Here's a shot of its cousin. Ramp is also radiused, painted but more wooden-looking:
Just for fun, I've been toying with the idea of switching necks on these two. Here's a quick mock-up:
What's the verdict?
My black Warmoth has been fitted with its final ramp - radiused and properly painted - looks almost plasticy, but it is wood.
Here's a shot of its cousin. Ramp is also radiused, painted but more wooden-looking:
Just for fun, I've been toying with the idea of switching necks on these two. Here's a quick mock-up:
What's the verdict?
Here are my homemade ramps, both made from radiused MDF, one painted white to match the pickup cover and bass while the other is just varnished matt with a pencil eraser end cut to cover the central screw head. Not the most elegant ramps ever made or the most proficient but they work just fine for me and fit in with the slightly battered aesthetic of my basses too 
what do you think?
what do you think?
- May 12, 2007
- 481
- 43
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist for Low End bass guitars, DNA Amplification
Wow, this one made my day!
I know, I know. . . I don't usually do this, but I couldn't help it!
Chrome would need to be machined, probably by some form of CNC machine. Wood can easily be carved, sanded, and adjusted by hand.
I posted pics of my first preliminary ramp on page 5 - here's an update:
My black Warmoth has been fitted with its final ramp - radiused and properly painted - looks almost plasticy, but it is wood.
Here's a shot of its cousin. Ramp is also radiused, painted but more wooden-looking:
Just for fun, I've been toying with the idea of switching necks on these two. Here's a quick mock-up:
What's the verdict?
like both basses better with the necks switched..
- Mar 2, 2006
- 332
- 6
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Sadowsky Basses & Dean Markley Strings
Why are the majority of ramp users not ramping up near the neck where the warmer tones are? Even if you slap (thump) you can still have it decline to the point where you can still be comfortable with thumb techniques and fingerstyle.
I can't speak for the majority, but my ramps are situated between the pickups because that's where I do my plucking. Not that I slap and pop anymore but should I choose to, the non-ramped area near the fingerboard would still allow my fingers to get underneath the strings. I just don't get near there.
- Mar 2, 2006
- 332
- 6
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Sadowsky Basses & Dean Markley Strings
I only usedthumb technique as an example but of course you can take advantage of fingerstyle plucking near the neck. The sounds are bigger up there. Also the string vibrates slower there as opposed to closer to the bridge so it sometimes makes you pluck strings at a slower rate so the ramp will allow you to increase your speed as well as make the neck area more comfortable to pluck at. Especially for non-thumpers or fingerstyle-only players, but thumpers can take advantage of the neck ramp too!
Yeah, you get a "bigger" or more full tone when you pluck near the neck. It just doesn't suit my playing style or my preference for sound. Also, I see a potential problem with having the ramp in that spot (unless you're Gary Willis of course!) - as you said the string vibrates slower up there, but it also more flexible which means it moves more. My between-pickup ramps are set up in terms of height just so that the strings don't rattle against them. Were I to put a ramp near the neck, the ramp would have to be thinner, meaning more space between ramp and the strings compared to the other placement.
Bryan R. Tyler
TalkBass: Usurping My Practice Time Since 2002
Staff member
Administrator
Gold Supporting Member
Supporting Member
- May 3, 2002
- 28,948
- 20,934
- Disclosures
- Reviewer: Bass Player Magazine
- Mar 2, 2006
- 332
- 6
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Sadowsky Basses & Dean Markley Strings
NO....you would not. You should have it adjusted to suit your preference. I know a few very well known bassists who are known for their thumb techniques and their ramps are adjustable and the neck ramp set to accomodate ALL playing styles with more comfort and ease. I actually have my pickguard on my Sadowsky increased in thickness for that very benefit.
